Child Number 1

An escaped child esper whose collision triggers a chain reaction of destruction.

Child Number 1 is a key figure in the Akira narrative, identified as one of the espers who escaped from a government laboratory with the aid of a resistance organization. Alongside fellow subjects Masaru and Kiyoko, this child plays a pivotal role during a violent rally where Shōtarō Kaneda's biker gang clashes with rivals. These young subjects possess powerful telekinetic and psychic capabilities that threaten military complexes and drive the plot's central conflict.

Quick Facts

Character type: Child Esper; Psychic Subject
First appearance: The Akira (1988)
Key ability: Telekinesis and Telepathy

Lore & Background

In 2019, Neo-Tokyo is plagued by corruption and gang violence. During a violent rally, Shōtarō Kaneda leads his bōsōzoku gang against the rival Clown gang. The conflict escalates when Kaneda's best friend, Tetsuo Shima, inadvertently crashes his motorcycle into Takashi as an 'esper who escaped from a government laboratory'. This collision is the catalyst for the entire story, granting Tetsuo powerful telekinetic abilities. The source identifies three specific espers involved in these early events: Takashi, Masaru, and Kiyoko.

Reader's Guide

However, it details their critical function: they are former government subjects who escaped with resistance help. Their powers include telepathy (communicating warnings) and telekinesis (used by Tetsuo after his collision). The group's dynamic is defined by their attempts to control or stop the destructive potential of Akira and later Tetsuo. Kiyoko specifically acts as a mediator, using Kei as a medium to break Kaneda out of custody. These children possess powers similar to Akira, which can lead to catastrophic events if not managed.

Did You Know?

Colonel Shikishima recaptured Takashi but had to treat Tetsuo for the injuries sustained in the crash.
Kiyoko forewarned Colonel Shikishima that Neo-Tokyo faced impending destruction due to the psychic events.
The espers eventually revived Akira, who created a singularity to stop Tetsuo's transformation.