Key Takeaways
- Nanami Kento transitions from being a salaryman to a sorcerer for a meaningful impact.
- Nanami values time, punctuality, and believes in using moderate effort when needed.
- Nanami’s practical nature, wisdom, and dedication reflect in his actions as a sorcerer.
The world of Jujutsu Kaisen is filled with Jujutsu sorcerers, cursed energy, and cursed spirits. Humans feel all sorts of emotions, but negative emotions like anger, sadness, hate, and the like all emit energy, curse energy, that births cursed spirits. It is the job of Jujutsu sorcerers in the world of Jujutsu Kaisen to get rid of these cursed spirits. This anime follows Yuji Itadori’s journey to become a sorcerer, as well as the journeys of other sorcerers who exist in this world. One very powerful sorcerer is Nanami Kento. After graduating from Tokyo Jujustu High, Nanami decides to work in the corporate world as a salaryman instead of following the expected path and being a full-time sorcerer.
After four years of working in the corporate world, Nanami decides to be a sorcerer, acknowledging that both occupations are bad, but he would rather spend his time in a field where he can be the change he wants to see. Nanami believes that sorcerers are more focused on eliminating curses than protecting human lives. As a salaryman, Nanami’s work barely made an impact, and he also does not receive appreciation for his effort, so he goes back to being a sorcerer. After making that change, his work starts to have an impact, as he is helping innocent people get rid of the curses that tag along with them without their knowledge, and they appreciate him for that. Nanami Kento is a wise man, and although his appearance is unassuming, he has been able to drop some wise nuggets that accurately show the type of person he is.
Updated September 21, 2024 by Oluwatokiloba Folami: Nanami Kento stands out as a fan favorite in Jujutsu Kaisen for his pragmatic outlook, strong sense of duty, and no-nonsense approach to sorcery. As a former salaryman turned Jujutsu sorcerer, Nanami offers a unique perspective on the world of curses and exorcisms. He leaves the corporate world because he realizes he is not adding value to people, and being a sorcerer helps him do that.
His quotes often reflect his grounded nature, disdain for unnecessary work, and deep care for others despite his stern demeanor. They capture his wisdom, wit, and the complexities of his character. Whether viewers are fans of his straightforwardness or his underlying compassion, these quotes showcase why Nanami is one of the standout characters in the series.
1 “No Matter How You Look At It, This Isn’t A Mission For The First Years”
Season 2, Episode 3
This episode takes viewers to Nanami’s days as a first-year student at Tokyo Jujustu High. One thing to note is that Nanami’s attitude has always been the same: cold and reserved. Nanami is shown alongside Yu Haibara, a fellow student and Nanami’s best friend. Yu is the literal opposite of Nanami, very optimistic and lively.
Nanami and Haibara were sent out on a mission to get rid of a grade 2 spirit. Haibara was just excited to be on the mission, as it was his chance to show Geto just how strong he was, while Nanami believed that first-year students should not have been sent out for this mission. During this mission, they both realize that the spirit is grade 1 and not 2, meaning that it is much stronger than them and their chances of surviving have drastically reduced.
Unfortunately, Haibara died during the mission, and this event made Nanami detach from the Jujutsu world as they could not take responsibility for the misinformation that led to the death of his best friend. Haibara’s death is one of the major reasons Nanami left the Jujustu world to become a salaryman after graduating.
2 “My Job Is To Take Money From The Wealthy And Make Those People Even More Wealthy”
Season 1, Episode 13
Nanami was in some way miserable as a salaryman, and his interaction with the girl at the bakery captures that. Salarymen often find themselves in a cycle, getting something to eat before they go to the office to work endlessly for hours. They barely get any sleep in before the new day breaks, and they have to go to work again. The bakery lady, upon seeing Nanami, asked if he was getting enough sleep because his stress was evident on his face.
Nanami ignores the question and tells her about the nature of his job and how the pay is significantly better when in reality, it should not be. He proceeds to kill the cursed spirit resting on her shoulder, tells her to go to the doctor if anything feels off, and leaves. This interaction made Nanami understand that he had no value as a salaryman and that he would rather help people by getting rid of cursed spirits.
3 “I Don’t Need Your Gratitude. I’ve Already Received It From Lots Of Others. I Have No Regrets”
Season 1, Episode 13
At first glance, Nanami’s interaction with the bakery girl might seem innocent, but it changed the trajectory of Nanami’s life. It put him on the path to making a change and going back to being a jujutsu sorcerer. After getting rid of her shoulder pain, she ran after him to thank him, but he did not respond. However, it is later that viewers get to see just how much her appreciation meant to him.
Nanami finds himself trapped in Mahito’s domain; he recalls the bakery girl and how she helped him feel useful. Because of the encounter he had with her, he can now help others and make himself useful in their world plagued by cursed spirits. Her gratitude meant a lot to him, and because of that, he was ready to accept whatever happened with Mahito.
4 “You Take It From Here”
Season 2, Episode 18
- Arc: Shibuya Incident Arc
It broke the hearts of many of Jujustu Kaisen’s fans when Nanami muttered these words to Yuji Itadori. Season two of this anime shocked everyone with the Shibuya event, during which the sorcerers fiercely fought for their lives and others. However, Nanami was unfortunate enough to meet his demise at the hands of Mahito, the main antagonist of this anime.
Saying these words to Itadori simply signifies that he trusts him and believes that he is capable enough to carry on in his absence. As Itadori’s mentor, Nanami has instilled in him the skills and knowledge of everything he needs to know as a sorcerer, and because of this, he has confidence in Itadori’s abilities.
5 “I Am The Minimum Level Required For The Fight Ahead”
Season 2, Episode 12
- Arc: Shibuya Incident Arc
Season two of Jujustu Kaisen placed focus on the Shibuya event that led to the deaths of many Grade 1 sorcerers. On her way to the Shibuya station, Nobara encounters Haruta Shigemo, a curse user fixated on killing her. Nobara fought with all her might, but Haruta was far stronger than her and would have defeated her if Nanami had not shown up.
After defeating Haruta, Nobara wanted to follow Nanami to meet up with another sorcerer, but given the level of danger that awaited them, he told her not to tag along, as she is not a Grade 1 sorcerer, and given the level of risk, he is the minimum level that can engage in the fights ahead. Her presence will only hinder and distract him. There are not many Grade 1 sorcerers, and this just shows how intense the fights are that lower-grade sorcerers are not advised to even engage in them.
6 “I Don’t Have To Deal With Curses Or Other People As Long As I Have Money”
Season 1, Episode 13
In Season One of Jujustu Kaisen, before Nanami left his salary job to become a Jujustu sorcerer once again, he believed that only money mattered. He did not have personal goals or a purpose, he just wanted to make enough money so that he could retire at 40 and not have to deal with people or curses again.
Nanami was trying to make enough money to fill the void in his life. However, it was not working, and eventually, he went back to being a sorcerer to make significant changes in the world, as his job was not giving him the satisfaction he was seeking.
7 “No Matter What I’m Clocking Out By Six”
Season 1, Episode 10
It’s safe to say that Nanami is a very meticulous and punctual man. He takes his time very seriously, and he shows that by not working a minute more after his closing hour. When working, Nanami is very observant and precise; he looks out for the weaknesses of the cursed spirits and he fights to quickly and effectively finish them off. The less time he spends on a cursed spirit, the more he can kill before closing hour.
Nanami understands the value of time, and he always makes sure to use his time effectively to be productive. His value of time is a trait, not many people have in the Jujutsu Kaisen world, and being a salaryman in the corporate world might have helped him hone his time management skills. When working in the corporate world, one must be on time to avoid queries from one’s boss or superior.
8 “I Just Got Lucky”
Season 1, Episode 20
- Arc: Kyoto Goodwill Event Arc
Nanami’s pragmatic nature does not let him believe in luck or coincidences. He is a very logical man, as he always makes solid plans towards his goals. For someone so focused and dedicated to his work as a Jujutsu sorcerer, it is befitting that he has the record title of the most use of the Black Flash.
In this context, Black Flash is a powerful technique that requires the user to be precise to deliver a damaging blow to the opponent. This technique is very timely, as it involves applying a massive surge of cursed energy within 0.000001 seconds of attacking. Nanami is the first Jujutsu sorcerer to deliver Black Flash four times in a row, but he does not see anything impressive in what he did. He believes that once a sorcerer has gotten it more than once, it should be easier to do it more times.
9 “The Accumulation Of Those Little Despairs Is What Makes A Person An Adult”
Season 1, Episode 9
According to Nanami, one life-changing moment does not make a person an adult. Transitioning from a child to an adult is a very gradual process that starts from one’s childhood. It is the little pains one experiences while growing up that accumulate to push a person into adulthood.
One of his beliefs is this: experiencing the littlest inconveniences is what makes a person an adult. This belief makes up Nanami’s personality, as he is someone who understands that life is not fair and there is little one can do to change that. He faces life’s challenges as they come: the responsibilities, the suffering, and the burdens.
10 “If Both Are Equally S***, I’ll Take The One I’m More Suited To”
Season 1, Episode 9
It might be safe to say that Nanami did some soul-searching before becoming a sorcerer. Unlike his peers, Nanami decides to explore the corporate world after graduating from Tokyo Jujutsu High. At that time, he realizes that Jujutsu sorcerers focus more on eliminating cursed spirits than protecting humans. He also does not respect them because he believes they are crazy and are not doing as much good as they think they are.
After his experience as a salaryman, he decides that neither of these paths is necessarily good, but he chooses to be a sorcerer. One might assume that he became a sorcerer to be the change he wants to see. Nanami wears glasses to avoid eye contact with the cursed spirits that follow unsuspecting humans, and this way, he can destroy the cursed spirit without harming or alerting individuals.
11 “I Hate The Way Higher-Ups Do Things, But I Believe In Rules And Regulations”
Season 1, Episode 9
Nanami likes order, and even though he may not like how the people in power do things, he understands that they are there for a reason, and their presence in those positions promotes peace and order.
He tells this to Yuji Itadori after Satoru Gojo introduces them. Undeniably, Nanami is a very powerful sorcerer and would be of great influence to Itadori, who is just getting familiar with the idea of what being a Jujutsu sorcerer entails. While Nanami respects the higher-ups and suggests that Itadori should do the same, some may say this is the opposite of Gojo’s entire personality.
12 “I’ll Take Care Of It”
Jujutsu Kaisen 0
- Arc: Jujutsu Kaisen 0: The Movie
Nanami is strong, and he is always ready to help others in need and fight against cursed spirits. During the terrorist attack, The Night Parade of a Hundred Demons, Nanami saw some young Jujutsu sorcerers encounter a curse that was bigger than them. The battle is already a lost cause, but luckily, Nanami shows up just in time.
Nanami simply tells them he will take care of the situation with his cursed tool as he walks towards the monster. It is during this fight that Nanami becomes the record holder for the most consecutive uses of Black Flash in a fight. It is safe to say Nanami prioritizes the lives of others over his own, and he cannot bear to stand by when he sees someone in danger.
13 “Where Moderate Effort Will Suffice, Use Moderate Effort”
Season 1, Episode 9
Nanami shares this wisdom with Itadori as they explore the cinema. This statement surprises Itadori because he expects a sorcerer to go all out, but Nanami prefers using less energy to achieve great results.
As Jujustu Kaisen progresses and fans see more of Nanami, especially in action, it is clear that when he needs to go above and beyond, he will, but he will not waste his energy on fights that do not require it. As a grade one sorcerer, Nanami is also very observant. He quickly studies his opponents, and once he knows their weaknesses, it is easier and faster to finish them.
