Summary
Jujutsu Kaisenmay have started season one on a fairly cheery note; protagonist Yuji making some new friends and spending some quality training time with his goofy (yet powerful) sensei. However, the series didn’t take its sweet time at all when introducing the darker themes and plot points.
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Things were already looking grim for not just Yuji but the entire cast ofJujutsu Kaisenby the midway point of season one. With the release of season two, it’s clear that things are only going downhill from here. Perhaps there is a happy ending inJJK’s future, but for the time being, it seems as if things are going to get much worse before they get any better for the unfortunate cast of beloved characters. Here are some of theJJKcharacters that have suffered (physically, emotionally, and/or mentally) the most.
8Nanami Kento
Initially, Nanami Kento was anex-sorcerer turned salaryman. He rejected the life of a sorcerer as he was burnt one too many times by the horrific price one is forced to pay when dealing with the world of curses. It is only in season two that audiences witness a turning point in young Nanami’s life as they see him heartbroken, frustrated, and guilt-ridden after losing his close friend Haibara, the optimistic ray of sunshine that naturally complemented Nanami’s serious, no-nonsense attitude.
Shortly after, Nanami tried his hand at a more mundane office job but eventually found himself back in the fight as he believed it was worth putting his life on the line if it meant having a significant impact on people’s lives. In the end, Nanami wants nothing but to live life with no regrets.
7Yuji Itadori
There are very few anime protagonists out there that aren’tvictims of a tragic backstory, whether it be a traumatizing death of a loved one, having a horrific power/curse being forcibly thrust upon them, or being ostracized by the entire world. Yuji is initially introduced as a very cheery, energetic character that doesn’t have a care in the world.
However, while Yuji is in good spirits around his friends at school, his family situation begins to fall apart as Yuji’s grandfather he was caring for in the hospital, suddenly passes away.
Yuji’s misfortune doesn’t end there as he then kicks off the events that began the journey ofJujutsu Kaisenby consuming the cursed spirit Sukuna’s finger to save his new friend Megumi from a near-death experience.
To top it all off, Yuji, now the vessel of the powerful Ryomen Sukuna, is cursed (no pun intended) with the knowledge that at the end of his journey with his friends at Tokyo Jujutsu High, the elders plan on sacrificing him to finally kill Sukuna once and for all.
6Megumi Fushiguro
Megumi’s had it tough since birth. The often stoic Megumi was born to the Zenin family but quickly found himself on his own after the death of his mother and beingabandoned by his father, Toji. If being abandoned by his only living parent wasn’t enough, he was forced to care for his step-sister Tsumiki and was almost sold for gambling money by his already absent father, Toji.
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After defeating Toji in a battle to the death, a teenage Gojo took it upon himself to take the young Megumi in and enrolled him in Tokyo Jujutsu High under his wing. Meeting Yuji and Nobara did make the future seem brighter for Megumi, but soon after, Megumi witnessed Yuji’s brutal (albeit temporary) death at the hands of Sukuna. Not only did Megumi lose his best friend (for a short period), he later lost one of his beloved shikigami Divine Dogs.
5Geto Suguru
Often time, villains were once good (or at the very least normal) people that had simple dreams and aspirations. In Geto’s case, he had a moral compass that was much more respectable than beloved Gojo-sensei himself.
Geto once believed that it was the duty of a sorcerer to protect those that didn’t have the ability to protect themselves from powerful curses. However, it was the tragedy, meaningless bloodshed, and cruelty towards those with the gift he onceconsidered a special blessingthat finally pushed him to the edge, believing that his original outlook on life was wrong. Geto’s suffering was literally enough to flip his morals on their head, now preaching that lowly humans are mere monkeys.
Before fans decide to hate Geto for his horrific deeds, it’s important to remember that his evil-doing originally spawned from pain and heartbreak.
4Nanako & Mimiko Hasaba
Nanako and Mimiko Hasaba are twin sisters that also happen to be curse users. Growing up in a small village, the pair were beaten and ostracized by the elders, being accused of having a hand in the mysterious deaths happening around the village.Nanako and Mimiko were seemingly orphansas they were locked up and battered once Geto discovered them.
These two young children were condemned by all the elders around them when they likely didn’t even understand their power or how to control/handle it. Their suffering didn’t end simply when Geto murdered all their antagonistic neighbors, but even after being rescued by Geto, they unknowingly began a dangerous journey on a malicious path.
3Yuta Okkotsu
Poor Yuta paid the ultimate “tragic protagonist backstory” tax after taking thelead role in theJujutsu Kaisen 0film. Yuta has also made a quick appearance in the animated series as well and will likely be featured in upcoming episodes.JJK0begins with a young Yuta witnessing his childhood sweetheart, Rika Orimoto, die right before his eyes.
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Then, the audience is forced to sit through a miserable Yuta and explain how he has been haunted by Rika in the form of a monstrous special-grade cursed human ever since the day she died. Yuta’s struggle with Rika is even more heartbreaking when he mentions that he’s already tried taking his own life just to have Rika stop him. However, it’s not all bad for the poor boy as he eventually releases Rika by the end of the film and even becomes more comfortable around others, finding a genuine reason to keep living happily.
2Gojo Satoru
Gojo may have seemed like he lived a perfect life due to his cheery demeanor, dashing good looks, and unimaginable power as a sorcerer; what could Gojo Satoru himself possibly be lacking?
However, once fans got a glimpse of Gojo’s past in season two, it became clear that Yuji’s teacher carried a heavy burden on his back for years without ever saying a word.
In the short span of season two andJJK0, poor Gojo witnessed the death of his classmates, was forced to kill his best friend, and even went through thetrauma of a near-death experience(courtesy of Toji) just to take in a young child under his wing with a smile on his face as if nothing happened. Hopefully, single dad Gojo will catch a break next season!
1Junpei Yoshino
Junpei stays in the hearts and minds ofJJKfans to this day, despite only having such a short appearance in the anime.
Junpei’s long journey of being an ostracized student that was bullied and beaten with no justice dealt to those that wronged him seemed to keep going in a downward spiral. Just when it seemed as if his life was looking up due to Yuji’s kind heart and ability to befriend just about anyone, Junpei was manipulated by Mahito, losing his beloved mother in the process, and set on a violent rampage for revenge.
If things weren’t already horrific for the poor boy, the moment it seemed as if he and Yuji reconciled and a bright future with friends and purpose began to bloom in front of him, he was transformed by Mahito,stripped of his humanity, and having his dying words be a heartbreaking plea to a horrified Yuji.
