Misato Katsuragi

Misato Katsuragi (葛城 ミサト) is a central character in the Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise, serving as the Operations Director at Nerv with the rank of Captain and later Major. She is responsible for commanding Nerv’s tactical operations and overseeing the Evangelion pilots, including Shinji Ikari and Asuka Langley Soryu, both of whom live under her care. While she presents a professional and capable front as a strategic commander, her private life is characterized by messiness, a heavy drinking habit—particularly Yebisu beer—and a carefree attitude that masks deep-seated psychological trauma.

Her backstory is defined by the Second Impact, an event she survived as a teenager after being saved by her father, Dr. Katsuragi, who sacrificed his life for her. This trauma left her mute for years and fueled her complex relationship with men, leading her to seek her father’s image in her former lover, Ryoji Kaji. Throughout the series, Misato evolves from a loyal Nerv officer to a skeptical investigator who uncovers the truth behind the Human Instrumentality Project. In the Rebuild of Evangelion film series, her character arc culminates in her becoming the stern leader of Wille, an organization dedicated to destroying Nerv, eventually sacrificing herself to save Shinji and the world.