Due to the abundance of popular characters, Jujutsu Kaisen often ignites discussions within its fandom whenever a new popularity poll is held in Japan. This is largely due to the opportunity it provides for fans to observe varying perspectives and compare how these characters are perceived in different cultures.
This instance again demonstrated the distinction as Naoya Zen’in placed sixth and Maki held the ninth spot.
Despite being a relatively minor character, Naoya’s placement ahead of Maki in the latest episode of Jujutsu Kaisen came as a surprise to many Western fans. This was not only due to their known animosity towards each other in the manga, but also because there were only three spots between them. Interestingly, this aligns with Naoya’s previous statement in the Culling Game arc, where he expressed his belief that women should always walk three steps behind men.
Please note: The following article includes spoilers for the series.
Jujutsu Kaisen’s Shocking Reaction to Naoya Ranking Above Maki in Latest Popularity Poll
A recent popularity poll of Gege Akutami’s manga revealed that Naoya Zen’in, a minor antagonist in the series, ranked sixth, placing him three positions ahead of Maki.
The specific differences between the three places were sufficient to incite some online reactions regarding how it aligned perfectly with Naoya’s statement about women being three steps behind men.
It was no surprise that many were surprised by these results, considering Naoya’s role as a minor villain in the story. In the manga, he had little significance and was easily defeated by Maki. The two characters have a history of familial abuse, with Naoya constantly belittling and mistreating Maki for her gender and lack of Cursed Energy.
The Zen’in clan gained a reputation for their cruel and haughty treatment of others, a trait that perfectly aligns with Naoya’s personality as he embodies those characteristics to the extreme. This destruction of Toji Fushiguro’s life was a direct result of his lack of Cursed Energy, a fate that also befell Maki.
Social Media Response to the Outcome
Despite his association with Maki, Naoya received a lot of attention and reactions from the Western Jujutsu Kaisen fandom. Many were confused as to why he ranked so highly in the poll, but one fan theorized that his physical attractiveness made him appealing to the Japanese public.
“Apparently, he has a cute accent in japanese which is why he’s popular among female fans. He also has a cool char design tbh (traditional clothes + delinquent-like with his attitude, earrings, and bleached hair).”
Another fan pointed out that the Japanese tend to vote for a particular character solely for the purpose of having the mangaka draw them.
“Japan is kinda all over the place when it comes to popularity contests sometimes they’ll straight up vote characters as popular just to make the mangaka draw them not even out of likes. I mean it’s why Sero and that one kid from the MHA movie were in everything for a beat.”
Additionally, there are those who have praised the results and acknowledged that although Naoya may be a despicable person, he was intentionally written as a villain by author Gege Akutami. His behavior was not glorified, but rather meant to serve as an antagonist to Maki, which some find less intriguing.
“Naoya is a better villain than anything maki can hope to be and was better handled and more impactful in just 3-4 chapters he appeared than maki spanning in all 250+ chapters. King.”
It is important to remember that these are simply fan opinions and should not be taken as a personal criticism towards either those who hold different views or the author themselves.
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The reason behind the widespread animosity towards the Zen’in Clan in Jujutsu Kaisen will now be elaborated upon.
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