Jujutsu Kaisen’s Official Translation: Another Mahoraga-Malevolent Shrine Mishap

Despite being a highly popular manga series, the Jujutsu Kaisen series has received extensive criticism and backlash from fans for its official English translation. One of the most notable grievances is the consistent substitution of “Mahoraga”with “Malevolent Shrine.”

The release of Chapter 266 on August 18, 2024 was yet another example of this error, sparking extensive discussions among fans. The manga can currently be accessed on Viz Media’s official website and Shueisha’s MANGA Plus platform.

This article includes spoilers for the Jujutsu Kaisen series.

Malevolent Shrine Takes Over in Jujutsu Kaisen’s Latest Arc

Despite its growing popularity, the Jujutsu Kaisen series has faced ongoing criticism for its official translation. Since its initial English release, issues with the translation have been highlighted, with many fans noting a stark contrast between the official version on certain sites and fan translations, which are often deemed clearer and more comprehensible.

One notable incident occurred in chapter 221’s final panel, where Gojo’s original dialogue of “No”was mistakenly translated as “Nah, I’d Win,”which has become an iconic line. The error was later corrected by official sources in a subsequent version. Additionally, translation mistakes have been found in various other chapters, including chapter 266, where Mahoraga was mistakenly translated as Malevolent Shrine, causing confusion between the two.

Mahoraga as shown in the anime (Image via Studio MAPPA)

Sukuna makes it clear in chapter 266,

“My Ten Shadows technique stopped functioning after Mahoraga was destroyed…this has to be Fushiguro Megumi’s!”

Nevertheless, the translation provided by the official source states,

“Malevolent Shrine got wasted and my Ten Shadows Technique has stopped functioning, so this is Megumi Fushiguro’s.”

Although these translations may appear to be similar at first glance, the official translation’s use of Malevolent Shrine instead of Mahoraga contradicts the context and Sukuna’s intended meaning.

Ryomen Sukuna's Malevolent Shrine as shown in the anime (Image via Studio MAPPA) — Ryomen Sukuna’s Malevolent Shrine as shown in the anime (Image via Studio MAPPA)

This mistake involving the Mahoraga/Malevolent Shrine was repeated in chapter 266, with the first occurrence appearing in the opening panel of chapter 247. In this panel, Sukuna mentions the “adaptation of the Malevolent Shrine”and notes that he chose to pause instead of interrupting the shrine’s process.

Despite initial beliefs that this was a simple mistake, the fact that the error reappeared in chapter 266 has reinforced the idea that the official and fan translations of the series may be presenting two distinct narratives. Some fans have even attributed the translation errors to the many discussions and debates within the fandom.

Conclusion

Jujutsu Kaisen chapter 266 can be read on both Shueisha’s MANGA Plus platform and Viz Media’s official website. The cause of the translation errors, which have been present in many chapters, is still unknown.

In the final week of August 2024, Gege Akutami’s manga will make a major announcement, potentially revealing a sequel or spin-off.

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