Jujutsu Kaisen: Sukuna’s admiration for Gojo suggests Akutami may not hate the sorcerer after all

Despite the widespread belief among fans that the author of Jujutsu Kaisen holds animosity towards Gojo Satoru, many within the fandom still hoped for Sukuna to be the cause of the Honored One’s downfall. However, evidence from the character’s official booklet suggests that the author may actually harbor a hidden admiration for Gojo.

The official booklet of Gojo Satoru contains the King of Curses’ remarks about the former, which can be interpreted as a person who has the ability to eradicate someone else’s obstacles. This displays the great admiration and respect that the King of Curses has for the Honored One, and it also suggests that the author may have a hidden admiration for the character.

Note: The following article may contain spoilers from the Jujutsu Kaisen manga series.

Exploring Ryomen Sukuna’s Praise for Gojo Satoru in Jujutsu Kaisen

The Gojo official booklet was recently published in Japan, containing various insights on the sorcerer and his connections with his fellow sorcerers. Although the sorcerer’s relationships with his colleagues were not a major focus and aligned with fans’ expectations, the spotlight was on Sukuna’s relationship, which held significant importance.

As stated in the booklet, Sukuna’s description of the Honored One was “magnificent,”indicating a sense of mutual admiration between the two formidable forces. Yet, due to the vastness of the Japanese language, the kanji used to express magnificence can also be interpreted differently.

Gojo (left) and Sukuna (right) (image via Shueisha)

The kanji ‘天晴れだ‘ can also be interpreted as ‘you brought sunshine into my life.’ This figurative phrase conveys the idea that someone brings happiness or clarity into another person’s life. In the battle of the strongest, the King of Curses and the Honored One fought, and after defeating his opponent, the King of Curses declared that he would always remember the Honored One as the most formidable adversary he had ever faced.

The author’s decision to connect the two characters through a kanji symbolizing respect and admiration suggests that this may be the reason behind it. It is possible that Gege Akutami’s apparent hatred for the Honored One is just a facade, as he would not have allowed the King of Curses to appreciate a character he initially despised.

The relationship between Sukuna and Gojo

The Honored One as seen in the anime (Image via MAPPA)

Since their initial encounter in the first episode, the King of Curses and the Honored One have had a competitive relationship, anticipating their future fight. However, Itadori’s unwavering determination prevented the King of Curses from ever forcibly taking over the sorcerer’s body.

After the events of the Shibuya arc, the sealing of the Honored One within the Prison Realm brought about a shift in circumstances. This presented the King of Curses with a chance to alter his approach, and during the Culling Game arc of Jujutsu Kaisen, he trapped Itadori and Megumi and transferred himself to Megumi.

The demise of the Honored One (Image via Shueisha)

Despite proceeding with the bath and committing the murder of Megumi’s sister, he deliberately weakened his host consciousness in order to permanently take over his body. Fortunately, around the same time, the Honored One was also freed from his seal.

The battle for supremacy in Shinjuku was kicked off with this declaration. It all began with Gojo’s use of Hollow Purple and concluded with Sukuna’s world-cutting dismantle, ultimately leading to the downfall of the Honored One.