Toge Inumaki

Toge Inumaki (狗いぬ巻まき棘とげ, Inumaki Toge?) is a major supporting character in Jujutsu Kaisen and one of the main protagonists of its prequel, Jujutsu Kaisen 0: Jujutsu High. He is a descendant of the Inumaki clan and has inherited the clan's cursed speech, which he's developed his own unique speech pattern for in order to avoid cursing others. Toge is currently a semi-grade 1 jujutsu sorcerer and second-year at Tokyo Jujutsu High alongside his classmates Yuta, Maki, and Panda.

Toge is a slim young man with light skin, brown eyes, and mid-length straight hair.[3] He was born with the "Snake and Fangs" seal of the Inumaki clan on his tongue and both cheeks.

His Jujutsu High uniform was tailored with this in mind, fitted with a high collar with a zipper that covers his mouth. While training, Toge wears a zipped-up dark collared shirt underneath a white short sleeve shirt with athletic pants and shoes. During the Shibuya Incident, Toge lost his left arm due to Sukuna's attack.

Toge's initial impression leads people to believe he's a quiet, aloof, and distant person. Even after knowing him for two months, Yuta was still unfamiliar with Toge and intimidated by him. However, Toge is actually a highly insightful and caring individual. He is intelligent and understands the dangers of overwhelming power.

Toge chooses not to speak in a conventional manner in order to protect people from his cursed speech. Speaking in rice ball ingredients makes it difficult to understand him, but many of his friends have taken the time to learn how to communicate with him.

Toge cares deeply for his allies and shows it through his protectiveness over them. Despite not being the aggressive type, Toge confronted Yuta upon meeting him because Rika's presence threatened Maki and Panda. Toge eventually learned that Yuta is also cursed with powers he couldn't quite handle and tried to open up to him. Before going out on their first mission together, Toge tried to help with Yuta's anxiety with a high five but only ended up frightening him more. During that mission, Toge showed Yuta through his actions that he's a kind person who puts looking out for his comrades above all else. His resolve inspired the extremely timid Yuta to help him fight, surprising Toge. After working together to achieve victory, Toge and Yuta were finally able to connect and shared a proper high five.

Toge has matured even more as a second-year student, although Megumi doesn't sincerely respect him because he messes around with Panda a lot. In serious situations, Toge has also displayed brave level-headedness, and the ability to remain calm even when things are desperate. As a senpai, Toge is just as protective over his younger peers as he is of Yuta, Maki, and Panda. After only just meeting Yuji at the start of the Goodwill Event, Toge still wanted to help save the first year from the Kyoto Team's attempted assassination.[7] Even when confronted by Hanami while he was alone, Toge never panicked throughout their battle. Toge's protective nature led him to focus on keeping Megumi and Noritoshi from being injured by Hanami at any cost to himself. Even after his throat gave out, Toge still stepped back up to fight Hanami in order to keep Megumi from fighting a special grade alone.

As a member of the Inumaki clan who has inherited cursed speech, Toge is a respected and highly capable semi-grade 1 sorcerer. He was ranked grade 2 as a first year student and was the only one among his peers who could take on solo missions. At that time, Geto also believed Toge was blessed with great potential. His skills have only grown since then and while not currently on the level of Yuta, Hakari, or Todo, Toge is still among the most skilled students at Jujutsu High.

Toge is highly intelligent and very capable in battle, displayed by his strong grasp over the strengths and weaknesses of cursed speech and how to effectively apply it in every situation. During the Goodwill Event, the rival Kyoto team considered Toge to be one of their biggest threats during the competition. While they were aware of how to counter cursed speech, the uncertainty of when Toge could show up and use it made it difficult for some of the Kyoto students to focus on their own battles.[9] Megumi and Noritoshi only survived a drawn-out chase with Hanami because Toge was the only one with an ability that could immobilize the special grade. In Shibuya, Toge was tasked with saving civilians and eliminating transfigured humans. He saved numerous non-sorcerers and cleared out the entire Dogenzaka district during the middle stages of the incident.

While not quite as fast as freaks of nature like Yuji or Maki, Toge is a very athletic individual. He is quick on his feet and very nimble, able to evade Hanami's attacks and lead him on a long chase through the battlefield until he could find his comrades. Toge was also one of the only students in the baseball game who took a base clean after batting and remained a threat to steal. Even Yuji was surprised by Toge's speed, which Maki also endorsed.

Toge's cursed speech requires a high amount of stamina to use. It causes extreme throat irritation that can cause Toge to cough up blood if overused. Despite this, Toge continues fighting even after reaching his limit and can still unleash commands against higher level opponents.

Cursed Energy (呪じゅ力りょく, Juryoku?) is a power source aligned with negative emotions used by sorcerers and cursed spirits to fuel their jujutsu.

Negative emotions such as grief and anger are the foundation of cursed energy. These emotions exist to some degree within most humans and as a result, the vast majority of human beings possess cursed energy. If this amount is higher than a certain degree, it grants the person the ability to see cursed spirits. These individuals are known as jujutsu sorcerers and they are very rare among the human race. Cursed energy leaks from the human body, accumulates, and ferments over time until a cursed spirit manifests.[1] This is only the case with non-sorcerers, as sorcerers are trained to control and channel their cursed energy into jujutsu. Cursed energy is the primary power source for any sorcerer or cursed spirit. Cursed tools, cursed objects, and cursed corpses all contain cursed energy as well. It is ordinarily used to fuel cursed techniques, reinforce the body, or activate talismans, but cursed energy has various uses. The properties of cursed energy vary from person to person and its connection to the human brain is shrouded in mystery. In the anime, most cursed energy is blue in color but there are several exceptions.

Great Cursed Energy: Alongside stamina, cursed speech requires a high degree of cursed energy, especially if Toge faces off against a powerful curse. His ability can spread over a wide range and affect all curses weaker than him without fail. His very presence on the battlefield makes it difficult for anyone against him to focus due to the nature of his technique. While overusing his ability creates backlash to his body, Toge can still unleash attacks capable of affecting special grade curses as well.

Cursed Speech (呪じゅ言ごん, Jugon?): Toge possesses the "Snake & Fangs" seal of the Inumaki clan on his tongue and around both sides of his mouth. This allows Toge to infuse his words with cursed energy to improve the spirit of his commands, forcing all those who hear it to obey. This power can target all livings. The more demanding is the command, the more of a toll it pays on Toge's body. Weaker curses can be exorcised with powerful commands without backlash, but even less powerful words will consume more energy and stamina when used against opponents with more cursed energy than Toge. Communication devices and voice amplifiers, such as cellphones and bullhorns, do not disrupt Toge's technique, allowing him to project his words and their effects over a longer distance if need be.

Explode" causes Toge's target to violently explode. He used it to effortlessly exorcise a swarm of weak curses.

"Get Twisted" or "Twist" forces an appendage of a curse to twist to the point of complete disfigurement. He used this in an attempt to exorcise a Grade 2 curse, though it avoids fatal damage.

"Get Crushed" causes the target to implode until they're flattened out. Toge used this to finish off the aforementioned Grade 2.

"Crumble Away" or "Plummet" creates a small field of intensely heavy gravity that crushes the target until they're violently sent underground. Toge used this in an attempt to kill Suguru Geto. Toge using Crumble Away (Anime) "Don't Move" or "Stop" completely immobilizes Toge's target or any of their attacks. He first used "Don't Move" to stop Aoi Todo and then repeatedly commanded Hanami to stop in their fight.

"Sleep" instantly sends whoever hears the command into a deep sleep. Toge used this to incapacitate Kasumi Miwa over the phone.

"Return" can forcibly dispel a Shikigami. He used this command to return Megumi's Divine Dog after using it for tracking purposes.

"Run Away" forces Inumaki's target to flee the area. He used this to command his allies to run away from Hanami's approach.

"Blast Away" is a powerful command that creates an explosive impact of great concussive force strong enough to send a special grade curse crashing up the side of a temple.

Toge carries around cough syrup to treat his irritated throat whenever he's in battle. Using it greatly prolongs the time Toge can use his cursed speech before reaching his limit.

Toge is with Maki Zenin and Panda, as they discuss the new transfer student that they will be getting. Later, when Yuta Okkotsu is introduced to the class, Toge notices that he's cursed and prepares to attack. Satoru Gojo warns them, but Rika Orimoto shows up and defends Yuta from the three. After Gojo explains Yuta's situation, he introduces Yuta to the class. Toge is then paired with Panda during the class session.

Three months later, Toge is watching Maki and Yuta train when Gojo shows up. After a little while, Toge and Yuta are given a mission to attend to. Before they can leave, Gojo explains Toge's ability to Yuta and what he is capable of. Toge and Yuta are then driven to the Hapina Shopping district by Kiyotaka Ijichi. Once they arrive, Kiyotaka explains the details of the mission, but Toge parts ways with Yuta to buy some throat medicine.

Toge and Yuta head into the shopping district, where they find a large amount of cursed spirits. Toge easily exorcises the spirits and leaves. Toge and Yuta notice that the screen has not been lifted, when suddenly a cursed spirit appears behind them. As the spirit attacks, Toge pushes Yuta out of the way and easily crushes the spirit's arm. As Toge starts to cough, Yuta saves him and brings him to safety, but leaves his throat medicine behind. After a short rest, Toge prepares to face the spirit again. Yuta decides to join Toge even though Toge doesn't want him to. Yuta faces the spirit and manages to get the throat medicine to Toge. After Toge drinks the medicine, he uses his Cursed Speech to exorcise the spirit.

After the mission is complete, Toge and Yuta head back to the college. At the college, Toge tends to some plants while Panda tells Yuta that Toge was worried about him. Days later, Toge is seen with Panda, Maki and Yuta when Suguru Geto and his forces show up. Toge listens as Geto explains to Yuta that he wishes to kill all non-sorcerers. As Geto is forced to leave, Toge listens to him announcing his plan for an all-out war.

On December 24, Toge is in Shinjuku to fight against Geto's forces. Suddenly Gojo tells them that Geto is back at the college, and uses his power to send him and Panda back to the college. After arriving at the college, Toge and Panda take on Geto but are easily overpowered. Yuta shows up and saves Toge, Panda, and Maki while also healing them. After Yuta manages to defeat Geto, Toge along with Maki and Panda check to see if he is okay. Once Rika's curse is suddenly undone, Yuta listens as Gojo shows up and explains how Yuta had accidentally cursed Rika when she had died. Yuta also listens when Gojo revealed that Yuta is a distant relative of his. Later, Toge is with Maki and Panda as they wait for Yuta and Gojo.

Toge, along with Maki and Panda, greets first-years Megumi Fushiguro and Nobara Kugisaki when they're mourning over Yuji Itadori's death. The three talk with Megumi and Nobara about joining the Kyoto Goodwill Event, which the two agree to.[1][2]

Toge, along with Maki and Panda, helps train Megumi and Nobara before the event.[3][4] Later when Megumi talks with the others about how he should carry weapons without occupying his hands, Toge points out that Megumi has managed to figure out a way to with his shadow.[5][6]

Days later, Toge is with Maki and Panda when Panda worries about the first years since the some of the Kyoto students might accompany the Kyoto principal.[7] Toge and Panda then come to Megumi's rescue, with Toge forcing Aoi Todo to stop with his Cursed Speech when Megumi is attacked by the latter.

On the day of the Kyoto Goodwill Event, Toge is with the other Tokyo students when the Kyoto students and faculty show up. Toge is also present when Gojo reveals to everyone that Yuji is still alive.[10] Toge then attends a pre-event meeting with the other Tokyo student and discuss their plans for the event.[11][12]

When the event starts, Toge travels with the others in a group.[13] Once Aoi shows up, the group splits up and Toge joins Nobara and Panda.[14] Toge then talks with Panda and Nobara about how the Kyoto students might be trying to kill Yuji, and heads out to face the cursed spirits while Panda and Nobara take on the Kyoto students.[15][16]

Later Toge is given Mechamaru's phone, which he uses to call Kasumi Miwa and put her to sleep. Toge suddenly notices a ominous energy[17] and encounters Hanami.[18] Toge battles against Hanami, until they come across Noritoshi Kamo and Megumi and forces them to run away.[19] Toge then continues to fight Hanami, along with Noritoshi and Megumi.[20][21]

Toge uses his power to stop Hanami, so that the other two can attack and then run away. As the three prepare another attack, Toge's throat gives away, allowing Hanami to attack Noritoshi. As Megumi attempts to attack Hanami, Toge stops him and uses the last of his strength to blast away Hanami.[22] Toge is then taken outside of the screen that is surrounding the site by Momo Nishimiya along with Noritoshi.[23][24]

After the intruders have been dealt with, Toge agrees with the other that they should continue the event, where they play baseball.