Portrayed by: Naotake Tsuchiya[5] (stage play, Denji), Masahide Tada and Yutaka Nakasone[5] (stage play, Chainsaw Man)
A young man with messy blond hair, yellow-brown eyes, and sharp teeth, and a student at Fourth East High School. His father died when he was young, after which he inherited his debt from the yakuza. After meeting the Chainsaw Devil, Pochita, he becomes a Devil Hunter in an attempt to pay off his debt. When the yakuza make a deal with the Zombie Devil to kill him, Pochita fuses with his corpse, becoming his heart and making a contract with him on the condition that he "share his dreams" with him. After this, Denji is revived and gains the ability to transform into the devil-human hybrid Chainsaw Man by pulling a cord on his chest. After meeting Makima, he becomes a Public Safety Devil Hunter to live in humane conditions. His initial motivation is his love for her, but this later changes to using his newfound fame as Chainsaw Man to attract women, repeatedly trying to expose his identity in the process, while caring for Nayuta and giving her the family she wanted.
Asa Mitaka (三鷹アサ, Mitaka Asa)
A high school student at Fourth East High School who is insecure and self-deprecating and estranged from her classmates, having shut herself off from the world out of guilt for the deaths she has caused. She believes that the world is corrupt and harbors hatred towards devils since the Typhoon Devil killed her parents, and tends to be judgmental and spiteful toward others. After the Class President, who made a contract with the Justice Devil, kills her, Yoru revives her and she becomes her vessel and a human-fiend hybrid possessing the abilities of the War Devil. Now sharing the same body, Yoru forces Asa into her vendetta to eliminate Chainsaw Man and reclaim the Nuclear Weapons Devil from him. After meeting Denji, she sees him as a potential weapon against Chainsaw Man, but is unaware they are the same person. Over time, she develops feelings for him, but Nayuta's interference causes her to believe she was stood up by Denji and that her feelings meant nothing. She has a habit of entering relationships due to her loneliness and desire for companionship, despite her fear of making connections only to be left alone because of her mistakes.
The Chainsaw Devil, who merges with Denji and was the original Chainsaw Man prior to meeting him. He has the ability to eat a devil and erase their existence, making him "the Devil that Devils fear most". He first appears in his dog form, which is actually a weakened state after a fight with unknown opponents. His true devil form is a darker version of Denji's hybrid form with four arms and one of his intestines wrapped around his neck, which resembles a scarf.
Gun Devil (銃の悪魔, Jū no Akuma)
One of the most powerful and feared Devils in the world. Thirteen years before the series' events, it manifested after a terrorist attack and attacked the world, killing 1.2 million people before disappearing. After an unknown entity defeated it, it was scattered into pieces, which the governments of several countries have gathered to form contracts with it. The president of the United States summons 20% of the Gun Devil to kill Makima, and while she is able to defeat it, it possesses Aki's body, turning into the Gun Fiend. Denji later kills it, though the other 80% of it survives. The other 28% kept by the Soviets would later be summoned by Yoru, which turns into a right arm gauntlet in order to battle Pochita.
A devil embodying the fear of zombies who formed a contract with the yakuza to have Denji killed. After Denji is revived, he cuts the Zombie Devil in half, effectively killing it. However, its zombie creations continue to exist, which Samurai Sword and Akane use to attack the Public Safety Division. Makima later summons the Zombie Devil to turn Devil Hunters into zombies.
A devil embodying the fear of bats. He takes Power's pet cat Meowy hostage in exchange for her bringing him humans to eat, but Denji later kills him. His next incarnation appears in a more wild state when pursuing Asa and Yuko, with Denji killing him again while fighting the Cockroach Devil.
Eternity Devil (永遠の悪魔, Eien no Akuma)
A devil embodying the fear of eternity. He takes over Morin Hotel, trapping anyone who tries to enter in an endless eighth floor. Tokyo Special Division 4 is sent to retrieve a piece of the Gun Devil, which he had taken. After Denji attacks and mortally wounds him, he kills him after he offers up his core to him. His next incarnation takes over Tanashi Aquarium, trapping Denji during his date with Asa as part of Fami's scheme to turn Denji into a weapon, but fails when Asa turns the aquarium into a spear and Yoru uses it to kill him.
A devil embodying the fear of curses. A person contracting the Curse Devil, upon stabbing their victim with a sword three times, can manifest the Curse Devil, which will mortally crush its victim. However, using its abilities comes at the cost of several years of the contractor's lifespan. It had previously contracted with Aki and Santa Claus.
A devil embodying the fear of ghosts. It had a contract with Himeno, allowing her to grab objects with invisible arms, and manifests to fight Samurai Sword after Himeno offers her body as payment, but Aki kills it.
A devil embodying the fear of the future who can see the future of those he comes into contact with. He makes a contract with Aki after the Tokyo Public Safety Division captures him and later reappears to gloat to Denji, having seen beforehand that he would kill Aki. Sometime later, he is recaptured to investigate the Nostradamus Prophecy by predicting the fate of the thirty convicts.
Typhoon Devil (台風の悪魔, Taifū no Akuma)
A devil embodying the fear of typhoons. Its first incarnation killed Asa's parents and destroyed her home. The second incarnation appears to battle Denji with Reze, but he kills it with Beam's help.
Hell Devil (地獄の悪魔, Jigoku no Akuma)
A devil embodying the fear of Hell. It can grab people with a giant hand that emerges from the sky to carry them into Hell.
Bucky (コケピー, Kokepī) / Chicken Devil (鶏の悪魔, Niwatori no Akuma)
A devil embodying the fear of chickens. He was Asa's class pet devil, who the class bonded with as they learned to value life. He died after Asa tripped and fell on him while trying to carry him to join in at recess.
Justice Devil (正義の悪魔, Seigi no Akuma)
A devil embodying the fear of justice. Those who make a contract with it are able to turn their innate sense of justice into power. It resides in Fourth East High School and makes contracts with several students, including Yuko.
Fire Devil
A Devil embodying the fear of fire, who is contracted with members of the Chainsaw Man Church and can turn contractors into Devils in the likeness of Chainsaw Man.
The Blood Fiend and a Public Safety Devil Hunter in Makima's squad. She is a young girl with long hair; as a Fiend, she, like other Fiends, has short red horns protruding from her head. Power loves violence and is willing to harm others for her own satisfaction, but is shown to have an unconditional love for her cat, Meowy (ニャーコ, Nyāko), being willing to sacrifice Denji's life to save it. She comes to care deeply for Denji and Aki, her first true friends. After Makima kills her to break Denji's spirit, she is revived as the Blood Devil from Denji's blood at Pochita's request to save him, but Makima fatally wounds her. Before dying, Power makes a contract with Denji - in exchange for her blood, he must find the reborn Blood Devil and turn her back into Power so they can be friends again.
A humanoid Devil embodying the fear of angels. He appears as an androgynous young man with the ability to siphon the lifespan of those who touch him. He holds no malice against humans and distances himself from others to avoid using his powers on them. Before becoming a devil hunter, he lived happily in a village until Makima arrived and manipulated him into killing the entire village to test his powers. He is partnered with Aki after Himeno's death and is regarded as the second-strongest Public Safety agent, with them bonding after the latter willingly touches Angel to save his life. He loses both arms in the battle with the Darkness Devil. After regaining his lost memories, he tries to stop Makima, but is brainwashed and becomes one of her weapons for hunting Pochita.
The Shark Fiend, who has the ability to "swim" through solid objects and transform into a more monstrous shark-like form. He is partnered with Denji, whom he worships, and sacrifices himself to revive him during the battle with the Darkness Devil in Hell.
The Violence Fiend, who ironically is friendly and polite and loves peace. He wears a plague doctor-like mask that dispenses poisonous gas to keep his immense strength under control. Unlike most Fiends, he retains most of his human brain and remembers several details of his past life. He befriends Kobeni, but is killed during the battle with the Darkness Devil.
The Spider Devil and the embodiment of the fear of spiders, who takes the form of a half-human, half-spider woman. She mostly takes orders from Makima.
A group of powerful devils based on the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse who can remember the existence of devils eaten by the Chainsaw Devil, who they battled long ago. They seek to kill or use the Chainsaw Man to fulfill their goals. According to Fami, the horsemen may be related to each other, as she treats Yoru like a younger sibling.
Control Devil (支配の悪魔, Shihai no Akuma)
A powerful devil that represents the fear of domination and/or conquest, and one of the Four Horsemen. They can control devils and humans, including their contracts and abilities.
A mysterious woman who serves as the head of Public Safety Division 4 and is the first person to show affection to Denji. She is kind and compassionate, but also cunning and manipulative, as she controls Denji through his love for her to keep him working with Public Safety while threatening to treat him as a Devil if he tries to run away. She is later revealed to be the Control Devil, who seeks to use the Chainsaw Man to create a world without suffering. However, this goal is not her true goal, as Pochita explains that she wanted to have a family and a relationship with someone equal to herself, which she was unable to achieve due to her upbringing, as the Japanese government saw her as a weapon and raised her to be one. After Denji defeats the Gun Devil possessing Aki's corpse, she grants him the wish she promised him: however, after seeing that he only wants to be her dog, her disappointment leads her to break his contract with Pochita, as she believes he cannot be the Chainsaw Man that she needs. She proceeds with her plans by killing Power and convincing Denji that she will destroy his happiness, also revealing that, he was responsible for killing his father rather than him committing suicide, as he believed. After the fight at the cemetery, when she fights with Pochita posing as Denji without recognizing him, she realizes that she was wrong. Denji ultimately kills her by bypassing her contract with the prime minister by cutting her with a chainsaw made from Power's blood; he then eats her as an act of love, declaring that he will always love her despite her actions.
Nayuta (ナユタ)
The current incarnation of the Control Devil following Makima's reincarnation. She is a young girl with ringed eyes like the other Horsemen and black hair worn in a style resembling Makima's. After Kishibe finds her in China, he leaves her in Denji's care to raise her and keep her away from the Japanese government. Nayuta's name and initial appearance are seemingly based on the titular character of Fujimoto's previous work Yogen no Nayuta (予言のナユタ).[15] After a few months living with Denji, she is noticeably taller and more mature than her initial appearance because, being a Devil, she grows at a faster rate than humans. She is also precocious, as Denji believes she is smart enough to go to college and is saving for her tuition. Like Makima, Nayuta is caring and protective towards Denji, as after seeing him getting kissed by Yoru/Asa, she alters her memory in a fit of jealousy, claiming Denji belongs to her. She also exerts a certain degree of influence over Denji, as he tells her that she always comes first after Asa's memory is altered, and when he no longer wants to be Chainsaw Man she manages to convince him otherwise by telling him he will get more love if he keeps fighting Devils. As well, despite knowing that he cannot die, she does not want him to get close to other girls, as she knows that those he has met have tried to kill him. Unlike Makima, Nayuta is more childish, using her brainwashing abilities to make Asa act like a dog and being willing to negotiate for ice cream.
Yoru (ヨル) / War Devil (戦争の悪魔, Sensō no Akuma)
The once-powerful War Devil, who makes a contract with Asa after saving her from the Class President, who was contracted with the Justice Devil. She represents the primal fear of war and is one of the Four Horsemen, possessing the ability to transform anything that "belongs" to the user into weapons which become more powerful the more guilt the user has for transforming the item into a weapon. She took the name Yoru ("night") to mirror Asa ("day"). After being consumed by Pochita, leaving her severely weakened, she gains a vendetta against Chainsaw Man. Unlike Makima, who is cold and aloof, she acts more human and shows vulnerability, potentially from inheriting some of Asa's personality as a fiend. Before possessing Asa, she first appeared in a weakened form of an owl or potoo, similar to Pochita's dog form. After her date with Denji at the aquarium, she reveals to Asa that she inherited her crush on Denji, but this does not stop her from wanting to kill him.
The mysterious Famine Devil, who assumes the identity of a female student at Fourth East High School, as well as a member of its devil hunter club and the secret leader of the Chainsaw Man Church. She represents the fear of famine and hunger and is one of the Four Horsemen, who treats her fellow horsemen like sisters. In contrast to the fear she represents, she is a glutton. Although she is a Horseman and is not supposed to reveal her true identity, she does not care if others find out, although Hirofumi is monitoring her under Public Security orders. She currently aims to prevent the coming of the Nostradamus prophecy to continue consuming human food by using the War Devil's power to slay the Death Devil.
Death Devil (死の悪魔, Shi no Akuma)
A Devil representing the fear of death who is known as "The King of Terror". Though her status and whereabouts are currently unknown, it is implied that she is considered to be the strongest devil, according to the Nostradamus prophecy. According to Fami and Nayuta, they are aware of her presence and arrival due to their connections as sisters, with Death being their eldest sibling.
A powerful devil who embodies the primal fear of darkness and resides in Hell. It traps Denji and a group of Devil Hunters when they are transported to Hell, instantly killing most of them.
Falling Devil (落下の悪魔, Rakka no Akuma)
A devil embodying the primal fear of falling who works for Fami. She first appears in Tokyo to target Asa and Yoru into a dish for Hell residents so Fami can control them.
The Public Safety Devil Hunters are an organization of government-sanctioned Devil Hunters in Japan who are sent to dispatch Devils and tasked with resolving devil-related incidents on a smaller scale. They are divided into different "special divisions", including in Tokyo and Kyoto, with Tokyo Special Division 4 being an experimental division.
The organization's strongest devil hunter, who is older than most hunters and is cynical as a result of his experiences. In the past, he was in Tokyo Special Division 1 and was partnered with Quanxi, who constantly rejected his advances as he was unaware of her budding homosexuality. He was later transferred to Special Division 4 and assigned to train Denji and Power. He does not trust Makima and plots against her, later leading the Anti-Makima Squad to kill her.
A Public Safety Devil Hunter working under Tokyo Special Division 4, who is calm and reliable, but has a soft side, and seeks revenge against the Gun Devil for killing his family. He originally had two contracts: one with the Fox Devil, allowing him to summon its head, and the other with the Curse Devil, wielding a lethal sword in exchange for his lifespan. He later makes a contract with the Future Devil, allowing him to see a few seconds into the future. Over time, he comes to care about Denji and Power, despite clashing with them. He loses an arm in the fight with the Darkness Devil, and makes one last contract with Makima as the Control Devil to save Denji and Power from the future the Future Devil warned him about. He is killed during the fight and becomes the Gun Fiend, after which Denji is forced to kill him because he thinks the destruction he causes is harmless.
Aki's first partner, who had a crush on him, and a late member of Special Division 4 contracted to the Ghost Devil, allowing her to use its invisible right hand from anywhere. She was killed sacrificing her body to the Ghost Devil to protect Aki while fighting Samurai Sword.
A 20-year-old woman with an unspecified contract, who started working as a devil hunter under Makima's experimental squad due to her parents forcing her to make money to support her nine siblings. Despite her timid and cowardly attitude, she has swift speed and reflexes and is skilled wielding knives. Following the International Assassins incident alongside the encounter with the Darkness Devil, she resigns from the organization and later works as a waitress for a fast food restaurant. However, she later encounters Denji again, who intimidates her as the Chainsaw Devil but protects her from Makima.
A devil hunter with a Fox Devil contract who was in the same squad as Himeno and Kobeni. He sacrificed himself to protect Kobeni from the yakuza who were hunting Denji.
A devil hunter from Kyoto Division 1, whose life was ruined by the Gun Devil. She is transferred to Tokyo to help train the members of Tokyo Special Division 4. She was killed by American devil hunters with Yutaro and another devil hunter, Subaru, with her corpse later being used alongside her contract by Makima to counter the Gun Devil.
A devil hunter partnered with Michiko. He was killed by American devil hunters with Michiko and another devil hunter, Subaru, while en route to Tokyo, with his corpse later being used alongside his contract by Makima to counter the Gun Devil.
Individuals who work solo or in groups with private devil hunters. They are similar to bounty hunters and freelancers, meaning that they are not loyal nor officially employed by any government.
A Japanese private sector devil hunter/bodyguard contracted with the Octopus Devil,who is hired to protect Denji while the international assassins hunt for Chainsaw Man. He later attends Fourth East High School, having been tasked with monitoring Denji to maintain a normal life, and is drawn into Asa's team for the Devil Hunter Club. At some point after the international assassins hunt, he joins the Public Safety organization, presumably under Kishibe's request to monitor Fami's behavior.
The unnamed grandson of the yakuza boss who had Denji and Pochita killed, and a supposed agent of the Gun Devil. Like Denji, he is a human-devil hybrid with the heart of the Katana Devil, and is able to transform into his hybrid form by removing his left hand. He is brought to the authorities after Denji defeats him, and is later brainwashed by Makima alongside other hybrids to fight Denji. Following Makima's defeat, he works for Public Safety as part of Special Division 7 after striking a deal to rebuild his Yakuza, but later defects to Yoru after learning her agenda to defeat Chainsaw Man.
A former Public Safety hunter who works with the yakuza and is Samurai Sword's handler. She has a contract with the Snake Devil, allowing her to summon it in exchange for one of her fingernails. After Samurai Sword's defeat, her devil commits suicide with her per contract with the Gun Devil before being bought to the authorities. Her corpse is later used alongside her contract by Makima to counter the Gun Devil.
A hybrid contracted with the Flamethrower Devil, he was first seen as part of Makima's Special Division 5 group of brainwashed hybrids in order to fight Pochita. Following Makima's defeat, he becomes the second-in-command of the Chainsaw Man Church and Fami's right-hand man, with the goal of saving humankind by slaying the Death Devil.
Kishibe's former partner in Public Safety and crush; a Chinese devil hunter who Santa Claus states is "the first devil hunter", and one of the assassins sent to steal Denji's heart. She is a lesbian in a polyamorous relationship with four female Fiends. She is a hybrid with the Crossbow Devil, and is able to transform by pulling an arrow out of her right eye socket. She dies after Makima beheads her, but she later revives her along with Reze and Samurai Sword to fight the Chainsaw Man. After Makima's defeat, she returns to work in Public Safety again, being part of Special Division 7, later rescuing Denji, Nayuta, and Fumiko from the Fire Devil contractors.
Long (ロン, Ron)
One of Quanxi's girlfriend Fiends, who has horns similar to Power's and is able to breathe fire. She dies after being decapitated by the Darkness Devil, and is later turned into a doll by Santa Claus.
Pingsti (ピンツイ, Pintsui)
One of Quanxi's girlfriend Fiends. A cheerful girl with a sentient creature acting as her ponytail. She dies after being decapitated by the Darkness Devil, and is later turned into a doll by Santa Claus.
Tsugihagi (ツギハギ)
One of Quanxi's girlfriend Fiends. A quiet girl with pale skin and stitches covering her face, thighs and upper arm. She dies after being decapitated by Makima.
Cosmo (コスモ, Kosumo)
The Cosmos Fiend and one of Quanxi's girlfriend Fiends, whose brain is partially exposed and whose right eye hangs from its socket. She has the ability to show the complete knowledge of the universe to her targets, rendering them catatonic and unable to think of anything but Halloween. Her surface personality is presumably the result of her powers affecting herself, never speaking any words besides "Halloween". She dies after being decapitated by Makima.
A young woman with a seemingly overt crush on Denji who works at a café. She is later revealed to be a Soviet spy sent to kill Denji and a hybrid with the Bomb Devil, and is able to transform by pulling a grenade pin on her neck. Although she claims that her feelings towards him were fabricated, her inner monologue revealed she initially took an interest in Denji because she empathized with him. On her way to escape with Denji after their fight, she is wounded and captured by the Angel Devil under control of Makima, who later uses her to fight Denji alongside the other brainwashed hybrids. After Makima's defeat, her whereabouts are currently unknown.
Santa Claus (サンタ クロース, Santa Kurōsu)
One of the assassins sent after Denji. He is initially introduced as an elderly German man, but it is later revealed that Santa Claus is multiple people, with the real body being a Russian woman referred to as "master" by her pupil Tolka, who she also turns into a body for her. The master has a contract with the Doll Devil, and has the ability to turn people into dolls under her control, which become part of the Santa Claus hivemind. She enacts a plot to send Denji and several hunters to Hell as sacrifices to the Darkness Devil in exchange for power to kill Makima. She is defeated by an on-fire Denji, and her mind is destroyed by Cosmo, leaving her incapacitated.
The unnamed elder brother of Joey and Aldo, who is seemingly the most experienced and the leader of the brothers. He has a contract with the Skin Devil, allowing him to impersonate other people. He was killed by Power when she commandeered Kobeni's car and accidentally ran him and Denji over.
Joey (ジョーイ, Jōi)
A Private Sector devil hunter who worked alongside his brother Aldo and his unnamed elder brother. He was killed by Hirofumi Yoshida after witnessing his elder brother's death.
Aldo (アルド, Arudo)
A Private Sector devil hunter from the US who worked alongside his brother Joey and his unnamed elder brother, and is more down-to-earth and cautious. After Santa Claus's defeat, he is the only brother who survived the incident, but is seemingly infected with Cosmo's power.
A high school student who pairs up with Asa and Hirofumi in the school's Devil Hunter Club and quickly befriends Asa. After forming a contract with the Justice Devil, she gains the ability to read minds, though her personality becomes more psychopathic and cold, willing to kill innocents in the name of justice. Fami revives her after Asa accidentally kills her, but her body becomes disfigured with the devil. She forbids farewell with Asa to see her distant relative devil hunter for help, but is killed by am impostor posing as Chainsaw Man on the run.
Haruka Iseumi (伊勢海 ハルカ, Iseumi Haruka)
The president of the Devil Hunter Club and leader of the student council, as well as the representative of the Chainsaw Man Church. He is an obsessive fan of Chainsaw Man and has a similar starter to Denji on his chest, which is later revealed to have been surgically implanted.
Nobana Higashiyama (東山やまナ, Higashiyama Nobana)
Kobeni's little brother who, like her, was forced into devil hunting through the devil hunter club to support his family's needs. He also works as a tour guide for the Chainsaw Man church.
A hybrid with the Sword Devil who is first seen as part of Makima's Special Division 5 group of brainwashed hybrids to fight Pochita. Like Samurai Sword, he transforms into his hybrid form by removing his right hand. After being freed from Makima's control following her defeat, he joins the Chainsaw Man church alongside the other Hybrids and enrolls in Fourth East, hoping to recruit and befriend with Denji since he was the one who freed him. He, along with the other Hybrids, are decapitated by Quanxi, but later revived.
Seigi Akoku (亜国 セイギ, Akoku Seigi)
A member of the Devil Hunter Club who fights with spiked brass knuckles. He loses an eye in the fight against Yuko.
Class President
The unnamed former student council president of Fourth East, who attempted to kill Asa believing she was in a relationship with Tanaka. She had a contract with the Justice Devil, and was killed by Yoru.
Asa's former homeroom teacher who was in a relationship with the Class President despite his crush on Asa. He was killed by Yoru upon her awakening by using his head and spine as a sword.
^Reiichi, Narima (November 24, 2021). 藤本タツキ短編集『22-26』から探る、繰り返し描く"対立構造"の原点. Real Sound (in Japanese). Blueprint Co., Ltd. Archived from the original on December 7, 2022. Retrieved December 7, 2022.