10 Jujutsu Kaisen Characters Who Felt Doomed From the Start

One of the most popular hits in new-gen shonen anime, is a famously ruthless series that doesn’t shy away from killing off characters. Perilous dangers lurk at every corner in the world of sorcerers and cursed spirits, and plot armor rarely comes to the aid of the series’ heroes.

As a huge fan of Jujutsu Kaisen, I have to say Gege Akutami is a master at shocking us with character deaths – they always hit so hard and come when you least expect it! But honestly, in a series where anyone can die at any moment, some losses just felt…inevitable. It didn’t make saying goodbye any easier, of course, but you could kind of see it coming for certain characters, even if it still stung!

There Was Never a Chance to Save Tsumiki Fushiguro

Tsumiki Fushiguro, Megumi’s stepsister, was brought into the Culling Game by Kenjaku to serve as a host for the powerful ancient sorcerer, Yorozu. This forced her participation was a major reason why the main characters, especially Megumi, decided to join the dangerous battle. From the beginning, it seemed like there was no way to save her.

From the beginning, Tsumiki felt more like a tool used to create conflict and foreshadow tragedy, rather than a fully developed character. Unfortunately, this proved to be true. She was already a copy, replaced by Yorozu before the heroes even reached her, and then Sukuna brutally killed her to emotionally devastate her new vessel.

Mahito’s Death Was Expected But No Less Satisfying

The first major antagonist of Jujutsu Kaisen, Mahito is an intensely cruel, malicious cursed spirit who enjoys toying with his victims and bringing them as much despair as possible. Of course, after witnessing Mahito kill so many beloved characters, fans were quite sure that he would not be allowed to wreak havoc forever and looked forward to seeing him pay the price.

Watching Mahito go down during the Shibuya Incident was incredibly satisfying. It wasn’t just that Yuji beat him – Mahito was utterly defeated, desperately trying to run away. And then, to add to it, Kenjaku just absorbed him, turning him into nothing more than a pawn. It felt like a complete and total end for the character.

Riko Amanai Is Brutally Executed Right Before Reaching for a New Life

Riko Amanai, known as Master Tengen’s Star Plasma Vessel, first appeared in the Jujutsu Kaisen arc called Hidden Inventory, and from the start, everything about her cheerful personality and apparent importance to the world of jujutsu suggested she wouldn’t survive long. Despite this, Riko quickly became a beloved character among fans during her time on screen.

Even if Riko had agreed to become one with Tengen, she would have ultimately been lost, as her own thoughts and personality would have ceased to exist. She almost avoided this tragic outcome by choosing another path at the last second, but sadly, her death still happened, and it was both unexpected and deeply upsetting.

Yu Haibara Barely Got Any Time in the Spotlight

Yu Haibara, like Riko, appeared in a flashback focusing on the Hidden Inventory arc. He was a student at Tokyo Jujutsu High at the same time as Kento Nanami, one year behind Gojo and Geto. However, since Haibara was never mentioned previously in the story, fans assumed his time as a sorcerer was cut short, and that he likely met a sad end.

Though Haibara was a relatively unimportant character who died off-screen during a normal mission, his death powerfully illustrates how easily a sorcerer’s life can be lost. This loss deeply impacted both Nanami and Geto, causing Nanami to eventually leave the jujutsu world altogether and pushing Geto, who was already questioning things, towards more extreme views.

Junpei Yoshino Never Got a Chance to Become a Proper Sorcerer

Junpei Yoshino did terrible things after gaining his powers, but labeling him a villain isn’t quite right. He was a vulnerable and confused teenager who was taken advantage of by Mahito, and sadly, his tragic fate felt foreshadowed. Interestingly, the opening sequence of Season 1 shows a glimpse of Junpei as a Jujutsu High student, happily laughing with Itadori, hinting at what could have been.

That peaceful vision was just a fantasy, a life Junpei never actually had. Tragically, Mahito violently transformed him into a monstrous creature while Yuji watched helplessly. Because Mahito’s changes couldn’t be undone, Junpei ultimately died from the trauma of the transformation, passing away in Yuji’s arms.

Suguru Geto Was Killed by His Best Friend

Although it happens in the prequel movie Jujutsu Kaisen 0 and not the main story, Suguru Geto’s death is a key event that drives the entire series forward. If Geto hadn’t died, Kenjaku wouldn’t have been able to take over his body and start the Culling Game. Despite its importance to the plot, Geto’s death remains a deeply sad moment.

Following the traumatic experiences Geto endures during the Hidden Inventory arc, he loses all faith in the world of jujutsu and its supposed purpose of protecting people. This drives him to decide that all non-sorcerers must be eliminated, ultimately leading to the Night of a Hundred Demons and a battle with Yuta Okkotsu. Although Yuta mortally wounds him, Geto is ultimately killed by .

Choso’s Self-Sacrifice Is One of the Most Impactful Moments of JJK’s Finale

The intense battle against Sukuna in Shinjuku resulted in many sorcerers being killed or seriously injured. Sadly, Choso, Yuji Itadori’s older half-brother and one of the Cursed Womb: Death Paintings, was among those who died, and his selfless sacrifice was a particularly heartbreaking moment in the story.

I watched Choso transform from someone initially driven by revenge into a genuinely supportive older brother figure for Yuji after they discovered they were related. He really brightened things up in the later parts of the story. Still, there was always a sense that his path would end in sacrifice. In the end, he fulfilled the promise he made after Yuki Tsukumo’s last words, dying as a human to shield Yuji from Sukuna’s attack.

Kento Nanami Dies Tragically in Front of Yuji’s Eyes

Mentor figures in anime, and in fiction in general, rarely get to enjoy a long life, and Kento Nanami, despite being , is no exception. Nanami’s death is one of the most brutal and impactful in the entire series, greatly affecting not just the audience but also the series’ protagonist, Itadori, who had the misfortune of witnessing it.

During the intense Shibuya Incident, Nanami is pushed to his absolute limit. When he’s at his weakest, he encounters Mahito, who takes advantage of the situation, leading to Nanami’s death. Yuji arrives just in time to witness this tragic loss, causing him immense grief.

As the Series’ Final Antagonist, Sukuna Never Stood a Chance

From the very beginning of Jujutsu Kaisen, Sukuna has been a major threat. But the final showdown with him didn’t happen until the Shinjuku Showdown arc, which concluded the manga. Given the series’ history of putting both heroes and villains through brutal experiences, it was unlikely Sukuna would survive or receive a happy ending.

As the end of Jujutsu Kaisen approached, many viewers wondered if the story would take a surprising turn and have Sukuna win. However, the series concluded on a surprisingly positive note, with Itadori finally defeating Sukuna as everyone expected.

Satoru Gojo’s Death Was Both a Devastating Shock & a Long Time Coming

Many fans likely dreaded seeing this character defeated more than any other. As the most powerful sorcerer of his generation, it was hard to imagine anyone capable of defeating him. His last fight with Sukuna was incredibly exciting, with constant twists and turns, and it was genuinely difficult to guess who would win.

Sukuna ultimately managed to defeat Gojo, which, looking back, felt inevitable. Gojo was simply too powerful, and the author needed a way to remove him from the story without him solving everything on his own. Defeating Gojo allowed the newer, younger sorcerers to step up and continue the fight, fitting with the series’ focus on developing the next generation.

2026-05-25 23:46