Everything You Need to Know About Kento Nanami in Jujutsu Kaisen

In this article, Qiuqa explores everything about Kento Nanami—a brilliant, sharply dressed Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerer—covering his life right up to his tragic end.

Here are 10 things to know about Kento Nanami:

1. He Lost His Best Friend in High School

During his first year at Jujutsu High, Nanami had a best friend named Haibara. They were dispatched to support Gojo and Geto, who were tasked with escorting Riko Amanai to Master Tengen. After Gojo, Riko, and Geto successfully rescued a hostage, Kuroi, in Okinawa, Nanami and Haibara began their assignment.

Their job was to eliminate enemy threats attempting to sabotage the airport, ensuring Gojo and Geto could safely return Riko to Tokyo.

Unlike Haibara, who was fired up for the mission and eager to prove his worth to their upperclassman, Geto, Nanami lacked any such enthusiasm. He believed the mission was far too dangerous for first-year students.

He even dwelled on worst-case scenarios that would render their efforts meaningless, such as a typhoon forcing the airport to close. When they learned that Gojo and Geto intended to stay another night in Okinawa, Haibara remained upbeat, while Nanami was visibly annoyed.

Eventually, the two first-years were sent on a routine mission to exorcise a Grade 2 Cursed Spirit. However, the entity they encountered turned out to be a Grade 1 Curse. In the end, Haibara was killed in action, leaving Nanami consumed by bitter frustration over his own powerlessness.

His resentment only deepened when Geto informed him that Gojo had taken over the assignment to exorcise the curse. He muttered bitterly, “Why doesn’t Gojo just handle all the missions?”

2. He Worked a Corporate Desk Job

Realizing that the Jujutsu world inherently forced comrades to accept death and sacrifice themselves for others, Nanami decided to become a corporate salaryman after graduating. His goal was to focus on amassing as much money as possible before turning forty. With those funds, he planned to move to a country with a low cost of living and simply enjoy a quiet life.

After two years at a securities firm, Nanami became a senior employee, training new hires on prioritizing corporate profits and pleasing clients. This included teaching dirty tactics—convincing clients to buy stagnant stocks simply to justify the fees they charged for monitoring the 24-hour market.

One day, while shopping at a bakery near his office, Nanami noticed a Cursed Spirit clinging to the baker’s shoulder. However, he chose to ignore it, unwilling to expose his past identity as a Jujutsu Sorcerer. A few days later, he returned and suddenly found himself venting to the baker. He talked about how his job merely involved making rich people richer just so they would hand their money over to his company.

Nanami firmly believed that no one would mourn if he left his firm, but if the bakery closed, people who loved her bread would be genuinely heartbroken. Before meeting this baker, Nanami had been disappointed because his usual supermarket had stopped selling his favorite bread. He was confused by his own impulse to flee the cycle of human society despite his high salary, while the baker was merely bewildered by his strange rambling.

Then, Nanami asked the baker to step closer and exorcised the Cursed Spirit on her shoulder. Instantly, the baker felt the heavy physical toll lift from her body. Overjoyed, she thanked Nanami repeatedly. In that quiet moment, Nanami resolved to quit his corporate job. He called Gojo to announce his return to the Jujutsu world—only for Gojo to burst out laughing at the news.

Later, when Gojo introduced Nanami to Yuji Itadori, Yuji was stunned to learn that Nanami had worked a normal desk job instead of immediately becoming a sorcerer. Nanami explained that during his time at the academy, he realized being a Jujutsu Sorcerer was terrible.

But while working his corporate job, he realized that being a salaryman was equally terrible. Ultimately, since both paths were awful, he chose the one he found slightly more tolerable: being a Jujutsu Sorcerer.

3. He Mentored Yuji Itadori

When a Cursed Spirit caused the unnatural deaths of three high school students in a movie theater, Gojo sent Nanami and Yuji to investigate, explicitly assigning Nanami to mentor Yuji on his first real mission.

Before setting out, Nanami demanded that Yuji prove his worth beyond simply being Sukuna’s vessel, bluntly stating that he did not yet recognize the boy as a true sorcerer. Yuji admitted his own weakness but swore he would grow stronger and earn Nanami’s acknowledgment.

Nanami, however, told Yuji not to try and convince him, noting that the Jujutsu higher-ups were the ones who needed convincing. He claimed he didn’t care either way, leaving Yuji completely flustered by his rigid demeanor.

Inside the theater where the victims died, Nanami taught Yuji how to spot the remnants of cursed energy, explaining that anyone who uses a Cursed Technique leaves behind a distinct footprint. Though Yuji couldn’t see the residue at first, he eventually managed to trace the culprit’s footsteps.

Nanami then informed him that once he could sense the residue before actually seeing it, he would be ready for solo missions. Yuji immediately celebrated this small victory, but quickly protested Nanami’s stiff attitude, frustrated that his mentor wouldn’t offer a single word of praise.

Nanami clarified that he wouldn’t offer praise or insults; instead, he demanded strict adherence to the facts and relentless self-discipline.

Reminding Yuji of their objective to track the enemy, Yuji confidently declared, “Let’s beat them with everything we’ve got!” Nanami swiftly shot him down, stating that if a moderate punch was enough to win, then a moderate punch was all they needed. This deflated Yuji, making it incredibly difficult for him to bond with the stoic man.

Later, they faced off against transfigured humans on the theater’s rooftop. Though he initially underestimated the boy, Nanami advised Yuji not to hesitate to ask for help if the enemy proved too much. However, Nanami watched in awe as Yuji’s Divergent Fist delivered a fatal blow in a single strike.

He was equally moved by Yuji’s righteous anger over Mahito warping innocent humans into monsters. In that moment, Nanami finally acknowledged Yuji as a true Jujutsu Sorcerer.

4. His Cursed Technique and Abilities

Nanami utilizes two Binding Vows. The first involves explaining his Cursed Technique to his opponent to maximize its effectiveness. The second releases a massive surge of cursed energy if a battle drags on past his designated working hours.

Nanami wields the Ratio Technique, which forcibly creates a weak point on his target. By dividing his target’s body length into tenths, he can quickly pinpoint and strike the exact seven-to-three focal point, delivering a devastating critical hit. This technique applies to humans, Cursed Spirits, and even inanimate objects.

In combat, Nanami relies on a blunt cleaver tightly wrapped in layers of cloth. Even against incredibly powerful foes, his Cursed Technique ensures catastrophic damage.

For instance, when Mahito attempted to block Nanami’s strike with a dense layer of cursed energy, his arm was still cleanly sliced. Conversely, against weaker opponents, the Ratio Technique allows him to slice clean through them despite using a blunt blade.

During his clash with Mahito, Nanami mapped the weak point of an underground building and delivered a massive punch to the wall. This allowed his cursed energy to spread, extending the Ratio Technique into the structure itself. He then severed Mahito’s leg, dropping the curse to the floor just as the compromised ceiling collapsed, burying Mahito under the rubble.

Nanami is not entirely dependent on his wrapped blade; he can seamlessly channel the Ratio Technique directly into his bare fists. Using this application, Nanami struck Shigemo in the face, sending him flying with brutal force. Shigemo later admitted that the blow would have killed him instantly if not for his own Cursed Technique.

Nanami ruthlessly followed up with a punch to Shigemo’s gut, dropping him to the ground, before hauling him up and delivering a finishing blow to his face that launched him deep into the distance.

5. He Strictly Enforced Working Hours

A former corporate slave turned Jujutsu Sorcerer, Nanami lived and fought by strict office hours. He clocked in at 10:00 AM and ended his shift at 6:00 PM, treating any combat outside that window as mandatory overtime.

While investigating the theater murders, Nanami tracked down the culprit’s hideout and confronted Mahito head-on. Before engaging, he bluntly informed Mahito that he intended to finish the fight quickly because he utterly despised working overtime.

Catching his breath during the grueling battle, Nanami glanced at his watch—it read exactly 6:00 PM. Having engaged Mahito at 5:00 PM, Nanami realized he was officially going into overtime.

Crossing this threshold triggered his Binding Vow, removing the self-imposed restrictions on his body and massively boosting his cursed energy. In this overtime mode, Nanami’s tactical mind accelerated, calculating the most efficient way to defeat his enemy.

Executing his strategy, Nanami punched the foundation of the building. Moving with blinding speed, he severed Mahito’s leg to prevent evasion, dropping him to the floor. He then flatly told Mahito he was going home, adding a dry farewell in case they both survived. A split second later, the ceiling caved in, burying Mahito under the debris.

6. He Deeply Cared About His Comrades’ Safety

#1

Despite being assigned together to investigate the theater murders, Nanami intentionally left Yuji behind when infiltrating Mahito’s hideout.

He refused to put Yuji—a rookie sorcerer—in danger. During the fight, Nanami suffered a severe abdominal wound when Mahito touched his soul in an attempt to warp him into a transfigured human.

Fortunately, Nanami survived because the cursed energy he used to guard his physical body subconsciously reinforced his soul.

Yuji was furious when he found out, frustrated that Nanami had excluded him and treated him like a burden. Nanami stood firm, knowing Yuji was secretly agonizing over having killed monsters that used to be innocent people.

Nanami sternly lectured the boy, telling Yuji that it wasn’t his time to kill just yet, though that day would inevitably come.

#2

When Yuji noticed a Veil descending over Satozakura High School, he immediately called Nanami, frantically declaring he was rushing in because he feared for his friend Junpei.

Though Nanami explicitly ordered him to stay put, he knew Yuji wouldn’t listen. Busy purging transfigured humans at Mahito’s base, Nanami delegated his work to Ino, terrified that Yuji would try to fight Mahito. Thankfully, Nanami arrived just in time.

Utilizing his Ratio Technique, he deflected a lethal strike from Mahito that would have severely injured Yuji.

#3

Inside the Veil, Yuji was horrified to find Junpei attempting to harm Shota. A fight broke out between them, as Junpei furiously lashed out at Yuji for protecting his bully.

Yuji eventually realized Junpei’s tragic motive: he believed Shota had planted the cursed object in his home, leading to his mother’s death. The truth was crueler—Mahito had planted the curse, corrupted Junpei, and orchestrated the encounter.

Mahito then revealed himself and warped Junpei into a transfigured monster. Playing into Mahito’s scheme to lure out Sukuna, a desperate Yuji begged the King of Curses to heal Junpei, offering anything in return. Sukuna refused. Junpei died, and Mahito’s plan failed.

Afterward, Gojo asked Nanami if he had told Yuji the full truth: that Sukuna’s finger had been planted right after Yuji left Junpei’s house. Understanding Yuji’s profound belief that everyone deserves a proper death, Nanami admitted he kept it a secret to spare Yuji from unnecessary self-blame.

Nanami even questioned Gojo’s plan to bring Yuji back to Jujutsu High while the boy was still presumed dead, fearing the higher-ups would target him again.

#4

After finding Ijichi bleeding out on the street from a sword wound, Nanami arrived to see Nobara and Nitta being tormented by an enemy.

Realizing that Shigemo was responsible, an enraged Nanami mercilessly beat him. After rescuing Nobara and Nitta, he reassured them that Ijichi was fine. However, when Nobara offered to help him fight in Shibuya, Nanami explicitly forbade it.

Knowing she was a lower-grade sorcerer, he feared she would be injured and become a liability.

#5

As Nanami, Maki, and Naobito navigated Shibuya Station, Naobito noted that Maki was the lowest-ranked sorcerer among them and suggested she go home.

Nanami agreed. Maki, however, shot back, convincing Nanami that she was far more reliable than the openly drunk Naobito. Realizing Naobito was intoxicated, Nanami began to doubt the old man. Anxious for both Naobito and Maki’s safety, Nanami deeply regretted not choosing to act alone.

#6

Trapped inside Dagon’s Domain Expansion, the trio was bombarded by a relentless swarm of massive fish Shikigami.

Even in this critical moment, Nanami’s first thought was Maki’s safety. He shouted tactical advice to Maki, who lacked cursed energy, helping her face the onslaught. Tragically, shifting his focus cost him dearly, and he was brutally mauled by the Shikigami swarm.

7. Yuji Saved Him From the Brink of Death

As Nanami and Yuji relentlessly cornered Mahito, the curse activated his Domain Expansion, trapping Nanami inside while intentionally locking Yuji out. Sealed within the Domain, Nanami accepted his inevitable fate, knowing Mahito’s attacks were guaranteed to hit and he lacked a Domain of his own to counter.

Refusing to give up, Yuji battered the Domain from the outside with all his might, ultimately forcing his way in. Because Yuji was Sukuna’s vessel, his entry caused Mahito’s Domain to inadvertently touch Sukuna’s soul.

Enraged by the intrusion, Sukuna lashed out, severely wounding Mahito and instantly shattering the Domain. Severely depleted of cursed energy, Mahito used his last reserves to escape. In the aftermath, Nanami sincerely thanked Yuji for saving his life when he was utterly helpless, finally recognizing Yuji as his savior.

8. He Was Exhausted by Satoru Gojo’s Antics

Once, while Nanami was peacefully reading the newspaper, a bored Gojo pestered him to tell an interesting story. Nanami ignored him. Undeterred, Gojo obnoxiously suggested playing catch with a stale rice ball while discussing secularism, even proposing they film it and upload it online to go viral.

Nanami remained unfazed, dryly telling Gojo to go have fun by himself. Gojo refused to yield, eagerly inviting Nanami to play the Yamanote Line game at his favorite spot. Nanami had zero interest, simply telling Gojo to keep stewing in his own idiotic ideas.

Later, Yuji came to meet with them. Having been presumed dead, Yuji wanted to cash in Gojo’s promise to return him to Jujutsu High during the Tokyo-Kyoto exchange event. Yuji was incredibly eager to reunite with his friends. Gojo declared that since Yuji had been hiding for two months, a normal reappearance was out of the question.

Instead, he mandated that Yuji pop out of a surprise gift box. Gojo told Yuji to trust his plan, promising that his friends would be shocked, crying, and laughing all at once. He even dramatically claimed the students would cry so hard they’d vomit, generating enough emotional energy to solve global warming.

A gullible Yuji agreed immediately. Watching from the sidelines, Nanami pitied Yuji’s innocence for blindly going along with Gojo’s nonsense. Internally, Nanami noted that a presumed-dead student returning alive was more than enough of a surprise on its own.

Unlike Yuji, Nanami aggressively rejected Gojo’s games. When Gojo once announced he had something important to say, Nanami preemptively replied, “Wonderful,” before Gojo even spoke. Annoyed by Nanami’s constant stonewalling, Gojo resorted to haunting him—popping up outside Nanami’s moving car and lingering when elevator doors opened.

Eventually, Gojo sent him a sealed letter. Catching Nanami off-guard, he felt a flicker of genuine curiosity, wondering if Gojo actually had something serious to convey. When he opened it, he found an inappropriate drawing. Nanami was utterly infuriated at having fallen for yet another idiotic trap.

Unsurprisingly, when Gojo first introduced Yuji to Nanami, Nanami bluntly warned the boy that he operated very differently from Gojo. Nanami admitted he trusted and respected Gojo, which made Gojo beam with pride. But Nanami immediately followed up loudly, stating he had absolutely zero respect for the man, much to Gojo’s profound shock.

9. He Suffered Devastating Injuries in Shibuya

Amidst the utter chaos of the Shibuya Incident that led to Gojo’s sealing, Nanami trudged forward alone, cursing how much he despised his own helplessness. This perfectly summarized his journey through Shibuya, as he was eventually rendered entirely helpless and suffered catastrophic injuries.

Trapped inside Dagon’s Domain Expansion, Nanami was subjected to a relentless Shikigami assault. The massive fish tore into him, shredding his shoulders and brutally maiming the left side of his face. After Toji slaughtered Dagon, the domain collapsed, freeing Nanami, Maki, Naobito, and Megumi. Toji immediately dragged Megumi away to fight.

Meanwhile, Jogo arrived at Dagon’s corpse. Boiling with rage, Jogo unleashed a torrential wave of fire, instantly incinerating Nanami, Maki, and Naobito. Though Nanami miraculously survived the blast, he was left half-dead. The entire left half of his body, from his head down to his waist, was grotesquely burned.

10. The Tragic End of Kento Nanami

Half-dead, Nanami nonetheless dragged his feet forward, marching relentlessly into a horde of transfigured humans. Delirious, he muttered about his dream to move to Malaysia, build a house on a beach in Kuantan, and spend his days reading books.

Even as his mind faded, he worried for Megumi’s survival against Toji, and grieved for Naobito and Maki, who had been caught in Jogo’s inferno alongside him.

Gripping his signature wrapped cleaver, Nanami mechanically butchered the transfigured humans. As he fought, his mind wandered to the life he had yearned for, envisioning himself walking on the beach in Kuantan, dancing lightly, and washing his face in the ocean water.

After he had cleaved through the horde, Mahito suddenly materialized behind him, pressing a palm to his back. Nanami reflected on his choice to flee the Jujutsu world, only to return for what now felt like a foolish reason. Suddenly, he saw the spirit of Haibara standing before him, pointing to the right. Turning his head, Nanami saw Yuji standing there. And in that exact moment, Mahito detonated Nanami’s body right in front of Yuji.