Maki Zenin
Maki Zenin |
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Kanji | 禪 院 真 希 |
Birthday | January 20, 2002 |
Age | 16 |
Status | Alive |
Gender | Female |
Height | 170 cm (5’7″) |
Hair | Dark Green (Anime) |
Eyes | Amber (Anime) |
Actors | |
Japanese Voice | Mikako Komatsu |
English Voice | Allegra Clark |
Maki Zenin (禪 院 真 希 Zen’in Maki)is a major supporting character in Jujutsu Kaisen and one of the main protagonists of its prequel, Jujutsu Kaisen 0: Jujutsu High. She is a second-year student at Tokyo Jujutsu High and the elder twin sister of Mai Zenin. Maki is the daughter of Ogi Zenin and a former member of the prestigious Zenin Clan, one of the Big Three Sorcerer Families.
Born a non-sorcerer with minimal cursed energy, Maki was ostracized and mistreated by her family, who viewed her as inferior and unworthy of the Zenin name. Rejecting their oppressive treatment, Maki chose to leave the clan, vowing to become a powerful jujutsu sorcerer on her own terms. Her goal is not only to defy her family’s expectations but to prove that strength comes from hard work and determination rather than lineage.
At Tokyo Jujutsu High, Maki trains alongside her close friends Panda and Toge Inumaki and serves as an inspiration and mentor to the younger first-year students, including Yuji Itadori, Megumi Fushiguro, and Nobara Kugisaki. Maki’s exceptional skill with cursed tools and her unwavering resolve make her a formidable sorcerer, even in the face of the challenges posed by her lack of cursed energy.
Maki’s journey is one of perseverance and defiance, as she strives to carve out her own path and break free from the constraints of her family’s oppressive traditions.
Appearance
Maki’s Initial Appearance in the Anime
Maki Zenin is a young woman of above-average height with an athletic build, reflecting her rigorous training as a jujutsu sorcerer. She has small golden eyes and long black hair, depicted as dark green in the anime, usually tied into a short ponytail. Her hairstyle features fringes over her forehead and smaller strands framing her cheeks. Due to her lack of cursed energy, Maki relies on specially crafted glasses that allow her to see curses, often sporting various designs throughout the series.
While still a member of the Zenin Clan, Maki wore traditional attire, including a white yukata and black hakama, symbolizing her connection to the clan. Her original Jujutsu High uniform consisted of a standard long-sleeved jacket paired with a skirt, thick tan socks, and black shoes. As a second-year student, Maki updated her look with a different pair of glasses and black leggings instead of socks, emphasizing her practical approach to combat.
Personality
Maki Zenin is a determined and headstrong individual with a fiercely independent spirit. Her defining trait is her resilience in the face of adversity, particularly the discrimination she endured from the Zenin Clan. Despite being mistreated and ostracized for her lack of cursed energy, Maki refuses to let her family’s disdain define her. Instead, she channels her frustration into unrelenting ambition, striving to become a powerful jujutsu sorcerer through sheer effort and skill alone.
Maki has a strong sense of pride and refuses to be underestimated or pitied. Her blunt and straightforward nature often makes her seem aloof or intimidating, but she deeply values hard work and integrity. She despises the idea of relying on status or connections, believing in merit and personal growth as the true measures of strength. This is evident in her interactions with others, as she challenges her friends and teammates to push their limits and reach their full potential.
While Maki is often seen as stern and serious, she also has a more caring and protective side, especially toward her close friends. She acts as a mentor figure to younger students, offering guidance and support when needed. Her bond with Panda and Toge Inumaki is particularly strong, and she considers them her family, a stark contrast to the fractured relationship she has with her biological relatives.
Maki’s determination to defy the Zenin Clan is not born out of bitterness alone but also a desire to break the cycle of toxic traditions and favoritism. Her goal is to prove that strength doesn’t come from cursed energy or lineage but from dedication and perseverance. Despite her apparent confidence, Maki is not immune to moments of doubt, particularly when faced with overwhelming odds or reflecting on her past. However, these moments only serve to strengthen her resolve, as she views setbacks as opportunities for growth.
Maki’s loyalty to her ideals and those she cares about is unwavering. She is willing to risk everything to achieve her goals, even if it means standing against powerful opponents or enduring further alienation from her clan. Her no-nonsense attitude and fierce independence make her an inspiring role model to those around her, embodying the spirit of perseverance and self-reliance.
Post Shibuya
Following the events of the Shibuya Incident, Maki Zenin sustained severe burn injuries from Jogo’s flames, leaving much of her body scarred. The burns run along her arms and the sides of her face, visibly marking her as a survivor of the catastrophic battle. Her hair, previously long, now only reaches just past her ears, potentially due to being burned or intentionally cut. Over time, through rigorous training during her recovery, Maki developed a more robust and muscular physique, further enhancing her physical strength.
Maki adapted her appearance and uniform to reflect her transformation. She began wearing a sleeveless black turtleneck shirt, designed to leave her arms uncovered, tucked into tight black pants secured by a wide brown belt with a gold buckle. She paired this with a large cape fastened by two Jujutsu High pins on each shoulder. Her glasses took on a circular design, though her right eye remained bandaged due to the burns. This new attire signified her resilience and adaptability, embracing her scars as part of her journey.
During her confrontation with the Zenin Clan, Maki lost her right eye entirely after it was slashed by her father’s katana. After this incident, she adjusted her outfit slightly, discarding the cape while retaining the sleeveless shirt, pants, belt, and shoes. The scar over her missing eye became a permanent reminder of the conflict with her family.
By the time Maki entered the Culling Game, her right eye was completely healed, and she reclaimed her cape, signifying her readiness to face new challenges. This evolution in her appearance mirrors her internal growth, reflecting both the hardships she has endured and her unyielding determination to move forward stronger than ever.
Abilities and Powers
Overall Skill Level :Maki Zenin’s grade 4 ranking does not reflect her true abilities. Born a non-sorcerer due to her Heavenly Restriction, Maki possesses extraordinary physical strength and agility, compensating for her minimal cursed energy. Through rigorous training, mastery of cursed tools, and sheer determination, Maki has surpassed the expectations of even elite sorcerers.
Early Skill Recognition :As a second-year student, both Satoru Gojo and Mei Mei agreed that Maki should have been ranked at least grade 2, though her strained relationship with the Zenin Clan hindered her promotion. Even her peers, including Yuji Itadori, recognized her strength immediately. Maki’s natural combat prowess enabled her to exorcise grade 2 curses and outperform sorcerers like Kasumi Miwa and Mai Zenin during the Goodwill Event, where she wielded cursed tools with unmatched precision and physical dominance.
Shibuya Incident :During the Shibuya Incident, Maki proved her worth as an invaluable asset. While initially slower than seasoned grade 1 sorcerers like Naobito Zenin, she adapted quickly, surviving Dagon’s domain and contributing to critical counterattacks. Despite her injuries, Maki’s determination and skill shone through, earning her the respect of her allies.
Transformation Post-Zenin Clan Conflict :Maki’s greatest transformation came after her confrontation with the Zenin Clan. Following Mai’s sacrifice, Maki was freed from her remaining cursed energy and gained a body comparable to that of Toji Fushiguro. With this newfound strength, Maki single-handedly annihilated the Zenin Clan, including its elite Kukuru Unit and Hei, wielding cursed tools with devastating efficiency. Her power surpassed even Naobito Zenin, as evidenced by her overwhelming victory over Naoya Zenin, both as a human and later as a curse.
Awakening and Peak Abilities :Guided by Rokujushi Miyo, Maki achieved a mental awakening, unlocking advanced perception that allows her to detect subtle changes in temperature and air density. This heightened awareness enables her to predict her opponent’s movements and maneuver mid-air at incredible speeds. Fully awakened, Maki became immune to Naoya’s domain expansion and eliminated him with ease. This transformation solidified her as a war god equal to Toji Fushiguro, earning her a place among the strongest jujutsu sorcerers.
Battle Against Sukuna :Maki’s peak strength was showcased when she stood against Sukuna at fifteen fingers alongside Yuji Itadori. Despite Sukuna’s immense power, Maki held her own in hand-to-hand combat, demonstrating her unparalleled durability and skill. Her ability to withstand a direct hit from Sukuna further cemented her as one of the most formidable fighters in the jujutsu world.
Cursed Energy
Zero Cursed Energy :Maki Zenin was born with an extraordinarily low amount of cursed energy, even less than that of an average non-sorcerer. This deficiency meant she was unable to see curses without the assistance of special glasses imbued with cursed energy—a basic requirement for anyone pursuing the path of a jujutsu sorcerer. Despite her heritage as a member of the powerful Zenin Clan, Maki’s lack of cursed energy was attributed to her being born as a twin, an inauspicious event in the world of jujutsu sorcery. Twins in the jujutsu world are treated as a single entity, and in Maki’s case, her sister Mai inherited their shared cursed energy and the Zenin Clan’s innate technique, leaving Maki with virtually none.
Maki’s fate changed after Mai made the ultimate sacrifice. By giving her life and taking with her all the cursed energy they shared, Mai freed Maki entirely from the bounds of cursed energy. This transformation made Maki the second known individual to fully escape cursed energy through a Heavenly Restriction, following in the footsteps of Toji Fushiguro. This unique condition granted Maki unparalleled physical capabilities, allowing her to rival Toji’s infamous strength and skills.
Like Toji Fushiguro, Maki Zenin’s complete lack of cursed energy makes her entirely undetectable by sorcerers and curses alike. Barrier techniques, which rely on sensing cursed energy, treat her as part of the environment, similar to an inanimate object like a building. This unique trait renders her immune to many techniques that rely on cursed energy detection or targeting.
Maki’s immunity extends to domain expansions, as most domains cannot confine her unless the caster physically incorporates a structure into the barrier or gains her consent to enter. Furthermore, Maki cannot be targeted by a domain’s sure-hit attack, as the mechanism depends on the presence of cursed energy in the target. These traits make Maki exceptionally difficult to counter in battle, providing her with significant tactical advantages against sorcerers who rely on traditional jujutsu techniques.