Without a strong female character, the protagonist trio in any shonen anime is incomplete. The magnificent Nobara Kugisaki in Jujutsu Kaisen only serves as proof of that. She gained a significant following after her debut and even took home the award for ‘Best Female Character’ at the 2022 Crunchyroll Anime Awards. Kugisaki quickly rose to prominence as one of the best female characters in Jujutsu Kaisen and in the history of anime . However, Nobara’s story had a tragic outcome in the Shibuya Incident arc. Every fan, including myself, was heartbroken by this incident. But there is still a big mystery surrounding Nobara’s death in JJK. So, to find out if Nobara Kugisaki is dead or alive in Jujutsu Kaisen, read on.
Spoiler warning: This article contains spoilers for Nobara Kugisaki’s character in Jujutsu Kaisen. We recommend that you watch the anime and read the manga to avoid ruining the intended experience.
Who is Nobara Kugisaki in Jujutsu Kaisen?
Nobara Kugisaki is one of the supporting characters in the Jujutsu Kaisen and serves as a tritagonist. Nobara was introduced as a first-year student at Tokyo Jujutsu High and began working as a grade 3 jujutsu wizard. She is also part of the protagonist trio, along with Itadori Yuji and Megumi Fushiguro, and plays a crucial role in the series.
Nobara started to become a stronger character in the series. And to prove that, she truly unleashed her potential and showed it on numerous occasions. Just when we thought she was starting to reach peaks in her Jujutsu, she was met with tragedy.
Was Nobara killed in Jujutsu Kaisen Manga?
Nobara’s death was not imminent at all and happened suddenly. So let’s take a look at how things actually turned out, leading to her death.
The Shibuya Incident arc turned out to be a huge Battle Royale-esque incident as we get to see all the characters fighting for their lives and the greater good. On October 31, 2023, the terrible battle between Nobara and Mahito begins. Nobara Kugisaki really wanted to knock Mahito out of the park as this would serve as a big W for the Wizards.
When the battle started, Nobara put on a great performance against Mahito, causing him several fatal wounds. Nobara succeeded greatly in wounding his soul, causing him to withdraw from the battle.
Mahito realized the bloody potential of Nobara and her techniques and there was only one way for him to emerge victorious from this fight. And that was to pull off a sneaky move and defeat her, which ultimately led to Nobara’s death.
Even when Itadori realized this move and warned Nobara to run, it was already late. Mahito successfully performed his sneak attack by creating a double strike and catching her off guard. Eager to defeat Mahito, Nobara let her guard down and thought… double the original body. Mahito immediately took advantage of this opening and delivered a punch (based on Idle Transfiguration) to Nobara’s face. Nobara Kugisaki became a little overconfident, which eventually led to her killed by Mahito in Jujutsu Kaisen manga chapter 124.
There is a popular saying or belief that on the verge of death, one will see the moments of one’s life flash before one’s eyes. It was the same here: when Kugisaki was brutally punched in the face, she remembered her favorite past memories of being on the brink of death. Her last words were: “Tell everyone it wasn’t that bad” to Itadori. And these last words can be taken as a huge confirmation of Nobara’s status in JJK.
These final words during Nobara’s death were so painful and crushing that they provided a bittersweet moment out of nowhere. In chapter 126 of Jujutsu Kaisen, we see Nobara lying on the ground with half of her face disfigured by Mahito’s bloody attack. Honestly, it seemed like this wound wasn’t coming back. Itadori stood there frozen, watching his best friend die, and our reaction was exactly the same.
Nobara’s current status in Jujutsu Kaisen
Even though it appears that Nobara Kugisaki is now dead in Jujutsu Kaisen, in reality this has not been confirmed. The last time fans ever saw her was in manga chapter 126, which makes us wonder if Nobara is dead or alive. In the next chapter, Nobara’s death is mentioned again, along with that of Kento Nanami by Aratta Nitto. This is because both Nobara and Nanami’s loss happened at the hands of Mahito.
Fast forward to chapter 144 in Itadori’s Extermination arc, Yuji asks Megumi about Nobara’s status. To which Megumi responds silently and Itadori’s focus and sad reaction also acts as an indirect confirmation of Nobara Kugisaki’s death in JJK. Moreover, he clenches his fist and says, “I understand,” which essentially means accepting the loss.
No mention of Nobara’s death in JJK Manga
While this could be the confirmation we were waiting for, the silence could also mean her status remains critical or unknown. There is no direct mention or official confirmation as of yet as to whether Nobara is dead or alive in the manga. Additionally, the Jujutsu Kaisen fandom website also lists Nobara’s current status as “Unknown“. This led fans to believe that Nobara is still alive somewhere and there are now many theories.
Before Nobara’s battle with Mahito, it is mentioned that she could sense the core of cursed energy. If you’re wondering why I’m mentioning this now, it’s because it’s the same as how Gojo felt on the brink of death and was able to come back from the grave. He used the reverse cursed technique to heal himself and essentially cheat death. That could happen here too, and Nobara Kugisaki could make a great comeback to the series.
Our prediction of Nobara’s status in JJK
After summarizing all the information we have about Nobara’s fight, death, and subsequent conversations, we can conclude that her current status is unknown. There have been numerous indirect confirmations of Kugisaki’s death, the most prominent being Yuji seeing her lying cold and distant on the ground. but so far nothing has been directly stated or officially confirmed. So stay tuned as we hope to see Nobara return. In the meantime, what do you think of Nobara’s current status in JJK? Share your theories in the comment section below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Nobara’s death has been widely reported in the Jujutsu Kaisen manga, but there has been no official confirmation yet. Nobara’s status has been unknown for years, so we recommend waiting for author Gege Akutami to give us an official statement.
No! Nobara’s status has not yet been confirmed. So her status is currently unknown.
Hana Kurusu is now considered as a replacement for Nobara Kugisaki in the Jujutsu Kaisen manga.
