How Jujutsu Kaisen Makes Yuji Earn It

Highlights

Yuji Itadori from Jujutsu Kaisen is a nuanced protagonist who goes underappreciated amidst the fan-favorite tropes of shonen leads.
Despite lacking a unique trait or innate technique, Yuji’s raw and dynamic fighting style makes him an intriguing and cool character.
Yuji’s journey in Jujutsu Kaisen showcases the series’ masterful storytelling by patiently building up his growth and powers.

As a long-time fan of Jujutsu Kaisen, I must say that the show truly knows how to keep its audience hooked. What sets Yuji Itadori apart from other characters is his unique ability to go far with nothing but his fists – and a little help from his friends!

Shōnen heroes often resonate, exude charisma, and motivate, yet they don’t always win the hearts of fans. The stereotypes surrounding their roles can sometimes make them appear ordinary compared to other characters within the storyline. It’s not about right or wrong preferences, but it’s a pity when a complex protagonist like Yuji Itadori from Jujutsu Kaisen doesn’t receive the recognition he deserves.

At a glance, Yuji appears to embody the contemporary archetype of a charming shonen protagonist, with his laid-back demeanor and ordinary characteristics contrasting his extraordinary kindness and strength. Yet, despite his uniqueness in the story’s universe, it’s debatable whether his magical abilities provide him with a significant advantage as a sorcerer – at least initially.

Yuji’s Super Strong Start

In this article, we’ll delve deeper into Yuji’s role within “Jujutsu Kaisen,” focusing on his connection to the power system, what sets him apart, and how it shapes an enthralling character journey. To begin with, let’s discuss the mysterious supernatural strength that Yuji exhibits at the start of the series.

As a gamer, I can’t help but notice that it’s common for protagonists to have some unique abilities – it’s what makes them stand out in the shōnen genre. These traits often serve as the key to the main storyline, shape their character, and give them an upper hand in combat. However, what sets Yuji apart at first is that his strength doesn’t automatically guarantee success against cursed spirits. Instead, it presents a challenge for him, adding an interesting twist to the narrative.

Jujutsu Sorcery Isn’t Just About Strength

From the very beginning, episode 1, he discovers that ordinary attacks like punches and kicks can’t harm a cursed spirit, as they require energy cursed to be destroyed. It wasn’t until consuming Sukuna’s finger that he gained the capacity to tap into cursed energy. However, he was still inexperienced in utilizing it effectively, and Sukuna, unfortunately, was not much of a guide. After a few more episodes and a close brush with death, he began receiving personal tutoring from Satoru Gojo, but progress required patience.

Less potent shonen protagonists are occasionally written as underdogs, possessing minimal abilities initially but growing into powerful characters over time, like Izuku Midoriya from “My Hero Academia” or Asta from “Black Clover”. However, “Jujutsu Kaisen” stands out by finding a balance. It positions its protagonist at the very bottom of the power-scaling ladder, yet endows him with the physical prowess and strength typical of stronger main characters.

How Yuji Goes Far With Nothing But Fists

As I sat down with a buddy to revisit Season 2, he casually mentioned that Yuji seems to be lacking something unique about him compared to other characters, and it had never occurred to me before. In retrospect, he does have a point; even after the Shibuya Incident, Yuji still doesn’t have his own special ability or technique like others do. Instead, he relies on channeling cursed energy to beef up his physical attacks, and there’s always the risk of triggering a Black Flash as a result. It makes me wonder if he’ll eventually find or develop his own distinct power in future arcs.

What About Sukuna?

In simpler terms, it might be a stretch to label Sukuna as Yuji’s hidden advantage or unique skill. The advantages Yuji gets from Sukuna are limited to his resistance to poison, the ability to harm Mahito, and Sukuna serving as a deterrent against Mahito’s Idle Transfiguration, all of which are quite specific circumstances. Generally speaking, Sukuna is merely a dangerous entity confined within Yuji, and if Yuji loses control over him, it could lead to a disastrous outcome.

What About Divergent Fist?

In the early episodes of Season 1, Yuji’s unique method primarily stems from his exceptional physical power and his imperfect control over cursed energy. This technique, referred to as “Divergent Fist”, involves delaying the activation of cursed energy after a strike, resulting in a two-part attack that catches opponents off guard due to its unexpected nature. However, midway through Season 1, Aoi Todo highlights the weakness of this method.

As someone who has spent years studying martial arts and energy manipulation, I must say that the technique Todo taught Yuji is quite impressive. The “Divergent Fist” is not just a neat trick but rather the result of bad habits – something I can relate to as a martial artist myself.

To put it simply, whenever these two appear together in a scene, they seem to bring out the best versions of themselves. Despite Todo’s coaching, Yuji’s abilities are less diverse compared to his peers. Essentially, his strengths lie in athleticism and mastery over cursed energy. Unlike some others who can count on the Black Flash triggering after each attack, he doesn’t have that advantage.

Why This Simplicity Works

Although Yuji may not have a natural fighting style, he never fails to make fight scenes engaging. The elements that set him apart mirror what makes Jujutsu Kaisen captivating in general and why Yuji is so intriguing. It’s the combination of martial arts styles, brutal yet compelling exchanges of blows, and a balance between realistic and spectacular choreography that gives the action a distinct character.

Yuji’s battle with Choso serves as a clear demonstration that he doesn’t require an innate ability to astonish fans. Unlike others, Yuji fights in a way that’s uniquely his own, thanks primarily to his brother and unofficial teacher, Todo. By the end of Season 2, he’d even incorporated the Divergent Fist back into his repertoire, not as a bad habit anymore, but rather as a handy move he could use when needed.

What This Means for Yuji’s Journey

In this anime, Yuji’s exceptional role as the main character underscores not just the originality of his character or the skillful writing by the show’s creators, but also how these elements amplify the story’s themes. The Shibuya Incident, a heart-wrenching storyline that transformed the series significantly, is a narrative filled with multiple setbacks – setbacks that seem to loom particularly large over Yuji. During this time, his strengths stood out vividly, yet his vulnerabilities cast a profound darkness.

In the course of the Jujutsu Kaisen anime, and as we’ve seen in the manga, Yuji Itadori will keep on getting stronger and gaining new abilities to combat his adversaries. Regardless of the specific powers he might need to master for his friends or the ways he might acquire them, it’s all the more impressive because it will be earned through the careful character development that Jujutsu Kaisen has shown thus far. It’s fascinating to observe how this series manages to gradually strengthen its main character without compromising their appeal.

Jujutsu Kaisen is available to stream on Crunchyroll.

2024-07-31 19:34