Boruto: Isshiki Otsutsuki’s Dojutsu, Explained

Boruto: Isshiki Otsutsuki's Dojutsu, Explained

Key Takeaways

  • The Kokugan, wielded by Isshiki and Kawaki, offers two powerful techniques that can overpower even Naruto and Sasuke.
  • Inspired by Japanese religions, the dojutsu’s symbolism ties back to Buddhism and Shintoism, adding depth to its abilities.
  • With roots in eastern mythologies, the Kokugan’s golden hue and spoke-laden design symbolize the Wheel of Dharma.

As someone who’s spent countless hours immersed in the captivating world of Boruto, I can’t help but marvel at the intricate detail and symbolism that underpins each technique. The Kokugan, Isshiki’s enigmatic eye-piece, with its golden hue and spoke-laden design, is a testament to the rich cultural heritage of Japan.


In the ongoing storyline of the Naruto series, titled Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, the traditional dominance of the Three Great Dojutsu has been broken with the emergence of numerous powerful new visual techniques. One such extraordinary dojutsu is that of Isshiki Otsutsuki, which stands out as an unmatched power, even challenging the might of the Rinnegan.

In the world of Boruto, there’s a unique dojutsu called Kokugan that stands out from anything seen before. Its scarcity and incredibly strong derivative abilities have pushed the power limits of the series even higher. Though it grants just two techniques to its wielders, the impact of these visual skills exceeds ordinary eye-based abilities significantly.

What Is the Kokugan?

A Shinjutsu Wielded By the Otsutsuki

First Appearance Boruto, Episode 214, “Predestined Fate”
Debut Date September 05, 2021
Users Isshiki Otsutsuki, Kawaki

Just like the Byakugan and Rinnegan, the Kokugan is a powerful dojutsu linked to the Otsutsuki Clan. Unlike these two eye techniques, the Kokugan can only be wielded by Isshiki Otsutsuki initially, with Kawaki acquiring its power through Isshiki’s transplanted Karma mark. The Kokugan is distinctively golden in color and has several radial projections emanating from its center, giving it a one-of-a-kind look that perfectly embodies the divine abilities of the Otsutsuki Clan.

In the anime ‘Boruto’, there are just two recognized users of the Kokugan: Isshiki and Kawaki. Although Jigen’s body could employ the visual abilities of the Kokugan with hand gestures, the Kokugan itself never appeared in his eyes. Furthermore, Jigen’s use of the Kokugan was highly restricted because the full power of this ocular jutsu can only be accessed by an Otsutsuki’s body. Typically, the Kokugan has eight spokes, but when Kawaki first used it, there were only four, which resembles the Sharingan’s tomoe.

The Kokugan’s Derivative Techniques

Boruto: Isshiki Otsutsuki's Dojutsu, Explained

The Kokugan provides its wielder with two distinct visual skills: Sukunahikona and Daikokuten. Though these skills serve unique purposes, they are intrinsically connected. Despite appearing quite basic individually, the simultaneous application of Sukunahikona and Daikokuten proved powerful enough for Isshiki to defeat Naruto and Sasuke independently.

Sukunahikona

Boruto: Isshiki Otsutsuki's Dojutsu, Explained

As a fan, I’d say Sukunahikona is Kokugan’s signature move, essentially letting its user reduce or change the dimensions of any object they can see, or even resize themselves. Although it may seem like a similar ability to Body Expansion Jutsu, it has distinct differences. For one, Isshiki can’t make objects grow beyond their original size, and he also can’t expand his own body in the same way. This means that Sukunahikona is limited to shrinking objects and restoring them back to their original form.

Isshiki’s hidden skill, the Sukunahikona, allows for nearly any object to be minimized and then swiftly returned to its original size.

Additionally, only Isshiki himself feels the effects of Sukunahikona’s abilities; other living beings remain unaffected. This limitation significantly restricts the power’s full potential, but the ability to diminish any object within the user’s line of sight is astounding in its own right. With this power, Isshiki could transform his adversaries’ weapons into tiny, insignificant objects, leaving them defenseless against him.

Daikokuten

Boruto: Isshiki Otsutsuki's Dojutsu, Explained

The second ability provided by Kokugan is called Daikokuten, an intriguing spatial-temporal skill that can store any item miniaturized by Sukunahikona in a different dimension. This technique resembles the workings of Kamui, as it provides the user with access to a similar dimension, which can be entered through Kokugan. The objects extracted from Daikokuten are ejected at undetectable velocities, enabling the user to pierce their enemies swiftly.

In my gaming world, I’d say: “As a gamer, I’ve seen Isshiki’s take on Daikokuten – it was so potent it made Naruto and Sasuke seem like amateurs back in their heyday, but later we found out it was just a lesser version of the move. Kawaki, though, managed to master the true Daikokuten, which lets him shunt people into another dimension. Isshiki, on the other hand, mainly used this technique to drop massive cubes onto his foes or impale them with rods he kept in the depths of Daikokuten.”

Daikokuten, a shinjutsu that allows access to a dimension where time is frozen.

The Symbolism Behind the Kokugan

The Kokugan’s Techniques Are Inspired by Japanese Religions

Boruto: Isshiki Otsutsuki's Dojutsu, Explained

Much like other methods in the series, the Kokugan’s inspiration stemms from ancient eastern mythologies, primarily Buddhism and traditional Japanese religions. The Kokugan’s golden hue and intricate wheel design echoes the Wheel of Dharma, a potent symbol found in Hinduism and Buddhism that stands for chakra symbols. But, the Kokugan’s symbolism extends beyond this, as its eye techniques are named after significant events from Japanese folklore.

The method called Sukunahikona derives its name from the Shinto deity Sukunabikona, who rules over agriculture, hot springs, and knowledge. This technique’s ability to reduce objects mirrors the diminutive size of Sukunabikona, often depicted as being as small as a human thumb. Interestingly, Sukunabikona is also known as “the little renowned lord,” a characteristic that is echoed in the capabilities of Sukunahikona.

Daikokuten’s origin is linked to one of Buddhism’s seven fortune-bringing deities. This technique borrows its essence from Uchide no Kozuchi, a magical hammer used by Daikokuten that could summon whatever he desired with just a tap. Similarly, this method enables Isshiki to call forth his stored items freely from another dimension.

Boruto is available to stream on Prime Video.

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2024-08-23 20:04