The Shibuya Incident was the biggest arc in Gege Akutami’s original manga series thus far, and it not only included some of the series’ most fierce combat to date, but it was such a huge part of the series that it irrevocably changed the status quo. This contains the lives of several of the series’ fan-favorite characters, and one, in particular, struck a chord with viewers. This was the death of Nanami Kento, the fan favorite.
Many characters’ lives are still in jeopardy as a result of the arc, but Nanami was not so fortunate. Nanami was killed by Mahito after fighting his way through several transfigured people and cursed spirits. When asked about Nanami’s death in Jujutsu Kaisen’s fanbook, series creator Gege Akutami’s reaction went viral with fans due to his admission that he liked Nanami just as much as we do.
As Akutami described why he killed Nanami during The Shibuya Incident, he made the following observation: “To be honest, I liked Nanami as a character when I chose to launch the Shibuya Incident. It’s simple for me to incorporate him into any plot.” But the actual shock comes quickly when Akutami delivers the cold reality about the fan favorite’s demise, “However, when I consider the roles of the tale and the progression of the characters, I had no other options.”
According to his explanation, while Akutami admired the character and his position in the plot, he finally had to die because he most likely did not play an important role in the series’ future. Akutami indicated in a special interview with Fuji TV that he already had an ending in mind for some of the characters, which is likely the case for Nanami. With a death like Nanami’s, the Shibuya Incident is given the weight it deserves.
Read More: Jujutsu Kaisen Author Gege Akutami Hints on Possible Conclusion of the Manga Soon
