The following article contains spoilers for Jujutsu Kaisen Chapter 145, “The Back” onwards by Gege Akutami, John Werry and Snir Aharon, available in English from Viz Media.
The Angel, aka Hana Kurusu, was introduced in Jujutsu Kaisen as the only sorcerer able to free Gojo Satoru. This is due to her distinctive ability which allows her to extinguish any cursed technique, including the Prison Realm. Any opponent would be easy to beat with this power, as even the most gifted sorcerer would become a normal human being.
Curiously, Bungo Stray Dogs’ Dazai Osamu has a similar ability. “No Longer Human” nullifies the ability of anyone Dazai touches, and is considered to be effective against any power. In the same vein as The Angel, Dazai can make someone with a superhuman skill a totally human opponent.
How Dazai Osamu and Hana Kurusu’s Abilities Work
Both Dazai’s ability in Bungo Stray Dogs and Hana’s cursed technique in Jujutsu Kaisen are straightforward. No Longer Human stops the ability of anyone Dazai touches in its tracks. It relies on skin contact and is always active, and as such, he can nullify any ability — even while restrained — as soon as and as long as it touches him.
While Hana Kurusu’s cursed technique has a similar effect, the details of its activation are different. Hana is a vessel for The Angel — like Itadori is for Sukuna — and is using the cursed technique as her own. This allows her to extinguish the power of any other cursed technique, but it can also be applied to cursed objects (the Prison Realm). As far as is known, The Angel can control when their technique is active and can pick and choose when to nullify another technique.
The Key Differences Between the Angel and Dazai’s Power
Unlike many anime abilities, The Angel’s cursed technique in Jujutsu Kaisen doesn’t appear to come with any drawbacks. It doesn’t appear to be as constantly active as Dazai’s No Longer Human — and doesn’t require any specific conditions for activation — but this doesn’t stop The Angel from creating her own. When Itadori and Fushiguro Megumi sought out Hana to use her ability and free Gojo, she would only do so at a price. The pair have to eliminate the “Disgraced One” (who turned out to be Sukuna, and in turn Itadori) before she will lend a hand.
Conversely, Bungo Stray Dogs’ Dazai is willing to help anyone in need without question. After his past in the Port Mafia, the agent devoted his life to helping good people and is happy to do so without terms or conditions. However, No Longer Human being constantly active is a real drawback to Dazai’s ability, as he has no choice but to stop someone’s power — even if he doesn’t want to. This means that, unlike fellow members of the Armed Detective Agency, Dazai must get standard medical assistance when injured instead of being treated by Yosano.
Dazai’s No Longer Human only extends to the use of a person’s ability, whereas The Angel’s cursed technique can also be used on cursed objects. Master Tengen states that the sorcerer would be able to free Gojo through the back gate of the Prison Realm — a special-grade cursed object. This means The Angel can extinguish both a person’s technique and certain cursed objects, whereas Dazai can only stop a person’s ability.
While their techniques are strikingly similar, The Angel and Dazai’s abilities do have slight differences. The main contrast in the pair doesn’t lie in their powers, but more so in their personality. Bungo Stray Dogs’ Dazai is a gracious individual willing to aid a good person in need, but Jujutsu Kaisen’s Angel will only help on their own terms.