Gege Akutami's Jujutsu Kaisen is one of the most revolutionary shōnen series ever created, primarily due to its unique approach to character development. The series showcases a wide range of characters with compelling narratives and fighting sequences, making Jujutsu Kaisen the most enjoyed battle manga of the shōnen genre. While elements like the distinctive protagonist and the ever-popular Gojo are celebrated, Jujutsu Kaisen stumbles in an area where many shōnen series face criticism: the portrayal of its female characters.

Jujutsu Kaisen, much like other Shōnen series, struggles to present fully realized female characters. Though the series features several women, only Maki Zenin seems to have been given the space to shine, often overshadowing Nobara Kugisaki, the supposed female lead. Nobara’s fate, left uncertain after the Shibuya Incident, suggested a significant twist, yet the ambiguity surrounding her character felt more like a narrative misstep.

Jujutsu Kaisen Has A Great Female Cast... And Nobara's Initial Portrayal In the Series Proves It

Nobara’s Initial Portrayal in Jujutsu Kaisen Sets Her Apart as the Most Unique Female Lead in a ShōNen Series

Recent developments leading up to Nobara's fate ambiguous for greater purposes, the series could have handled it much better. Unfortunately, Nobara isn’t alone, as several other female characters in Jujutsu Kaisen share a similar lack of meaningful development, representing a missed opportunity for the series.

From the outset, Gege Akutami's manga set off on a different path, especially with a great female cast, despite often being compared to Naruto due to clear narrative parallels. The series introduced Nobara Kugisaki as the female lead alongside two male leads, distinguishing herself from the start, especially in contrast to her counterpart, Sakura from Naruto, whose portrayal has been widely criticized. Where Sakura often felt like a typical ing character, lacking meaningful impact on the story, Nobara defied those tropes with a much more assertive and independent role.

Born in a remote village, Nobara's upbringing was shaped by her environment, particularly in how outsiders were treated. This is exemplified through her connection with Saori, an outsider who inspired Nobara to break free from the village's limitations. Nobara chooses to be a sorcerer, despite realizing its harsh reality. Therefore, her alleged death during the Shibuya incident arc even serves very well by highlighting how Nobara died with no remorse, having lived according to her own will. Yet Akutami's decision to bring Nobara back unexpectedly undermined this powerful narrative, while there were many opportunities to do it right.

Jujutsu Kaisen's Nobara Return Could Have Been A Great Moment But Misses The Mark

Nobara’s Return in Jujutsu Kaisen Could Have Been Much More Impactful and Not a Bizzare Twist

Chapter #267 of Jujutsu Kaisen, in a shocking twist, reveals that Nobara Kugisaki is still alive, despite her absence from the narrative for a significant portion of the series. Before Nobara strikes out at Sukuna's last finger with her cursed technique, it is even explained that she woke up only an hour ago, adding to the impression that her return wasn’t part of the author’s original plan but was introduced to generate buzz among fans. Had her return been carefully foreshadowed, the series could have woven in hints earlier or developed a parallel narrative centered on Nobara.

Leaving the fate of Jujutsu Kaisen's female lead in limbo for so long was a missed opportunity. Confirming Nobara’s earlier survival could have opened up a parallel storyline, which could have helped address fans’ concerns about the series feeling rushed or condensed. This alternate arc could have delved into the strategies of the other sorcerers in their battle against Sukuna, with Nobara training in the background for a dramatic and timely return, solidifying her position as the female lead of the series. Unfortunately, the series missed this opportunity, as it has with other moments where its female characters could have been given more depth and development.

Jujutsu Kaisen's Female Characters All Amount To Missed Opportunities

The Series Fails To Portray Compelling Female Characters Despite Having Many Opportunities To Do So

In addition to Nobara, many other female characters in Jujutsu Kaisen could have been developed more effectively, filling a crucial gap that prevents the series from standing out even more within the shōnen genre. Kasumi Miwa, for instance, is barely noticeable in the narrative, and it wouldn't be surprising if she were one of the first characters fans forget about. Despite her hard work, Miwa's efforts ultimately amounted to nothing when Kenjaku effortlessly shattered her sword during the final moments of the Shibuya Incident arc—even after she had used a binding vow to land a devastating blow.

While it is arguable that her character was used to convey the harsh realities of the jujutsu world, Miwa had the potential to impart more meaningful life lessons to the audience. Born without an innate curse technique, she worked tirelessly to master the Simple Domain technique, which, as the series has revealed, is one of the most significant techniques a sorcerer could learn as it helps counter Domains. With this technique alone, Miwa could have emerged as the ultimate heroine in the final arc, playing a key role in aiding and rescuing sorcerers from Sukuna’s powerful Domain, which had already resulted in the deaths of several characters.

Beyond Miwa, Utahime Iori also holds great potential that the series could have used to address another issue: the lack of romance.iconic couples in the Shōnen Genre. All these factors highlight that Jujutsu Kaisen had a lot of opportunities to extend its short narrative and using female characters to do so, would have incidentally addressed the broader issue of the lack of compelling female characters, a problem not just within this series but in the shōnen genre as a whole.