Jujutsu Kaisen: Who Is Hana Kurusu And The Angel? A Deep Dive Into Their Mythical Origins!

Warning: The following article contains major spoilers from the Jujutsu Kaisen manga. Read ahead at your own discretion!

Most fans of Jujutsu Kaisen would tell you, “Why should you even bother with Hana Kurusu or the Angel? She’s useless bruh!” but chapter 263 managed to change the way we look at the character. With one single appearance after being MIA for 50 chapters, Hana Kurusu might have beaten the fraud allegations and actually been useful in the final fight against Sukuna.

Now, it’s time to reflect on the character, who she is, her connection with the Angel, their mythical origins and how they can effectively impact the the Final Saga of Jujutsu Kaisen.

Without further ado, let’s get into it!

Who is Hana Kurusu? What is her connection with the Angel?

Hana Kurusu is an ordinary orphan girl whose body is currently under the control of the Angel, an ancient sorcerer from the Heian Era who has been incarnated by Kenjaku to participate in the Culling Game.

Kurusu Hana’s name (来栖華) translates to “upcoming flower” or “splendor.” Additionally, “kurusu” can be interpreted as “cruz” or “cross,” giving rise to the alternative meaning of “Flower Cross.”

Both Hana and Yuji’s names are inspired by the language of flowers. They serve as vessels for the reincarnation of Holy class (天) sorcerers.

And this is how Gege was able to indicate that the Angel Devil was inhabiting Hana’s body in a manner akin to how Sukuna is possessing Yuji Itadori. However, Her case is different from Sukuna or even from other incarnated players like Kashimo and Ryu because, while they have completely taken over their vessels, Angel chose to peacefully co-exist with Hana.

The Angel’s sole request is for Hana to assist in locating Sukuna so it can permanently eliminate the King of Curses.

In return, the Angel grants Hana access to its Cursed Technique, allowing her to nullify any Cursed Technique she encounters. This ability is effective regardless of the Technique’s power, enabling Hana to withstand any attacks from both Curses and Jujutsu Sorcerers.

The Angel’s back story explained

Gege Akutami didn’t really narrate the Angel’s backstory all that much but during the Heian period, approximately a thousand years ago, the Angel served as a member of the Desshi Pacification Squad, an elite unit of the Abe Clan that also included remnants of the Sugawara Clan.

This squad once launched an assault on Sukuna, the formidable King of Curses, who successfully fended them off using his dual weapons. This encounter left the Angel with a deep-seated animosity towards Sukuna, a grudge so strong that it endured for a millennium, fueling a relentless desire to kill him even a thousand years later.

(JJK Chapter 199)

Sometime in the past, the Angel agreed to Kenjaku’s offer to reincarnate after death, similar to many other sorcerers throughout history, as she lacked the knowledge or ability to transform into a cursed object independently. Eventually, she found herself residing within the body of a young girl named Hana Kurusu in the present day. Differing from typical incarnations, the Angel permitted Hana to retain control, creating a unique symbiotic relationship between the incarnate and her vessel.

Hana Kurusu’s backstory and understanding her attachment to Megumi

Years ago, in a fateful twist of destiny, Hana and Megumi crossed paths as children. Hana, along with other orphans, was ensnared by a malevolent cursed spirit that provided them with food and shelter, only to make them disappear later. Hana was on the brink of this grim fate when she caught sight of the fluffy tail of Megumi’s white Divine Dog shikigami. Mesmerized by the sight, she followed the dog, which led her away from the cursed spirit’s lair. The shikigami, sensing Hana’s distress, guided her to a safe place, where a passerby discovered her and called the police.

As Hana waited for the authorities, Megumi arrived to retrieve his Divine Dog. Although he didn’t notice Hana, she saw him. Thus falling for the boy, Hana resolved herself to become someone who helps others like Megumi helped her, to become worthy of one day standing by his side.

(JJK Chapter 210)

Hana views Megumi as the cornerstone of the life she’s been able to enjoy, inspiring her to assist others with the hope of reuniting with him. This determination only strengthened with the onset of the Culling Game, prompting her to actively search for him. Armed with newfound powers, she was eager to aid Megumi in achieving his objectives, believing that their shared journey would ultimately bring them closer together.

That’s why in chapter 213, she casts “Jacob’s Ladder” to try to strip Sukuna away from Megumi, but is fooled when the King of Curses pretends to be Megumi to lure her into an embrace, whereupon Sukuna critically wounds and dispatches the girl, causing her to fall off the rooftop they were on.

Thankfully, that didn’t lead to her end, as she was later healed by Yuta Okkotsu and Shoko Ieiri after being saved earlier by Rin Amai. While Gojo was fighting Sukuna, she was there amongst the others, watching nervously while planning all sorts of backup plans.

And using Jacob’s Ladder against Sukuna after Yuta and Yuji weakened him was indeed one of them. Speaking of Jacob’s Ladder, it and Hana’s character as a whole is a big reference to the Bible, Christianity and even Buddhism, which I’ll now proceed to explain.

The Biblical and Buddhist connection to Hana Kurusu and Jacob’s Ladder

Her debut echoes the archetypes and designs of Archangels, particularly Raphael, who is famed for his abilities to “expel curses” and “blow a trumpet” to herald the Day of Judgment.

The concept of the Day of Judgment seamlessly integrates with the idea of transcending to another plane of existence, embodied by another “Holy” being, Tengen (天元). This grand plan was orchestrated by another figure whose name suggests salvation: Kenjaku.

Interestingly, Kenjaku is also a user of Reverse Cursed Technique (RCT), as revealed by Gege-sensei in the Jujutsu Kaisen Fanbook.

Angel’s quest for retribution against Sukuna, the “Disgraced One,” mirrors Raphael’s role as an Angel who defeats demons like Asmodeus and eradicates evil. With the power to expel curses (cursed energy) and the ambition to create a new utopia, we can draw many parallels between Angel/Hana and the biblical mythology of Archangel Raphael.

Furthermore, the halo, in Christian symbolism, represents a holy individual blessed by God’s grace. Notably, Raphael is also known as the “Angel of Healing,” hinting that Angel might be one of the most skilled Reverse Cursed Technique users from the Heian era.

Hana Kurusu’s appearance and abilities suggest a connection to the Abrahamic concept of the Final Judgement. In both religion and tarot, Judgement involves an angel blowing a trumpet to resurrect the dead and announce the Day of Judgement, symbolizing resurrection and new beginnings.

This aligns with Tengen’s description of Hana’s cursed technique, which can “extinguish any cursed technique.” The kanji in Hana’s last name, 来, meaning “come” or “next,” reinforces this connection. Additionally, “Hana” means “number one” in Korean, possibly referencing the first angel of the seven who blows a trumpet to bring forth judgement.

However, considering Akutami’s frequent use of Buddhist themes in Jujutsu Kaisen and Hana’s existence since the Heian Era, examining Buddhist influences is essential. The Horagai, a conch shell trumpet used by the Shugendo sect, is notable. Its sound suppresses evil and is used in fire rituals. The Horagai’s one-tone pattern—hassei (‘attack’), kaeshi (‘reverse’), and fukiage (‘blow up’)—echoes terminology in JJK.

Hana’s cursed technique may be sound-based, similar to Inumaki’s Cursed Speech, given the manifestation of their trumpet via cursed energy. The Horagai and the First Trumpet’s associations with fire suggest that fire might also be part of their technique.

Given their abilities and ties to the angel of Judgement Day, Hana could have signaled the end of the Golden Age of Curses during the Heian Era.