Phrasemaker

Hell’s Paradise is a thrilling tale, loaded with enigmatic characters who are hiding deep, dark secrets.

Meanwhile, Gabimaru’s deranged rival from Iwagakure is something of an open book for the most part. We know that Shija is obsessed with Gabimaru and that they would love to either kill him or die by his hand. Seems straightforward enough, really.

There is one particular element of mystery surrounding Shija, and that is concerning the matter of their gender. Owing to their demeanor and androgynous appearance, they could go either way, so let’s see if we can possibly answer the question of whether Shija is male or female.

Hell’s Paradise: Is Shija a Boy or Girl?

We won’t beat around the bush here. Throughout the entirety of Hell’s Paradise, Shija’s gender is never revealed. They are referred to with they/them pronouns in official materials, and whilst we’re shown several flashbacks of their childhood (where a poor, meek lil’ Shija still had starry eyes for Gabimaru), the matter isn’t ever broached in the slightest.

There is some evidence both ways supporting the notion that Shija is a man or a woman, but considering how they contradict one another, it’s not particularly helpful. In the original Japanese text, Shija uses the pronoun boku when referring to themselves, most commonly associated with young men.

Conversely, the mask Shija brandishes is that of a Shinja, a traditional Japanese mask depicting the face of a vengeful serpent woman.

Hell’s Paradise: Is Shija Non-Binary?

Without being given a concrete answer one way or the other, the surest option is to classify Shija’s gender as unknown.

They could potentially identify as non-binary, but that’s really up to the interpretation of the viewer. Seeing as the manga publication wrapped up in January 2021, we’re unlikely to receive any new information, short of the ongoing anime adding additional dialogue.