Masamichi Yaga was the principal of Tokyo Jujutsu High and a Grade 1 jujutsu sorcerer. Before taking on the role of principal sometime after 2006, he served as a second-year teacher to Satoru Gojo, Suguru Geto, and Shoko Ieiri. He was also the creator of the autonomous cursed corpse known as Panda, whom he raised as a son. Yaga was a tall man with a muscular build, tan skin, short spiky dark hair, and a mustache and goatee. He typically wore sunglasses, a trait common among sorcerers. Yaga possessed a stern, thoughtful, and earnest personality. He had a strong moral center and a great deal of patience, particularly when dealing with difficult students like Gojo and Geto. Despite his gruff exterior, he was a compassionate and responsible leader who genuinely cared for the well-being and development of his students. He believed that a teacher's role was to help students reach realizations on their own, and he tested their convictions harshly to ensure they were prepared for the dangers of being a sorcerer, a method shaped by the traumatic betrayal of Geto. Yaga was also known to have a softer side, such as a fondness for cute things, which contrasted with his stern demeanor. He even had a comedic catchphrase of "Goddamn!" uttered when surprised. Yaga's motivations were driven by a deep sense of responsibility to protect and guide the next generation of sorcerers. He shared a progressive attitude with Gojo, often clashing with the conservative and corrupt higher-ups of the jujutsu world. He actively worked to create a safer and more supportive environment at Jujutsu High, prioritizing student welfare over institutional loyalty. His greatest regret was the defection of Suguru Geto, which haunted him and influenced his strict approach to training new students. His central role in the story was as a mentor and authority figure who oversaw the development of key characters. He was a stabilizing force within the school and a vocal advocate for his students, arguing against the execution of Yuji Itadori and vouching for his potential. During the events following the Shibuya Incident, the higher-ups, fearing his ability to create an army of independent cursed corpses, ordered his execution. Yaga was aware of his fate. Rather than reveal the secret to creating sentient cursed corpses, he allowed himself to be fatally wounded by Kyoto principal Gakuganji, passing on his formula only in his final moments as a "curse." Yaga's key relationships were central to his character. He was Panda's father and creator, raising him from a young age and enrolling him in Jujutsu High. He was the former teacher of Satoru Gojo, Suguru Geto, and Shoko Ieiri, and the fallout from Geto's betrayal deeply impacted him. He maintained a working relationship with Gojo as adults, frequently exasperated by Gojo's antics but united in their shared goal of protecting students. He also held a deep respect for the sorcerer Kusakabe, having created a cursed corpse to help Kusakabe's grieving sister. Yaga's development culminated in his final act of defiance. While always a principled man, his execution solidified his legacy as someone willing to sacrifice himself rather than allow his revolutionary cursed technique to be weaponized by a corrupt system. His death highlighted the dark and unforgiving nature of the jujutsu world. Yaga's notable ability was his mastery of puppet jujutsu, making him the foremost practitioner of cursed corpse creation. His cursed technique allowed him to craft and manipulate puppets infused with cursed energy. He was the only sorcerer capable of developing fully independent cursed corpses that retained their own cursed energy and consciousness. His greatest creation was Panda, an abrupt mutated cursed corpse with three self-sustaining cores and genuine emotions. Yaga could also create a variety of other cursed corpses for combat, support, or training purposes. Beyond his puppet mastery, he was a capable combatant in his own right, but his true strength lay in his innovative and humanitarian application of jujutsu technology.