Jujutsu Kaisen: Major Inspiration Revealed After Series Finale

The conclusion of Gege Akutami’s acclaimed manga, Jujutsu Kaisen, unleashed a wave of mixed reactions within its fanbase on September 30, 2024. While some enthusiasts hailed it as a worthy finale for this immensely popular battle shonen series, others criticized it for feeling rushed, particularly due to lingering plotlines that were left unresolved.

Nonetheless, the vast majority of fans ultimately united to express their gratitude towards Akutami for crafting one of the most remarkable dark shonen series in recent times.

In reminiscing about beloved characters and the overall narrative, a Reddit user made an intriguing observation regarding the noteworthy parallels between Jujutsu Kaisen and Katsura Hoshino’s D.Gray-man manga. This fan proposed that D.Gray-man may have significantly inspired the development of Akutami’s renowned work.

Investigating the Possible Influence of Katsura Hoshino’s D.Gray-man on Gege Akutami’s Jujutsu Kaisen

Gege Akutami has credited much of Jujutsu Kaisen’s acclaim to other notable series such as Yoshihiro Togashi’s Hunter x Hunter and Tite Kubo’s Bleach. Recently, however, a Redditor under the username u/FitCare9113 highlighted a striking resemblance between Jujutsu Kaisen and D.Gray-man, suggesting that Katsura Hoshino’s masterpiece may have served as a critical source of influence for Akutami.

The original poster noted that upon detailed inspection, one might discern several character similarities across the two manga series, including aspects of their personalities, designs, and storytelling approaches.

A prominent comparison can be drawn between both series’ protagonists. In Jujutsu Kaisen, Yuji Itadori becomes the host for Ryomen Sukuna, the notorious King of Curses in jujutsu lore. This pivotal moment leads Yuji into a perilous realm of curses and sorcery, motivating him to embrace the path of a sorcerer to combat and exorcise these curses.

Yuji, Megumi, Nobara, and Gojo from the anime (image via MAPPA)

Conversely, in D.Gray-man, the young exorcist Allen Walker becomes a vessel for Nea D. Campbell—also known as the 14th Noah—after Nea betrays his peers in the Noah Clan. Before his demise, Nea embeds his memories and essence into Allen, ensuring his resurrection within Allen’s form in the future. While the dynamic between Yuji and Sukuna shares similarities with Allen and Nea, the theme of cohabiting souls is not a rarity in the animanga landscape.

Another similarity pointed out by the original poster is seen in the character design of Jujutsu Kaisen’s villain, Kenjaku, and the members of the Noah Clan in D.Gray-man. The members of the Noah Clan are noted for their distinctive stitched foreheads, which led the poster to deduce that Akutami may have drawn direct inspiration for Kenjaku’s character from D.Gray-man, as Kenjaku displays similar stitching on his forehead.

Moreover, in chapter 143 of Jujutsu Kaisen, there is a moment when Yuji’s mother, Kaori Itadori, appears with stitches on her forehead, indicating that Kenjaku must have possessed her body prior to Yuji’s birth. Likewise, in D.Gray-man, Allen Walker also has a parent characterized by stitches on their head.

Perhaps the most profound similarity between the two manga series can be found in the intricate relationships each protagonist shares with their fathers and uncles. In Yuji’s case, a significant revelation uncovers that he is actually Sukuna’s nephew. It turns out that at Yuji’s birth, Sukuna was meant to have a twin brother but chose to consume the fragment of that twin’s soul, which subsequently reincarnated as Yuji’s father, Jin Itadori.

For Allen Walker, it is revealed that Nea D. Campbell, who occupies Allen’s body, is the younger twin brother of Allen’s adoptive father, Mana Walker (originally Mana D. Campbell), thus making Nea Allen’s adopted uncle. However, what complicates matters is that Nea and Mana weren’t just twins; they were once a single entity, a soul that ultimately split into two. Furthermore, after Nea’s betrayal of the Noah Clan, Mana himself stated that he had “devoured”/killed Nea, which could have possibly inspired Sukuna’s actions regarding his twin as well.

Taking into account the various parallels between both series, it is reasonable to speculate that Katsura Hoshino’s D.Gray-man may have played a significant role in shaping Gege Akutami’s work. Not only do Kenjaku’s design and the relationship dynamics offer compelling evidence of D.Gray-man’s impact on Jujutsu Kaisen, but they also highlight the thematic connections shared between the two series.

Concluding Thoughts

Through careful examination and comparative analysis, it becomes apparent that D.Gray-man has left a lasting imprint on Jujutsu Kaisen. This connection is even more emphasized when Akutami explicitly referenced Hoshino’s writing in a memorable segment from the Culling Game arc.

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