“…you were all beaten by a monkey like me who can’t even use cursed techniques. If you want to live a long life, never forget that.”

- Toji Fushiguro to Suguru Geto

The Jujutsu Kaisen anime and manga series has done a great job of adding to the cast of unique and interesting characters. And just like most other series in the Shounen demographic, has characters with special abilities or quirks, which always make them stand out, all to the love of fans.

But among Jujutsu Kaisen’s list of interesting characters, we’ll be talking about Toji Fushiguro, popularly known as the “Sorcerer’s Killer”. Many people know and remember Toji more for being the first person to actually (almost) kill Satoru Gojo. But how did he manage this? How does his technique work? Where’s he from? We’ll answer all these questions, and more, in this article.

Toji Fushiguro | Character Profile

Who Is Toji Fushiguro?

Toji Fushiguro (formerly Zen’in) is one of the major antagonists in the Gojo’s Past Arc of the Jujutsu Kaisen manga and anime series. Also called “the Sorcerer Killer,” Toji is a well-known assassin who doesn’t use or rely on curses. He used to be part of the Zen’in Clan, which is one of the most prestigious clans in the Jujutsu community.

His unique Heavenly Pact gave him extraordinary physical prowess, even though he had no cursed energy (just like Maki) and was therefore banished from the clan for this reason. He is also Megumi Fushiguro’s father.

Toji Fushiguro | Background & History

Born as Toji Zen’in into the Zen’in Family of Jujutsu sorcerers, Toji (just like Maki) was considered useless and different, because he neither had any cursed energy nor could he see cursed spirits, and had to rely on cursed tools. Due to this, his childhood was very traumatic, as he was often abused and tortured. He grew up to become greatly respected and feared by the other members of his family for his exceptional strength and abilities, which surpassed all of his family members.

Since life as a Zen’in was rough for Toji, he was rather unstable and was known for being irrational in his dealings. This was until he met a woman from the Fushiguro Clan who went on to become his wife and birth Megumi. His life had a momentary peace, as Megumi’s mother was able to keep him calm and controlled during their time together. When she died, he lost the one person who could keep him in check. Toji went wild again. While he was married to Megumi’s mother, he changed his last name from Zen’in to Fushiguro.

Sometime later, Toji married Tsumiki’s mother. Before he disappeared, he sold Megumi to his family, just so he could be free of them and live his life alone however he wanted.

Toji Fushiguro | Physical Appearance

Toji is blessed with a striking physical presence, with a tall and muscular build. His mid-length black hair falls straight down to his ears, and he shares Megumi’s striking green eyes, small black eyebrows, and a noticeable scar on his lip.

During his time with the Zen’in family, he used to wear a black haori over a sleek black yukata. When we meet him in the story, he wears a snug short-sleeved black shirt paired with loose-fitting grey training pants tied at the waist with a black belt with black slippers for when he is on a mission. Other times, he wears a white long-sleeved shirt with black trousers and sneakers.

Toji Fushiguro | Personality Traits & Motivations

Toji Fushiguro is a unique character with an interesting spectrum of traits that include cool-headed confidence, sharp wit, and ruthlessness rooted in fun and revenge. His most noticeable traits, however, are his calm attitude, his sheer lack of concern for trivial matters, and how much he fancies and enjoys funny banter and deep talks. This last one gives clear insight to his trademark genius, but lackadaisical approach to life. He also enjoys gambling, which sadly, he isn’t very good at, as Shiu Kang mentioned: “You’re not cut out for making easy money”.

Toji enjoys fighting, especially against strong and smart opponents, as it gives him the thrills he has been searching for. However a fight or situation is going, he never loses his cool. His fighting style has a perfect blend of chaos and accuracy that makes him quite formidable in battle.

As an assassin whose majority of targets and victims are Jujutsu users/sorcerers, Toji has earned himself the moniker “Sorcerer Killer”. His acts are mostly caused by his anger towards the Jujutsu community as a result of how he was treated due to his lack of cursed energy. His desire for payback, especially against people who have looked down on him, drives him to take on jobs that require killing them.

Toji Fushiguro | Relationships

Toji Fushiguro was born into the Zen’in family, but as a result of how he was maltreated from his childhood, grew up to hate every last member of the family. This hate extended to the whole of Jujutsu society. Growing into a very strong and formidable fighter, he started seeking out ways to show his strength to the Jujutsu Sorcerers, whom he refers to as “monkeys”.

He has a very complicated relationship with his son, Megumi. As much as he doesn’t seem to care about anything, by selling Megumi to the Zen’in Clan he shows that he wants to protect because he thinks that would help him have a better future. He even asked Satoru Gojo to help mentor Megumi. When Granny Ogami brought him back to life, he chose to die again when he found out Megumi’s identity and saw how much his son had grown. In his final moments, he seemed proud of Megumi.

Toji Fushiguro | Skills, Abilities, And Weapons

Skills And Abilities

Although Toji is not a curse user and does not possess any natural skill in jujutsu, he was considered one of the best fighters in the jujutsu community during his lifetime. Possessing innate physical strength that exceeds that of everyone else, Toji is considered one of the most dangerous villains in the Jujutsu Kaisen anime and manga series.

Improved Perception

Toji's five senses were heightened to the highest degree possible because of his Heavenly Pact, which prevented him from having any cursed energy. With only his enhanced senses, he was able to sense (but not see) curses and jujutsu, and he even became resistant to them. Toji was also able to detect human footprints and scents, which eliminated the need for curse residuals in his tracking of sorcerers.

High Intellect

When he accepted the mission to eliminate Riko Amanai, he intentionally created a bounty on her in order to wear Satoru Gojo down. He then waited until the last moment when the Sorcerer would let down his guard to strike. Also, in battle or when taking on other assignments, he was always extremely strategic, calculating, and cautious, leaving nothing to chance or luck.

Exceptional Strength

Toji has an extraordinary level of physical strength and stamina, as seen in all his fights. These include how he quickly beat Takuma Ino, a grade two Jujutsu sorcerer, to a pulp in a matter of minutes and when he snatched Playful Cloud from Maki Zenin and used it to kill Dagon, a special grade cursed spirit.

Lightning Speed and Agility

Toji possesses exceptional speed and reflexes, which makes him a very formidable opponent, as his opponents are often left to throw their attacks to the wind while suffering devastating blows from him. This helps him finish most of his fights unscathed and dodge attacks even at the last minute, like when he completely dodged Satoru’s Lapse: Blue technique.

Weapons Expert

Toji has a flexible but incredible mastery of all types of weapons ranging from guns to swords. While he prefers using non-cursed weapons to carry out sneak attacks, he sometimes goes into battle with a cursed spirit that carries a bunch of cursed tools he can choose from to use in battle.

Jujutsu

Ten’yo Jubaku – Heavenly Pact

Toji’s incredible physical strength compensates for his total lack of cursed energy. Unlike some other Jujutsu sorcerers that have used Heavenly Pact to trade vast amounts of cursed energy for minimal physical abilities (e.g., Kokichi Muta), Toji is the only one who got an absolute zero amount of cursed energy in exchange for peaked senses and physical strength and abilities. Lastly, his body cannot absorb cursed energy, and this allows him to be resurrected as many times as possible.

Zero Cursed Energy

In Jujutsu Kaisen, Toji Fushiguro is the only character that has no cursed energy as his Heavenly Pact had completely rid his body of cursed energy. Since Jujutsu sorcerers detect people and curses using their cursed energy (or its residue), Toji is able to evade them, pass through barriers, and maintain a zero presence every time.

Kakuno-gata Jurei – Inventory Curse

This is the purple, worm-like curse that’s sworn to Toji and is usually curled around his upper body. It stores various cursed tools that he uses in battle. The curse can contract, enabling Toji to swallow it to prevent its cursed energy from being detected by others.

Weapons

Toji is highly skilled in the use of various weapons. He also has a swath of tools imbued with cursed energy that allows them to be used in different ways. Below are some of the cursed tools Toji had and used from his arsenal:

Yu-un – Playful Cloud

Unknown to Maki Zen’in, who even took it out of the Zen’in family’s arsenal, this three-section staff is a special grade cursed tool that was formerly owned by Toji. When he took it back from her to use against Dagon, its usage reflected the tool’s might and Toji’s exceptional skill in using it.

Shakukon To – Split Soul Katana

One of Toji’s main cursed tools, this weapon is a big, black-handled odachi (Japanese broadsword) adorned with a fur tsuba. When used against an opponent, it aims for one’s soul, cutting through the body’s defenses or grit. In Toji’s hands, it could easily pierce through Dagon’s tough skin.

Ama no Sakahoko – Inverted Spear of Heaven

This cursed tool possesses a unique power to effortlessly neutralize cursed techniques upon contact. It harnesses a potent cursed technique powered by an infusion of foreign cursed energy, making it a special grade tool.

Banri no Kusari – Chain of a Thousand Miles

This is a cursed tool that can extend to indefinite lengths provided the user conceals the handle from view. Toji does this by cleverly leaving the handle in the mouth of the curse carrying his weapons. He could also connect any of the other cursed tools to the other exposed end, allowing him to extend their use to long-range combats also.

Toji Fushiguro | Major Combat Encounters

Gojo’s Past Arc

Against Satoru Gojo

This is Toji’s most memorable fight. He obtained an early advantage by using a cursed weapon and strategic thinking to injure Gojo. He then unleashed a swarm of fly heads to blur Gojo’s vision. After taking considerable damage, Satoru Gojo tries using his technique, which Toji avoids, and finally succeeds in striking him with a fatal blow, leaving him to die in the pool of his blood.

However, after he completes his mission by delivering Riko’s body to the Star Religious Group’s headquarters, a newly awakened Satoru Gojo apprehends him. He seems even more formidable than he had been in their previous fight. While Toji perceived that something had changed about Gojo, he couldn’t evade Gojo’s new technique which ended up tearing away half of his body, leading to his death.

Against Suguru Geto

Following his first battle with Gojo, Toji shoots Riko in the head and confronts Suguru Geto. Demonstrating his sheer physical prowess, Toji exorcises Geto's Rainbow Dragon and Kuchisaki-Onna, and fights Geto himself. This showcases his ability to outmatch sorcerers even without cursed energy. He ends this fight by cutting Geto in the chest, but not deeply enough as to kill him so as not to unleash the curses he's absorbed.

Shibuya Incident Arc

Against Takuma Ino

After being resurrected by Ogami’s Séance Technique, Toji (possessed by the soul of Ogami’s grandson) fought Takuma Ino. Using Toji’s speed and strength, Takuma Ino is quickly subdued. This fight serves as the moment when Toji’s body overpowers the soul of Ogami’s grandson. Before Ogami herself can properly react, he kicks her away, killing her.

Against Dagon

His fight against Dagon is probably his second most iconic, as it was a true testament to his raw strength. As he enters Dagon’s domain, he quickly collects Playful Cloud from Maki, and uses it to defeat Dagon’s shikigami and the special grade cursed spirit.

Against Megumi Fushiguro

Toji confronts his son, Megumi, in a heated battle. Despite Megumi's attempts to flee and lay traps, Toji's superior physical skills allow him to overcome Megumi and remain hot in pursuit. This fight is emotionally fraught, ending in Toji's moment of clarity in which he recognizes Megumi and decides to end his own life to spare his child from any more harm.

Toji Fushiguro | Fan Reception and Popularity

Toji Fushiguro has received a great deal of attention and admiration from critics and fans of the Jujutsu Kaisen series. His tragic backstory, mixed with his harsh practicality gives him a rather intricate persona. His cool confidence, cunning strategy, and formidable fighting abilities are the most likable traits that have made him stand out from other characters. His motivations and actions further offer a nuanced view of the world of sorcerers, which critics have noted added more depth to the story.

His popularity stems from some key factors. He is a non-sorcerer who can overcome strong opponents with cunning and skill which appeals to those who love underdog tales. His tragic past and complex relationship with his son, Megumi, serve as the emotional throughline in his character. FInally, his incredible fights, particularly those against Satoru Gojo, display his tactical brilliance and physical might.

Toji has a significant impact on other characters and also on future arcs in the storyline. His bond with Megumi influences the latter’s growth as a person, helping him overcome his father’s heritage and grow as a sorcerer. He has a profound effect on Gojo as well; as their interaction forces Gojo to develop and hone his skills, which influences his function as a mentor and protector.

Final Thoughts

In the end, Toji’s legacy as the “Sorcerer Killer” and his impact in Jujutsu Kaisen make him a character that can’t be easily forgotten. His ability to seamlessly stir up emotions and trouble alike keeps everyone hooked. So, what do you think? Is Toji a ruthless villain, a tragic hero, or a bit of both? And remember, even if you don’t have cursed energy, your opinion still counts!