2nd Year Students of Tokyo Jujutsu High School in Jujutsu Kaisen (2018)
The second-year students of Tokyo Jujutsu High play a central role in Jujutsu Kaisen (2018), serving as mentors, senior allies, and sometimes comic relief for the first-year protagonists. Unlike ordinary students, each of them already has significant battle experience against Cursed Spirits and brings their own unique skillset, personality, and philosophy about jujutsu sorcery. Their importance in the story goes far beyond their grade level, as they embody the balance between strength, individuality, and teamwork.
Who Are the Second-Year Students?
At Tokyo Jujutsu High, students are trained to exorcise curses, master cursed techniques, and protect civilians. By their second year, students are already considered semi-professional sorcerers. The 2018 manga introduces four notable second-year characters:
- Maki Zenin
- Toge Inumaki
- Panda
- Kinji Hakari (mentioned later, formally appearing during the Culling Game arc)
Each character is distinct in background and cursed technique, but together they represent how Jujutsu High shapes sorcerers into reliable protectors of society.
Maki Zenin: The Determined Fighter Without Cursed Energy
| Age: 16 |
| Gender: Female |
| Hair Color: Dark Green |
| Eye Color: Brown |
| Birthday: January 20, 2002 |
| Height: 1.70 m |
| Occupation: High School Student, Grade 4 Jujutsu Sorcerer |
| Nationality: Japan |
| Voice Actors: Allegra CLARK |
Maki Zenin comes from the prestigious Zenin Clan, one of the three great sorcerer families. Despite her noble bloodline, she was born without cursed energy, a fact that makes her an outcast in her clan. To compensate, Maki uses Heavenly Restriction, which grants her superhuman physical strength and reflexes.
She specializes in wielding cursed tools, including weapons imbued with cursed energy. Her determination, resilience, and refusal to submit to her family’s oppression make her one of the most inspiring characters. For first-year students like Yuji Itadori and Megumi Fushiguro, Maki stands as proof that effort and grit can sometimes rival innate talent.
Toge Inumaki: The Quiet Sorcerer With a Dangerous Voice
| Age: 17 |
| Gender: Male |
| Hair Color: Light Grey |
| Eye Color: violet |
| Birthday: October 23, 2001 |
| Height: 1.70 m |
| Occupation: High School Student, Grade 2 Jujutsu Sorcerer |
| Nationality: Japan |
| Voice Actors: Xander MOBUS |
Toge Inumaki is one of the most unique sorcerers in the series. He is descended from the Inumaki clan, inheriting the Cursed Speech technique. This allows him to command others through spoken words, for example, saying “Sleep” can force an enemy into unconsciousness.
Because his power is so dangerous, Toge avoids speaking normally. Instead, he communicates through phrases from rice ball ingredients such as “tuna mayo” or “salmon.” This quirk makes him both endearing and mysterious. Despite his silence, Toge is highly respected among his peers and plays crucial roles during battles, especially in the Kyoto Goodwill Event.
Panda: The Living Cursed Corpse With a Heart
| Gender: Male |
| Birthday: March 5 |
| Height: 1.90 m |
| Occupation: High School Student, Semi-Grade 2 Jujutsu Sorcerer |
| Voice Actors: Matthew David Rudd, Tara Sands (Young) |
One of the most memorable second-years is Panda, a sentient, talking panda bear. Unlike ordinary pandas, he is actually a Cursed Corpse created by the school’s principal, Masamichi Yaga. Panda is more than just comic relief, he has a calm personality, a caring attitude toward his classmates, and exceptional combat abilities.
What makes Panda extraordinary is his three cores, representing himself, his brother, and his sister. By switching between these cores, he adapts to different battle situations, from brute strength to enhanced agility. Panda is a reminder of the compassion behind sorcery: even beings born from curses can develop emotions, loyalty, and individuality.
Kinji Hakari: The Suspended Yet Powerful Second-Year
| Age: 17 |
| Gender: Male |
| Hair Color: Black |
| Eye Color: Dark Blue |
| Birthday: March 7th, 2001 |
| Height: 1.80 m |
| Occupation: High School Student, Special Grade Jujutsu Sorcerer |
| Nationality: Japan |
| Voice Actors: Kayleigh MCKEE |
Although Hakari does not appear early in Jujutsu Kaisen (2018), he is officially a second-year student at Tokyo Jujutsu High. Known for his rebellious streak, Hakari was suspended for clashing with school authorities. His ability, revealed later, is his Idle Death Gamble Domain Expansion, which grants him near-instant healing as long as certain conditions are met.
Hakari’s existence broadens the scope of Jujutsu High, showing that not all students conform to rules yet can still become strong sorcerers. His later return in the Culling Game arc cements him as one of the most formidable students in the series.
Their Role in the Story
The second-years are essential to the Jujutsu Kaisen narrative. While Gojo Satoru acts as the overarching mentor figure, it’s the second-years who provide hands-on guidance to the new first-years. They share their experiences, give battle support, and act as role models.
For example:
- Maki helps Yuji and Nobara train in close combat.
- Toge showcases teamwork during the exchange events.
- Panda acts as both a fighter and a supportive figure during tense moments.
Their presence creates a sense of continuity, showing how each generation of sorcerers shapes the next.
Conclusion
The second-year students of Tokyo Jujutsu High, Zenin, Toge Inumaki, Panda, and Kinji Hakari, are more than just supporting characters. They embody perseverance, creativity, and individuality in the world of Jujutsu Kaisen. Each has overcome personal struggles to grow into capable sorcerers, and together, they bridge the gap between Gojo’s guidance and the new first-year students’ journey.
Their legacy within the series highlights a recurring theme: being a sorcerer is not just about cursed energy, but about willpower, character, and the ability to stand alongside others in the fight against curses.