This article provides an in-depth explanation of Yoshinobu Gakuganji a character from Jujutsu kaisen. It includes details about his abilities, past episodes, and images of his appearances in the anime.

What is the Anime Jujutsu Kaisen Where Yoshinobu Gakuganji Appears?

Jujutsu Kaisen (呪術廻戦) is a dark fantasy series that began serialization in Weekly Shonen Jump in March 2018. The story follows Yuji Itadori, a high schooler who enters a world of curses and sorcery after unsealing a powerful “Cursed Object.” The series concluded in September 2024.

The Jujutsu Kaisen manga has surpassed 100 million copies in circulation. The anime adaptation aired its first season from October 2020 to March 2021, becoming a massive hit. The success continued with the theatrical release of Jujutsu Kaisen 0 in December 2021 and the highly acclaimed Season 2 airing from July to December 2023. Fans can also look forward to the production of Jujutsu Kaisen: The Culling Game Arc.

Yoshinobu Gakuganji's Official Plofile

Name: Yoshinobu Gakuganji
Yoshinobu Gakuganji is the principal of Kyoto Jujutsu High and, despite being 76 years old, remains an active jujutsu sorcerer. He is a stern-looking elderly man with a bald head, multiple piercings on his ears, nose, and mouth, long white beard and eyebrows, and wears a traditional kimono, exuding a dignified yet imposing presence. As a leading figure of the conservative faction within the Jujutsu world, he frequently clashes with Satoru Gojo. Their relationship is notoriously antagonistic—Gojo openly mocks him by calling him "Gramps" or "Elderly sure," while Gakuganji, in turn, grumbles about Gojo being a "brat."

Age: 76
Affiliation: Principal of Kyoto Jujutsu High
Hobbies & Skills: Playing the guitar (proficient in various string instruments)
Favorite Food: Tempura
Least Favorite Food: Horse meat
Biggest Source of Stress: Satoru Gojo

Yoshinobu Gakuganji - Character Overview

■Overview
Yoshinobu Gakuganji is the principal of Kyoto Jujutsu High. He is an elderly man with a bald head, multiple piercings on his ears, nose, and mouth, long white beard and eyebrows, and wears a traditional kimono, giving him a dignified yet imposing presence.

Gakuganji is regarded as a leading figure of the conservative faction within the Jujutsu world, a title even Satoru Gojo acknowledges. His close ties with the higher-ups suggest he wields considerable influence within Jujutsu society. He firmly opposes the existence of Yuji Itadori, the vessel of Ryomen Sukuna, believing that he should be executed without question.

■Attempt to Eliminate Yuji Itadori
During the Sister School Exchange Event, Gakuganji orchestrates an assassination attempt on Yuji, disguising it as an accident. He orders the Kyoto students to eliminate Yuji and even releases a trained Grade 1 cursed spirit to attack him.

However, Gakuganji does not act purely out of malice or personal vendetta. His decisions stem from his commitment to protecting the organization and maintaining the established order. While his perspective clashes with Gojo's, and their conversations often turn hostile, he does not harbor an extreme hatred toward him.

His concerns about Yuji’s existence tragically became a reality during the Shibuya Incident, when Sukuna went on a devastating massacre, confirming Gakuganji’s worst fears about the dangers posed by the King of Curses.

Yoshinobu Gakuganji’s Abilities

■Cursed Technique – Amplification and Projection of Cursed Energy
Gakuganji's technique allows him to amplify and release Cursed Energy through the melodies he plays on an electric guitar. His body functions as an amplifier, converting the sound waves from his guitar into powerful shockwaves, which he projects as mid-range attacks.

This technique requires not only a high level of Cursed Energy control but also exceptional musical skill, making instrumental proficiency a crucial factor in its effectiveness.

Relationships

■Satoru Gojo
Gakuganji and Gojo have a notoriously antagonistic relationship, to the point that Gakuganji lists Satoru Gojo under the "stress" category in his profile. Given Gojo's stance on reforming the corrupt higher-ups of the Jujutsu society through education, it's no surprise that he sees Gakuganji's conservative ideals as incomprehensible.

Despite Gojo’s disrespectful attitude—calling him “Old Man” (Jiji) and speaking informally—Gakuganji never seems genuinely angry, though he does retort by calling Gojo a “brat” (Kuso-gaki). Gojo warns him that he isn’t the only one challenging the system, which proves true when Aoi Todo, one of Gakuganji’s students, defies his orders and refuses to kill Yuji Itadori.

■Masamichi Yaga
The "curse" Gakuganji refers to regarding Masamichi Yaga is the creation of fully autonomous Cursed Corpses—a feat Yaga alone was capable of. This technique allowed him to create Panda, an independent and self-sustaining Cursed Corpse.

The Jujutsu higher-ups feared that if Yaga had truly mastered this ability—not just discovered it by chance—he would have the potential to raise an entire army of autonomous Cursed Corpses, posing a major threat to their control.

At the time, Yaga feigned ignorance, claiming he did not know how to recreate the process, allowing him to escape persecution. However, just before his death, Yaga revealed the secret of his technique to Gakuganji, saying, “It's... a curse, principal gakuganji. From me to you.”

Yoshinobu Gakuganji’s Key Scenes in the Anime

Upon learning that Yuji Itadori was still alive, Yoshinobu Gakuganji ordered the Kyoto Jujutsu High students to kill him during the Sister School Exchange Event. To ensure Itadori’s death, he even deployed a semi-grade 1 cursed spirit, making his intentions clear—Yuji had to be eliminated at all costs.

However, the attack was interrupted by the sudden assault of Hanami and other Special Grade Curses, forcing the Kyoto students to abandon their mission. In the aftermath, Gakuganji himself entered the battlefield, revealing his cursed technique using his electric guitar, amplifying sound into a powerful offensive force.

On the second day of the Exchange Event, during a friendly baseball game, Masamichi Yaga confronted Gakuganji, asking, “Do you still hate Itadori?” Gakuganji responded with a grave concern:

"The fact that he remains alive could result in mass death."

However, when Yaga suggested, “For now, how about we support him while we watch over him?” Gakuganji remained silent, offering no reply. Instead, he simply urged Yaga to find a way to deal with Gojo, indicating his deep-seated fears about Gojo’s growing influence.

Jujutsu Kaisen Characters List

■Tokyo Prefectural Jujutsu High School
Yuji Itadori (虎杖悠仁, いたどり ゆうじ)
Megumi Fushiguro (伏黒恵, ふしぐろ めぐみ)
Nobara Kugisaki (釘崎野薔薇, くぎさき のばら)
Satoru Gojo (五条悟, ごじょう さとる)

Maki Zenin (禪院真希, ぜんいん まき)
Toge Inumaki (狗巻棘, いぬまき とげ)
Panda (パンダ, ぱんだ)
Yuta Okkotsu (乙骨憂太, おっこつ ゆうた)

Kinji Hakari (秤金次, はかり きんじ)
Kirara Hoshi (星綺羅羅, ほし きらら)

Shoko Ieiri (家入硝子, いえいり しょうこ)
Masamichi Yaga (夜蛾正道, やが まさみち)
Atsuya Kusakabe (日下部篤也, くさかべ あつや)
Kiyotaka Ijichi (伊地知潔高, いじち きよたか)
Akari Nitta (新田明, にった あかり)

■Special Grade Cursed Object / Incarnated Body
Sukuna Ryomen (両面宿儺, りょうめん すくな)

Choso (脹相, ちょうそう)
Eso (壊相, えそう)
Kechizu (血塗, けちず)

■Kyoto Prefectural Jujutsu High School
Aoi Todo (東堂葵, とうどう あおい)
Noritoshi Kamo (加茂憲紀, かも のりとし)
Momo Nishimiya (西宮桃, にしみや もも)
Mai Zenin (禪院真依, ぜんいん まい)
Ultimate Mekamaru (究極メカ丸, あるてぃめっと めかまる)
Kasumi Miwa (三輪霞, みわ かすみ)
Arata Nitta (新田新, にった あらた)

Yoshinobu Gakuganji (楽巌寺嘉伸, がくがんじ よしのぶ)
Utahime Iori (庵歌姫, いおり うたひめ)

■Jujutsu Sorcerers
Kento Nanami (七海建人, ななみ けんと)
Takuma Ino (猪野琢真, いの たくま)

Mei Mei (冥冥, めいめい)
Ui Ui (憂憂, ういうい)

Yuki Tsukumo (九十九由基, つくも ゆき)
Tengen (天元, てんげん)

Naobito Zenin (禪院直毘人, ぜんいん なおびと)
Naoya Zenin (禪院直哉, ぜんいん なおや)
Ogi Zenin (禪院扇, ぜんいん おうぎ)
Jinichi Zenin (禪院甚壱, ぜんいん じんいち)

■Curse Users
Suguru Geto (夏油傑, げとう すぐる)
Uraume (裏梅, うらうめ)
Ogami (オガミ婆, おがみばば)
Mago (オガミ婆の孫, おがみばばのまご)
Jiro Awasaka (粟坂二良, あわさか じろう)
Haruta Shigemo (重面春太, しげも はるた)

■Cursed Spirits
Mahito (真人, まひと)
Jogo (漏瑚, じょうご)
Hanami (花御, はなみ)
Dagon (陀艮, だごん)
Locust Guy (蝗GUY, こうがい)

Rika Orimoto (折本里香, おりもと りか)

■Hidden Inventory / Premature Death
Riko Amanai (天内理子, あまない りこ)
Misato Kuroi (黒井美里, くろいみさと)
Shiu Kong (孔時雨, こん しう)
Yu Haibara (灰原雄, はいばら ゆう)

■Suguru Geto's Group
Larue (ラルゥ, らるぅ)
Manami Suda (菅田真奈美, すだ まなみ)
Toshihisa Negi (祢木利久, ねぎ としひさ)
Mimiko Hasaba (枷場美々子, はさば みみこ)
Nanako Hasaba (枷場菜々子, はさば ななこ)
Miguel Oduor (ミゲル・オドゥオール, みげる おどぅおーる)

■Culling Game Players
Tsumiki Fushiguro (伏黒津美紀, ふしぐろ つみき)
Hiromi Higuruma (日車寛見, ひぐるま ひろみ)
Fumihiko Takaba (髙羽史彦, たかば ふみひこ)
Reggie Star (レジィ・スター, れじぃ すたー)
Hana Kurusu (来栖華, くるす はな)
Ryu Ishigoori (石流龍, いしごおり りゅう)
Takako Uro (烏鷺亨子, うろ たかこ)
Hagane Daido (大道鋼, だいどう はがね)

■Other characters
Toji Fushiguro (伏黒甚爾, ふしぐろ とうじ)
Wasuke Itadori (虎杖倭助, いたどり わすけ)
Junpei Yoshino (吉野順平, よしの じゅんぺい)
Yuko Ozawa (小沢優子, おざわ ゆうこ)

Source : Jujutsu kaisen Official