Jujutsu Kaisen revolves around sorcerers and cursed spirits, where death and exorcism are common occurrences. As a sorcerer, one cannot possibly overlook the aspect of their life endangered by the job. And Kento Nanami isn’t any different.
Even though Nanami isn’t the main protagonist, he is a fan-favorite character in Jujutsu Kaisen, sometimes even more adored than the main protagonists. Nanami sticks to the rules, is diligent at work, and clocks out at the right time. He doesn’t like being exploited by doing overtime, which makes him all the more relatable to the viewers.
But, when it comes to anything related to death, you don’t want to see Nanami disappear from the story, as he is irreplaceable as a character and will leave a void.
However, if you are here to know if Nanami dies in Jujutsu Kaisen, then yes, Kento Nanami dies, and it is at the end of the Shibuya Incident Arc.
But how did he die? What led to Nanami’s death? Who killed Nanami? To answer your questions, I’ll discuss the events that led to Nanami’s death in this article.
The Beginning of the End: Kento Nanami & Yui Haibara
During Gojo’s Past Arc, when Gojo and Geto came to Okinawa to rescue Riko Amanai’s caretaker, Kento Nanami and Yu Haibara were introduced as Tokyo Jujutsu High first-year students who came to help them.
It all went south after Gojo awakened the power of Limitless, and sorcerers weren’t involved in exorcisms of Grade 1 cursed spirits because Satoru Gojo got assigned to them.
Unfortunately, Nanami and Haibara went on an exorcism mission of a Grade 2 curse, but it turned out to be a Grade 1 curse. As a result, Haibara died during that mission.
When Geto asked a devastated Nanami to get some rest, as Gojo had taken over the mission, Nanami frustratingly asked why isn’t Gojo given the task of doing all the assignments instead. And soon after graduation, Nanami quit being a sorcerer.
After working as an office worker for years, Nanami wasn’t satisfied with how less he was appreciated. After a simple encounter with a baker, who thanks him for a good deed, Nanami decides to become a sorcerer again.
In JJK Chapter 18, Satoru Gojo introduces Yuji Itadori to Nanami. Back then, we had no idea why Nanami was so pessimistic. But, after catching up on the recent chapters, it is clear that during his introduction to Yuji, Nanami had yet to come to terms with Haibara’s death.
During the Young Fish and Reverse Punishment Arc, Nanami met Mahito and came this close to death following their first encounter.
During that encounter, Mahito told Nanami that he was subconsciously protecting his soul with cursed energy. That saved him from turning into a transfigured human.
After getting caught in Mahito’s domain during their second encounter, Nanami said that he had no regrets and was ready to die, but thankfully, Yuji Itadori interfered and saved him.
At the end of the arc, Nanami tells Yuji that if he wants everyone to die naturally, that won’t happen because death doesn’t distinguish between good and evil; it treats everyone equally.
Life Comes Full Circle: Kento Nanami Dies With a Smile!
For Nanami, his life as a sorcerer comes full circle in the Shibuya Incident Arc!
After separating from Megumi, Yuji, and Ino, Nanami goes to Ijichi’s location to discuss the next plan following Gojo’s sealing.
But he sees Ijichi lying on the ground, covered in blood. The past comes haunting. He gets reminded of Haibara’s dead body in the mortuary.
Enraged by the sight, Nanami follows the trail and finds Shigemo, who admits that he stabbed Ijichi and killed all the assistant managers in that area. What followed next was relentless and heartless beating, something very pleasing for the readers.
After that, Nanami made sure Nobara Kugisaki and Akari waited for the rescue. Then he goes ahead to join Maki and Naobito Zenin, who were heading down to B5F.
In B5F, Nanami and the Zenin(s) faced Dagon, who evolved into a full-form cursed spirit. None of their attacks worked on Dagon. On top of that, Dagon cast his domain expansion and started the beginning of the end.
Nanami lost his left eye when Dagon released Death Swarm – one of his cursed techniques. Even in that condition, Nanami protected Megumi, who was trying to make a hole in Dagon’s domain and escape. It was their only chance to save themselves and win against Dagon.
Although Toji Fushiguro came in through the hole and exorcised Dagon within seconds, what followed next wasn’t pleasant either. Jogo comes and bids goodbye to Dagon before burning Nanami, Maki, and Naobito into flames.
Later in the Shibuya Incident Arc, we see a tired and optimistic Nanami thinking about the future – for the first time – where he wants to spend his days reading books on a secluded beach in Kuantan, Malaysia.
But soon, he returns to reality, thinking he should go and save Megumi first. And he is thinking all this with a scorched upper half of his body and the skull exposed by the hole in his left eye.
On his way to save Megumi, he kills all the transfigured humans and finds himself standing before Mahito, who asks him for a chat since they go way back.
At this point, Nanami has lost the sense of reality, is burnt out from within, and can’t think straight. Although he starts a conversation, it isn’t with Mahito. It is with his inner regret – inner guilt; it is a conversation with Haibara.
It’s as if his regret from the past, the guilt he thought he never had surfaced during his last moments. He acknowledges that he has kept running away from reality his whole life.
Now that he is facing death, knocking on its door, Nanami doesn’t repeat the mistake. He doesn’t run away.
Remember Chapter 18, the conversation between Yuji and Nanami, where Yuji asked why Nanami didn’t become a sorcerer from the beginning? At that time, Nanami dodged the question and said that because sorcery is less idiotic than office work, he decided to become a sorcerer.
Even though he doesn’t tell Yuji the reason till the end, he does confess to Haibara and says that he doesn’t want to become a curse for Yuji.
Instead, he left a few words that would become a driving force for Yuji in the upcoming battle. But it’s not the last time we see Nanami. During the decisive battle of the Shibuya Incident Arc, when the battle between Yuji and Mahito was heading towards a climax, these words powers Yuji’s devastated soul.
“I’ll be sure to take on your suffering too, Nanami.” – Yuji Itadori (JJK Manga Chapter 127)
What Role Did Nanami’s Death Play?
Nanami’s death played a crucial role in the Shibuya Incident Arc. It was Nanami’s death that fueled Yuji’s spirit during the most decisive battle of the arc.
Yuji respected and deeply cared about Nanamin, as he was someone who shaped him into a true sorcerer. Nanami’s death will shape Yuji’s perspective as a sorcerer.
Was Kento Nanami’s Death Necessary?
If you think about his character as a whole, Nanami didn’t have much to do; it would be unnecessarily stretching his character.
In Jujutsu Kaisen’s Official Fanbook, Gege Akutami said that although Nanami was a character he could use anywhere, considering his role in the story, he had no choice but to kill Nanami in the Shibuya Incident Arc.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Does Nanami die in Jujutsu Kaisen anime?
In anime, you will see Nanami’s death in the latter half of the Shibuya Incident Arc in JJK Season 2, which started airing on August 31, 2023.
Did Nanami die with regrets?
No, Nanami didn’t die with any regrets. However, he wanted to spend the rest of his life reading books if he ever made it alive out of Shibuya.
Why did Nanami quit?
Nanami quit being a jujutsu sorcerer because his close friend Haibara died during a mission to exorcise a cursed spirit. But later, he decides to become a sorcerer again and quits being an office worker.
Will Nanami come back to life?
No, Nanami will not come back to life. The manga panel in JJK chapter 120 clearly shows how he was blown to pieces by Mahito.
Who killed Nanami in JJK?
Mahito killed Nanami in Chapter 120 of Jujutsu Kaisen manga.
How did Nanami get killed?
Nanami got injured during his battle with Dagon, then severely burned by Jogo, and finally blown to pieces by Mahito.
Which episode does Nanami die?
The Shibuya Incident Arc premiered on August 31, 2023, so expect Nanami’s death around the 20th episode of Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2.
What chapter does Nanami die?
Nanami dies in Chapter 120 of the Jujutsu Kaisen manga.
Who was affected by Nanami’s death the most?
The one who was affected by Nanami’s death the most is Yuji because, to him, Nanami was someone whom he cared about and someone whom Yuji could rely on.
Another character who was affected by his death is definitely Takuma Ino!
Conclusion
In the end, Nanami is a fan-favorite character, so the fans would be happy to see him alive till the end. But the fans will also witness the role of Kento Nanami’s death in the story. His demise was the catalyst for Yuji’s emotional growth, which was absent before the Shibuya Incident Arc.
With that, I conclude the article. If you have any feedback regarding this article, please leave your comments.
Also Read: Does Satoru Gojo Die in Jujutsu Kaisen?