Jujutsu Kaisen: Who is Naoya Zenin?

What is the anime Jujutsu Kaisen where Naoya Zenin appears? Jujutsu Kaisen (呪術廻戦) is a dark fantasy series that began serialization in Weekly Shonen Jump in March 2018. The story follows Yuji Itadori, a high school student who enters a world of curses and sorcery after unsealing a powerful “Cursed Object.” The series concluded in September 2024. The Jujutsu Kaisen manga has surpassed 100 million copies in circulation.

The first TV season aired from October 2020 to March 2021, followed by the hit film Jujutsu Kaisen 0 in December 2021, which grossed 26.5 billion yen worldwide. The second season aired from July to December 2023, and the third season, Jujutsu Kaisen: Culling Game Part 1, is set to premiere in January 2026.

Naoya Zenin Profile

• Name: Naoya Zenin
• He is the leader of Hei, an elite unit within the Zen’in Clan, and a Special Grade 1 Sorcerer.
• Age: 27 → 28 (stated to be one year younger than Satoru Gojo in Volume 16 bonus section)
• Height: Over 180 cm (from Jujutsu Kaisen Exhibition)
• Rank: Special Grade 1 Jujutsu Sorcerer
• Innate Technique: Projection Sorcery

Naoya Zenin Overview

Naoya is the son of Naobito Zen’in, the 26th head of the Zen’in Clan, and a cousin to Toji, Maki, and Mai Zen’in. He is a young man with sharp, narrow eyes and dyed blonde hair, often seen with a slight smirk. He speaks in the Kansai dialect, characteristic of the Kyoto region in Japan.

Despite his dyed blonde hair, he originally had black hair inherited from the Zen’in bloodline.

Appearance and Personality

Naoya is characterized by his blonde hair and slightly upturned sharp eyes, and is often depicted in magazines and official materials as handsome. He typically sports a subtle, knowing smirk and speaks in the Kyoto dialect. Compared to the more energetic and blunt Osaka dialect, Kyoto speech is generally considered refined and polite. However, despite his elegant way of speaking and composed demeanor, Naoya frequently delivers scathing and harsh remarks, creating a stark contrast between his outward refinement and his abrasive personality. As the heir to one of the three great families of the jujutsu world, he was raised in a highly disciplined and privileged environment, a background reflected in his neat appearance—such as buttoning his shirt all the way to the collar.

While his blonde hair and piercings give him a Westernized, almost European look, his facial features and attire remain distinctly Japanese. In fact, his overall appearance can be described as a blend of Western elements and traditional Japanese aesthetics. Notably, he had black hair during his childhood, consistent with the Zen’in lineage.

Naoya’s personality is deeply troubled. He frequently makes derogatory remarks towards women, openly espousing misogynistic and patriarchal values. However, his disdain is not limited to women; he also looks down on men he deems weak or unattractive, exhibiting a strong tendency towards lookism (discrimination based on appearance). His contempt even extends to his own elder brother, whom he considers inferior, indicating that his harshness is directed at anyone he perceives as beneath him.

He is particularly unforgiving towards the weak, while relentlessly striving to position himself among the strong. Driven by intense ambition and pride, he is constantly seeking greater power and status. In this regard, he harbors a deep admiration for Toji Fushiguro, whose immense strength relied purely on physical prowess rather than cursed energy.

Naoya possesses an exceptionally high degree of self-esteem, bordering on obsession. He takes pleasure in deliberately saying things he knows will upset others, and he has demonstrated sadistic tendencies, such as taking out his frustrations through violent acts against Maki Zen’in.

Naoya Zenin Abilities

Projection Sorcery Like his father Naobito, Naoya inherited the Zen’in family’s signature technique. By envisioning his field of view as a camera frame, he divides one second of movement into 24 frames in his mind, then reproduces these movements with his own body. Once the movements are successfully constructed, the tracing proceeds automatically.

However, if he fails to complete a movement, or if his movements violate the laws of physics or realistic trajectories, his body freezes for a full second, leaving him completely immobile.

Naoya holds deeply misogynistic beliefs, frequently looking down on women, and maintains a worldview rooted in male superiority. He equally despises men he deems weak, constantly seeking to align himself with those he considers strong. He greatly admires Toji Fushiguro and aspires to embody the same kind of strength.

Naoya Zenin Key Relationships

Maki Zenin

Naoya Zen’in perpetually despises and belittles his cousin, Maki Zen’in. As a woman born without cursed energy yet aspiring to be the head of the Zen’in Clan, Maki’s determination directly clashes with Naoya’s ingrained misogyny and his rigid belief in a hierarchy based on cursed technique strength.

At the core of his hatred lies an inferiority complex regarding Toji Fushiguro, whom he idolizes. Maki, much like Toji, is a physically gifted sorcerer born without cursed energy, making her the closest being to the man Naoya both fears and admires. This twisted admiration fuels his cruelty towards Maki, ranging from bullying Maki during their childhood to an inescapable obsession after Maki left the clan.

Naoya Zenin Key Scenes

Following Naobito’s death, Naoya assumed he would naturally become the next head of the Zen’in Clan. However, when Naobito’s will appointed Megumi Fushiguro as his successor, Naoya furiously rejected the decision. Seeking to eliminate Megumi, he tracked his whereabouts and appeared in Tokyo, confronting Choso and Yuji Itadori as they were exterminating curses.

What’s Next for Naoya Zenin’s Appearance?

In Tokyo, Naoya clashed with Choso and Yuji, but Yuta Okkotsu also arrived with orders to execute Yuji. They split opponents: Yuta fought Yuji, while Naoya battled Choso. Ultimately, Naoya was defeated by Choso, prematurely ending his plans.

Later, Naoya returned to the Zen’in residence and engaged in a one-on-one fight with a resurrected Maki Zen’in. However, Maki quickly grasped the mechanics of his Projection Sorcery and defeated him with a direct blow to the face. Severely injured, Naoya retreated, consumed by hatred for Maki, only to be stabbed to death by Maki’s mother, who harbored a long-standing grudge against him.

Culling Game Arc

After being killed by an attack devoid of cursed energy, Naoya’s spirit transformed into a cursed spirit upon death, making him the first former jujutsu sorcerer in the series to experience this. (In Chapter 33 of the manga, it’s explained that sorcerers are typically killed using cursed techniques to prevent this transformation.)

Naoya’s cursed form took on a grotesque, caterpillar-like appearance. During the Culling Game, he appeared within the Sakurajima Colony, where Maki Zen’in and Noritoshi Kamo were exterminating dangerous sorcerers and curses. Still retaining his consciousness as Naoya, his obsession with Maki only intensified.

He not only retained his original Projection Sorcery but also achieved a Domain Expansion called “Time Cell Moon Palace” (Jihou Gekkyuuden). However, he was ultimately annihilated by Maki, who was undetectable by his Domain’s perception.