Life or Death in Paradise: Every Major Casualty and Survivor in "Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku" Explained

Yuji Kaku’s masterpiece, "Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku," is a dark fantasy epic that takes us back to the twilight of the Edo period. The premise is as brutal as it is captivating: a group of death row convicts and their elite executioners, the Yamada Asaemon, are forced into uneasy alliances. Their mission? To retrieve the "Elixir of Life" from Shinsenkyo—a mysterious island rumored to be a literal paradise, though the reality is far more hellish.

Once our cast sets foot on Shinsenkyo, they quickly realize that "paradise" is a death trap beyond their wildest nightmares. The island is a gauntlet of eldritch horrors, colossal monsters, and the Tensen—god-like beings who are anything but human. In this beautiful yet grotesque landscape, the body count rises fast as fan-favorite characters face off against impossible odds.

In this article, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of who lived and who died during this bloody expedition. We’ll be breaking down the causes of death for the fallen and taking a look at what the future held for those lucky enough to survive the ordeal.

※Warning: This article contains major spoilers for the ""Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku"" manga and anime series.

Complete List of Convict Deaths (By Order of Death)

A total of 10 convicts landed on the island. Each was an elite killer who survived a brutal "last man standing" brawl before departure, so their combat prowess was never in question.

Early on, the biggest threat wasn't the island itself, but the other convicts. Driven by the promise of a full pardon, these criminals showed no mercy to one another.

Igami no Keiun (Chapter 3)
Cause of Death: Counterattack by Gabimaru
Circumstances: Tried to kill Gabimaru to thin the competition but was brutally stabbed to death by his own collection of weapons.

Hōrubō (Chapter 4)
Cause of Death: Counterattack by Aza Chobe
Circumstances: Attempted to strangle Chobe from behind, but Chobe broke free and crushed his head with bare hands.

Akaginu (Chapter 4)
Cause of Death: Executed by Shion
Circumstances: Tried to use her charms to manipulate her guard, Shion, but was executed on the spot for violating the rules.

Moro Makiya (Chapter 8)
Cause of Death: Killed by Yuzuriha
Circumstances: Tried to use Yuzuriha, but she outsmarted him. He was used as a test subject for the island's toxic insects before being finished off by her.

Rokurota (Chapter 15)
Cause of Death: Executed by Sagiri
Circumstances: Went on a hunger-fueled rampage against Gabimaru and Sagiri. The duo burned the surrounding forest to smoke him out; once he knelt, Sagiri took his head.

Complete List of Yamada Asaemon Deaths (By Order of Death)

Every convict was assigned one executioner as a monitor. While these samurai were masters of the blade, many fell before the overwhelming power of the Tensen or the island's supernatural inhabitants.

Yamada Asaemon Eizen (Chapter 4)
Cause of Death: Attack by Rokurota
Circumstances: As the monitor for the most dangerous convict, he was killed instantly by a single, massive palm strike from a starving Rokurota.

Yamada Asaemon Kishō (Chapter 11)
Cause of Death: Attack by Sea Monsters
Circumstances: After failing to return to the mainland and partially "flower-ifying," he was bitten in half by a sea beast while aboard a ship.

Yamada Asaemon Genji (Chapter 13)
Cause of Death: Attack by Rokurota
Circumstances: Intervened to protect Sagiri from Rokurota's surprise attack. He suffered a fatal blow from a palm strike and died shortly after.

Yamada Asaemon Tenza (Chapter 21)
Cause of Death: Attack by Zhu Jin
Circumstances: Encountered the Tensen Zhu Jin and fought a desperate holding action to allow Shion and Nurugai to escape.

Yamada Asaemon Senta (Chapter 43)
Cause of Death: Flower-ification by Mu Dan
Circumstances: Protected Yuzuriha from the Tensen Mu Dan's attack, causing him to bloom. He passed away in Yuzuriha’s arms after the battle.

Yamada Asaemon Fuchi (Chapter 96)
Cause of Death: Attack by Yamada Asaemon Shugen
Circumstances: Caught in the crossfire while protecting Gantetsusai from Shugen. He chose to prioritize treating Gantetsusai's wounds over his own, leading to his death.

Complete List of Tensen Deaths (By Order of Death)

The Tensen are the inhuman rulers of Shinkensho. Their regenerative abilities make them nearly immortal against standard attacks. Their only weakness is the "Dantian," a core that, once destroyed, leads to their permanent dissolution.

Mu Dan (Botan) (Chapter 43)
Cause of Death: Dantian destroyed by Shion
Circumstances: Forced into a "Kishikai" transformation by Sagiri, Yuzuriha, and Senta. Shion joined the fray and dealt the final blow to its Dantian.

Ran (Chapter 70)
Cause of Death: Dantian destroyed by Yuzuriha
Circumstances: After a fierce battle with Gabimaru and Yuzuriha, Ran's Kishikai state reached its limit. Yuzuriha crushed the Dantian as the transformation faded.

Tao Fa (Momoka) (Chapter 79)
Cause of Death: Dantian destroyed by Fuchi
Circumstances: Cornered by Gantetsusai and Fuchi, she fused with Ju Fa. Both Dantians were destroyed simultaneously by the duo.

Ju Fa (Kikka) (Chapter 79)
Cause of Death: Dantian destroyed by Chobe
Circumstances: Engaged in a brutal fight with the Aza brothers while Tao Fa was cornered. Fused into a Kishikai form but was defeated when both cores were crushed.

Zhu Jin (Shukin) (Chapter 110)
Cause of Death: Simultaneous Dantian destruction
Circumstances: Fatally wounded by Shion, Zhu Jin fused with the giant Banko. The monster was eventually stopped when all five Dantians were destroyed at once.

Rien (Chapter 124)
Cause of Death: Self-dissolution
Circumstances: After being moved by Gabimaru’s devotion to his wife and remembering her happy times with Jofuku, she healed Gabimaru and Sagiri’s wounds before fading away.

Complete List of Reinforcement & Iwagakure Deaths (By Order of Death)

The second wave of arrivals included more Yamada Asaemon and the elite Iwagakure ninja, sent to finish the job and bring back the Elixir. While their mission was to assist, the Iwagakure had secret orders: eliminate Gabimaru.

Kumomaru (Iwagakure) (Chapter 46)
Cause of Death: Suicide
Circumstances: When his loyalty was questioned by Kiyomaru on the ship, he sang a traditional song and drove a blade into his own throat to prove his devotion.

Kinkaku-bo (Iwagakure) (Chapter 94)
Cause of Death: Gabimaru's kick
Circumstances: Attempted to assassinate Gabimaru but was killed instantly by a single, powerful kick.

Shija (Iwagakure) (Chapter 108)
Cause of Death: Battle with Gabimaru
Circumstances: Suffered fatal injuries from Gabimaru's fire techniques. After ordering the remaining lower-ranked ninja to commit suicide, Shija passed away.

Yamada Asaemon Kiyomaru (Chapter 119)
Cause of Death: Crushed by debris
Circumstances: Died after being pinned under falling structures during the chaotic final battle against Rien.

Yamada Asaemon Isuzu (Chapter 119)
Cause of Death: Attack by Rien
Circumstances: During the final showdown, Rien used Tao to essentially crush her upper body with invisible force.

Yamada Asaemon Shugen (Chapter 124)
Cause of Death: Exhaustion of Tao
Circumstances: After bisecting Jofuku’s remains and dealing a final blow, he completely depleted his Tao and died where he stood.

Iwagakure Village Chief (Chapter 126)
Cause of Death: Execution by Beheading
Circumstances: The Shogun viewed the Chief’s independent meddling and secret agendas as a sign of rebellion and ordered his execution.

The Survivors: Where Are They Now?

After enduring the horrors of the island and defeating the Tensen, a small group of survivors secured the "Elixir." However, the rules stated only one convict could receive a pardon.

To save as many lives as possible, the survivors conspired to report Gantetsusai as the sole official hero who completed the mission. Jukka and Sagiri handled the official reporting to the Shogun.

Chapters 126 and 127 (the series finale) reveal the fates of those who made it back alive.

Gabimaru

Officially recorded as "deceased" to protect his identity. He returned to the mainland on a private vessel and finally reunited with his beloved wife, Yui. With the Iwagakure village dismantled and the Chief executed, the couple finally achieved the "ordinary" life they always dreamed of, living in quiet peace.

Yuzuriha

Like Gabimaru, she is officially dead. She abandoned her name and her village to live as a fugitive, albeit a peaceful one. The final chapter shows her visiting Gabimaru and Yui alongside Sagiri, proving that the bonds formed on the island haven't been broken.

Tamiya Gantetsusai

As the officially recognized survivor, he received a full pardon. Influenced by his time with Fuchi, he opened a dojo that teaches both swordsmanship and medicine. It has since become a famous establishment, frequented by both students and challengers.

Aza Chobe & Yamada Asaemon Toma

Though Chobe appeared to die in the final battle, his "flower-ification" allowed him to survive so long as his Dantian remained intact. Through a special pot and Toma’s Tao manipulation, he was resurrected. The brothers eventually moved to Hong Kong, where they continue to live life on their own terms.

Nurugai & Yamada Asaemon Shion

Officially declared dead, they returned to Japan secretly with Shion. Both discarded their names and now travel across the country as wandering ronin, searching for a place where they can truly belong.

Yamada Asaemon Sagiri

She returned to the Yamada clan through official channels. However, she eventually left home under the guise of traveling to study sword-testing techniques. In reality, she spends her time wandering and visiting her friends, including the now-retired Gabimaru.

Yamada Asaemon Jukka

Like Sagiri, he returned via the official route. He eventually took over as the head of the Yamada clan, living a life of leisure and comfort.

Mei & Gui Fa

The surviving Tensen members are shown living in the modern era. Gui Fa is seen conducting what looks like a remote lecture for students, with Mei living alongside him, both having adapted to the passage of centuries.

A Drama Born from a Lethal Quest

The hunt for the Elixir on the "Paradise" island was nothing short of a massacre, with less than half of the original party making it out alive. While the ruthless loss of life is heartbreaking, it creates a deeply emotional and high-stakes drama that keeps fans on the edge of their seats. If you haven't seen the ending for yourself, we highly recommend reading the manga to experience this journey of life and death firsthand.

Series Information

(C)Yuji Kaku/SHUEISHA, TWIN ENGINE, MAPPA

Synopsis

The story is set in the late Edo period. Gabimaru the Hollow, a ninja once hailed as the strongest in Iwagakure, is now a death row convict. He is told that he will be acquitted of all crimes if he can retrieve the "Elixir of Life" from an island rumored to be the Buddhist pure land, Sukhavati.

To reunite with his beloved wife, Gabimaru heads to the island with the executioner Yamada Asaemon Sagiri. Upon landing, they are met by other convicts also seeking the elixir, as well as unknown creatures, eerie statues, and the immortal hermits who rule the land. Can Gabimaru find the elixir and return alive from this island of mysteries?

Staff

Original Creator: Yuji Kaku "Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku" (Shueisha Jump Comics, 13 Vols)
Director: Kaori Makita
Series Composition: Akira Kindaichi
Character Design: Akitsugu Hisagi
Music: Yoshiaki Dewa
Animation Producer: Wataru Kawagoe
Animation Production: MAPPA
Planning: Twin Engine
Editorial Cooperation: Shonen Jump+ Editorial Department

Cast

Gabimaru: Chiaki Kobayashi
Yamada Asaemon Sagiri: Yumiri Hanamori
Aza Chobe: Kimura Ryohei
Yamada Asaemon Toma: Kensho Ono
Yuzuriha: Rie Takahashi
Tamiya Gantetsusai: Tetsu Inada
Yamada Asaemon Fuchi: Aoi Ichikawa
Yamada Asaemon Shion: Chikahiro Kobayashi
Yamada Asaemon Tenza: Yusuke Kobayashi
Nurugai: Makoto Koichi
Yamada Asaemon Senta: Daiki Yamashita
Yamada Asaemon Eizen: Makoto Furukawa
Yamada Asaemon Kisho: Shunichi Toki
Yamada Asaemon Genji: Volcano Ota
Tensen: Junichi Suwabe / Yuko Kaida
Mei: Konomi Kohara

Theme Songs

OP: "W●RK" by millennium parade × Sheena Ringo
ED: "Kamihitoe" by Uru

"Hell's Paradise Season 2" Information

Synopsis

Searching for clues to the Elixir, the group arrives at the castle of the "Tensen," the monsters ruling the island. To survive, convicts and executioners must set aside their differences and cooperate. Meanwhile, the Shogunate has dispatched a second landing party led by Yamada Asaemon Shugen, which includes the Iwagakure ninja—enemies with a deep grudge against Gabimaru. As the fight for the Elixir escalates, it turns into an all-out war between "Humans" and "Tensen"!!

Cast

Gabimaru: Chiaki Kobayashi
Yamada Asaemon Sagiri: Yumiri Hanamori
Aza Chobe: Kimura Ryohei
Yamada Asaemon Toma: Kensho Ono
Yuzuriha: Rie Takahashi
Yamada Asaemon Shion: Chikahiro Kobayashi
Nurugai: Makoto Koichi
Tamiya Gantetsusai: Tetsu Inada
Yamada Asaemon Fuchi: Aoi Ichikawa
Yamada Asaemon Shugen: Ryota Suzuki
Yamada Asaemon Jukka: Koji Yusa
Yamada Asaemon Kiyomaru: Maaya Uchida
Yamada Asaemon Isuzu: Sayaka Ohara
Shija: Ayumu Murase
Yui: Mamiko Noto
Mei: Konomi Kohara
Tensen: Junichi Suwabe / Yuko Kaida

Staff

Director: Kaori Makita
Series Composition: Akira Kindaichi
Character Design: Akitsugu Hisagi
Art Director: Junichi Higashi
Color Design: Ayako Suenaga
Director of Photography: Chika Toda
Music: Yoshiaki Dewa
Animation Producer: Wataru Kawagoe
Animation Production: MAPPA