With so many fantastic contenders, shonen is a tough genre to compete in for popularity. Hundreds of other blockbuster action anime, such as My Hero Academia and Attack on Titan (to name a few), are already sitting at the top of the food chain. As such, it is difficult for newcomers to enter the mainstream and hold on to the limelight, but that is exactly what Jujutsu Kaisen has accomplished. Premiering among many other shows in the fall 2020 anime season, it didn't take long for it to establish itself as the "next big thing."

As is common with the greatest hits, Jujutsu Kaisen comes with an ample cast of colorful and diverse characters, who are each amazing in their own way. But not all of them are liked by fans equally, and the best characters of all quickly distinguish themselves from the rest.

Updated on December 22nd, 2023, by Alexandra Locke: Jujutsu Kaisen has only gained popularity since the anime's release in 2020. Now that the second season has aired, even more characters have captured fans' hearts. Since Season 2 has recently come out, and CBR's formatting standards have changed, this article has been updated to reflect these changes and character additions.

15 Mei Mei Walks with Confidence

Mei Mei is a kindred spirit with Toji Fushiguro since they both seem to only care about money. Although she is a part of the Jujutsu Sorcerers, Mei Mei does nothing if she isn't being monetarily compensated. Her pride in her time and effort is one of the reasons fans love her so much.

The biggest reasons for fan admiration, however, are undoubtedly Mei Mei’s style and signature walk. Mei Mei struts around with such a confident air that no one can take their eyes off her. Mei Mei is a strong, assured Sorcerer who knows her worth.

14 Miwa Kasumi Stands Out For Her Normalcy

Although Kasumi Miwa managed to beat out a lot of more prominent characters than herself, her place in the show's best characters is well-earned. To fans of the supernatural horror, Jujutsu Kaisen, any character who isn't outwardly jaded and/or traumatized is a breath of fresh air.

In Kasumi's case, the Kyoto second year is downright normal. With her fairly well-regulated moral compass, down-to-earth demeanor, and giant crush on Satoru Gojo, it's as if any regular fan of the show were magically plunked right into the middle of it. Kasumi's a fan favorite because she represents the many, many fans who just want to play with swords and hang with one of the hottest guys in anime.

13 Ryoumen Sukuna is Surprisingly Likeable (For A Demon)

Sukuna Ryomen is Jujutsu Kaisen's Big Bad, even if he prefers to play a long game. With so many villains ready to take on the Jujutsu sorcerers, he's got plenty of time to lie in wait. Therefore, despite his title as the King of Curses, he hasn't done anything too heinous, making him, undoubtedly, the most likable villain on the show, so far.

Despite being a demon on a whole different power level, (other than the occasional demon murder spree and psychotic rant), Sukuna Ryomen is a fairly easy-going person. Ironically enough, this demon of great caliber even let Yuji Itadori take over his own body. Sukuna is therefore bound to him, making for the ultimate odd couple.

12 Toji Fushiguro is Powerful Without Cursed Energy

Toji Fushiguro doesn’t have the best character, but his strength and unaffected demeanor make him a recent fan favorite. Toji always looks out for himself. Even though he was born into the Zenin clan and later took the name Fushiguro, Toji is not affiliated with anyone in particular. Rather, Toji prefers to follow where the money flows.

One of the most interesting things about Toji is how powerful he is without having any Cursed Energy. Because of his lack of Cursed Energy, he can remain invisible to scouts, but Toji’s real power is in his fighting skills. Even though he doesn’t have a Cursed Technique or any other inner magical power, Toji faces Satoru Gojo head-on. Though Toji eventually loses to Goji, the fact a non-Curse-user could stand up to Gojo is remarkable, and one of the many reasons why fans love Toji.

11 Junpei Yoshino Is Popular Because Of The Lessons His Story Teaches

Junpei Yoshino's place among Jujutsu Kaisen's top characters might come as a surprise for many. That being said, Jujutsu Kaisen is often praised for being unafraid to explore the darker themes of the Shonen genre. In his short time on the show, Junpei proves a few very poignant points that carry over into the overarching theme of the show — not all villains are evil, no hero can save everyone, and not everyone can be saved.

Even with a story as short and tragic as Junpei's, it's one that resonates with many. Pushed to the brink by senseless harassment from his peers and neglect from authority figures, Junpei finds himself an easy target for Cursed Spirit Mahito's manipulations. Although he finds genuine companionship in Yuji Itadori, he ends up serving as a harsh reminder of the unfairness of reality. Junpei's story is a sobering lesson indeed, but it's no wonder the wayward boy touched the hearts of so many.

10 Aoi Toudou Finds It Hard To Connect — But When He Does, He's All-In

Aoi Toudou is one of those divisive personalities; either audiences love him or hate him. Aoi also feels the same about everyone he meets. Although his moods are mercurial (at best) and violent (most of the time), when he finds a kindred spirit, he loves them with all that he has.

This particular personality quirk has spawned a bromance for the ages, after Aoi decided he and Yuji Itadori are bonded brothers, thanks to their similar taste in women. Despite Yuji's understandable reticence (after all, Aoi pulverized Yuji's actual closest friend), he's earned Aoi's full support in his training to be a powerful Jujutsu sorcerer and, if Aoi gets his way, in life.

9 Nobara Kugisaki Is The Balanced Middle Ground Of The Main Trio

Nobara Kugisaki makes up the female component of the main trio. Not as goofy as Itadori or as serious as Fushiguro, she represents a middle ground of her own. Although not outwardly the strongest in her class, she continues to prove her strength as a talented Jujutsu sorcerer.

It also isn't too much of an exaggeration to say that her weapons of choice — nails, a hammer, and a voodoo doll — are probably among the most unique and eerie in anime. Her fiery spirit and boundless energy keep everyone on their toes, friend or foe, earning her an effortless spot among the show's most popular characters.

8 Maki Zenin Fights to Prove Herself

Maki Zenin is one of the most skilled students at Jujutsu High. She is a relentless combatant and exceedingly quick on her feet. This is particularly exciting since Maki doesn’t have a Cursed Technique of her own.

Maki regularly demonstrates her intelligence and fierce abilities on the battlefield. Although she isn’t the tallest, she makes up for it with overwhelming evidence from her Cursed Spirit altercations. Maki’s twin sister, Mai, may have been born with inherent abilities, but it is Maki who first suggests that the two of them make their own way to prove to the clan that women are just as valuable as men.

7 Kento Nanami Sees Demon Hunting Is A 9-5 Job & Nothing More

Kento Nanami is one of the strongest sorcerers in the anime, on par with Gojo. He quit being a sorcerer at one point and started working as a normal salaryman as he didn't like being a sorcerer. He later returned to the fold, simply because Sorcery was the only job for which he was thanked.

A man of extreme professionalism and maturity, Nanami is the polar opposite of Gojo and carries an air of respect for himself. He treats his position as a Jujutsu Sorcerer as just another job and even refuses to fight demons past usual office hours, hating overtime just as much as anybody.

6 Toge Inumaki Has A Cursed Tongue (Except When It Comes To Food)

Jujutsu Kaisen is filled with interesting characters, each more peculiar than the other. Toge Inumaki is no different. Sorcerers in the Jujutsu Kaisen universe all use Cursed Techniques in one way or another.

For Inumaki, it is through his mouth. Due to his "Cursed Speech," signified by the marks on his tongue and both cheeks, he can't speak normally, since his words are quite literally cursed. Instead, Toge speaks with a limited vocabulary of words that are safe to use, and strangely enough, these safewords are made up of rice ball ingredients, such as "salmon" and "kelp."

5 Yuta Okkotsu Comes Into His Own

Yuta Okkotsu was once a timid young man who became a Special Grade Cursed Human upon the passing of his best friend, Rikka. Although Yuta doesn’t initially have much confidence, Rikka’s cursed power more than makes up for any of Yuta’s insecurities.

Eventually, Yuta trains under Satoru Gojo and becomes one of the top second-year Jujutsu Sorcerers. Yuta remains kind and humble except for when he’s in a fight with someone who hurt his friends. When that happens, he lets the full force of his anger out, showing his enemies his true abilities. Yuta’s newfound confidence and his generally welcoming personality endeared him to fans when he first appeared in Jujutsu Kaisen 0.

4 Suguru Geto Used to be Sympathetic

Suguru Geto is popular mostly due to his relationship with Satoru Gojo. The two seemed nearly inseparable, and both of them looked out for one another. The rapport that Geto has with Gojo is so strong that their bond lasts long past Geto’s turn to the dark side.

Geto is the perpetrator of innumerable crimes, but his past as a young Jujutsu High Student is what endears him to fans. After the beginning of the second season focused so much on Gojo and Geto’s time in high school, the creators showed a side to Geto that explains why Gojo has always had a certain rapport with him when they’re adults. For all his current crimes, Geto was once a young, bright-eyed student, which resonates with sympathetic fans.

3 Satoru Gojo Is So OP That Only Plot Armor Saves The Other Characters

Just like in the series, Satoru Gojo's reputation speaks for itself, easily placing him among the most beloved Jujutsu Kaisen characters. Gojo is a sensei-type character, but at times can be the most childish of them all.

However, Gojo's irreverent nature never overshadows his status as the show's most powerful sorcerer, as he shows time and time again in impressive feats against high-level Curses. He's proven so powerful that he's often written out of episodes to give the greener protagonists a chance to shine — a fact that has no doubt reflected in his slight drop in popularity.

2 Megumi Fushiguro Is A Mysterious Character But Has Great Banter With Yuji

Both Gojo and Itadori together make an extremely hilarious comedic duo, perhaps a little bit too much. Megumi Fushiguro's more subdued and austere nature serves to keep their team grounded, even if he ends up the butt of many of their jokes.

Hailing from a revered Sorcerer family, Megumi is powerful in his own right, with clear potential that's even caught the eye of Sukuna himself. Megumi's mysterious background makes him intriguing to fans, but the banter-fueled dynamic he and Yuji bring to the show makes them ceaselessly entertaining to watch.

1 Yuji Itadori Proficiently Leads The Show With His Humor & Unflappable Nature

Yuji Itadori as a protagonist is not the most solidly written character but, through him, the anime explores new and intriguing avenues within the Shonen genre. In a rather grim setting rife with murder and horrifying demons, Yuji provides some much-needed comic relief. One of Yuji's most likable characteristics is his nearly unflappable nature, a feature that is fairly unique in the genre.

Where many in Yuji's place might agonize over the many tragedies he regularly faces, Yuji's pragmatic personality ensures that the show's signature quick pace keeps moving. Another of Yuji's draws is the prospect of exploring his immense latent power. While he's far from the most powerful character on the show right now, with a ticking timebomb like Sukuna living within him, Yuji's in for a massive power boost that has fans itching to find out what happens next.