Jujutsu Kaisen: Maki Zenin’s Best Friends, Ranked

Jujutsu Kaisen has become one of the biggest animes and mangas of the 2020s, with the franchise establishing itself as a pop culture behemoth. Much of the success of JJK has come down to its fun and exuberant cast of characters that feature Satoru Gojo, Yuji Itadori, and Ryomen Sukuna, with JJK even having compelling side characters that shine despite the popularity of its main characters.

One character that shines throughout JJK is Maki Zenin, a Jujutsu Sorcerer who is shown to have a hardened personality due to her troubled upbringing in the Zenin Clan, causing the character to be seen as fierce and headstrong. Despite this, the character has made several friends while studying at Tokyo Jujutsu High, with Maki relying on many throughout JJK.

8 Satoru Gojo

Maki’s Annoying But Talented Teacher

• Debut: Anime Episode 1/Manga Chapter 2

While attending Tokyo Jujutsu High, Maki is taught in her first year by Gojo, the strongest Jujutsu Sorcerer in modern times. However, the almighty Gojo manages to get on Maki’s bad side while together. Gojo’s eccentric and unpredictable behavior is seen as moronic, with Maki finding Gojo to be an idiot while learning under his tutelage.

Despite Gojo’s annoyance, the pair have respect for each other’s skills, with Gojo believing Maki to be a competent fighter of grade 2 standard, although Maki ranks as grade 4 due to the politics of the Zenin Clan.

7 Mai Zenin

Maki’s Sister Who Cares For Her Deep Down

• Debut: Anime Episode 8/Manga Chapter 16

As the younger sister to Maki, Mai Zenin endured the abuse and ill-treatment of the Zenin Clan alongside her sister, with Mai finding frustration with Maki for her persistence and aim of destroying their family. While Mai was content with being mistreated by her family, Maki was keen to break out of the cycle that hindered the sisters.

When Mai becomes a Jujutsu Sorcerer student at Kyoto Jujutsu High, the pair come into contact at the Kyoto Sister School Exchange Event, where they act hostile towards each other. Despite their troubled past causing a rift, the sisters still deeply care for each other, even without admitting it, with their upbringing forever linking them together.

6 Yuji Itadori

Energetic Protagonist Who Impresses Maki

• Debut: Anime Episode 1/Manga Chapter 1

Yuji is a character unlike many in JJK, with Yuji being a bubbly and infectious individual, a far cry from Maki and the other Jujutsu Sorcerer students. When Yuji joins the Tokyo students for the Kyoto Sister School Exchange Event, Maki recognizes Yuji’s talent, with the energetic sorcerer taking on Aoi Todo in single combat, allowing the other Tokyo students, such as Maki, to fight the Kyoto students freely.

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Yuji and Maki are among the Tokyo first- and second-year students, with both year groups being closed due to the lack of students attending the school, with Yuji and Maki becoming essential members of the group.

5 Megumi Fushiguro

Maki’s Relative And Battle Companion

• Debut: Anime Episode 1/Manga Chapter 1

Despite being relatives and members of the Zenin Clan, Megumi Fushiguro and Maki were not acquainted until they became fellow students at Tokyo Jujutsu High. In school, Megumi and Maki have a friendly and functioning relationship, with Maki going on to aid Megumi in improving his combat skills using cursed weapons.

When the Kyoto Sister School Exchange Event is ambushed by Hanami and other special grade curses, Megumi and Maki team up to fight Hanami, with the duo holding off the dangerous foe till Todo and Yuji arrive, with the pair showing great chemistry in battle.

4 Nobara Kugisaki

First-Year Student Who Looks Up To Maki

• Debut: Anime Episode 2/Manga Chapter 3

In JJK, Nobara is a first-year student who is brash and headstrong, with the character having many similarities to her senior, Maki. While at school, Nobara immediately befriends Maki, with the pair being the only girls out of the first and second-year students.

When together, Maki takes Nobara under her wing, keeping the Jujutsu Sorcerer on the right path, with Maki even defending Nobara when her sister Mai takes the opportunity to bully the fresh-faced first year. Nobara and Maki’s strong relationship continues to be seen when the pair are together during the Shibuya Incident arc, with Maki being protective over Nobara and her safety when she sends her and Akari Nitta away from danger.

3 Toge Inumaki

Silent Classmate That Cares For Maki

• Debut: Anime Episode 5/Manga Chapter 10

The silent and mysterious Toge Inumaki has been one of Maki’s closest friends, with the classmate being kind-hearted towards Maki since their first year. In Jujutsu Kaisen 0, Inumaki is shown to be very caring of his classmates, including Maki, who often acts brash and unfriendly in return.

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Besides their camaraderie that has been ingrained since their first year, Inumaki is shown to be willing to put his life on the line for Maki when Panda and Inumaki are sent back to Tokyo Jujutsu High to protect Maki and Yuta Okkotsu from the villainous Suguru Geto.

2 Panda

Maki’s Friend Who Acts As Comedic Relief

• Debut: Anime Episode 5/Manga Chapter 10

Alongside Maki, Inumaki, and Yuta in the year group is Panda, a Cursed Corpse who serves as the comedic relief of JJK. Since the start of JJK, Panda and Maki’s relationship has been shown to be full of banter and friendly arguments, with the pair having drastically opposing personalities.

When Maki and Yuta are attacked by Geto at Tokyo Jujutsu High, Panda willingly risks his life alongside Inumaki to save his endangered classmates, even against a special grade sorcerer such as Geto, showing Panda’s care for Maki.

1 Yuta Okkotsu

Shy And Introverted Character Brought Out Of His Shell By Maki

• Debut: Anime Episode 47/Manga Chapter 137

Despite starting on the wrong foot, Yuta and Maki become great friends in JJK. Jujutsu Kaisen 0 marks the start of Yuta and Maki’s friendship, with Maki being initially hard on Yuta due to his timid and innocent nature.

As the pair spend more time together, Yuta and Maki develop a friendship where the hardened and tight-lipped Maki becomes comfortable enough to share her personal story and goals with someone. While Maki finds comfort in Yuta, the cursed Jujutsu Sorcerer is brought out of his shell by his classmates, particularly Maki, with Yuta admiring Maki’s strength and headstrong personality.

Jujutsu Kaisen

Release Date

October 3, 2020

Studio

MAPPA

Creator

Gege Akutami

Number of Episodes

47

Seasons

2

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