Kaneki doesn’t just “change” in season 3 — he has lost his memories and is living under the new identity Haise Sasaki , working with the CCG. Later in the season, his old memories start returning, and he begins to reconnect with who he really is.

What happened

  • After the events of season 2, Kaneki is badly injured and mentally broken.
  • The CCG gives him a new identity: Haise Sasaki.
  • In season 3, the story follows him as a CCG investigator before his memories gradually come back.
  • By the end of that arc, he is no longer just Haise; his original self, Kaneki, resurfaces.

Why it feels confusing

Season 3 jumps into a new status quo, so it can feel like Kaneki “disappeared,” but he’s actually the same person with memory loss and a new role.

Simple version

Kaneki was defeated, lost his memory, became Haise, and then started remembering his old life again in season 3.

TL;DR: Kaneki survives, becomes Haise Sasaki, and later regains his memories in season 3.