Thread by @SatorIzzy

Nanami Kento ~ The Mystery of a Hero

Spoilers Below

Character Analysis Thread

In many anime and manga, there is the trope of the businessman that is utilized to express a sense of seriousness in particular situations or used to introduce a tone of solemnity upon a story's characters or story arc. Nanami Kento is this character in Jujutsu Kaisen.

However, Gege creates a character that rejects the businessman's lifestyle after coming to the realization that the world of a sorcerer is a lesser evil. With his experiences in both spheres, Nanami Kento is dubbed as reliable by Gojo

Even though he rejects the lifestyle of a businessman he still exudes the aura and qualities of a salaryman while living the unordinary life as a sorcerer. He separates and gives himself a distinct presence in the story.

Nanami was a character that didn't have an "inviting personality" we saw this as Yuji was teaming up with him and trying to break the ice with his new teammate. A tough cookie to crack, an easy way to describe most of Nanami's personality/character.

But even with the unbreakable ice sheet that Nanami puts in front of himself to block people out, his experience in both the worlds of Jujutsu and the "standard" world, allows him to express himself in cryptic ways.

The first peak into Nanami's perspective, he mentors Yuji on what it means to be an adult. This makes sense considering Yuji is a child but in the Jujutsu world, the age of a sorcerer doesn't matter. It's a world where you give up your life to protect and serve with no regrets.

"The accumulations of little despairs make you an adult" is an analogy. Same with sorcerers, you progress through the despair you experience. You disconnect from your humanity when you become a sorcerer, similar to how you disconnect from being a child as you become an adult

It was only after Yuji killed, being aware of the despair in death, he graduated to being a Jujutsu Sorcerer. Nanami wanted Yuji to understand the lesson of death before he accepts him as a sorcerer because through death your path as a sorcerer opens.

It's a very mysterious way of giving someone their first lesson into the world of a jujutsu sorcerer. Nanami's experiences with death propelled him into the bottomless spiral of curses. He was mentoring Yuji to inspect if he's ready to take on this job and lose his innocence

The innocence of a non-sorcerer and the innocence of a child are connected in Nanami's eyes. That innocence is something that Nanami doesn't want someone to forget because of what he had to go through in his life. Understanding that innocence truly is precious.

Nanami went back to the lifestyle of a businessman after leaving the world of jujutsu to find that innocence again but he was never able to grasp it he was just in another endless spiral doing nothing and being useless.

Later he saw that even if both worlds are "idiotic" at least as a sorcerer he would be able to protect the innocence of others. The value in innocence is what forced Nanami back into the world of the sorcerer and made him content with death.

In his final moments, he still holds onto the value of innocence, arguing with the apparition of his deceased classmate to pass on his sufferings to Yuji. In the end, Nanami held his tongue and told Yuji to continue on with a smile.

Nanami's strict and uninviting personality is a product of his value of innocence. The accumulation of his sufferings is something he holds in, just as a jujutsu sorcerer seals the shadow of their negativity within themselves., Nanami is a representation of that

The Junpei arc was really important because we were able to get a glimpse into Nanami. Mahito being a character that was matched up with Nanami is masterful writing by Gege because Mahito is someone who can look into the soul and comprehend how constraint your soul is.

Nanami, someone who conceals his being from others, and Mahito, who can see through others via the soul. A very impactful dichotomy that shows itself. The first time Mahito touched Nanami he wasn't able to transfigure him because Nanami was unconsciously protecting his soul.

This is a feat that can be done depending on the sorcerer but it's very impactful because that unbreakable ice sheet that Nanami places in front of himself, not letting others in, was shown here through the unconscious protection of his soul.

Nanami and Yuji's dynamic is effective because if there's anyone that is going down a similar path as Nanami it would be Yuji. Within the story, the experience Yuji had with Nanami will continuously echo within him.

A closed book allows people to wonder about the contents within, but it truly takes someone with a similar story to have the heart to understand it.

Nanami never told Yuji about his struggles, but Yuji knew in his heart that Nanami suffered and decided to carry those sufferings

Nanami even in a state where death could come at any moment, still took it upon his self to try to protect the state of the sorcerers. The motivation Nanami had while in a state of reflection would confuse a reader because Nanami never believed in doing more than necessary

But there is an eerie irony here that not even Nanami understands. He keeps moving BECAUSE he wants to find meaning and purpose. It's as if he wanted to be a hero rather than a jujutsu sorcerer. Unconditionally protecting the innocence of others makes him a hero.

A man who simultaneously lives both the life of the standard and the un-standard is a cliche of a hero. Nanami didn't need to be the strongest character to be a hero, a simple act of gratitude from the innocent was fulfilling enough to accept death without regret.

The mystery in Nanami lies within the pieces in his life he conceals because the full picture could taint the innocence of another. Regardless, his influence on others wasn't something that is concealed and neither is his presence within the story.

An Enigma - A Tough Cookie To Crack - A Hero

~ Nanami Kento.