7 most important Zen'in clan members in Jujutsu Kaisen, ranked

One of the most influential groups of characters in author and illustrator Gege Akutami’s original manga series is the Zen’in clan members in Jujutsu Kaisen. Regardless of the era in which they lived, nearly every member of the clan has had a major impact on the series’ story in one way or another.

However, out of all the many Zen'in clan members in Jujutsu Kaisen, a few stand out as the most important in the series as a whole. Unsurprisingly, a common trend among these distinguished few is the impact they had on the series, either via their lives, their deaths, or both.

Toji, Mai, and more Zen'in clan members in Jujutsu Kaisen are the series' most important

7) Ogi Zen'in

Ogi's role in Maki and Mai's origins is what secures him a spot amongst the most important Zen'in clan members in Jujutsu Kaisen (Image via Shueisha)

Fittingly beginning with one of the patriarchs of the Zen’in clan, Ogi barely sneaks onto the list of the most important Zen’in clan members in Jujutsu Kaisen. His death and what it does for Maki play a major role in his inclusion here, but his life before the start of the series also earns him a spot here.

Had he not treated Maki and Mai with the contempt he did while they were growing up, their lives may have been different enough to change the story at large.

One key example of this is the role Ogi likely played in restricting Maki to a Grade 4 ranking. Had he allowed her to flourish as a sorcerer, she may not have had the contempt she had for the Zen’in clan, which led her to slaughter them.

6) Naobito Zen'in

Naobito as seen in the anime (Image via MAPPA Studios)

Since Naobito is the head of the Zen'in clan at the start of the series, he should inherently be included in the list of the most important Zen’in clan members in Jujutsu Kaisen.

However, his low ranking here stems from his general lack of involvement and impact throughout the series itself. His edging out of Ogi here stems from his status as clan head, in turn suggesting he played a larger role than Ogi did in Maki’s rank restrictions and her subsequent actions.

Naobito is also important to the story, as it’s the first true evidence fans receive of the Zen’in clan having it out for Maki. While Mai would technically be the first overall, it would’ve been easy to attribute this to a rivalry between twin sisters. Naobito’s presence affirms that the Zen’in clan does have it out for her and that it starts with the clan head himself.

5) Naoya Zen'in

Naoya as seen in the manga (Image via Shueisha)

Naoya Zen’in takes his father Naobito’s distaste for Maki and cranks it up to 11, clearly despising her and thinking her a truly worthless individual. Likewise, it’s this hubris that causes him to chase after Yuji Itadori, in turn helping to give Yuta Okkotsu the perfect cover-up for “killing” Yuji by the nature of Naoya owing him a favor.

Naoya’s importance in the story even continues after death, when he returns as a Cursed Spirit and plays a pivotal role in helping Maki achieve her true and full power. His return also gives Maki some additional closure with the Zen’in clan massacre, furthering her character growth in turn. Without a doubt, Naoya is one of the most important Zen’in clan members in Jujutsu Kaisen.

4) Mai Zen'in

Mai may not seem it, but she's definitively one of the most important Zen'in clan members in Jujutsu Kaisen (Image via MAPPA Studios)

While Mai’s role in the series is somewhat divisive among fans, what can’t be denied is that she is one of the most important Zen’in clan members in Jujutsu Kaisen. As mentioned above, her introduction serves as a setup for the disdain the clan holds for Maki. It also helps to flesh Maki out more as a character via their interactions and Mai’s commentary on her.

However, what earns Mai such a high ranking here is her role in the Zen’in clan massacre. She essentially sacrifices her life for Maki, using the last of her own Cursed Energy to save Maki and make her a replica of Split Soul Katana before asking her to “destroy everything.”

She’s revealed to have been discussing the Zen’in clan as a whole, confirming that a large part of Maki’s actions in the massacre stems from Mai’s request and her experiences growing up in the clan.

3) Toji Fushiguro

Toji as seen in the anime (Image via MAPPA Studios)

To say Toji Fushiguro is anything but one of the most important Zen’in clan members in Jujutsu Kaisen is heretical. In short, his actions led to the full awakening of Satoru Gojo as a Six Eyes and Limitless user, the course of events that allowed Kenjaku to take over Suguru Geto’s body, and his son Megumi to become the current Zen’in clan head.

Even beyond these actions that occurred in his original life, he also has a major impact on the series in his “second life.” His killing of Dagon helped save Maki Zen’in and the other sorcerers fighting him, and his killing of Granny Ogami also swayed the Shibuya arc’s events. Were it not for the clan’s two young upstarts, he’d have a very strong case for the single most important Zen’in clan member.

2) Maki Zen'in

Maki is one of the most important Zen'in clan members in Jujutsu Kaisen (Image via MAPPA Studios)

However, Maki’s massacre of the entire Zen’in clan serves as a fantastic foundation to build on for her being more important than Toji. The clan’s slaughter, combined with the departure of the Kamo clan from jujutsu helped a returned Satoru Gojo decide to slaughter the higher-ups, completely changing the future of Jujutsu society.

On this basis alone, she can be argued to be one of the most important Zen’in clan members in Jujutsu Kaisen, let alone more than Toji. Beyond that, she played a major role in Yuta Okkotsu’s growth as a sorcerer, which is actively having a major ripple effect on the contemporary series.

Her work in the Culling Game colonies was also incredibly impactful, with her essentially being a cheat code to this system Kenjaku had set up. Maki’s role in the fight against Sukuna has also proven pivotal, buying valuable time for other allies to appear and allowing the fight to progress to where it currently is.

1) Megumi Fushiguro

Megumi as seen in the anime (Image via MAPPA Studios)

Yet there’s little to no doubt that Megumi Fushiguro is the single most important due to his role in allowing this fight against Sukuna to progress to this point.

While it’s difficult to blame him for not having the will to fight, it’s nevertheless a choice he made with consequences that should be attributed to his chosen lack of action. However, Megumi’s significance in the story predates this moment by quite literally a couple of hundred chapters.

It’s Megumi who first discovers Yuji and explains the Sukuna fingers to him, leading to him becoming Sukuna’s vessel. This leads to Sukuna taking an interest in Megumi and hatching a plan to take over his own body.

In turn, this eventually leads to the deaths of Tsumiki Fushiguro, Satoru Gojo, Hajime Kashimo, Choso, and others. Without a doubt, Megumi is not just one of the most important Zen’in clan members in Jujutsu Kaisen, but the single most so.

In conclusion

While all of the above Zen’in clan members in Jujutsu Kaisen play significant roles in the series, it’s clear that some make more of an impact than others. Fittingly, Gege has ensured that each of the most important Zen’in clan members in Jujutsu Kaisen has had a significant presence in the story thus far (and will likely continue to do so).