Maki Zenin’s scars in Jujutsu Kaisen come from severe burn injuries she suffered during the Shibuya Incident, when she was caught in the flames of the Special Grade cursed spirit Jogo.

How the Scars Happened

During the Shibuya Incident arc, Maki was part of a group of sorcerers (including Kento Nanami, Naobito Zenin, Megumi Fushiguro, and Toji Fushiguro) who had just defeated the Special Grade curse Dagon. Right after that battle, they were ambushed by another Special Grade curse, Jogo, who immediately unleashed his powerful fire-based cursed technique on them.

Because Maki has no cursed energy of her own, she couldn’t use cursed techniques to block or resist Jogo’s flames like other sorcerers could. As a result, she was badly burned over large parts of her body, especially on her arms and face, leaving behind the distinctive burn scars that now define her appearance.

Why the Scars Didn’t Heal

After the fight, Maki was treated with Reverse Cursed Technique (the same healing technique used on other seriously injured sorcerers), which saved her life and stabilized her injuries. However, the burns were so severe that even Reverse Cursed Technique couldn’t fully erase the scar tissue; it only healed the life‑threatening damage.

Yuki Tsukumo later explains that Maki’s body already had superhuman durability even before she fully unlocked her Heavenly Restriction, which is why she survived such extreme burns in the first place. Still, the scars remained as permanent marks of that battle.

What the Scars Represent

In the world of jujutsu sorcerers, scars are often seen as battle trophies for men, but women are usually expected to stay “beautiful” and unblemished. Maki’s scars flip that idea: they’re not flaws, but proof of her strength and refusal to play by the Zenin clan’s sexist rules.

She doesn’t hide or complain about them; instead, the scars become part of her new identity as a powerful, independent sorcerer who no longer cares about the clan’s approval. To fans, they’re a symbol of her resilience and growth throughout the series.

Bottom line: Maki got her scars when Jogo burned her during the Shibuya Incident; the burns were too severe to fully heal, so they left permanent marks that now represent her strength and defiance.