5 Jujutsu Kaisen side characters who deserved more screentime (& 5 who got more than they needed)

Jujutsu Kaisen side characters formed a vibrant cast, each adding depth and intrigue to its dark supernatural world. From Toji Fushiguro’s enigmatic presence to Mahito’s chilling malevolence, these characters often stole the spotlight in unexpected ways.

However, while characters like Yuki Tsukumo deserved more screentime to explore their backstories and motivations, others like Panda could have received additional focus, given their overall contributions to the main narrative and its momentum.

A balance of character focus was vital to Jujutsu Kaisen’s storytelling, as it blended personal journeys with overarching conflicts. Highlighting underdeveloped personalities like Toji and Yuki could have enriched the series' emotional depth, while limiting the screentime of others might have helped maintain a tighter pace.

Disclaimer: This article contains the sole opinion of the author.

Jujutsu Kaisen side characters who deserved more screentime

1) Toji Fushiguro

Among Jujutsu Kaisen side characters, Toji Fushiguro was a name that deserved more screentime than he received. Dubbed "The Sorcerer Killer," Toji was the first individual to take Gojo Satoru to the brink of death. His harsh beginnings led him to abandon his clan and live paycheck to paycheck as a blade for hire. To protect Megumi from the Zenin clan, he informed Gojo about the boy to save him.

Granted, he was reincarnated during the Shibuya Incident and displayed why he was so feared when he decimated Dagon. However, had he not died at the hands of Gojo, it would likely have altered the story in a significant way. Moreover, it would've been intriguing to see him in a more modern setting and at some point properly interact with his son.

2) Toge Inumaki

One of the second years at Tokyo Jujutsu High, Toge Inumaki was another of the Jujutsu Kaisen side characters who would have benefitted from more screentime. Partnering with Maki Zenin and Panda, Inumaki was a Cursed Speech User from the Inumaki clan. Due to his Cursed Speech, he chose to communicate in an unconventional manner, i.e., speaking in rice ball ingredients.

He made brief appearances in the Fearsome Womb Arc, Kyoto Goodwill Event Arc, and Shibuya Incident Arc. Toge was last seen protecting a group of civilians who eventually perished in Sukuna's Malevolent Shrine attack, during which he also lost his arms. Beyond that, Inumaki had little contribution to the story, except for a surprising bit in the end. Given his unique sorcery, he would have done well with more limelight.

3) Utahime Iori

Among Jujutsu Kaisen side characters, much about Utahime Iori remains unknown. Apart from her status as a Semi-Grade 1 Sorcerer and student supervisor (Kyoto), most of her origins are shrouded in mystery. However, looks can be deceiving, she was stronger than she appeared, able to easily evade Haruta Shigemo's attack and quick enough to protect Kasumi Miwa from Kenjaku.

Intriguingly, she was not a combat type but rather a support type. Her Innate Technique, Solo Forbidden Area, allowed her to temporarily amplify the Cursed Energy (CE) of a willing sorcerer within range by up to 120%. Such an ability would have proved quite useful to her allies had it received more attention and instances to be used in the story, especially during the Shinjuku Showdown Arc.

4) Mechamaru aka Kokichi Muta

A fan favorite among Jujutsu Kaisen side characters, Kokichi Muta's time in the spotlight was short-lived. After Mahito completely healed his body, he was killed soon after. He had a unique type of Heavenly Restriction, no right arm, non-functioning legs, and overly sensitive, in exchange for massive CE that could be used over long ranges, hence why he used Mechamaru.

Kokichi was the mole at Jujutsu High feeding Kenjaku and Mahito information. However, he tried to redeem himself by facing Mahito and helping his allies during the Shibuya Incident (communication puppet). Kokichi's dynamic with Kausmi Miwa was especially heartwarming and should have been explored further, which was definitely what fans wanted in the chaotic Curse-infested world.

5) Yuki Tsukumo

Finally, Yuki Tsukumo was the last of Jujutsu Kaisen side characters who deserved more screentime. As one of four Special Grade Sorcerers, Yuki was quite powerful given her Innate Technique, Star Rage. Moreover, she was an adept fighter, able to keep up with sorcerers like Kenjaku. However, it was her ultimate goal that made her interesting, creating a curse-free world by eliminating them all.

She was able to influence Suguru Geto's thinking, albeit in the wrong way. But even so, her words resonated with him. She faced her demise during the Culling Games Arc while battling Kenjaku and succumbing to her injuries. Yuki was a character with immense potential and courage who used her Shikigami, Garuda, in a very interesting way.

Jujutsu Kaisen side characters who deserved less screentime

1) Mei Mei

Over to the other end of this list, Mei Mei kicks off the list of Jujutsu Kaisen side characters who deserved less screentime. To put it plainly, Mei Mei was criticized for representing everything wrong with Jujutsu Society. During the Shibuya Incident, Mei Mei and Ui Ui fled to Malaysia while the other sorcerers unsuccessfully took on Kenjaku.

Throughout the series, her main motivation was shown to be solely monetary gain. Whether she took on a job or even helped out Jujutsu High, she did so only for money. She believed that anyone else's life was valued based on their usefulness to her. Given this perspective, Mei Mei could have done with less screentime, as others like Toji would have received more.

However, it cannot be ignored that during the Shinjuku Showdown Arc, she did help protect Yuji from Sukuna's Fuga.

2) Mahito

Another of the Jujutsu Kaisen side characters who deserved less screentime was Mahito. He was one of the driving forces behind the shattering of Yuji's resolve and was responsible for the deaths of Junpei, Nanami, and Nobara. Truly a despicable and horrid character, Mahito was well-imagined and fleshed out by series creator Gege Akutami.

His sadistic personality and twisted philosophies on humanity and curses were quite intriguing. However, his extended screentime overshadowed other curses like Jogo, Dagon, and Hanami, who were equally intriguing in their motivations. Expanding on these curses could have offered further diverse perspectives on Cursed Spirits' objectives.

3) Panda

A fan favorite, Panda was one of the more intriguing Jujutsu Kaisen side characters. Not a real Panda, his origins as a Cursed Corpse offered a different take on how Jujutsu sorcery could be used. Moreover, his 3 separate cores bestowed him with distinct abilities, making him an interesting character.

However, many opine that much of his screentime felt repetitive. He was mainly used for comedic relief rather than contributing directly to the story. Additionally, his lack of independent decision-making and tendency to follow others took away from his character. If this was the case with him, focusing on other Jujutsu Kaisen side characters would likely have been better.

4) Kasumi Miwa

Alongside Panda, Kasumi Miwa was another of the Jujutsu Kaisen side characters much loved by fans. A second-year at Kyoto Jujutsu High, Miwa was one of the more normal characters in Jujutsu Kaisen. Kind, hardworking, and down to earth, Miwa wanted to be a sorcerer to earn money and because she was a great Gojo fan. She wanted to excel at sorcery so she could support her young brothers.

While Miwa's lightheartedness and relatable character were refreshing, some feel that her screentime in non-critical moments was a little more than necessary. Despite displaying simple yet impressive technique, her overall contribution to the story was minimal. More development of her character, i.e., a dive into her origins, would have benefitted her.

5) Haruta Shigemo

Lastly, Haruta Shigemo was another of the Jujutsu Kaisen side characters who could have done with lesser screentime. His only role was to display an extremely sadistic side and prey on those weaker than him. He even openly admitted to this, turning tail and fleeing at the sight of someone more powerful. Haruta was described as highly unreliable and took pleasure in others' pain.

His role as one of the Jujutsu Kaisen side characters was fitting but did not serve much to the main story. Moreover, he was easily killed by Sukuna while trying to flee, believing that the Demon King had cut him some slack. Instead of giving him screentime, the story could have directed those efforts elsewhere.