Anime and manga are no strangers to suffering. Countless stories use pain as a storytelling tool, allowing viewers to experience hardship indirectly through each scene. The suffering of characters creates a deeper connection between anime and its fan community.
Here are the 10 most tragic characters in Jujutsu Kaisen:
10. Riko Amanai
Riko Amanai’s suffering often goes overlooked. As a Star Plasma Vessel, she was expected to restore balance to the Jujutsu world by merging with Master Tengen. Protected by Suguru Geto and Satoru Gojo, Riko accepted her fate at a very young age.
Tragically, Riko was killed by Toji Fushiguro, and her death profoundly changed the lives of both Gojo and Geto.
9. Junpei Yoshino
It’s unfortunate that Junpei Yoshino had so little screen time and such a brief story. This introverted teenager was mercilessly bullied, and after suffering too much, he turned to Mahito seeking escape. Under Mahito’s influence and the world’s indifference, Junpei’s worldview twisted into a chaotic mix of doubt and resentment.
Junpei serves as a stark reminder of what Yuji Itadori might have become without help. Mahito’s decision to kill Junpei marked a heartbreaking end to his bleak life.
8. Choso
Born as a “Dead Womb,” Choso lived torn between his human nature and his curse. Despite his conflicted existence, he fought to protect his brothers and ultimately found a new family in Yuji Itadori.
Although his story took a hopeful turn, Choso was defeated by creator Akutami in chapter 259. His self-sacrificial death protecting Yuji was tragic.
7. Megumi Fushiguro
Megumi’s reserved, calm, and stoic exterior hides a life full of contradictions. After being sold by his parents to the Zenin Clan, emotional scars from their neglect run deep. Megumi internalizes his pain, despite having every chance to lash out at the world.
Instead, he sacrifices himself to protect Yuji, Nobara Kugisaki, and those close to him. Megumi’s story is one of bearing heavy burdens, speaking little, and forgetting his own worth.
6. Toji Fushiguro
Born without cursed energy into one of the most respected Jujutsu clans, Toji Fushiguro became a victim of his own suffering. Abuse and neglect from the Zenin Clan warped his view of life.
As an outcast, Toji was forced to become a villain by the end of his life, accepting that his worth was limited to his unmatched strength. When finally given a chance to redeem himself with Megumi, he chose suicide, freeing his son from the burden of killing his own father.
5. Nobara Kugisaki
Nobara refused to be anyone or anything other than herself. She challenges gender stereotypes and avoids shallow molds, embracing her true self without judgment. However, raised in isolation, Nobara relied on strong confidence and pride to mask her loneliness.
4. Yuji Itadori
Yuji Itadori’s heroism throughout Jujutsu Kaisen comes at a steep cost. He is no stranger to suffering, and life has been harsh. By swallowing Sukuna’s finger to save others, Yuji paid the highest price, becoming the vessel of the King of Curses.
As a result, Yuji must go against his grandfather’s wishes and has unintentionally killed innocent people under Sukuna’s control. Throughout the series, Yuji struggles with the responsibility for countless deaths. His guilt runs deep.
3. Suguru Geto
Geto’s suffering is both profound and tragic. He is trapped between internal and external conflicts, pressured to define his own moral limits. Though expected to protect non-sorcerers from curses, he cannot help but despise those he is meant to save. Gradually, he grows to hate human cruelty and weakness.
Loneliness threatens to overwhelm Geto, and his beliefs become extreme. His massacre instead of protection marks a moral point of no return. He completely abandons hope of mending his relationship with Gojo after their painful split, as well as any hope for a better life.
2. Nanami Kento
Nanami understands that the Jujutsu world exploits youth and glorifies death as an act of bravery. Returning to the “real” world, he endures the inhumane life of a salaryman, suffering even more through mundane hardships. Nanami’s decision to return to Jujutsu was a duty.
He embodies everyday despair and openly shows exhaustion. Nanami once dreamed of retiring in Malaysia after the Shibuya Incident. Instead, he faced a bitter, bloody death, leaving behind an unforgettable story.
1. Satoru Gojo
One of the most confident and assertive anime characters, Gojo excels at presenting himself the way he wants to be seen. Behind his charming yet irritating facade lies an incredibly lonely Jujutsu sorcerer. His hidden pain stems from a lack of genuine human connection. Gojo’s power and abilities have allowed him to achieve almost everything, yet he still struggles to build relationships. His greatest failure is Geto.
Their relationship caused Gojo to lose part of himself. He lost someone who truly understood his life and could stand by his side. Gojo’s eventual killing of Geto was a sorrowful act. His death was far from quiet, taking the life of a man who spent his whole existence yearning to be truly human.