The origins of WILLE, the Marine Research Organization, and Rebuild’s Red Sea

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This is an English translation of Minno no Eva Fan’s analysis. Minna no Eva Fan is the premiere Japanese fansite for Evangelion news and meta. Some topics covered here:

  • What’s going on with the “Marine Ecosystem Preservation Research Organization” in 2.22
  • WILLE’s likely origins
  • WILLE’s blue armbands
  • Why Kaji is missing from 3.33
  • And more!

Thanks, @scenikeight​, for translating!

We’ll be talking about the fourth and final Rebuild film, Evangelion: 3.0+1.0, in regards to some potential foreshadowing concerning Kaji Ryoji and the Red Sea.

This is a summary of one theory regarding the maritime preservation zone featured in 2.0, otherwise known as the “Marine Ecosystem Preservation Research Organisation.”

QUICK BACKGROUND, PART 1

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Ryoji Kaji - One of the main characters in the second Rebuild film, Evangelion 2.0: You Can (Not Advance). A European branch orders him to stay at NERV headquarters in Japan for the duration of the movie. His circumstances have changed from the original series:

  • Kaji now has a Boss-and-Subordinate type relationship with Mari. He provides her a plugsuit among other things.
  • Asuka no longer pines for Kaji like she did in the original series.
  • Kaji is still friends with Misato and Ritsuko from their college days. It’s obvious he had some kind of special relationship with Misato, but it’s not shown to be as fraught as it was in NGE.
  • Kaji illegitimately spies on SEELE for Gendo and Fuyutsuki. However, he’s also shown eavesdropping on NERV, so he is likely still a double or even triple agent.
  • As he doesn’t appear in Evangelion 3.0: You Can (Not) Redo, his current status is unknown.

QUICK BACKGROUND, PART 2

The “Japan Marine Ecosystem Preservation Research Organization”, as shown in Evangelion 2.0: You Can (Not) Advance, is a facility that purifies the red sea:

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“Conservation of marine life that was lost, and restoration of the oceans that turned red! A forbidden sanctuary carrying out godlike experimental projects! Just getting to tour a small part of it… this is what good friends are for!”

- Aida Kensuke, Evangelion 2.0: You Can (Not) Advance

Whoever runs this facility is conducting experiments to return the seas to their original blue post-Second Impact. This facility is an entirely new location, not featured in the original series.

The Marine Ecosystem Preservation Research Organization = The Old Version of WILLE

Is the organization Misato belongs to in Evangelion 3.0 not simply a new iteration of the aforementioned, older Marine Research Organization? Is the inclusion of a “Red Sea” - a stark difference between the new and original Eva series - not foreshadowing the creation of WILLE? And in regards to the Marine Research Organisation, surely Kaji is involved with it?

Keep these hypotheses in mind. The following is a summary of seven points of foreshadowing:

Foreshadowing, part 1: The contrast between the red and blue seas.

The seas of Rebuild Evangelion have been dyed red with each subsequent impact. 

The Marine Research Organization is the exact opposite of NERV and SEELE’s goal/mission, in terms of their ultimate effects:

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The logos of NERV and WILLE, as of Evangelion 3.0.

The contrast between the red and blue seas, as they represent Rebuild’s worldview, also represent the nature of the conflict structure between NERV and WILLE.

Foreshadowing, part 2: The Blue WILLE armband

All members of WILLE wear a light blue armband:

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While not explained in the movies themselves, it’s likely that these armbands symbolize the Marine Research Organization’s plan to restore the blue sea.

Foreshadowing, part 3: The relationship between Kaji and the Marine Research Organization

In 2.22, Kaji takes Shinji and the other children to the Marine Research Organization under the pretense of it being a “sociology field trip.”

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Kaji welcoming Shinji and the others to the Marine Research Organization, from Evangelion 2.0.

This scene suggests Kaji already had some kind of preexisting relationship with the Marine Research Organization. There’s a strong likelihood that Kaji was gathering information on NERV and SEELE for a separate, third organization.

Foreshadowing, part 4: The relationship between Kaji and Mari.

Mari calls Shinji “NERV’s Puppy Boy” - as of 2.0, she likely belonged to an organization that isn’t NERV. 

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(*Note*: The conversation Mari was having over the phone during this scene was likely with Kaji, as well!)

Mari acts very mysteriously. Considering she is Kaji’s subordinate, it’s possible she’s also performing the role of a spy sent by Kaji to investigate NERV.

Foreshadowing, part 5: The relationship between Kaji and Misato.

Misato tries to get background information on NERV from Kaji:

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Misato: What about intel on the organization above us, SEELE, or something? Anything you can tell me?
Kaji: I’d advise against snooping around about that project.
Misato: That’s not an option. The Human Instrumentality Project…What is NERV trying to do behind the scenes?
Kaji: That’s…something I’d like to know, too.

Even during 2.0, Misato had her suspicions against NERV.

Foreshadowing, part 6: Mari = Konemegane

Asuka calls Mari ‘konemegane’ in Evangelion 3.0. 

(*Translator’s note: Konemegane means “glasses girl with connections” (lit. a shortened form of “connection” + [someone wearing] “glasses”). It’s translated to a number of different things in English releases of 3.0, probably because it’s an absolute mouthful and there’s nothing equivalent in English.)

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Kaji is the only character Mari is shown having any kind of preexisting connection with. So does this mean that the “connection” in konemegane refers to Mari’s connection with Kaji? (Who is likely WILLE’s founding father?)

Foreshadowing, part 7: The relationship between Kaji and Takao Koji.

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A new character in Evangelion 3.0, WILLE Operator Takao Koji knows about Kaji, and perhaps his relationship with Misato, as well:

“The Captain [Misato] is even more interesting than Kaji let on.”
- Koji, Evangelion 3.0

In Summary:

  • Ryoji Kaji’s allegiances are most likely with the Marine Research Organization, and he’s infiltrated NERV and SEELE as a spy.
  • Kaji visits the Marine Research Organization to prospect the location that will later become his base.
  • It is possible that the purpose of inviting Shinji and the others to the facility under the guise of it being a “field trip” was to collect information on Eva pilots:
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  • The Marine Research Organization likely conducted investigations as to why the Second Impact turned the sea red.
  • While he was investigating NERV, Kaji became aware of the Instrumentality Project. It’s likely he was trying to establish an ‘Anti-NERV Organization’ that would later become WILLE.
  • Misato, who’d been suspicious of NERV all along, joined WILLE sometime between 2.0 and 3.0.
  • Mari, Kaji’s subordinate, joined WILLE before Asuka (thanks to her connections), which explains why Asuka calls her konemegane.
  • So, Kaji - whose undercover work in 2.0 has affected the world of 3.0 - will most likely appear in 3.0+1.0 on the side of WILLE as its founder.


#ryoji kaji#shinji ikari#mari makinami illustrious#meta#analysis
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