Summary
Nobara Kugisaki is a beloved character in Gege Akutami’sJujutsu Kaisen, and although her appearance is cut short, Nobara’s impact has lasting effects on both the protagonists and the audience. The teenage girl is known for her fiery temper, projecting strength and independence to conceal the caring, nurturing side of herself. Hailing from a small, rural village,Nobara embraces her training as a Jujutsu Sorcerer as a way to escape the pressure to conform, inspired by an older friend she idolized as a little girl, Saori.
Jujutsu Kaisenis an award-winning manga and anime series about a secret society of sorcerers tasked with exorcising cursed spirits, and training the next generation to do so as well. Alongside her classmates,Nobaranot only learns how to use her supernatural abilities, but also gets to explore her identity and find self-acceptance.
Though Nobara is devastated when Saori is eventually chased from the village for her otherness, the situation mirrorsNobara’s own struggle for acceptance and eventual departure from her hometown.
15 Strongest Jujutsu Kaisen Women, Ranked
One of Jujutsu Kaisen’s greatest accomplishments is its impressive cast of powerful women, and ten in particular stand out among the bunch.
Flashbacks Hint at Nobara’s True Feelings for Saori
They were outsiders who dreamed of escaping to Tokyo
From Nobara’s introduction in season one, episode #3, “Girl of Steel”, she is talking about Saori and how she informed the person Nobara became. Their relationship is obviously not romantic, but there’s no denying how enamored Nobara is with Saori, and she instantly identifies with Saori’s strong sense of individualism.Visible role models are a huge part ofself-discovery for young queer people, and Saori resembles the kind of person Nobara wants to be, and be with, even if she doesn’t understand why yet.
Their small town’srejection of those who seemingly don’t belong mimics the real-world struggle of being born queerin an area where homophobia runs rampant. Nobara’s ability to see cursed spirits and channel cursed energy into attacks, and Saori’s reputation as an outsider, alienate them both from the rest of the town, setting in motion both of their desires to find an urban environment where they can live among those who love and accept them as they are. Saori eventually succumbs to the pressure the townspeople place upon her family and moves away, leaving Nobara behind to find her own path of escape.
Nobara’s Journey From Small-town Prejudice to Big City Belonging
Her older mentor sparks hope that Nobara can live authentically one day
Nobara’s arrival in Tokyo marks a rebirth of her identity, and she relishes proximity to shops and restaurants, access to culture, and the company of like-minded friends. Nobara has interesting interactions with other female students at Jujutsu High, like when she meets Mai Zenin, a cocksure student from the rival Kyoto branch in season two, episode #8, “Boredom”.Nobara is equally attracted to, and scared by, Mai’s bold presentation of herself, and their interaction is oddly intimate and sensual for an introduction.
At the end of the Shibuya Incident Arc, Nobara is gravely injured in a fight with a cursed spirit, Mahito.As her life flashes before her eyes, Nobara yet again chooses to focus on her relationship with Saori, the freedom of the big city, and regret over not being able to reconnect.Although the young Jujutsu Sorcerer is robbed of the opportunity to continue her journey, she admits that her life wasn’t so bad, because she got the chance to escape what she was born into and find a place where she belongs.
Jujutsu Kaisen
Cast
Jujutsu Kaisen follows Yuji Itadori, a high school student with extraordinary strength, who becomes intertwined with curses after ingesting a cursed object. Under the guidance of sorcerer Satoru Gojo, Yuji joins Tokyo Jujutsu High School to combat malevolent forces and navigate his new, perilous existence.
