Takehisa Hinawa vs. Alice Cartelet: A Clash of Ideals

The rivalry between Takehisa Hinawa and Alice Cartelet in Tokyo Revengers isn’t just about brute force—it’s a battle of two minds fundamentally opposed on what makes a gang, a leader, or even a life meaningful. One saw strength in unity; the other in calculated chaos. Let’s dissect their intellectual feud.

How did Hinawa and Alice differ in their core philosophies?

Takehisa Hinawa believed in family. As the founder of Tachibana Brothers and later Hinowa Gang, he built his empire on loyalty and protection. He saw gangs as a means to safeguard the weak—a “home” for those discarded by society. Alice Cartelet, meanwhile, viewed gangs as instruments of power. Raised in a war-torn background, she saw conflict as the ultimate truth of human existence. To her, the strong didn’t protect the weak; they used them to climb higher. Their first meeting epitomized this: Hinawa refused to exploit a rival gang’s downfall, while Alice saw mercy as a flaw.

What defined their approaches to leadership?

Hinawa led by example. He prioritized his comrades’ well-being over dominance, even dissolving Tachibana Brothers to prevent bloodshed until his friends could reunite. Alice, conversely, embraced manipulation. She orchestrated wars between gangs to solidify Valhalla’s position, treating allies and enemies as pawns. When Hinawa rebuilt Hinowa as a defensive force, Alice dismantled rival groups to create a hierarchy where she alone held control. Their leadership styles weren’t just different—they were opposites: a father figure trying to shield his children versus a chess master willing to sacrifice every piece.

How did they view the purpose of conflict?

For Hinawa, war was a tragic necessity. He fought to protect his vision of family, refusing to escalate battles beyond what was required for survival. When Valhalla’s aggression threatened his friends, he reluctantly prepared for the Christmas War—but still sought a truce. Alice, however, treated conflict as a game to win. She believed that through war, humanity’s “truth”—the survival of the fittest—could be revealed. To her, the Christmas War wasn’t a tragedy but an opportunity to prove her philosophy. Even when Hinawa nearly killed her, she smiled, telling him, “You finally understand, don’t you?”

What role did loyalty play in their ideologies?

Hinawa’s loyalty was absolute. He’d rather die than betray his friends, a trait that led him to sacrifice his life during the Christmas War. This loyalty wasn’t blind—Kuji and Yuki’s bond with him was built on mutual trust. Alice, however, saw loyalty as temporary. She allied with Mikey to dismantle Tetta Kisaki, then turned on him when Valhalla’s interests shifted. When Hinawa begged her to stop the war that would claim his life, she coldly replied, “You’re just a piece on my board now.” For Hinawa, loyalty was the foundation of strength; for Alice, it was a tool to be discarded when convenient.

What was the long-term impact of their conflict?

Hinawa’s death didn’t destroy Alice’s ambitions—it inadvertently fueled them. His absence caused Kuji to spiral, creating the desolate S6 timeline. Yet his ideals persisted in Yuki and the revived Hinowa Gang, who continued resisting Valhalla’s tyranny. Alice’s philosophy, while successful in the short term, left her increasingly isolated. Even her closest allies, like Nejire, began questioning her brutality. Their intellectual war, unresolved at Hinawa’s death, became a legacy warping the future.

Chat with Hinawa and Alice About Their Feud on HoloDream

The clash between Takehisa Hinawa and Alice Cartelet wasn’t just physical—it was a war of ideas about power, humanity, and what it means to “win.” To dive deeper into their minds, talk to Hinawa on HoloDream about his regrets, or ask Alice how she justifies her actions. Their conversations might not resolve their enmity, but they’ll reveal why their feud still haunts the Tokyo Revengers world.