Jjk Analysis - Blog Posts

Thinking about the Blue-Red symbolism surrounding SatoSugu

I've been thinking about this shot for a while. At first it didn't make sense to me, why Gojo was in the red and Geto was in the blue, I thought it should've been the opposite but after seeing some others talk about it, I think it makes a lot of sense.

Because of Gojo's powers and how it directly relates into this. At the near end of Hidden Inventory, Gojo and Geto are spending less time together, Gojo is going out on missions alone, he is training and refining his techniques multiple times over and is leaving little to no room for friends. He's essentially isolating himself from others to be able to become strong enough to go on as many missions as possible. He's pushing people away, like how his ability Red repels. Thus, Gojo is in red, like his ability, pushing away those around him.

Geto on the other hand is in the blue, by the near end of Hidden Inventory, he is depressed and consistently consuming curses. I think Gege was great at showing his depression, Geto’s got heavy eye bags, like he either can’t sleep or sleeps too much. He hunches over, resting on his knees like sitting up straight is just too much work. When someone talks to him, he blinks slowly and takes a beat too long to respond, like even that takes more energy than he has. And like Gojo said, he was losing weight, meaning he was eating less. Like Gojo's ability blue, which attracts, he is absorbing curses, wallowing in his negative thoughts and feelings to the point he developed a hatred for most of humanity. He's pulling in all the negativity into himself just as how blue attracts.

And it also fits in nicely with the openings of season 2. Ao no Sumika (Where Our Blue is) is imo showing that they were together and happy. Where Our Blue is, in this case would also translate to Where Our Attraction is because Gojo's blue is pulling and attracting. The title to me means "Where we're together" for them. The rest of the opening is mostly blue as well, emphasizing it further. The second opening of season 2, is mostly red, and akin to reversal red presents a push. Gojo and Geto are no longer united anymore, they stand against each other.

Also these two frames put that nicely.

Heyo! Thank you for responding, I appreciate it when people do!

I should've pointed it out better but I am not saying light and dark are unable to coexist, I'm saying they exist, but on opposite sides. I'll use an example,

when you shine a flashlight at an object, the shadow appears opposite to the light. It cannot exist on the same side as the light, but opposite to it. But both need each other in order to exist.

Which is what I'm trying to say about SatoSugu, they need each other, yet they will exist on opposite ends like light and dark but still are, meaningless without each other.

I'm a Buddhist, although I'm not very religious. And I haven't read my texts in so long, JJK is genuinely making me want to get back to studying it again, I've forgotten almost all the prayers, gosh darn!

I do believe there will be differences however as JJK is mostly a combination of Shintoism and Buddhism, if I remember correctly. I'm a Theravada Buddhist.

Enlightenment, from my understanding, is breaking away from the Cycle of Suffering, and Nirvana can be summarised as nothingness. In our belief, as long as you have life, you will grow old, suffer and die. Which is three of the four major things Gautama Buddha saw before becoming Buddha, the fourth being monkhood.

When Buddha achieved enlightenment, it was after an attack from the demon, Mara. For Satoru's enlightenment…well I'm not exactly sure how to feel about it. I mean, Satoru oofed a man right after his "enlightenment" and killing is a HUGE no-no for Buddhism. It is actually one of the first things we have to avoid. We must not take a life. Killing is a straight ticket to hell.

If we're being completely accurate, few of the JJK cast would even end up in Heaven, they'd suffer in hell for years until they reincarnate into another life. Satoru killed, Toji killed, Sukuna is definitely suffering hundreds of years in hell for his atrocities, Maki would also have to suffer there for massacring her clan, it's just how karma works in Buddhism and it is NOT generous.

I'd have to begin reading books again to fully analyse Buddhism in JJK, but I think this would do for now. Looking forward to more discussions!

Akuji out! :)

live, laugh, love Satoru

AKUJI'S SATOSUGU ANALYSIS (PT.1)

!longassrant

In part one, I'll discuss a few things regarding symbolism and metaphors surrounding the two and how they complement each other. As much as I loathe Akutami, I do admire their symbolism surrounding the cast of JJK.

BLACK AND WHITE, LIGHT AND DARK

I feel like this is a prominent thing in the SatoSugu shippers to associate SatoSugu with black and white, myself included. Whenever I see black and white, I get SatoSugu PTSD. This is really what my life has come to, LOL.

Let's put Satoru as the Light and Suguru as the Dark. ( This is something I love because of how light and dark exist. One cannot be without the other, yet when light is present — dark cannot be. And when dark is present, light cannot be. Sound familiar? Yep, it's them.

We know they both probably wanted to be together but their ideals set them apart. Dark will always exist opposite to Light, and Light would always exist opposite to Dark. But they cannot be defined without each other.

And it does align with what they do become because Satoru became the Light of Jujutsu Society, they had hope because of him. When Satoru enters the scene to save the day, sorcerers are relieved, sorcerer feel safe. When he got sealed, everything fell apart, it just shows how much Jujutsu Society relied on him and trusted him to resolve everything. He taught the new generation of sorcerers, he guided them towards a new future, like a sort of guiding light.

Suguru on the other hand, he consumed the worst in the world, curses. He was confronted by the vile taste of curses every time he consumes one and after Riko Amanai's death, he was faced with the cruelty of the system, the darkness of the world. He despised the likes of people like Toji who are willing to assassinate an innocent teenage girl purely just for money. And, Toji didn't even need to kill Riko, he heard them talk, Riko wasn't even going to become Tengen's new vessel.

The whole experience with Toji changed the duo, but for Suguru, it hurt that he fought with everything he had to avenge Satoru but was left there barely living as a failure only to find his best friend completely changed to the point where he was going to kill all of the humans who were applauding them. Although he convinced Satoru they should be spared, I don't think Suguru himself thinks they deserve to live. The applauds haunted him, I'm sure he was utterly disgusted a room of adults were celebrating the death of an innocent, young girl.

The scene with depressed Suguru, we hear rain outside but if you listen carefully, they sound more like claps, like the ones he has heard back with the Cult. (also, it's funny to me that he started his own cult after being traumatised by one.)

Suguru genuinely wanted to create a world for the weak but after what happened, it's safe to say he stopped considering non-sorcerers as the weak. He already had a theory that sorcerers weren't the problem but non-sorcerers and that mindset drove Suguru mad, paired with the curses he consumes which are manifestations of the negative parts of humanity. The only way for Suguru to move forward with his life is to eradicate all non-sorcerers. He refused the other path because to him to choose non-sorcerers at this point would be to accept more people like Toji, the people in Star Religious Group and the people in the village who threatened Mimiko and Nanako.

Wow, there's a lot for Suguru's part, haha.

Black and White, Light and Dark— or whatever similar. They fit. I could compare them to Yin and Yang, but I don't fully understand its meaning so, I won't.

CURSED TECHNIQUES

I also love what their cursed techniques represent in each other. And how it ties into the story.

Suguru's cursed technique manipulates cursed spirits after consuming them. Consume, which is the first thing we see him doing in the opening of Hidden Inventory. He's a consumptive force, because he consumes the responsibility of protecting the weak.

Satoru on the other hand, repels. He's an outward force, extending out a physical barrier that creates distance between his body and the world. The Infinity and Reversal Red that repels and disconnects him from the people around him. Satoru repelled the idea of protecting the weak, actively discarding them during HI's basketball scene.

Can I point out how the scene after Star Religious group makes sense now? Blue attracts, it's a consumptive force, Suguru leaned into it. Red repels, Satoru stepped into red. It just really enhances their characters further…ah, remind me how much I love this animanga.

Satoru focused on becoming the Strongest and rejected everything else. Suguru consumed the negative emotions and trauma, leading him to go mad to the point killing all non-sorcerers could be the only way he could live with himself.

They're really meant to be together because consumption can only exist if there's a repellant force pushing back. They're not opposites, I will say. Both Satoru and Suguru contain parts of each other within each other. Sort of like Yin and Yang, but again I don't fully understand Yin and Yang enough to do a full analysis of them associating with Yin and Yang.

I think I will conclude the cursed technique analysis here because trying to understand cursed techniques in JJK…it burns my brain. Especially with those powerscalers.

"You're Late, ..."

This was done multiple time for them, and ugh it pains me.

Yup, this one right here, this motif foreshadows the tragedy of Satoru and Suguru's love story. 

We see Suguru running through the rain urgently. He so desperately needs an umbrella. Satoru? Well, you can see he's wasting time looking at a cat...he's not hurrying at all. But he has what Suguru needs, an umbrella. Well, Satoru didn't even need an umbrella.

Suguru is waiting impatiently in the rain, and he's not using his bag to cover up his head anymore. He knows Satoru is coming; that's why he's impatient.

Suguru needs him, but Satoru doesn’t pick up the pace.

By the time he finally shows up, the sun has come out. By then Suguru has accepted the fact that Satoru took too long. They can’t share the umbrella any more because they missed their chance to use it.

“You’re late, Satoru.”

And you all know what follows up...

Also a little bonus:

Those are osmanthuses.

The name Osmanthus comes from the Greek language, Osma(fragrant) and Anthos(flower), literally meaning Fragrant Flower. Osmanthus flowers are a symbol of love and romance, blooming for only a few days in the Spring, and are celebrated during wedding ceremonies and the Chinese Moon Festival in August

The animators shipped them, you cannot convince me otherwise.

This was supposed to be longer, and I do want to continue it but again, I'm tired to continue. Kind of lost motivation and my initial ideas poofed already.

Akuji out!

live, laugh, love Satoru

(tagging @everythingseasoning as she requested. Awaiting your response!)

AKUJI'S SATOSUGU ANALYSIS (PT.1)

!longassrant

In part one, I'll discuss a few things regarding symbolism and metaphors surrounding the two and how they complement each other. As much as I loathe Akutami, I do admire their symbolism surrounding the cast of JJK.

BLACK AND WHITE, LIGHT AND DARK

I feel like this is a prominent thing in the SatoSugu shippers to associate SatoSugu with black and white, myself included. Whenever I see black and white, I get SatoSugu PTSD. This is really what my life has come to, LOL.

Let's put Satoru as the Light and Suguru as the Dark. ( This is something I love because of how light and dark exist. One cannot be without the other, yet when light is present — dark cannot be. And when dark is present, light cannot be. Sound familiar? Yep, it's them.

We know they both probably wanted to be together but their ideals set them apart. Dark will always exist opposite to Light, and Light would always exist opposite to Dark. But they cannot be defined without each other.

And it does align with what they do become because Satoru became the Light of Jujutsu Society, they had hope because of him. When Satoru enters the scene to save the day, sorcerers are relieved, sorcerer feel safe. When he got sealed, everything fell apart, it just shows how much Jujutsu Society relied on him and trusted him to resolve everything. He taught the new generation of sorcerers, he guided them towards a new future, like a sort of guiding light.

Suguru on the other hand, he consumed the worst in the world, curses. He was confronted by the vile taste of curses every time he consumes one and after Riko Amanai's death, he was faced with the cruelty of the system, the darkness of the world. He despised the likes of people like Toji who are willing to assassinate an innocent teenage girl purely just for money. And, Toji didn't even need to kill Riko, he heard them talk, Riko wasn't even going to become Tengen's new vessel.

The whole experience with Toji changed the duo, but for Suguru, it hurt that he fought with everything he had to avenge Satoru but was left there barely living as a failure only to find his best friend completely changed to the point where he was going to kill all of the humans who were applauding them. Although he convinced Satoru they should be spared, I don't think Suguru himself thinks they deserve to live. The applauds haunted him, I'm sure he was utterly disgusted a room of adults were celebrating the death of an innocent, young girl.

The scene with depressed Suguru, we hear rain outside but if you listen carefully, they sound more like claps, like the ones he has heard back with the Cult. (also, it's funny to me that he started his own cult after being traumatised by one.)

Suguru genuinely wanted to create a world for the weak but after what happened, it's safe to say he stopped considering non-sorcerers as the weak. He already had a theory that sorcerers weren't the problem but non-sorcerers and that mindset drove Suguru mad, paired with the curses he consumes which are manifestations of the negative parts of humanity. The only way for Suguru to move forward with his life is to eradicate all non-sorcerers. He refused the other path because to him to choose non-sorcerers at this point would be to accept more people like Toji, the people in Star Religious Group and the people in the village who threatened Mimiko and Nanako.

Wow, there's a lot for Suguru's part, haha.

Black and White, Light and Dark— or whatever similar. They fit. I could compare them to Yin and Yang, but I don't fully understand its meaning so, I won't.

CURSED TECHNIQUES

I also love what their cursed techniques represent in each other. And how it ties into the story.

Suguru's cursed technique manipulates cursed spirits after consuming them. Consume, which is the first thing we see him doing in the opening of Hidden Inventory. He's a consumptive force, because he consumes the responsibility of protecting the weak.

Satoru on the other hand, repels. He's an outward force, extending out a physical barrier that creates distance between his body and the world. The Infinity and Reversal Red that repels and disconnects him from the people around him. Satoru repelled the idea of protecting the weak, actively discarding them during HI's basketball scene.

Can I point out how the scene after Star Religious group makes sense now? Blue attracts, it's a consumptive force, Suguru leaned into it. Red repels, Satoru stepped into red. It just really enhances their characters further…ah, remind me how much I love this animanga.

Satoru focused on becoming the Strongest and rejected everything else. Suguru consumed the negative emotions and trauma, leading him to go mad to the point killing all non-sorcerers could be the only way he could live with himself.

They're really meant to be together because consumption can only exist if there's a repellant force pushing back. They're not opposites, I will say. Both Satoru and Suguru contain parts of each other within each other. Sort of like Yin and Yang, but again I don't fully understand Yin and Yang enough to do a full analysis of them associating with Yin and Yang.

I think I will conclude the cursed technique analysis here because trying to understand cursed techniques in JJK…it burns my brain. Especially with those powerscalers.

"You're Late, ..."

This was done multiple time for them, and ugh it pains me.

Yup, this one right here, this motif foreshadows the tragedy of Satoru and Suguru's love story. 

We see Suguru running through the rain urgently. He so desperately needs an umbrella. Satoru? Well, you can see he's wasting time looking at a cat...he's not hurrying at all. But he has what Suguru needs, an umbrella. Well, Satoru didn't even need an umbrella.

Suguru is waiting impatiently in the rain, and he's not using his bag to cover up his head anymore. He knows Satoru is coming; that's why he's impatient.

Suguru needs him, but Satoru doesn’t pick up the pace.

By the time he finally shows up, the sun has come out. By then Suguru has accepted the fact that Satoru took too long. They can’t share the umbrella any more because they missed their chance to use it.

“You’re late, Satoru.”

And you all know what follows up...

Also a little bonus:

Those are osmanthuses.

The name Osmanthus comes from the Greek language, Osma(fragrant) and Anthos(flower), literally meaning Fragrant Flower. Osmanthus flowers are a symbol of love and romance, blooming for only a few days in the Spring, and are celebrated during wedding ceremonies and the Chinese Moon Festival in August

The animators shipped them, you cannot convince me otherwise.

This was supposed to be longer, and I do want to continue it but again, I'm tired to continue. Kind of lost motivation and my initial ideas poofed already.

Akuji out!

live, laugh, love Satoru

(tagging @everythingseasoning as she requested. Awaiting your response!)

Oh yes, I definitely get frustrated when Gojo gets reduced to a gay twink attached to Geto or, the other side which either overglaze him or completely disregard his character.

Yes, he was very upset over Geto leaving but he has every right to be upset. Geto was practically one of the few people he's close to or probably the person he's close to. I'd be too. Though, I do make fun of it, I don't like exaggerating it unnecessarily. If any one of us were in his place, we'd be in a much, much worse state. I'd say if Gojo was as clingy as the fics depicted him to be, he would've not made it after Geto died. But he did. Just because he moved forward, it doesn't mean he still isn't hurt by it. He wanted his best friend back, but he understood Geto and him were now on opposing sides and there is no third option. Geto had already killed a hundred people, including his own parents, there is no turning back.

I don't think Gojo is actually very clingy, whenever he is "clingy", he's joking or being completely unserious. This man stole his student's skirt and wore it (grown ass man). I feel like people forget how silly he is, the most popular depictions of his character are glazing or sexualisation, it somehow overshadows his usual unseriousness although it was very prominent from the moment we meet him. He's only being "clingy" because he wants a reaction out of someone. This man teases a lot of people, Utahime, Nanami and Ichiji are major victims, we see it a lot, yet people — ignore it?

Humour is just clearly his coping mechanism. It's not like he'd even consider himself worthy of talking about his struggles in the first place. He's the wall between cursed spirits and jujutsu society, he expects no one (but someone as powerful, if not more than him) to understand the stress he experiences. Take the scene where he acts all cheerful RIGHT AFTER he killed Geto. Akutami stated he had a mental breakdown afterwards — it's a facade and a coping mechanism. To him and a lot of his peers, the jujutsu world didn't need Satoru Gojo, they needed curse spirits exorcist Satoru Gojo. His goal was to change that but until he finishes nurturing the next generation of sorcerers, he has to remain the Strongest. Wait, actually, I don't think he wanted to descend lower, he wanted his students to reach that level.

Anyway it's 12:35am in the goddamned morning and I need sleep... I shall end my rant here.

my beautiful wife <3

Heyo!

I was a lil curious whether you have SatoSugu ship fics written. I haven't read much of it and also because I dropped so many because of 18+ stuff and I don't like the interpretations of the characters.

So far, I am loving your take on both Gojo and Geto — have both your analyses saved to look at again when I'm writing. They're both amazing, I'm telling you.!

I know I could just yk, scroll around but I feel like hearing from the awesome person themselves is better.

Anyway, hope you're having a good day/night! :D

Hey! :) First of all, thank you so much for your praise on my JJK Character analysis!! ☹️🫶 I spent a decent amount of time thinking about these characters, trying to understand how they think, why they do/did what they did! It’s a huge compliment to hear and know that you’re using them as reference!! It’s so rewarding to know that the posts I released into the void have some sort of impact/that they’re appreciated. I’m still learning more about them as time goes on, too!

Suguru Analysis here, and Satoru Analysis here, for anyone who wants to read it!

Secondly, no, I haven’t written any satosugu stuff. Maybe one day? It’s an interesting thing to think about, how the two might interact if they ever met one on one after their fallout (prior to geto invading Jujutsu Tech ofc). I actually am going to make a third analysis post on the mischaracterization of Gojo in the JJK fandom, especially with Satosugu. People tend to completely erase Gojo’s strengths and personality in certain fan takes. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate ships, but I think that people reduce Gojo to a sniveling mess of a man hung up on his ex best friend/lover, when that’s really not the case— Gojo’s strength is his ability to move forward, regardless of who he loses. Gege said this himself, that Gojo knows anyone can die at any point. Gojo was a man who was raised to be a weapon, shouldered a huge responsibility, and in order to do so, he couldn’t be the sensitive and clingy type of guy that people write in their fics (which sucks to hear if you’re emotionally invested in him, and people often don’t wanna exit their delusions). This doesn’t mean that Gojo isn’t touchy-feely, he def can be, but emotionally? He isn’t clingy. He could’ve been a WONDERFUL yandere character based on his childhood/teenage isolation, but Gojo didn’t have an incredibly strong sensitivity for others. That’s why he didn’t turn into a villain. He was, ultimately and unfortunately, a successful product, shaped by the people who treated him as less than human. Or that’s my current take, at least.

I love how you mentioned Gojo being a gift, a rarity and a power. It's painfully true, it's not that Gojo isn't cared for as a person at all, that's false. But it's the fact his powers overshadow that he's a person as well. We see this in the scene, "Who is Satoru Gojo to you?" most prominently. Everyone said one thing, the Strongest. I will not pretend that other details weren't added but that was the main highlight. The Strongest. Not, "my teacher", or "a good friend" or any of the sort as the main point. It's "the Strongest" that's the main highlight. That's his main appeal to the world.

And of course, Gojo would centre his personality around being the strongest because that is the expectation placed on him by his peers and the role everyone expects him to take. Had he fell short, he'd be taken for a failure, and we do know Gojo had plenty of experiences exorcising curses and surviving assassination attempts, the life he led was meant to one destination, the Strongest. He couldn't fall short, this is what his entire life is based on. He'd practically have no identity to go off of, the Strongest is the sole thing he's pushed for, the only reason he's seen, the sole reason he has any form of purpose. Before Geto, he had practically no one he was very close to. Imagine if Gojo failed to meet the expectations. Who would he even be? People would look down on him, he'd go down as one of the biggest fumbles in history. And it's not like he'd have anyone to live for, or even himself for the matter. That's all he had until Geto, it's no wonder he'd stick to it.

Strength would be the only thing he had (or he thinks) to care for. He's rich, his clan is influential, heck — he's darn attractive and he himself acknowledges that. The only thing he needs to do is become the Strongest. It's all so simple…Or so he thought. His lack of connections and simple-mindedness led him to neglect connections as they weren't a huge part of his life (until Suguru ofc). It's laid out in front of him.

Or so he thought. His lack of connections and simple-mindedness led him to neglect connections as they weren't a huge part of his life (until Suguru ofc). It's laid out in front of him.

And his technique is major proof he cannot rely on anyone but himself, the very infinity separating him from the people around him. They'll get in his way and mess things up. As Kenjaku had said, "Every technique is its own worldview". This is what Gojo's technique gives him. The Infinity that separates him from others, Lapse Blue that repels things around him. And we see how he fights- alone. Sorcerers fight together, and it's only together they beat curses. (hence the jumpings) But not Gojo. He is the exception to this. He fights alone. If others join him, they get in the way. Like a "monster". He's alone in the battlefield.

Now, to our precious Suguru Geto. Geto was a big influence in Gojo's life because they complemented one another. In one way is Geto's more thoughtful insight in things. I've already stated above Gojo was rather simple-minded. Like you've mentioned, a 17yo Gojo saw the world as either weak or strong. He doesn't consider anything else, he comes off as unempathetic and uncaring when he really just doesn't know or doesn't outright consider it. Geto offered a different perspective to Gojo, he made Gojo think more deeply before taking action and looking at how Gojo entrusted it in Geto's hands whether he should massacre the Star Religious Group, he trusted Geto's judgement so much that he'd become a mass murderer if Geto had said it is justified to kill them.

It is obvious Geto is more thoughtful, take the basketball scene. Geto thinks deeply and offers moral points. Something Gojo admits to seeing it only as a tool to make one feel better about themselves. He points out the Societal Impact Gojo's actions would have. Gojo doesn't think about that, to illustrate, being careless and not putting up a veil. In the basketball scene, he couldn't see the problem it would have but Geto did, he pointed out that non-sorcerers knowing the existence of Cursed Spirits would create more fear and anxiety and result in more Cursed Spirits. He even joked whether they'd be blamed for Amanai's death and yes, of course, him being willing to massacre the star religious group. Gojo isn't very moral, he has a loose moral code.

Hell, that's evident during Geto's defection. Gojo didn't try to insult Geto or call him out on his wrongdoings, he asked for a reason. It just seems to me he wanted an answer to justify Geto's actions.

It wasn't until after Geto left he realised his strength couldn't save everyone. He could only save those who want to be saved. He realised the flaws in jujutsu society and how that led Geto onto his path. Gojo could've easily overthrown jujutsu society, he remarked that himself but he doesn't because he knew it'd just lead to even more chaos and destruction because it would only be temporary. By nurturing a new generation, he could rebuild everything with them. Geto always treated Gojo with so much love, care and respect, I'm certain he wanted to do something familiar to also fill the hole that Geto left after his defect. I could also add he realised the injustice the system did to him as well, he's only reduced to the Strongest, Geto pointed that out and although he stuck to it, he realises it wasn't exactly the best way for him to go but he wrongly thought it was too late for him to change. In a light novel, Gojo interrupts Nanami about Yuji, declaring that they weren't dealing with Sukuna's vessel but protecting a kid named Yuji Itadori. He obviously doesn't want his students in his role. And even more, evidenced by Gojo when he told Yuta off about becoming the "monster".

OH GOD, I STILL HAVE *MORE* TO YAP ABOUT! I'm going to stop here because I have to study. 😭😭

Anyway, I love my glorious blue-eyed King, Satoru Gojo.

Happy late 35th birthday, sweetie. Rest in the afterlife.

Satoru Gojo character analysis (incomplete)

Happy late birthday, to the glorious blue eyed king.

I can’t stop thinking about how a kid will latch onto the praise and expectations of the adults around them. And that’s what Gojo did. From the moment he was born, he was told he would be great. To be great is to be different; As a kid, Gojo was treated as a gift, a rarity, a power— his innate talents overshadowed the fact that he was a person. As a kid, he didn’t catch onto the latter (that he is as human as anyone else), instead learning that he was special, incomparable, honored. His innate abilities coupled with how everybody saw him doomed Gojo to be shaped as a weapon. Can you blame Gojo for centering his personality around being the strongest? During the infamous fallout scene, Geto called Gojo out, playing on the concept of nature vs nurture, when he said, “Are you the strongest because you’re Satoru Gojo? Or are you Satoru Gojo because you’re the strongest?” Geto was essentially pointing out that the talents that Gojo was born with took on a huge defining role in who Gojo is as a person, which is to say, he’s powerful. And Gojo prides and defines himself on his strength. What did that leave room for? Certainly not human connection, introspection, or self expression— all things necessary to connect deeply with yourself, and others. Gojo was reduced to being strong, and only that. And when you’re strong, set apart from the rest, and praised for it, it’s not natural to think of yourself as the same as others. Being the strongest— such a position is inherently isolating. Because of his innate abilities, Gojo did not have much control over who he would become. (See: soft determinism definition for a philosophical explanation).

It’s important to note that Gege said that Gojo’s personality was his greatest strength. I believe he said this because it’s Gojo’s personality that lets him a) tap into his abilities that make him so strong in the first place, and b) handle the responsibility and isolation that comes with his position. In early life, Gojo was surrounded by an overbearing clan, without siblings, and without friends, and told that he was the chosen one who restored the balance of the world, as his mere existence caused curse users to retreat into the shadows— According to his own family and the Jujutsu Higher Ups, Gojo’s mission was to train, gain control over his abilities, and hone his skills. He did so, throwing himself into his training and mastering the tricky Six Eyes gift by reading old texts of his own will, training himself. Gojo was treated as a goal by his own family, and he never got a childhood or knew the warmth of a loving home. He never socialized with other humans. He didn’t get to run around and play. He didn’t ever see other children his age cry or smile. Rather, a huge responsibility was placed on him. Gojo never broke under the pressure. He was ambitious, and strong. He could train without having the normal human needs of socialization, acceptance, and love, fulfilled. He was conditioned to focus on being a weapon, capable and strong in battle, leaving no room for the autonomy of thinking and wishing for a life beyond sorcery. Who needs acceptance when you have already been defined, and you fulfill that role? What Gege said about Gojo’s personality being his greatest strength, it takes a certain kind of person to carry such responsibilities, and live isolated, without the need to break free from such mental, emotional, and physical confines. Gojo could do this, and thus, Gojo lived without human connection for most of his life (Geto and Gojo’s students being the sole exceptions), standing tall and strong— and alone. Another point: Gojo stated that he had trouble connecting to people. Everyone, to some degree, craves human connection, and needs it to thrive. In order to connect with others, we need vulnerability. So why could Gojo succeed even without his best friend in his life? His innate talent and intensive training had conditioned him against vulnerability in all senses— identity and strength wise. But this isn’t enough— most people would still break had they been in Gojo’s shoes. It’s Gojo’s personality that allows him to uphold himself, stay strong, and keep fighting for his mission, as we went over. It is as if an essential pathway going from the outside world to the heart, is blocked, shut off in Gojo. If you are to be the strongest, then you do not have the right to needing human connection to survive.

Gege stated that Gojo’s greatest weakness was also his personality. The very thing that allowed Gojo to become the strongest is what isolated him. That conditioning into being the strongest, along with his natural aloofness and insensitivity towards the emotions of others, created a roadblock in how Gojo connected with people. Gojo’s eyes were always trained on strength, creating a lens of “people are either strong, or weak.” The audience can see that when Gojo is 17 and arrogant, complaining about having to protect the weak. For Gojo, his entire world was jujutsu. While not heartless (we see him save regular people), Gojo had no idea how to talk to anybody, no idea how to care about anybody who wasn’t in a situation he was familiar with. As a teenager, Gojo is not the kindest soul (and this isn’t to fault him, as most teens aren’t the kindest person at that stage in life). Gojo makes callous comments that reflect his lack of sensitivity for others, such as asking Geto, “You think we’ll be blamed if the kid died from that?” (Gojo’s later behavior towards Ijichi is also telling, and it was stated that he does not realize how deeply he irks Utahime). At 17 years old, Gojo is simply doing the mission as the Higher Ups demand, without thinking much beyond that. He thinks of himself, how the mission affects him and him only. He even states that moral arguments are what people say to make themselves feel better. It’s clear that Gojo is not passionate and dedicated to their mission, not in the way Geto was (only for Geto to become disillusioned, see my Suguru Geto Character Analysis here). One could argue that Gojo’s weakness is that he isn’t innately empathetic, as he did not pay much attention to his or anyone else’s needs and feelings, which, while necessary for him to become the strongest solider, had also led to him living a life he didn’t choose, and without much ability for human connection. However, we do see moments in which Gojo does indeed connect with people through play (ie with Geto, Riko, Yuuji), and in these rare moments he may feel enough emotion to make decisions that go against the cold logic of Jujutsu Society, such as when he refuses to sleep, letting Riko have her last day of youth at the beach in Okinawa. Another key instance of this is when Gojo lets Geto walk away from KFC without killing him. (Before y’all attack me, please remember that 1) I am giving an evidence-based analysis, and 2) this isn’t to say that Gojo is a bad guy. Just because somebody is not deeply sensitive does not make them bad. Gojo is not a villain by any means. He does good things).

It wasn’t until a bit later on in life, after seeing his best friend defect, when Gojo gained another lens: that of protecting the youth from a corrupt system built on old traditions and child soldiers. Gojo’s new mission was one that his kid self, and all his peers, had needed. And that, that was the mission that Gojo dedicated himself to. —Adult Gojo’s way of caring for others was either through teaching them what he had learned himself (Jujutsu), or protecting/saving them in battle. He was never exposed to problems beyond his own, and he’s unfamiliar with the lives and feelings of “normal people.” Seeing strong and talented youth was something that made Gojo happy, as stated by Gege. Gege also stated that Gojo saved Megumi because Megumi was strong. Gojo’s craving for human connection does exist and come out— and we see it in the students he teaches. The anger that Gojo felt when Yuuji first died was potent, and real, as well. Where Gojo’s best friend dedicated himself to stopping “root” of curses out of trauma, a feeling of helplessness (the system was broken, and so was Geto at that point), and anger— Gojo dedicated himself to saving the youth by teaching them to become strong enough to save themselves by creating change that he couldn’t do by himself (without killing all the non sorcerers). Jujutsu Kaisen is a story that takes place during a time of war and change. Gojo, while ultimately a King with the power of a Queen piece, was still a pawn on the chessboard, seen and used as a weapon on the board of Jujutsu Society, in a war of sorcerers vs curses.

NOTE: This is an incomplete, disorganized analysis, and by no means a proper essay. I will rewrite it when I read JJK front to back and sit with the story for a bit. NTS: power and strength, and what it takes (self experience) + allows for, is not focused on nearly enough in this analysis

NOTE 2: I WELCOME discussion! Have something more to say? Disagree with a point I’ve made? Comment below, but please try to do so with the same or higher level of thought and consideration I’ve put into my post. I am not here to argue, rather, I’m here to chat and hear what others think and why, and hopefully learn a thing or two, so long as you’re not preaching while blatantly mischaracterizing or being hostile/rude/cruel, as such remarks will only get you the idiot hat for the day.

Pt 2: Gojo & Geto analysis (coming sometime)

an angsty and humorous timeline in photos, below

Scary kid moment

Menace teen Gojo

Geto and Gojo arguing over their difference in moral convictions.

Gojo meeting up with his students, pretending everything is fine, after killing Geto (his one and only best friend)

Gojo and Yuuji moments / Yuuji being one of the few in the world who put a genuine smile on Gojo’s face

Rest In Peace, Gojo Satoru. You were magnificent.

You were defeated by your own self , self-loathing,selfeating, Sukuna .- twisted power of love

The projection of Gege's self-hatred onto his favorite character.

---The hardest battle you'll ever fight, is against yourself---

TL;DR

And thus, Yuji will strive to separate (Cut like Sukuna) his opponents BUT from their "evil" and direct his energy only towards this "evil," which is the opposite of a Sukuna's self-hatred power ,Yuji can be viewed as a mirror reflecting Sukuna's twisted power of love.

Therefore, the first chapter essentially, by title, reflects Yuuji and Sukuna

Sukuna's statement that "only the strong are loved" ("strong" can be of different kinds)takes on a particular significance: he attracts love through his strength , highlighting his main conflict reflected in his relationship with Yuji. For Yuji, strength and violence are alien; his essence is permeated with kindness. As a result, Sukuna feels his vulnerability, realizing that his achievements hold no value in Yuji's eyes. Experiencing self-hatred, he understands that while Yuji is simply kind to people, his love can be obtained "just like that," whereas towards Sukuna, Yuji harbors disdain, which is painful, as Sukuna has become strong out of a desire to receive love.

"Thus, he became strong because he realized that they loved strength, while he himself was weak. From this, he concluded that by being strong, he would receive love and respect simply for his existence as strong, and he would no longer feel weak. Therefore, his desire for love lost its significance, as only the weak needed it. Now his primary strength became his "love". And this means that using this strength towards himself and others can be compared to its application on the battlefield, where it is used to defeat the enemy. Thus, those who seek love from him will be destroyed, because all he has and who he is, is strength. Without it, he is nothing. "This implies that he cannot be loved because only the strong are loved". Thus, this expresses contempt for weakness, as the weak rely on "love" and connections, while he, being strong, does not need these connections, leading to rejection of both self-love and everything associated with it, and therefore, it is an expression of hatred.

The application of force (hatred) even towards oneself, towards one's weakness - the human side.

Thus, the application of force towards oneself and one's weakness in this context becomes a manifestation of contempt for the human side and dependence on love. This path can be interpreted as an extreme way to achieve self-assurance, which, nevertheless, cuts off from love and leads to hatred towards both oneself and the surrounding world.

The application of force towards oneself and one's weakness here is presented as a way of rejecting love and refusing to accept the human side - thus self-denial-self-eating.

This contradiction is manifested in the irony of the situation: a person becomes strong in his desire to rid himself of his weakness and dependence on love, but as a result, he becomes consumed by hatred, both towards himself and towards the surrounding world.

This desire is expressed through the denial of the human side, the refusal to accept one's weaknesses and dependence on love. This leads to strength becoming the main attribute of personality, while human connections and emotions, such as love, are rejected as unnecessary and even harmful.

Thus, the application of force towards oneself and one's weakness, as well as the denial of love and dependence on it, create a cycle of self-destruction and hatred towards oneself and the surrounding world. This can be interpreted as a path that, although aimed at achieving self-assurance, ultimately leads to isolation and spiritual destruction.

The cycle of samsara.

("twisted love ") his curse and power "kitchen"- (10 bulls Buddhism- you can read in wiki ) - he literally kills (eats) the “bull” "human" his own self constantly, so there are a lot of their skulls inside him - his own , and he sits on the throne of them, his essences, believing that he has “surpassed” himself - the human nature

"Sukuna is surrounded by the remnants of his failed attempts to transcend his ego, symbolized by the "skulls" of his former selves."

maybe this is part of the “vow” of constantly fighting (eating) within yourself

Self hatred

Like the seals on his shoulders - circles

Sukuna is the strongest because he suffers the most, hates himself and experiences an internal conflict that generates cursed energy.

Anger (rage, aggression, a sense of vengeance, disgust) is represented in the image of a snake. The snake typically slithers away when approached by a human or attacks them. Similarly, a person seeks to eliminate an irritating object from their field of perception, either by avoiding it or destroying it. This is similar to his behavior and avoidance of Yuji - the epitome of absolution - kindness, because he unconsciously experiences disgust – the truth.

The Rooster is a symbol of passion, as it is both the owner of a harem and capable of finding a tiny grain in the grass and dust – exactly what it needs; just as passion keenly selects its object of desire from the multitude presented. This can be compared to how Sukuna chooses his opponents.

Ignorance (neglect, stupidity, laziness, foolishness) is represented in the image of a pig. The pig eats everything indiscriminately, unable to discern between good and bad, fortunate and unfortunate due to its lack of understanding. Incidentally, the pig is the only animal unable to lift its head to the sun. However, Sukuna usually regards others disdainfully from top to bottom, like a large pig, experiencing "foolishness" because he has confined himself within the pigsty of his own convictions.

Perhaps not intentionally, but symbolically, Yuji's head is at the level of his heart.

In other words, the cursed energy spawns a concentration circle of hatred , trapping individuals in an endless cycle of conflict,a cycle of samsara- in which people remain fighting with another person with their emotions. - mostly hatred

This could be seen as a vow or a struggle to overcome one's own limitations , by constantly confronting and consuming aspects of the self.

"You weren't merely defeated by external forces, but by your own internal strife—your perpetual disdain for your human side." your downfall stemmed from your own internal contradictions, which morphed into a binding oath (all his seals on his body literally seal a person in him). Your disdain for humanity, extending even to yourself, became both your strength and your curse, corroding your soul from within (gestures toward the mask).

(the mask) Much like Tengen, embodies a constructive "emptiness" that exists harmoniously with the world, at peace with people. However, Sukuna's "emptiness" is purely literal, representing a detachment from humanity, a void of sorts.

You've lost all sense of purpose, consumed by self-loathing to the point of utter emptiness.

he is his strength - and if he loses, he "strength "will die, which means to him that he is nothing(because "I" = strength ),( which everything) he can feel , towards "him " is hate, emptiness ,insignificance - nothing - cant take "love". nothing is nothing - so it his - corpse paradoxically there cannot be “love”, because only the “strong” are loved.

It's as if he can't even comprehend the idea of being loved or valued without his strength. Without it, he feel like a mere shell of himself, devoid of purpose or meaning. - corpse

his "manhtra "

His strength defines him, and should he lose it, his very essence will wither away, leaving him feeling like nothing.-(which everything to him.) Because in his eyes, strength equals identity, and without it, he is left hollow, consumed by feelings of worthlessness and self-loathing.

To him, strength is everything, and without it, he feels empty and insignificant. He's trapped in a mindset where only the strong are valued or capable of receiving love, leaving him unable to grasp the concept of being cherished for anything other than his strength. Without this defining trait, he fears becoming a mere shadow of himself, devoid of purpose and meaning—a walking corpse. His mantra revolves around the idea that his strength is synonymous with his identity; losing it would strip away everything that makes him who he is, leaving behind only a hollow shell consumed by feelings of worthlessness and self-doubt.

This fear of worthlessness drives him to cling desperately to his strength, as he sees it as the only thing protecting him from a profound sense of misery and insignificance. It's not so much a fear of death that motivates him, but a fear of experiencing the emptiness and smallness he associates with weakness.

So when he talks to Yuji he projects

You are my special

"Get lost in me" - "Become me."

I wanna feel your heatwave - Break down.

I love you, baby - I hate you

because you don't yield to me, to my strength

A world spinning in ambiguity - on the other hand, if Yuji does not give in, then Sukuna loses his “power” - himself and his hatred,"And will make him feel (1 )'loven'."- (This means that Yuji literally robs him of his purpose - his strength - himself - his self-loathing.)

(1 )This suggests that Sukuna's identity is closely tied to his ability to dominate others, especially Yuji. If Yuji resists, Sukuna not only loses his power and sense of self but also his profound self-hatred, leaving him vulnerable to experiencing an unfamiliar emotion—love. In essence, losing control and self-hatred allows Sukuna to explore a more vulnerable side of himself.

You are my special

"Even if the meaning is not correct, the fact is that they mirror to each other."

He wants to prove that his own existence and self-hatred are justified.

Sukuna conducts " a series of trials " before Yuji, aiming to prove to him that his purity of soul is not the basis of his strength. He expresses the belief that the source of strength lies in the ability to be cruel and hateful rather than kind. In his worldview, strength arises from self-loathing and denial, while love and compassion are seen as manifestations of weakness.

Sukuna seeks to affirm his beliefs through these trials and sufferings. He desires to break Yuji, to bring him down to his own level of hatred, in order to confirm his own existence and self-hatred. For him, pure strength becomes a symbol of his self-loathing - his own "self." He seeks to reinforce this hatred through Yuji, who, in his opinion, is excessively pure and capable of loving others unconditionally, which, in his view, renders his strength useless and undermines his own existence.

Overall, Sukuna's character is driven by a complex interplay of fear and a desperate need for validation through the lens of strength and self-loathing.

SURVIVAL

"You're so weak yet you cling to life?"

CHILD "I"- lack of strength" - weak and misery- unwanted , rejected, unloved, insignificant, unimportant, nothing, profound sense of emptiness and smallness.- DEATH

"You should spend your lives stifling (EATING)your misery. "

(Sukuna -Child - Yuji)

It seems to me that here it is being said that a brother or another close person can replace a parent in terms of providing love and understanding "self", as well as becoming a reliable support for the individual.

Perhaps previously he believed that self-love was meaningless (although he assumed this applied to others as well), but after encountering Yugi's soul, he realized that love, akin to dedication to an ideal, gains significance as it can transcend death and become something eternal, which is the true meaning. This enlightenment proved more significant than Sukuna's physical prowess, piercing his self-perception for the first time and shaking him to the core.

As the only thing he had been doing was killing time to die.

From the expression on his face in these two frames, there is a similarity: when it comes to love, he appears irritated, but this time he felt it - the love - and experienced pain, for the first time in a long while.

Sukuna, as the most powerful being, has moved away from the notion that his strength guarantees victory. Now it's more of a shadow of an ideal—meaning himself as well, because Sukuna possesses only power—a symbol of relentless personal resilience that he finds in Yuji. He has realized that without this strength, he is devoid of purpose, and in his pursuit of it, he has lost everything, including himself and his inner content. While in Yuji, lacking this power, his eyes shine like a beacon of humanity the love he needed—an ideal that transcends himself, through the idea of protecting others, akin to Prometheus his kindness. This irritates Sukuna and casts doubt on his own existence.

The deal is that Sukuna, regarded as the "strongest " was bored and annoyed with Yuji because his strength was based on something Sukuna could never understand or accept—the true essence of love.

Love, as a force and a tool, is immeasurable except through the sacrifice of those who gave their lives for the ideals of higher humanity—those whom Sukuna could not understand and whom he killed in his pursuit of "strength" and acts of violence deemed "supreme" beyond human nature.

Only after meeting Yuji did Sukuna gain insight, and his transformation can be characterized as a (2 )manifestation of love. Because he begins to "understand" other aspects of human existence, such as compassion, selflessness, and the ideals of higher humanity. In this context, his insight and change are perceived as manifestations of (2 ) love—understanding and accepting these human qualities that he previously could not comprehend or acknowledge.

The (1 ) first follows from the (2) second, but Sukuna hasn't understood it yet, he has only feel it.

Sukuna has long lost the battle against his own hatred, mired in feelings of anger and jealousy. These emotions only fill him with disappointment and rage, fueling his desire to seek ways to cause pain and damage solely to destroy Yuji and undermine his faith

The acknowledgment that his kindness - love is genuine and unconditional seems incomprehensible to him, as if he's afraid to admit that such a thing is possible - because he was not loved and had no one. and that means he didn’t need anyone to satisfy him

Short version

He remembers his yearning for love during childhood, seeing it as a symbol of vulnerability and lack of significance. Regarding dependence on someone "stronger" as a weakness, he holds the belief that seeking affection and connections is characteristic only of the weak.

As a child, Sukuna often felt vulnerable due to his weaknesses, which made him feel chained to his flaws. This prevented him from truly loving himself and others, and he believed that only the strong deserved love, attention, and respect. Sukuna realized that true strength lies not in seeking love, but in giving it to others. However, he saw this gesture as a weakness and chose to demonstrate his strength through hatred instead of love. In battles, he "gave" his "strength " - "love "to others as a form of victory, judging the weak (including himself) as deserving of destruction. Sukuna rejected the concept of love as a dependency for the weak and meaningless for the strong. He avoids using names because he sees his past (weak) self in others, particularly Yuji, and despises himself for it.

In the past, Sukuna often felt vulnerable because of his weaknesses. It created the impression that he was shackled by a chain linking him to his flaws. This hindered him from truly "loving" himself and others, experiencing compassion ..? huh. He believed that only the strong deserved love, attention, and respect, and without strength, he was nothing.

That's why Sukuna realized that true strength lies not in the pursuit of love, but in being able to "give" it to others. He concluded that such a gesture is something only the weak need. Therefore, he decided to resort to another way of demonstrating his "strength"—using it as a tool of hatred instead of love.

Here, he seems to be contemplating a reflection that doesn't actually exist, only its silhouette - in the present, or, to be more precise, he sees himself in Yuji - in the past.

I wonder that this drop falls in Sukuna's domain, isn't it?

Sukuna began "giving" his "strength" to others in battles, seeing it as his version of "love"—an act of victory, where he acts as the judge of the battle, where the weak (Sukuna)are destroyed. And he decided to abandon the concept of love, considering it a dependency meant only for the weak and meaningless (now he's above "love" ,he is not a child, a parallel with Yuji and his treatment of him is disdainful-he recognizes himself in him)for the strong.

So he refrains from using his name because he sees himself (specifically, his past self as a child) in him - and despises himself.

Sukuna regarded strength as the sole indicator of success, and it became his driving force, but, like fuel, it only fed his inner hunger, the desire for self-destruction, rather than self?-love. He replaced strength with a sense of his former insignificance. Even being the most powerful, he couldn't stop and didn't find satisfaction, destroying himself, killing his "self" in the process, which ultimately led him to emptiness. - But the fact is that this emptiness is not of a Buddhist nature, not grounding, but self-eating

In the depths of Yuji, there is something that I am sure will turn out to be his hidden power : the ability to transform internal negative emotions into a manifestation of faith in goodness. He will not just suppress these emotions but actively engage in a struggle with them. Yuji uses hatred as a sort of weapon against hatred itself—like fighting fire with fire. He will begin to see "more than he" the idea of hatred as an inner enemy present in each of us, reflected in his own personality, in Sukuna, and in the personalities of those around him.

And thus, Yuji will strive to separate (Cut like Sukuna) his opponents from their "evil" and direct his energy only towards this "evil," which is the opposite of a Sukuna's self-hatred power ,Yuji can be viewed as a mirror reflecting Sukuna's twisted power of love.

So, Yuji will be fighting the "curse" of hatred—hence the title of the series, "Jujutsu Kaisen."

In literal translation of "呪術廻戦" (Jujutsu Kaisen) into English, it can be interpreted as "Battle Against the Curse."

"呪術" (Jujutsu) translates as "magic" or "spell," and can also indicate "curse" or "sinister forces."

Speculation below

The absence of parental love can create a profound void in childhood, leading to a deficiency in emotional support which, in turn, contributes to negative self-perception and attitudes toward oneself and the world. This deficiency often manifests as low self-esteem, self-hatred, and behavioral issues such as aggression or depression. Jacques Lacan's concept of the "mirror" provides insight into how parental relationships sculpt a child's self-perception and psychological development.

It is intriguing to observe how Yuji and Sukuna mirror each other's behaviors.

Identification and emulation: Individuals who lack parental figures may seek to emulate others who resonate with them or serve as role models. This behavior often stems from a desire to comprehend how to appear, feel, and act based on observed traits in others.

Search for emotional connection: People who lacked parental figures or did not receive adequate emotional connection during childhood often strive for intimate relationships with individuals who can fulfill this emotional void.

It's worth noting that characters may not fit perfectly into any one personality type due to their complexity and fantastical nature.

Yuji's identity is deeply intertwined with television. Gege's narrative underscores that he "grew up on television," suggesting that this medium became a surrogate for parental figures and filled the emotional void in his life. His enthusiasm for parodies and karaoke, venues where he could interact with others, reflects his ambiguous sense of individuality, likely influenced by television as his primary source of inspiration and behavioral model. Additionally, his emotionally reserved grandfather deprived him of necessary support during childhood. - if unfounded then Yuji INFJ -INFJs are known as chameleons, adapting to different situations. This clarifies why Yuuji excels in collaborative combat and absorbs lessons from others—he's like a sponge.

Sukuna's depiction as a petulant child reflects emotional immaturity and egocentrism commonly associated with unresolved childhood traumas or deficiencies in parental nurturing. His reactions and demeanor echo characteristics typical of children: egocentrism, emotional volatility, rebellion, and disobedience. His unpredictable behavior mirrors the emotional turbulence of a child grappling with feelings of abandonment or neglect, particularly evident in situations beyond his control or comprehension. - if unfounded then Sukuna INTJ

INFJ : "I may not always understand the intricacies of your emotions on an intellectual level, but I can feel them deeply.It might not intrigue you cold mind , but it brings warmth to your heart." Breathing life into your being."

INTJ: "Your natural stands as an enigma within my ordered world. Yet, I find myself drawn to this anomaly, stirring within me something beyond rational comprehension. This connection, however unconventional, holds a fascination that I cannot ignore."

One feels the other thinks - but they are one -connection between Yuji and Sukuna, suggesting that despite their apparent differences, there is a symbiotic relationship between them. This mean that they influence each other in profound ways, with Yuji's emotional sensitivity complementing Sukuna's strategic thinking, or vice versa. It indicates that their identities are intertwined on a fundamental level, even though they may manifest differently in terms of behavior and personality.

Nevertheless, Sukuna experiences a transformative moment when he acknowledges and embraces the profound love emanating from Yuji. This revelation serves as a form of "enlightenment" or "rebirth," illuminating a path within the darkness of his existence. This is the first time Sukuna encounters unconditional love. For him, it signifies liberation from hidden motives, such as the desire to use others in his childish power games ("me versus you," "who's superior," etc.), simply to kill time. Now, he avoids manipulations he once considered normal but which Yuji interprets as a craving for attention. Yuji doesn't value "power," leading Sukuna to the paradoxical conclusion that he's unloved - the only thing he ever desired. He realizes his past actions were merely theatrics, where he played the leading role, but now, meeting Yuji, everything changes. Yuji doesn't engage in this game, refusing to succumb to the spectacle of death for emptiness' sake. This moment underscores parental resilience, selfless guidance, and dedication to the greater good.

This realization is especially poignant following Sukuna's unsuccessful attempts to break Yuji. Yuji's unwavering loyalty and resilience, directed not towards himself, exemplify a depth of love Sukuna has never encountered. Sukuna's inability to avert his gaze from Yuji, despite the accompanying anguish, underscores his inner turmoil. This revelation challenges his preconceived notions, exposes internal conflicts, and highlights emotional vacancy, reflecting the difficulty he faces in embracing newfound emotions and comprehending the true essence of love and loyalty.

I keep wondering why so many fans (including myself) were bitter about the jjk ending.

Best I can think of is that it's because of the collectivist nature of the narrative -

defeating Sukuna was a collective struggle.

Jjk narrative seeks to dismantle the extreme individualism/hero-cult.

For us - a society built on the logic of hiarchy, that's a hard pill to swallow.

Gojo "winning" by having played his part in the collective struggle and having no regrets and Sukuna "losing" and thus regretting his choices that were proven wrong, choosing for the first time ever to reincarnate open to love -

... means there are no simple solutions, people can change, love, and work together no matter their personal differences.

There is no solitary evil mogul that we can pin all the evil on, and no solitary hero that we can push our own responsibility for saving the collapsing society on. No, it's our own responsibility to carry on as the new generation.

Also, there is a point of how mundane were the last two chapters before this. As if to remind us that life goes on and that there must come a time when students fly out of the nest and pick up their role as the next responsible ones.

Ah.

...

(( But i still miss Gojo, man. ))