After leaving viewers hanging on a brutal cliffhanger for two years, Jujutsu Kaisen is finally set to return with Season 3 this winter. With the premiere just weeks away, the hype across the fandom is enormous — timelines, forums, and group chats are already buzzing nonstop. And honestly, it’s completely justified.

This season isn’t just a continuation — it marks the start of the Culling Game, a high-stakes battle royale arc that completely changes the direction of the series. Along with it comes a wave of new characters who are about to become major talking points in the community.

Names like Hajime Kashimo and Hiromi Higuruma are already gaining traction among manga readers, and anime-only fans are about to see why. These characters won’t just show up briefly — they play crucial roles in the story going forward, especially as the series heads toward its endgame.

Naoya Zenin — First Appearance: Jujutsu Kaisen Chapter #138 

In a series where the big villains are usually terrifying Cursed Spirits like Mahito and Jogo, Season 3 is turning heads by spotlighting human antagonists too — and Naoya Zenin is easily one of the most anticipated.

Naoya isn’t just another Zenin clan member thrown into the mix. He’s introduced as the youngest son of Naobito Zenin, born into one of the most powerful jujutsu families and groomed from childhood to think he’s destined for greatness. 

He’s also a Grade 1 sorcerer with Projection Sorcery — a technique that lets him manipulate movement in frame-like bursts, combining unbelievable speed with elite hand-to-hand skill. In the manga, he uses this to overwhelm even other powerful sorcerers, making him an incredibly dangerous opponent. 

Why Fans Are Hyped (Even Though He’s a Villain)

What makes Naoya’s anime debut so compelling — beyond his role in the Culling Game arc — is that he’s one of the rare villains who’s become genuinely popular despite how awful he is. 

• Multiple recent popularity polls have placed him surprisingly high among the franchise’s cast, even above some major heroes — a position that even his own voice actor has publicly questioned. 
• Reddit threads and fan discussions suggest Naoya attracts a “certain fanbase” because of his intense personality and unique role in the Zenin family drama.

What to Expect in Season 3

Trailers have already shown Naoya making early appearances in Season 3, which suggests he’ll be a significant antagonist right out of the gate. 

Unlike other villains who lean on cursed energy, Naoya fights with brute precision and terrifying confidence — using his speed and tactical mind to dominate battles even without flashy cursed techniques. 

For fans, that combination of sheer threat, supremacy complex, and screen presence is what makes him one of the most talked-about villains coming to the anime.

Kinji Hakari — First Appearance: Jujutsu Kaisen Chapter #153 

When Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 goes full throttle into the Culling Game, one of the biggest wild cards joining the roster is Kinji Hakari — a suspended third-year student from Tokyo Jujutsu High whose presence immediately shook up the manga and is now turning heads ahead of his anime debut. 

Unlike most villains or cursed spirits, Hakari is a human sorcerer with a wildcard personality — a brash, unpredictable fighter who rejects jujutsu society rules and runs an underground fight club where sorcerers brawl for sport and entertainment. That gritty setup is where Yuji Itadori and Megumi Fushiguro first encounter him when they try to recruit him for the Culling Game. 

A Cursed Technique That’s Literally a Gamble

What really sets Hakari apart — even among the wild abilities in Jujutsu Kaisen — is his pachinko-inspired Cursed Technique and Domain Expansion, which fandom sources describe as one of the most complex in the series. 

• Basic Concept: At its core, Hakari’s technique revolves around probability and chance, structured like a pachinko game themed after an in-universe romance manga called Private Pure Love Train. 

• Domain Expansion — Idle Death Gamble: Inside his domain, he literally plays the game, seeking to hit a jackpot (statistically a 1/239 chance). When he does, he triggers a massive power boost that changes the whole fight. 

• Jackpot Bonus: Landing a jackpot grants Hakari unlimited cursed energy and automatic reverse cursed technique for over four minutes, making him nearly unkillable during that window — his body auto-heals and he never runs out of energy. 

Even fans on discussion boards point out how bizarrely meta and confusing this ability is, since opponents (and readers) are hit with overwhelming rules and visuals that make clutching the win as much about luck and understanding patterns as raw strength. 

Hakari in Season 3

With Gojo out of the picture, the sorcerers need every powerful ally they can get — and Hakari is exactly that level of threat plus. He is frequently mentioned alongside Yuta Okkotsu and other top-tier sorcerers, with even Gojo acknowledging his potential to rival the strongest. 

In the manga, Hakari doesn’t just show up — he dominates, busting through foes like Hajime Kashimo and handling himself in the heart of the Culling Game with that unpredictable mix of chaotic energy and strategic gamble-based power. 

For anime-only fans, his debut will be one of the most talked-about moments of Season 3 — not just because of his distinct vibe and attitude, but because his Cursed Technique and Domain Expansion are genuinely unlike anything else in the series. 

Yorozu — First Appearance: Jujutsu Kaisen Chapter #211

As Jujutsu Kaisen pushes deeper into its Culling Game final arc, one of the most layered and surprising players isn’t a cursed spirit or a typical villain — it’s Yorozu, a reincarnated sorcerer from the Heian Era whose story hits emotional and plot beats that shake up everything fans thought they knew. 

Unlike many antagonists who are just there to fight, Yorozu brings history, personal motivations, and direct ties to major characters and themes, making her one of the most compelling introductions in the series so far.

Who Yorozu Really Is

Yorozu was a legendary sorcerer from over a thousand years ago, respected during the Heian Period and officially acknowledged by powerful clans of the time thanks to her skill — even though her innate technique consumed enormous amounts of cursed energy. 
Her power didn’t come from raw cursed energy alone, but from innovative applications of it — she literally constructed weapons and armor, flew with winged constructs, and shaped liquid metal into everything from offense to defense, essentially turning cursed energy into matter itself. 

In modern times, Kenjaku resurrects her soul into Tsumiki Fushiguro’s body to take part in the Culling Game, making her not just a historical footnote but a direct player in the series’ climax. 

What Makes Her Unique: Construction

Yorozu’s Cursed Technique, Construction (Kōchiku Jutsushiki), lets her create almost any non-special-tool material she can imagine from cursed energy — a literal matter-from-nothing ability. 
That means she doesn’t just punch or blast — she constructs:

• Liquid metal she can control semi-autonomously

• Insect-inspired armor that enhances mobility and defense

• Perfect spheres that use physics (like pressure and surface area) to devastating effect

• A Domain Expansion (Threefold Affliction) that boosts the precision and power of her creations to near sure hits in battle. 

Because of the insane cursed energy cost, most sorcerers wouldn’t make it work — but Yorozu figured it out, using biological inspiration (like insect carapaces) to streamline her technique and fight on par with elite fighters of the Heian era. 

Her Obsession With Sukuna

One of Yorozu’s most talked-about traits is her odd, intense fixation on Sukuna — not hatred, not fear, but a twisted form of love. After their first encounter centuries ago, she became obsessed with proving her devotion to him, framing her motivations around making Sukuna accept what she called “true love.” 

That fixation shapes some of her actions in the Culling Game — including how she presents Sukuna with a cursed tool crafted from her Construction technique, hoping that it will win his approval. 

Plot Twists and Personal Stakes

Without going into full spoiler territory, Yorozu’s role gets even more personal because she ends up inhabiting Tsumiki Fushiguro’s body, which creates a major emotional thread connecting her to Megumi Fushiguro — one of the core protagonists of the series. 

Her presence isn’t just a power flex or a cool fight scene — it literally impacts Megumi’s emotional arc and the broader conflict with Sukuna, making her far more than a one-dimensional antagonist. 

When anime-only fans finally see her fully animated, Yorozu won’t feel like a side character — she’ll feel like a culmination of themes from cursed energy, legacy, emotional obsession, and family ties. Her battles and motives have weight not just because she’s powerful, but because she ties ancient jujutsu history directly to the story’s endgame. 

Hajime Kashimo — First Appearance: Jujutsu Kaisen Chapter #158

In Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3’s Culling Game arc, one of the most talked-about figures isn’t a cursed spirit or a modern sorcerer — it’s Hajime Kashimo, a reincarnated sorcerer from roughly 400 years ago whose only real motivation in the modern era is the pursuit of a true, worthy fight — especially against Sukuna. 

Kashimo isn’t just another boss-level antagonist; he’s introduced as a legendary fighter from the Edo period who lived long enough (and fought strongly enough) to earn the wary respect of powerful figures like Kenjaku — and to be brought back centuries later to participate in the Culling Game specifically to test his strength against history’s strongest. 

Who He Is & What Drives Him

Unlike most characters driven by ideology or revenge, Kashimo lives for the thrill of combat itself. He has no interest in politics, power, or schemes — he’s hungry for real battles that push him far beyond his limits. This battle lust defines his entire arc in the Culling Game, from his early fight with Panda to when he ultimately confronts Sukuna. 

His Power: Mythical Beast Amber

Kashimo’s innate cursed technique, Mythical Beast Amber (Genjū Kohaku), is one of the most unique and visually spectacular abilities revealed in Jujutsu Kaisen. 

• Electric Transformation: When activated, this technique literally reconfigures Kashimo’s body to become an embodiment of electricity, allowing him to manipulate anything electricity can generate — from powerful electromagnetic waves to amplified speed and sound-based attacks. 

• Immense Physical Boost: The technique doesn’t just make him strong — it dramatically amplifies his physicality, boosting agility, reflexes, and raw offensive output to levels capable of overwhelming most other powerful sorcerers. 

• One-Time Use: The catch? Mythical Beast Amber can only be used once. After Kashimo activates it, his body deteriorates under the strain of surpassing natural limits — meaning he’s wagering everything on that single explosive transformation. 

This high-risk, high-reward nature makes his fights especially gripping for readers and will likely be a highlight in the anime — a spectacle of lightning-fast strikes, electromagnetic devastation, and raw cursed energy intensity. 

His Role in the Culling Game

In the early phases of the Culling Game, Kashimo dominates his colony with overwhelming force, racking up over 40 kills and even adding a new game rule that lets players see others’ basic information. 

Though he starts as a dangerous opponent to the main protagonists, his path shifts over time — partly because his goals aren’t aligned with Kenjaku’s broader ritual plans, and partly because his singular desire is to find a fight worthy of his strength. 

His Confrontation With Sukuna

Kashimo’s most anticipated moment — and what solidified his legendary status among manga readers — comes when he faces Sukuna himself. Without spoiling outcomes for anime-only fans, his battle against the King of Curses is epic, brutal, and emotionally intense, showing just how far Kashimo will go for the fight he craves. 

Even in defeat, his willingness to push himself beyond limits — even at the cost of his own body — makes him stand out as one of the most memorable Culling Game players introduced so far. 

Why Fans Are Hyped for His Anime Debut

Kashimo brings something rare to Jujutsu Kaisen — a character who isn’t driven by vengeance, ideology, or manipulation, but by pure, unfiltered passion for combat. His unique cursed technique, his battle prowess that rivals the strongest sorcerers, and his ultimately tragic pursuit of a perfect fight make him a natural fan favorite long before he even appears on screen.

Fumihiko Takaba — First Appearance: Jujutsu Kaisen Chapter #146

One of the most wild and unpredictable figures fans are buzzing about for Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 is Fumihiko Takaba — a surprisingly pivotal character whose blend of comedy and cursed power turns out to be way more than just comic relief. 

Takaba starts out as what looks like the series’ resident clown: a failing stand-up comedian with more enthusiasm than actual jokes to show for it. Kenjaku, in his typical grand scheme fashion, turns him into a sorcerer and throws him into the Culling Game, making him a player with an ability unlike anything seen before. 

His Cursed Technique: Comedian

Takaba’s innate technique, Comedian (Komedian), is exactly as bizarre and hilarious as it sounds — whatever he genuinely thinks is funny can be made real. 

This isn’t just about jokes on the side:

• It can manifest objects or substances out of nowhere if he imagines them as funny. 

• It can heal him without Reverse Cursed Technique, something almost unheard of outside elite sorcerers. 

• It can nullify damage — literally making attacks bounce off because the idea of permanent harm isn’t funny to him. 

• It can even bend reality in ways that negate other cursed techniques. 

• Some fans even speculate it behaves like a barrierless Domain Expansion or reality-warping effect, since it alters reality based on Takaba’s subjective humor. 

The big limit? Takaba has to be confident that what he finds funny actually is funny. If his confidence drops — especially when someone breaks down his jokes or critiques his humor — the technique shuts off and he becomes vulnerable, as Kenjaku famously exploited in their fight. 

From Gag Character to Serious Threat

At first glance, Takaba feels like comic relief — and he absolutely leans into that, wearing a superhero-style outfit inspired by the first thing that ever made him laugh. But his appearance belies the actual threat his technique poses. Articles breaking down his power argue that Comedian might be one of the most powerful cursed techniques in the entire series, capable of reality warping on par with some of the highest-tier abilities if it’s used with confidence. 

Takaba has already shown he can shrug off attacks from other Culling Game competitors and survive deadly exchanges — even conjuring defensive or offensive effects mid-fight simply by thinking of something funny. 

His Role Against Kenjaku

In one of the most insane sequences of the arc, Takaba confronts Kenjaku head-on, and for a time his Comedian powers make him a real problem for the ancient sorcerer. Despite the absurdity of the matchup, Takaba’s ability to literally reshape reality based on humor forces Kenjaku to engage with him on Takaba’s terms — jokes and all. 

Kenjaku eventually manages to counter Takaba by undermining his confidence — showing that the greatest weakness of Comedian isn’t lack of strength but Takaba’s own self-doubt. 

Why Fans Love Him

What makes Takaba so compelling isn’t just the laughs — it’s how unexpectedly serious he becomes in important moments. Despite being introduced as a joke character, his cursed technique ends up being a strategic wildcard capable of turning fights on their head and, fans argue, one of the most dangerous abilities in the Culling Game.

Hana Kurusu — First Appearance: Jujutsu Kaisen Chapter #145

With Satoru Gojo sealed away in the Prison Realm after the Shibuya Incident, Jujutsu Kaisen’s Culling Game arc introduces one of the most mysterious and plot-critical characters yet: Hana Kurusu, also known as Angel, whose role could literally change the fate of the entire story. 

Unlike most characters introduced in the Culling Game, Hana isn’t just another fighter — she is the symbiotic vessel for an incarnated sorcerer from the Heian Era called “Angel.” That ancient sorcerer carries a cursed technique so rare and powerful that it can nullify all other cursed techniques and cursed objects — even barriers and special grade powers. 

Why She Matters: Breaking the Prison Realm

When Gojo was sealed, freeing him became one of the biggest objectives for the heroes in the Culling Game. The only known way to break Gojo’s prison isn’t brute force — it’s a cursed technique that can remove or extinguish other techniques. That technique belongs to Angel, and because she shares a body with Hana, Hana is literally the key to freeing Gojo. 

Her main cursed ability is often called Technique Extinguishment, and when pushed to its limit she uses a massive offensive called Jacob’s Ladder — a towering column of light that nullifies and destroys any technique caught within it. This ability has the power to remove cursed techniques from their users entirely, including barriers and cursed objects. 

This is not just another jujutsu power — in many fan breakdowns and discussions, Jacob’s Ladder is often argued to be one of the strongest cursed techniques in the entire series, precisely because nothing — not even Gojo’s Limitless or Sukuna’s power — is immune when caught in its range. 

Angel and Sukuna

Hana and Angel’s presence becomes even more pivotal in the later parts of the arc when they face Ryomen Sukuna himself. In their first major clash, Hana nearly purges Sukuna — but he manages to bait her into shutting her technique off by mimicking someone she cares about, preventing a complete victory. 

That moment highlights how dangerous her ability is, and also how strong Sukuna has become — enough to dodge, withstand, and even counter one of the Culling Game’s most devastating techniques. 

Her Connection to Megumi

Beyond raw power, Hana’s story deepens with her connection to Megumi Fushiguro. Manga revelations indicate that Megumi once saved Hana when she was a child, rescuing her from a cursed spirit — an act that deeply shaped her motivations. 

That moment is part of why she actively chooses to aid the main protagonists instead of being just another neutral participant. Her connection to Megumi adds emotional weight to her arc, making her more than a plot device — she’s literally tied to the core relationships in the story’s climax. 

What to Expect in Season 3

In the anime’s forthcoming Season 3, Hana Kurusu (Angel) isn’t just another new character — she’s one of the most consequential players introduced so far. Her ability to literally erase cursed techniques changes how battles, goals, and strategies unfold. 

For the heroes, she represents their best shot at freeing Gojo and turning the tide against Sukuna and Kenjaku. For fans, she represents one of the most unique and powerful cursed techniques ever shown in Jujutsu Kaisen — and a character whose backstory and relationships add emotional depth to the arc. 

Watch closely when Season 3 drops — because Hana Kurusu isn’t just important… she could determine the fate of the entire jujutsu world.

Hiromi Higuruma — First Appearance: Jujutsu Kaisen Chapter #158

Among the wild roster of Culling Game characters in Jujutsu Kaisen, Hiromi Higuruma stands out immediately not just for his personality but for how clever and terrifying his cursed ability really is. Introduced deep into the Culling Game arc, Higuruma brings a completely different flavor to combat — one that forces battles into a courtroom instead of a battlefield. 

From Genius Lawyer to Sorcerer

Before awakening as a sorcerer, Higuruma was a brilliant attorney — so bright that his intellect made the jump into cursed energy naturally compatible with his legal background. Within twelve days of awakening his technique, he had mastered it to a level where he could compete with some of the strongest fighters in the game, even using Domain Amplification and learning Reverse Cursed Technique on the fly. 

He actually scored over 100 points in the Culling Game early on — meaning he exorcised a massive number of combatants, something only top-tier sorcerers manage. 

Cursed Technique: Judgeman

Higuruma’s curse originates with a shikigami called Judgeman — a manifestation of blind justice that literally conducts trials on his opponents. The shikigami looks like a stylized judge with scales and a mask reminiscent of Lady Justice, blindfolded to symbolize objective judgment. 

When summoned, Judgeman:

• Presents charges and evidence against the target.

• Acts as the judge in Higuruma’s Domain.

• Delivers verdicts that have real cursed technical consequences.

• Can even emotionally react if a crime is especially heinous. 

Domain Expansion: Deadly Sentencing

Higuruma doesn’t just fight — he puts his opponents on trial. His Domain Expansion Deadly Sentencing turns combat into a courtroom:

• Inside the Domain, violence is prohibited until a verdict is delivered — even cursed techniques don’t work until the trial ends. 

• Higuruma is the prosecutor, Judgeman is the judge, and the defendant must defend themselves logically and verbally. 

• Verdicts include things like Confiscation (which steals a target’s cursed technique or energy) and the Death Penalty (granting Higuruma an Executioner’s Sword capable of killing in one blow).

In Higuruma vs Yuji Itadori, this technique temporarily strips Yuji of his cursed energy until Yuji forces a retrial, showing the mental and tactical depth of this cursed skill. 

A Battle of Words and Willpower

What makes Higuruma’s fights so unique is not just the courtroom gimmick — even opponents with immense physical prowess can be dramatically disadvantaged if Judgeman rules against them. When Higuruma gets a guilty verdict, he can define the punishment based on the crime, changing the flow of combat entirely. 

In his later clash during the arc, Higuruma even uses Deadly Sentencing against Ryomen Sukuna by having both of them stand trial for the Shibuya Incident. The result is an intense, high-stakes confrontation that reframes how Domains and cursed techniques are used. 

Weapon Mastery — The Gavel & Executioner’s Sword

Higuruma’s main cursed tool is a shape-shifting gavel, which he can wield with masterful precision:

• It changes forms depending on the battle situation — from hammer to staff.

• If a Death Penalty sentence is issued, it becomes the Executioner’s Sword, capable of a lethal strike. 

Higuruma’s strength comes not from raw physical power, but from how he uses logic, evidence, and understanding of law to manipulate his technique. He mastered cursed energy through reverse engineering his own domain’s mechanics, something even elite sorcerers struggle with. 

Expectations — Season 3

When Season 3 adapts Higuruma’s battle against Yuji — and potentially against Sukuna — viewers are in for something truly different. This isn’t just a fight; it’s a test of wit, presence of mind, and psychological combat. Unlike straight-up slugfests, Deadly Sentencing forces characters to argue for their survival, making it one of the standout confrontations of the Culling Game arc.

Yuta Okkotsu — First Appearance: Jujutsu Kaisen Chapter #0 (Jujutsu Kaisen 0) 

Although Yuta Okkotsu was introduced in the prequel story Jujutsu Kaisen 0, Season 3 of Jujutsu Kaisen finally brings him fully into the main series spotlight. In Zero, Yuta starts as a timid, haunted teen cursed by the spirit of his childhood friend, Rika, but by the time Season 3 rolls around, he’s one of the most feared jujutsu sorcerers alive — and a major force in the Culling Game. 

From Tragedy to Power

Yuta’s story begins with heartbreak: as a child, his close friend Rika Orimoto died in a tragic accident, and his intense grief caused him to unintentionally bind her soul to himself as a cursed spirit. The result? Rika became one of the most powerful cursed spirits on record, fiercely protective of Yuta. 

This bond gives Yuta massive reserves of cursed energy and access to incredible combat potential — enough that the jujutsu higher-ups initially see him as a threat and sentence him to death until Satoru Gojo intervenes and enrolls him in Jujutsu High. 

A Fully Unleashed Sorcerer

By the time we catch up with Yuta in the Culling Game arc:

• He’s mastered control over Rika, far beyond the frightened boy fans met in Jujutsu Kaisen 0. 

• Rika remains at his side as a Special Grade cursed spirit, capable of exceptional power, weapon storage, and standard–to–god-tier battle output — earning her the nickname “Queen of Curses.”

• Rika can even replenish Yuta’s cursed energy and replicate tools or techniques, making Yuta incredibly versatile and dangerous in fights. 

• Yuta’s own cursed technique has evolved to include things like mimicry of other techniques seen in battle, expanding his arsenal dramatically.

This isn’t the same shy kid from Zero — it’s a battle-hardened and emotionally complex sorcerer with extraordinary capabilities.

The Execution Set-Up

In the lead-up to Season 3, the compilation film Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution teases a high-stakes confrontation between Yuta and Yuji Itadori — with Yuta initially acting as the one tasked to execute Yuji because of the chaos left in the wake of the Shibuya Incident. 

This early battle highlights just how far Yuta has come since Jujutsu Kaisen 0: his presence and power now rival some of the series’ biggest names, and his actions help set the tone for the Culling Game arc’s intense stakes.

More Than Just Strength

What sets Yuta apart isn’t just raw power — it’s how his emotional journey, relationships, and spirit bond with Rika shape his motivations. Even after Rika’s human soul was freed, her cursed spirit version remains tied to him, reflecting both his trauma and growth over time. 

In the manga’s ongoing arc, Yuta has already:

• Entered the Culling Games directly, putting his skills to use on multiple fronts.

• Played a significant role in clashes against reincarnated sorcerers and deadly opponents.

• Even used cursed technique body-swapping to try and leverage Gojo’s sealed powers against Sukuna.

Why Fans Are Hyped for His Full Debut

For anime-only viewers, Season 3’s Yuta will feel like watching a completely different character from the one they saw in Zero:

• A mastered sorcerer with confidence, skill, and unique cursed technique synergy with Rika.

• A major player in the Culling Game and final confrontation against Sukuna.

• And a complex character whose past trauma fuels his strength rather than holding him back.

As Jujutsu Kaisen heads into Season 3, one thing is clear — the Culling Game isn’t just another arc, it’s the turning point of the entire series. With powerhouses like Yuta, Hakari, Higuruma, Angel, Kashimo, Yorozu and more stepping into the spotlight, the stakes have never been higher and the roster has never looked more exciting.

Whether you’ve been here since Season 1 or just jumped in with Jujutsu Kaisen 0, this is the perfect time to dive back in, revisit the old arcs, and get ready for the chaos ahead. Season 3 is set to deliver major character debuts, emotional payoffs, and some of the best animated battles we’ve seen from the series yet.

And before you go…
If you’re a die-hard fan, don’t forget to check out our massive collection of Anime, Marvel, DC, Transformers, LEGO and more collectibles — with discounts up to 40% OFF. Add your favorites to your shelf before they’re gone! Click here to avail.