Ryomen Sukuna is the King of Curses. Hearing his name is enough to send fear down the spines of certain cursed spirits and put all jujutsu sorcerers on high alert. As the overarching antagonist of Jujutsu Kaisen, he debuts in the very first episode after Yuji Itadori swallows one of his cursed fingers. Each time Sukuna takes over Yuji's body, he is given an opportunity to speak his mind, and the things he says are as intriguing as they are disturbing.

With each finger Yuji swallows, Sukuna's hold over his body becomes more powerful. In fact, the mere existence of these fingers is a testament to his power, since the sorcerers who defeated him couldn't even destroy his remains due to his immeasurable amount of cursed energy. Sukuna's one of the most malevolent characters in the world of Jujutsu Kaisen, and great evil often has a lot to say.

Updated on February 12, 2024, by Kenedy King: The second season of the Jujutsu Kaisen anime pushed the series to new heights, partially due to the presence of its beloved antagonist, Ryomen Sukuna. The King of Curses evidenced himself to be a truly dangerous opponent in the Shibuya Incident, and he is showing no signs of slowing down. This list has been updated

12 "It'll Be A Massacre!"

Manga

Chapter 1

Anime

Season 1, Episode 1, "Ryomen Sukuna"

Where are the people?! The women?! What a wonderful age this is! Women and children are spawning like maggots! Marvelous! It'll be a massacre!

Related
Every Character Death in Jujutsu Kaisen — And When They Occurred
Jujutsu Kaisen has a dark story with so many character deaths that it can be difficult for fans to keep track of them.

In the opening sequence of Jujutsu Kaisen, Yuji Itadori eats one of Ryomen Sukuna's fingers in an attempt to gain enough power to save his friends. However, after eating this Cursed Object, Yuji awakens the King of Curses, who briefly takes over his body and checks out his surroundings.

First, Sukuna observes the physical sensation of having a vessel, but very quickly, he turns his attention to the millions and millions of people living in Tokyo. When he looks out onto the city and observes the people within, Sukuna revels in the potential mayhem and destruction he can inflict.

11 "You Jujutsu Sorcerers Are A Pain."

Sukuna grinning at the camera in Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 Episode 17

Manga

Chapter 2

Anime

Season 1, Episode 2. "For Myself"

"No matter what era it is, you jujutsu sorcerers are a pain."

When Satoru Gojo finds that Yuji Itadori has successfully suppressed Ryomen Sukuna's will after eating one of his fingers, he tells the young teen to relinquish control of his body to the ancient sorcerer for ten seconds. During this time, the World's Strongest Sorcerer trades blows with Sukuna, who only possesses one-twentieth of his full power.

Even though Sukuna tries to ambush Satoru Gojo, the King of Curses is caught off guard by his quick reflexes. Although Sukuna only has ten seconds to fight the world's best sorcerer, he quickly realizes he is no match, at which point he bemoans the presence of sorcerers.

10 "Any Hierarchy Other Than Strength Is Boring"

Sukuna smiling in the rain Jujutsu Kaisen

Manga

Chapter 3

Anime

Season 1, Episode 2. "For Myself"

"A system that isn't based purely on strength is boring if you ask me. When I make this kid's body mine, you'll be the first one I kill."

As many strong villains do, Ryomen Sukuna believes that if a hierarchy must exist in jujutsu society, then it must be based solely upon the strength of a sorcerer. After all, this same system objectively states that Ryomen Sukuna is one of the strongest creatures in the history of jujutsu sorcery so it only makes sense that he would want to wield his influence.

However, standing in between Sukuna and his plans of world domination is none other than Satoru Gojo, the World's Strongest Sorcerer. Still, that doesn't stop the King of Curses from openly trash-talking Satoru from the mouth on Yuji's cheek.

9 "I'll Show You What Real Jujutsu Is."

chosen one yuuji jujutsu kaisen sukuna possession

Manga

Chapter 8

Anime

Episode 4

I'll show you what real jujutsu is.

During Ryomen Sukuna's fight against the Special Grade Curse in the detention center, the King of Curses gets his first chance to show some of his true strength. As he mocks the inferior curse, Sukuna provokes it by asking if it expected praise for surviving against him.

After announcing his attention to demonstrate the true depths of strength, Ryomen Sukuna unleashes his Domain Expansion, Malevolent Shrine, and within a matter of moments, he disassembles the Special Grade Curse into several pieces.

8 "Put More Curse Behind It!"

Sukuna Fushiguro in the Jujutsu Kaisen manga

Manga

Chapter 9

Anime

Season 1, Episode 5. "Curse Womb Must Die II"

More! More! Put some more Curse behind it!

Related
Jujutsu Kaisen: Can Sukuna Be Defeated?
The Jujutsu Kaisen manga is nearing its end, with Sukuna continuing to thrash opponents. Will there be a happy ending for the sorcerers?

During Ryomen Sukuna's first fight with Megumi Fushiguro, the King of Curses is bound and determined to keep trying to draw more and more of Megumi's power out of him. However, as soon as the fight starts, Megumi is instantly overwhelmed by Sukuna's power.

Regardless of the gap between their skills, Sukuna seems extremely excited about a chance to defeat the Ten Shadows user, and by the halfway point of their fight, he seems to have lost himself in bloodlust. Fortunately for Jujutsu Kaisen's heroes, Yuji takes control of his body before the situation gets any worse.

7 "You Dare Touch My Soul?"

Manga

Chapter 28

Anime

Season 1, Episode 12. "To You, Somedayf"

You dare touch my soul? Since we shared a laugh at the brat's expense, I'll only allow it once. There won't be a second time.

Mahito and the Disaster Curses are some of the most powerful Cursed Spirits of all time, but in comparison to the King of Curses, they still pose relatively little threat. In fact, Ryomen Sukuna puts Mahito in his place a few times during Jujutsu Kaisen.

When the patchwork curse tried to use his Idle Transfiguration on Yuji Itadori, he inadvertently got his hands on Sukuna's soul, instantly angering the King of Curses. In response, Sukuna tells Mahito that he will forgive his transgression just this once, hinting at another run-in between the two later in the series.

6 "Know Your Place."

Mahito using purple curse energy in Jujutsu Kaisen

Manga

Chapter 30

Anime

Season 1, Episode 13, "Tomorrow"

Know your place, you fool.

When Mahito touches Ryomen Sukuna's soul, he performs one of the gravest transgressions possible in the world of Jujutsu Kaisen. However, despite Sukuna warning the curse not to touch his soul again, Mahito does just that during the climax of his first fight with Yuji Itadori and Kento Nanami.

Even though Mahito doesn't intend to come into contact with Sukuna again, Yuji forces his hand by breaking into the Special Grade Curse's Domain Expansion. This time, Sukuna is far less forgiving and slashes Mahito across the chest, purposefully damaging the patchwork curse's soul. Mahito flees the scene afterward, running away like a frightened animal with its tail between its legs.

5 "To Help Lots Of People, Was It?"

Sukuna, using Yuji's body, sneers menacingly

Manga

Chapter 63

Anime

Season 1, Episode 24, "Accomplices"

Related
Jujutsu Kaisen: Does Yuta Have the Strongest Domain Expansion?
The Jujutsu Kaisen manga finally revealed Yuta Okkotsu's Domain Expansion, and it's shockingly overpowered.

"To help lots of people, was it? Brat! Lots of people are going to die because of you.

After Yuji Itadori's first battle against the Cursed Womb Paintings, Eso and Kechizu, the young sorcerer feels guilty and insecure that he was forced to kill a pair of brothers, even if they were transformed by cursed energy. Sukuna uses the opportunity to get inside Yuji's head and prey on his vulnerable mind, taunting him for his shortcomings.

The King of Curse's remark is a direct attack on Yuji's conviction since he vowed to help people and allow them to die honorably. As callous as his words are, they do represent the uphill battle that Yuji must climb if he wants to die an honorable death surrounded by friends.

4 "You Hold Your Heads Quite High"

Sukuna's awakening during Season 2, Episode 15 of Jujutsu Kaisen

Manga

Chapter 112

Anime

Season 2, Episode 15, "Fluctuations Part 2"

You hold your heads quite high. The bows that bear most hang lowest, yes, but I guess you guys are pretty lightweight.

Feeding Yuji all ten fingers at once was a bold move, but the hope that they would reap Sukuna's benevolence for taking that risk was a little shortsighted. Forced to bow in Sukuna's presence, Mimiko, Nanako and Jogo didn't hesitate to comply. Nanako and Mimiko ask him to kill the one inhabiting Suguru Geto's body, and in exchange they will tell him where he can find another finger. Sukuna kills them both for being so bold to assume he would do their bidding, but Jogo is actually given a bargain that can't e refused.

Sukuna proposes to Jogo that if he can hit him even once in battle, he will join Jogo's allies and kill everyone in Shibuya, save for one person. The fight that follows doesn't win Jogo what he hoped for, but it is clear even as Itadori returns to himself after all the destruction Sukuna wrought, he may not need to bargain with Yuji. Eventually, he may just be able to take whatever he wants.

3 "Stand Proud. You Are Strong."

Jogo creating a fireball with his hands stretched out in JJK

Manga

Chapter 116

Anime

Season 2, Episode 16, "Thunderclap"

Stand proud. You are strong.

Very rarely does Ryomen Sukuna show any benevolence; however, that doesn't mean the King of Curses is incapable of acknowledging the value of others. Perhaps one of the only positive things that Sukuna does in the series is praise the abilities of Jogo, one of the Disaster Curses.

Though he defeats Jogo without using his full power, the King of Curses makes sure that Jogo knows he is a worthy opponent before he dies. After acknowledging that Jogo never intended to give up, Sukuna finishes off the curse before continuing his rampage across Shibuya.

2 "I Hereby Forbid Every Person In a 100-Meter Radius from Moving"

Ryomen Sukuna promising no mercy in Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2, Episode 16

Manga

Chapter 116

Anime

Season 2, Episode 16, "Thunderclap"

I hereby forbid every person in a 100-meter radius from moving until I say the word now. Not yet. Still not yet. Now!

As Sukuna prepares to bring a fiery death down on the jujutsu sorcerers that challenge him outside Shibuya, he commands absolute compliance. It's hard to imagine what might have actually happened if anyone had defied his order and moved, but what came when he clapped his hands was absolutely devastating. The difference between the English dub and the original subtitled scene may not seem like much, but the arrogance is slathered in snark in the dubbed version, while the subtitles carry a much more controlled air to his words.

Either way, there is no doubt that despite still not being close to his prime, Sukuna is one of the greatest threats to the jujutsu world. If they aren't able to stop Sukuna while he's at his peak, there will be no stopping him at all, and it's hard for fans to imagine what that might look like after a scene like this one.

1 "Be Sure To Savor This."

Manga

Chapter 119

Anime

Season 2, Episode 17, "Thunderclap Part 2"

Hey, Brat. Be sure to savor this.

The Shibuya Incident isn't going great when Ryomen Sukuna takes control of Yuji Itadori's body, but it instantly gets worse when the King of Curses takes the stage. Sukuna's battles with Jogo and Mahoraga destroy the landscape of Shibuya, so when he finally releases control of his body to Yuji, the young sorcerer is greeted by a horrendous sight.

Sukuna's final words as Yuji takes control ring through the air, plunging Jujutsu Kaisen's protagonist further toward despair. The destruction of Shibuya sets the stage for the future of both jujutsu society and Yuji Itadori, which makes this quote one of the most foreboding in the entire series.

The cast pose together on the Jujutsu Kaisen Anime Poster
Jujutsu Kaisen
TV-MA
Animation
Action
Adventure

A boy swallows a cursed talisman - the finger of a demon - and becomes cursed himself. He enters a shaman's school to be able to locate the demon's other body parts and thus exorcise himself.

Release Date
October 2, 2020
Creator
Gege Akutami
Cast
Junya Enoki , Yuma Uchida , Yuichi Nakamura , Adam McArthur , Asami Seto
Main Genre
Animation
Seasons
3
Studio
MAPPA