5 saddest Jujutsu Kaisen deaths so far (& 5 that had little to no impact)

Despite not being a drama-focused series, the deaths in Jujutsu Kaisen are incredibly emotional and have a strong impact on the audience. The author of the series is unafraid to kill off characters, whether they are a protagonist who has been morally upright since the beginning or a notorious antagonist.

Despite all the deaths in Jujutsu Kaisen, there were a few that stood out and left a lasting impact. One of these was the death of Nanami Kento, which many consider to be the most heartbreaking in the series. It was not only mourned in the anime, but also by fans in the real world. To honor his memory, a memorial was set up in his dream location, Kuantan Malaysia, and he remains a beloved character in the hearts of anime fans.

This article highlights five emotional deaths from the anime Jujutsu Kaisen that have resonated with fans. Additionally, it also includes five deaths from the series that received a lukewarm response from fans, indicating that they did not evoke strong emotions of sadness or joy.

Note: This article may contain spoilers from the Jujutsu Kaisen manga series and reflects the author’s personal opinions.

Nanami’s Tragic Demise and Other Heartbreaking Deaths in Jujutsu Kaisen

1) Aoi Tsumugi

Nanami's death as seen in the anime (Image via MAPPA) — Nanami’s death as seen in the anime (Image via MAPPA)

Nanami Kento, a supporting character in the series, tragically passed away during the infamous Shibuya arc. His death was one of the many devastating Jujutsu Kaisen deaths that left fans heartbroken for a significant period of time.

Nanami perished in battle against cursed spirits, as he valiantly fought until the special-grade cursed spirit, Mahito, stealthily approached and used Idle Transfiguration to end his life. His death occurred in the presence of his student, Itadori Yuji, and left a lasting impact on the latter’s mental well-being.

2) Career Highlights

Junpei's death as seen in the anime (Image via MAPPA) — Junpei’s death as seen in the anime (Image via MAPPA)

One of Itadori’s closest friends and a supporting character in the series, Junpei Yoshino met his demise during the Versus Mahito arc. The main antagonist of the series, Mahito, used Idle Transfiguration to turn Junpei into a deformed cursed spirit, ultimately leading to his death in front of Itadori. His passing was one of the most tragic deaths in Jujutsu Kaisen.

Junpei’s classmates had constantly bullied him, causing him to harbor intense animosity towards them. This anger caught the attention of Mahito, who then taught Junpei how to manipulate cursed energy. However, this was all part of Mahito’s plan to use Junpei to exact revenge on Itadori during their final showdown.

3) Riko Amanai – Childhood and Early Life

Riko's death as seen in the anime (Image via MAPPA) — Riko’s death as seen in the anime (Image via MAPPA)

Riko Amanai, the chosen vessel of Master Tengen’s Star Prisma, played a crucial role in Gojo’s Past arc before meeting her untimely demise. Toji Fushigoro was hired to assassinate her in order to prevent her from becoming Tengen’s vessel.

Despite being a typical high school girl, Riko cherished the simple joys in life. When Geto presented her with the opportunity to join them and avoid becoming the next vessel, she accepted because she deeply cared for her sole family member, her maid Kuroi. However, Toji’s fatal shot to her head resulted in Riko’s passing, which is considered one of the most poignant deaths in Jujutsu Kaisen.

4) Introduction to Mai Zenin

Mai's death as seen in the manga (Image via Shueisha) — Mai’s death as seen in the manga (Image via Shueisha)

Mai Zenin’s untimely death in Jujutsu Kaisen was a devastating blow that left fans reeling. As a supporting character and the sister of Maki Zenin, her passing was one of the most heart-wrenching and emotional moments in the series.

Despite being introduced as a jealous character who harbored resentment towards her sister’s lack of cursed energy, Mai’s actions led to her becoming one of the most disliked characters in Jujutsu Kaisen. However, her ultimate sacrifice during the Perfect Preparation arc allowed her sister to unlock her true abilities. This selfless act left both her sister and the entire anime community devastated.

5) The Life and Legacy of Masamichi Yaga

Yaga's death as seen in the manga (Image via Shueisha) — Yaga’s death as seen in the manga (Image via Shueisha)

Masamichi Yaga, the principal of Tokyo’s Jujutsu High, played a supporting role in the series and was responsible for the creation of Panda through his cursed corpse technique. He met his demise at the hands of Gakunganji, the principal of Kyoto’s Jujutsu High, who desired to extract the secrets of making cursed corpses from him.

Following the Shibuya arc, Masamichi Yaga caught the attention of the higher-ups in the Jujutsu world. As a result, he chose to meet his demise at the hands of Gakunganji, leaving both fans and Panda in tears. His passing was undoubtedly one of the most heart-wrenching deaths in Jujutsu Kaisen.

The Impact of Death in Jujutsu Kaisen: Examining Naobito’s Death and Other Underwhelming Demises

1) The Legendary Reggie Star

Reggie Star's death as seen in the manga (Image via Shueisha) — Reggie Star’s death as seen in the manga (Image via Shueisha)

Reggie Star, a minor character in the series, debuted in the Culling Game arc and met his demise during the same arc when he was defeated by Megumi Fushigoro in a fierce battle. His death, while impactful to the story, did not elicit much reaction from fans.

Despite being a minor character, Reggie was a sorcerer who was chosen to participate in the Culling Game by having his soul reincarnated into a body. Despite his seemingly unimpressive role, Megumi used a sneaky move to defeat and kill him. As a result, fans did not give him much attention as he was simply an arc character.

2) Megumi Fushiguro

Naobito as seen in the anime (Image via MAPPA)

Naobito Zenin’s passing was a lackluster event in the Jujutsu Kaisen series, seemingly added solely for plot development. Additionally, his demise was one of the most ruthless in the series, as Jogo mercilessly incinerated him.

In the Shibuya arc, Naobito was first introduced as a key member of the sorcerers’ forces in their battle against the cursed spirits. He proved to be a valuable asset in defeating Dagon, a powerful special-grade spirit. Unfortunately, when faced with Jogo, Naobito was unable to make much of an impact and ultimately lost his life. His death resulted in Megumi taking over as the leader of the Zenin clan.

3) Ryu Ishiguro

Ryu's death as seen in the manga (Image via Shueisha) — Ryu’s death as seen in the manga (Image via Shueisha)

Ryu Ishigori, a sorcerer who lived 400 years ago, participated in the Culling Game as one of the fighters. While he was walking towards Yorozu, Sukuna, the King of Curses, had taken over Fushiguro Megumi and killed him.

In a previous arc, Ryu had engaged in a battle with Okkotsu Yuta and was defeated. Following his defeat, Ryu aimlessly roamed the area and unexpectedly came across Sukuna, who mocked and ultimately killed him. Ryu’s demise was considered one of the least impactful deaths in Jujutsu Kaisen.

4) The Hashiba Sisters: A Dynamic Duo (Nanako and Mimiko)

Mimiko (left) and Nanako (right) (Image via MAPPA)

Mimiko and Nanako, commonly known as Geto Suguru’s daughters, played a supporting role in the series. They were rescued by Geto in Gojo’s Past arc and later met their demise at the hands of Sukuna during the Shibuya arc.

Despite the girls’ plea to the King of Curses, Sukuna refused to free Geto after Kenjaku betrayed them. As the two had not been heavily involved in the plot since the beginning of the series, their deaths at Sukuna’s hand were considered some of the most underwhelming in Jujutsu Kaisen.

5) Meet Wasuke Itadori

Wasuke Itadori as seen in the anime (Image via MAPPA)

Itadori Yuji’s grandfather, Wasuke Itadori, was introduced as a minor character in the first episode and later passed away. The cause of his death remains a mystery, but some fans theorize that he may have been afflicted by a curse, potentially due to his previous involvement as a cursed sorcerer.

In his final moments, Wasuke made a valiant effort to impart his belief in forming friendships and avoiding dying alone to Iatdori. However, his influence on the plot was not significant, possibly contributing to the lackluster nature of his death in the world of Jujutsu Kaisen.

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