The manga series Jujutsu Kaisen features an extensive cast of characters created by Gege Akutami.
Concept and creation Jujutsu Kaisen originated from author Gege Akutami's four-chapter series Tokyo Metropolitan Curse Technical School, which was later retitled Jujutsu Kaisen 0. The initial design of Yuta Okkotsu was similar to that of Megumi Fushiguro, another Jujutsu Sorcerer, in the main series. Consequently, Akutami altered Yuta's appearance for the main series. When creating Jujutsu Kaisen, Akutami created a new character, Yuji Itadori, for the leading role, while Yuta became a supporting character. Similarities between Yuta and Itadori include their introduction to Jujutsu, experiences with tragedy, naivety, and having faced death. Despite their similarities, Itadori is characterized by an outgoing demeanor, while Okkotsu is comparatively reserved.
Regarding the process of character creation, Akutami claimed that characters must fall within the canons of manga to capture readers' attention. Yuji is largely inspired by the older brother of Akutami, described as the author's opposite for having succeeded in both sports and academics. Akutami stated that the message of Jujutsu Kaisen is that nobody possesses absolute truth, not the "good guys" nor the "bad guys", and if nobody is right, then nobody is wrong either, with each character acting according to their own ethics. The Sensui arc of YuYu Hakusho inspired Akutami to create evil characters with the goal of eradicating humanity, for whom readers might nevertheless feel a certain empathy. Akutami commented that, regarding the story elements and the three main characters, Nobara Kugisaki "practically writes herself." For Chapter 9, Akutami provided Megumi with a line about an "unfair life" to develop his character. Akutami commented that this was "a lesson that there are some things you can only grasp once you actually have a character say lines in your manuscript", and added that Megumi "unintentionally" ended up being similar to Osamu Mikumo from World Trigger. Akutami also expressed regrets over the handling of Junpei Yoshino and his story arc.
With Sukuna and Mahito, Akutami wanted to avoid the typical "deep down they are good" idea, stating that they are intrinsically evil beings who enjoy making humans suffer, but Akutami noted that it cannot be proved that they are wrong, adding that Mahito was like Thanos in Avengers: Endgame, as Akutami never felt hatred for him. For some characters, like Panda and Toge Inumaki, Akutami first created their visual aspects, while the character of Satoru Gojo came from an idea representing the paroxysm of force. Sukuna was Akutami's first favorite character due to a design influenced by everything Akutami had read, but Kento Nanami was the first character properly created and developed by Akutami, making Nanami the author's later favorite character.
Tokyo Prefectural Jujutsu High School Students Yuji Itadori
is a high school student who inadvertently becomes the vessel for the powerful Curse after consuming one of his fingers to protect his friends. Recruited by Satoru Gojo, he enrolls at Tokyo Jujutsu High under a suspended death sentence, tasked with collecting Sukuna's remaining fingers. Yuji trains under Kento Nanami and befriends Aoi Todo, mastering . During the Shibuya Incident, Sukuna briefly takes control, massacring civilians before Yuji regains dominance. He later defeats Mahito with Todo's aid, but Sukuna eventually transfers into Megumi Fushiguro's body. Yuji awakens and the of Sukuna, as well. Alongside allies, he weakens Sukuna until Megumi resists from within. A final Black Flash ends the battle. Sixty-eight years later, he is considered humanity's strongest Jujutsu Sorcerer, and his whereabouts are unknown.
Megumi Fushiguro
is a first-year student at Tokyo Jujutsu High, trained by Satoru Gojo. He encounters Yuji Itadori while retrieving a cursed object and later advocates sparing Yuji after Sukuna's possession. As a descendant of the Zen'in clan, Megumi wields the , summoning from shadows to exorcise Curses. His potential earns recognition from Sukuna and others, though Gojo prevents his adoption by the Zen'in. During missions, he develops an incomplete , a Domain Expansion that enhances his . After Naobito Zen'in's death, Megumi is named clan head. In the Culling Games, he fights to save his sister Tsumiki, only for Sukuna to possess him after Yorozu's defeat. Sukuna exploits Megumi's despair, using Mahoraga to kill Tsumiki. During Gojo's battle with Sukuna, Megumi endures Infinite Void's effects. Though initially unresponsive, he later resists Sukuna's control after Yuji's intervention.
Nobara Kugisaki
is a first-year student at Tokyo Jujutsu High, trained by Satoru Gojo. She wields the , attacking with nails and a hammer to channel two primary abilities: , which links her strikes to a target's body or soul, and , which detonates her nails with Cursed Energy. Originally from a rural village, she left to escape its oppressive environment. Partnered with Yuji and Megumi, she defeats the Death Painting brothers Eso and Kechizu. During the Shibuya Incident, Mahito gravely wounds her, leaving her comatose until the Shinjuku Showdown, where she assists Yuji's final attack on Sukuna with Resonance.
Maki Zen'in
is a second-year student at Tokyo Jujutsu High. Born into the Zen'in clan without Cursed Energy, she compensates with superhuman physical abilities granted by her , requiring special glasses to perceive Curses. After leaving her clan's oppressive hierarchy, she becomes a skilled combatant using cursed tools. During the Shibuya Incident, she fights alongside Naobito Zen'in and Kento Nanami against Dagon. Following her twin sister Mai's death, Maki destroys the Zen'in clan and claims their armory, gaining the Split Soul Katana. In the Culling Games, she reaches her full potential while battling Naoya's Cursed Spirit. Later, she joins the fight against Sukuna, surviving multiple lethal attacks before being rescued by allies.
Toge Inumaki
is a second-year student at Tokyo Prefectural Jujutsu High School who takes part in the Sister School Exchange Event alongside Maki and Panda. Inumaki's Cursed Technique is . He keeps his mouth covered and speaks only in various ingredients of rice balls. This is due to his cursed power concentrated in his voice, creating various effects against Curses depending on how he speaks and uses his words. During the Shibuya Incident, he is accidentally caught in Sukuna's Domain Expansion while trying to save the residents trapped in the area and loses his left arm. Following Gojo's release, he reunites with his friend Yuta. During the battle against Sukuna in Shinjuku, he records himself using Cursed Speech and Yuta uses the recorder to stall Sukuna's movements, though Inumaki still suffers the feedback of his technique.
Panda
is a sentient Cursed Corpse and second-year student at Tokyo Jujutsu High, created by principal Masamichi Yaga. Unlike typical Cursed Corpses, Panda possesses three interchangeable cores that alter his form and abilities between panda, gorilla, and triceratops modes. During the Sister School Exchange Event, he befriends Mechamaru after their match. Following Yaga's death, Panda participates in the Culling Games alongside Yuji and Megumi. He battles Hajime Kashimo, a reincarnated sorcerer from 400 years ago, who destroys two of his cores before Kinji Hakari intervenes. The damage reduces Panda to a smaller, cub-like form, though he survives the encounter.
Yuta Okkotsu
is a Special Grade sorcerer originally introduced in Jujutsu Kaisen 0. Initially haunted by his cursed childhood friend Rika Orimoto, he trains under Satoru Gojo at Jujutsu High, mastering his immense Cursed Energy. His technique allows him to replicate others' abilities, while maintaining a weakened version of Rika as a . After defeating Suguru Geto and lifting Rika's curse, he studies abroad before returning as Yuji's potential executioner. During the Culling Games, he defeats powerful opponents like Ryu Ishigori and Uro while protecting civilians. He later assists in the battle against Sukuna, utilizing his Domain Expansion and copied techniques. Though nearly killed by Sukuna, he survives and briefly inhabits Gojo's body to unleash Hollow Purple against Sukuna's Domain.
Kinji Hakari
is a suspended third-year at Tokyo Jujutsu High. He runs an underground Sorcerer fight club. Recognized by Gojo and Yuta as potentially surpassing them, he joins Megumi and Yuji to fight Kenjaku after learning of Gojo's sealing and Yaga's death. His innate technique manipulates pachinko machine parts, and his Domain Expansion, , creates a train station-like environment where hitting a jackpot (1/239 chance) grants him four minutes and eleven seconds of unlimited Cursed Energy, automatic healing, and unkillable status. Using this, he defeats Hajime Kashimo and later holds off Uraume during Sukuna's battle with Gojo.
Kirara Hoshi
is a third-year student at Tokyo Jujutsu High suspended for clashing with authority. While away from the school, Kirara has partnered with Hakari while running his fight club. Their Cursed Technique is , a complex technique whose motif is based on the Southern Cross constellation. For someone marked with one star to approach someone marked with another star, they must follow a determined order, or else targets of the same star will attract each other. The order follows the stars from nearest to furthest distance to the Earth: Imai, Acrux, Mimosa, Ginan, and Gacrux. They agree to Megumi and Yuji's request for help, after hearing about everything that transpired at Shibuya and after. Kirara is later outside the barriers of the Culling Game serving as the provider of intel for one group.
Faculty and staff Satoru Gojo
is a renowned Special Grade Jujutsu Sorcerer and teacher at Tokyo Jujutsu High, widely regarded as the world's strongest sorcerer. His abilities include the , which optimizes Cursed Energy usage, and the technique, granting spatial manipulation at atomic levels. This encompasses (near-impenetrable defense), (gravitational attraction), (repulsive force), and (annihilative energy). His Domain Expansion, , overwhelms opponents with infinite sensory input. As Yuji Itadori's mentor, Gojo safeguards him to contain Sukuna. During the Shibuya Incident, he is sealed by Kenjaku after defeating multiple Special Grade curses. Released later, he duels Sukuna, overpowering the Ten Shadows technique before falling to Sukuna's perfected spatial slash. His body is temporarily utilized posthumously through Kenjaku's technique.
Kiyotaka Ijichi
is an assistant manager of Tokyo Prefectural Jujutsu High School. He can create curtains, a technique used to implement a barrier to separate an area from the outside. Nanami revealed that he was once training to be a combatant type of sorcerer, but because of Gojo's comments, he chose to become a manager instead. He is injured by Shigemo during the events at Shibuya, but Shoko saves him and the two of them later reunite with Gojo after he is unsealed.
Shoko Ieiri