The calamities of death and tragedies have often fallen on characters of Gege Akutami’s popular anime and manga Jujutsu Kaisen. Of all these, the Shibuya Incident arc portrays some of the unpleasant and terrible deaths in the series. Akutami’s revelations have created a spine-shilling truth behind the death of a fan-favorite character, Kento Nanami.
Despite Nanami being a favorite character as well top picked by both the mangakas Gege Akutami and Tite Kubo, his death was inevitable. This in turn has sparked discussion among the fans. Akutami’s bold move served as a balance between their fondness and narrative needs.
Gege Akutami’s Tough Decision for Kento Nanami’s Character
Gege Akutami‘s unpredicted nature towards their characters has left a heart-wrenching mark on the death of Kento Nanami. In a revealing interview via Dexerto, they admitted that even though they liked the character, there was nothing they could do about his role in the story.
To be honest, I like Nanami as a character, and he is easy to work on. But in terms of his role in the story and the development of the characters, I had no choice after all.
This particular approach to putting an end to Nanami’s character was not taken lightly. Their affection for the character was cleared when they defined him as “the first character I managed to create by myself and evolve.” Their personal attachment to the character made them end his role which determines their dedication to the series’ coherence.
Akutami’s change in personal preference has drastically impacted the Shibuya Incident arc’s storyline. The plot evolution in this arc has beautifully yet in a depressing way portrayed the passing of Nanami in front of Itadori Yuji, who was helpless in this sad moment.
Tite Kubo Admires the Character of Kento Nanami
Not only does Akutami express their fondness for Nanami, but another manga legend Tite Kubo also has an admiration for the same character. Their mutual interest in the character adds a layer to Nanami’s demise during their special talk via Endomonogatari.
When Kubo was asked about who is his favorite character from Jujutsu Kaisen he replied:
Kento Nanami. I began to grasp the theme of the story once he was introduced… But after Nanami came along, the direction took a sharp turn; even the strangest techniques became easy to understand.
Nanami’s death in the series was especially a bit more brutal and impactful for the viewers. Particularly more than viewers, Itadori was the one who completely broke down seeing the death of someone he deeply cared about in front of his own eyes. The shocking moment affected not only the narrative in a twisting way but also the heavily evolved protagonist’s development.
The approach to killing such an iconic character only comes from Akutami’s vision for creating a better storyline for the series. The unpredictable and cruel nature of the characters’ tragic fate bloomed much more in the Shibuya Incident arc.
Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 is available to watch on Crunchyroll.
