Akutami’s Vision for Replicating Shibuya: Todo’s Appearance in Jujutsu Kaisen Arc

The current arc in the Jujutsu Kaisen manga has been centered around the ongoing battle with Ryomen Sukuna for nearly a year in terms of publication. It appears that author Gege Akutami is attempting to recreate the success of his Shibuya Incident arc, as hinted by the events in the recently leaked chapter 259 and the confirmed reappearance of Aoi Todo.

Undoubtedly, Shibuya has become the most beloved arc in Jujutsu Kaisen and marked a significant turning point for the series. However, it raises concerns about the direction of the manga and whether Akutami’s choices are the best ones. Moreover, some may view this as a mere repetition of the formula where Todo rescues protagonist Yuji Itadori during his lowest point.

Please be advised that this article contains spoilers for the series.

Explaining why author Gege Akutami is potentially repeating the Shibuya Incident with the current Jujutsu Kaisen arc

Todo's return in the current Jujutsu Kaisen arc feels a bit repetitive (Image via MAPPA). — Todo’s return in the current Jujutsu Kaisen arc feels a bit repetitive (Image via MAPPA).

The ongoing Jujutsu Kaisen arc centers on the intense fight against Ryomen Sukuna and draws inspiration from the Shibuya Incident plot, as seen with the significant development of Satoru Gojo’s absence.

Despite being sealed by Kenjaku in Shibuya, Gojo was eventually killed by Sukuna in this arc. This event symbolizes the loss of a security blanket for the sorcerers, forcing them to rely on their own strength rather than depending on Satoru.

Moreover, Gege Akutami, the author, has established a reputation for being unafraid to kill off characters in his manga. Although there were some deaths in the previous arc, such as those in the Culling Games, they primarily involved minor characters who did not significantly impact the overall narrative.

Similarly, both Shibuya and this current arc have a common element of popular and significant characters meeting their demise, including Gojo, Kashimo, Higuruma, and now Choso. The fate of Yuta Okkotsu remains uncertain in this ongoing story.

The passing of Choso was just as impactful as Nobara Kugisaki’s death in Shibuya, causing Yuji Itadori to break emotionally on both occasions and rely on the support of Aoi Todo. This suggests that Akutami is drawing inspiration from his own series.

What could happen in the coming chapters?

The current Jujutsu Kaisen arc seems to be reaching its climax (Image via MAPPA).

It can be strongly argued that the arrival of Aoi Todo in chapter 259 signifies the approaching climax of the current arc in Jujutsu Kaisen. This is particularly evident as the sorcerers have been battling Sukuna for over forty chapters, including their intense fight against Satoru Gojo.

As was the case in Shibuya when facing Mahito, Todo’s comeback could signify that Yuji is nearing his ultimate showdown with the King of Curses.

Todo also mentioned that all the other sorcerers within Sukuna’s range were successfully saved, indicating that the upcoming chapters may center on this ongoing battle. Additionally, with Todo’s unexpected return to the storyline, it is highly likely that he will play a crucial role, even if it results in his demise.

Concluding Remarks

The current arc in Jujutsu Kaisen bears strong similarities to the Shibuya Incident arc, which may be a source of contention for some fans. However, this narrative approach has consistently been effective for Akutami throughout the series, possibly explaining why he has chosen to utilize it once more.