Zanka in Gachiakuta: Complete Profile Guide

When the TV anime Gachiakuta hit the airwaves on July 6, 2025, it didn't take long to pull viewers into its gritty world. In this article, we will learn more about Zanka, the mentor assigned to Rudo. We will explore his profile and hidden past.

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What Is Gachiakuta?

Set in the slums where the descendants of criminals struggle to survive, Gachiakuta follows Rudo, an orphan with a rare gift. He can see the value in things that everyone else has already thrown away. His life changes forever when a sudden incident sends him plunging into the Pit, the grim final stop for society's outcasts. There, he meets the Cleaners and comes face to face with terrifying Trash Beasts born from garbage.

The manga has been running in Kodansha's Weekly Shonen Magazine since February 2022, created by manga artist Kei Urana together with graffiti designer Hideyoshi Andou.

Profile

Name: Zanka (JP: ザンカ)

Profile:
Vital Instrument: Stick / Member of the Cleaners' Team Akuta

Appointed by Enjin as Rudo’s trainer, he is the Giver who is best at handling vital instruments. On the ground, he is as close to a spoiled rich kid as one can get.

Affiliation: Cleaners “Akuta”
Age: 17
Height: 178 cm
Birthday: February 3
Likes: Foods rich in dashi (broth); self-made people who rose through hard work
Dislikes: Geniuses; mediocre people acting like geniuses; bitter foods
Vital Instrument: Staff Name of Instrument: Lovely Assistaff

Voice Actor (JP)

Zanka is voiced by Yoshitsugu Matsuoka. He's well known for playing a bunch of famous characters, like Kirito in Sword Art Online and Inosuke Hashibira in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba.

Zanka’s Background

Enjin says Zanka comes from a "well off family." He grew up in a pretty well off household, even in the tough world of the Pit. His connection with Enjin started when Enjin reached out to him when Zanka was feeling down at school. That encounter marked the start of their relationship.

Zanka’s Abilities and Fighting Style

The Vital Instrument Zanka uses is key to his combat style. He calls it Lovely Assistaff.

It usually looks like a simple staff, but in battle it turns into a spear-like weapon. It's often compared to a sasumata, which is a polearm with a forked end that was used in Japan to capture criminals.

The weapon itself doesn't have any special abilities. What makes it formidable is Zanka's exceptional skill in handling it. He's got a strong connection to the Assistaff, treating it like his "partner" and taking good care of it every day. Zanka says he knows everything about it: the weight, the scent, the texture, and every possible way it can be used.

Relationships

■Rudo
Zanka's Rudo's mentor, and Enjin picked him for the job. But when he first met Rudo, he thought they just didn't click. Their first fight only made it clear that they weren't right for each other, and a certain incident that followed didn't help.

During a battle with the Trash Raiders, Zanka figured out the conditions under which Rudo's Vital Instrument could appear. In that sense, he has fulfilled his role as mentor. It seems like they're getting closer, which could mean their relationship is getting better.

■Enjin
Zanka really respects Enjin. When he first met Rudo, Zanka seemed arrogant and overbearing, but he's proud to have been chosen by Enjin to be Rudo's mentor. He's really happy about the recognition from Enjin. Even when Zanka's in a bad mood, a few kind words from Enjin are all it takes to make him smile, and he's actually pretty lovable.

■Riyo
Zanka and Riyo are on the same team, but they don't really interact much in the story. Riyo's been with the Cleaners for a while, and she and Enjin are all for keeping the relationship between Rudo and Zanka on track.

Source : Anime Gachiakuta Official