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Jujutsu Kaisen’s Nobara Kugisaki has long been hailed as shonen anime’s best feminist character. The young jujutsu sorcerer is both beautiful and strong, and enjoys traditional female hobbies without being made to look like a ditzy teen girl. Nobara set a new pedestal for female characters in anime, proving to the audience that women don’t need to sacrifice looks or intelligence for strength.

Spring 2023’s Hell’s Paradise anime brings a new contender to the shonen demographic, introducing another strong woman with a close resemblance to Nobara. Yamada Asaemon Sagiri is a fierce samurai, currently going through a period of self-reflection on being held back by her womanhood. Gender stereotypes are being forced on her from every direction, but Sagiri is determined to never back down.

Jujutsu Kaisen’s Nobara Kugisaki Was a Feminist Icon

Nobara’s personality and hobbies in Jujutsu Kaisen initially made her seem as though she may be another classic female character. She was a massive fan of traditionally feminine activities, such as shopping, and came across as slightly irritating with her defiant nature. She also needed to be saved by Itadori Yuji in her first on-screen fight, giving the audience doubts about the character. As she developed, however, Kugisaki was revealed to be much more than her interests — something relatively new for female characters in anime.

Nobara viewed her femininity as a strength rather than something that could hold her back. She proved herself to be a resolute fighter in Jujutsu Kaisen’s first season, eventually matching ranks with the two seemingly unbeatable boys she became friends with. Nobara was the one to save Itadori from two Death Painting Cursed Wombs, using her special technique to significantly weaken and defeat both.

On top of this, Nobara made a memorable feminist speech in JJK’s “Goodwill Event” arc while battling Kyoto High’s Momo. The latter took an outdated stance on what it takes to be a strong woman, believing they must also be attractive in order to be powerful. Nobara countered this by saying she doesn’t care if someone is a man or a woman. She loves herself when she’s pretty and dressed up and when she’s being strong, and no outside opinion will change that. With this, Kugisaki proved there can be female characters who are beautiful, strong and feminine — other attributes don’t need to be sacrificed to achieve that status.

Yamada Asaemon Sagiri Is Defying Gender Stereotypes in Hell’s Paradise

While Nobara Kugisaki has been modern anime’s feminist legend for a while now, a new strong female character seems to be stealing the spotlight in Hell’s Paradise. Yamada Asaemon Sagiri is a samurai breaking gender norms with every new episode. As a woman of the Yamada clan and the daughter of the clan’s leader, expectations for her have always been clear-cut. Sagiri was to fulfill the role of a traditional homemaker, caring for the men of the clan and bearing children for her husband once married. But rather than follow this path, Sagiri defied all odds and became the clan’s first female swordsman.

That said, it’s been clear throughout the anime thus far that Sagiri has been struggling with her decision. She has the most difficult task of all the Yamada Asaemon, as she is expected to control the deadly Gabimaru the Hollow — a criminal with a reputation larger than himself. On top of this, her male peers are consistently putting her down, planting doubt in the samurai’s mind. Though, in Episode 5, “The Samurai and the Woman”, Sagiri made it clear that others’ words won’t hold her back.

Sagiri had a confrontation with Yamada Asaemon Genji, a terrifying samurai who far outranks her. Genji told Sagiri she should return to the mainland and give up on being a samurai, due to her being a weak and feeble woman. She momentarily believed he may be correct after other clansmen agreed, but a conversation with Gabimaru changed her outlook. Sagiri confronted Genji and declared she has just as much right to be there as everyone else, insisting she remain on the island and fulfill her duty. To prove her worth, she swiftly disarmed Genji as he began to once again insist she must behave as a woman of the clan, defying her senior but proving her point.

Nobara’s Potential Was Cut Short, But Sagiri Is Still Improving

Nobara’s fight at the end of Jujutsu Kaisen’s first season was incredible, but unfortunately her potential peaked there. While the young sorcerer had a bright future ahead of her and could have easily become one of the series’ stronger characters, she was killed by Mahito in the “Shibuya” arc. As a woman with a determined and fearless approach to jujutsu sorcery and an exceptional outlook on feminism, Nobara was developing into the best female character in shonen anime, but when the going got tough she disappeared from the plot completely.

In contrast, Sagiri is only just beginning to flourish in Hell’s Paradise while already proving to be as noteworthy as Nobara. She is disarming outdated gender stereotypes in an ancient period and putting her life on the line to do so. While everyone around her doubts her abilities, the samurai is realizing she is far more than they believe her to be.

“Weaknesses” such as emotions are strengths to Sagiri, and this is a lesson she is teaching those around her. She is slowly realizing her strength through her friendship with Gabimaru, and her character is beginning to shine. Thus, as Hell’s Paradise continues, Sagiri’s strength, values and feminist approach will only improve further, something Nobara didn’t have the opportunity for.

Nobara’s time in Jujtusu Kaisen was cut tragically short, and while she will always be regarded highly as a groundbreaking female character in shonen, there are new ladies with better-developed arcs hitting the screens. Sagiri bears a striking resemblance to Nobara’s character and will hopefully get to continue showing Hell’s Paradise viewers that women are not weak, and don’t have to follow the expectations of others.