Summary
Shōnen protagonists can be relatable, cool, and inspiring, but they aren’t always the fan-favorite, and the tropes associated with the lead role can make them seem dull in comparison to the rest of the cast. There’s nothing wrong with preference, of course, but it’s unfortunate when a rather nuanced protagonist goes underappreciated, such as Yuji Itadori fromJujutsu Kaisen.
On the surface, Yuji is perhaps the modern model of a likable shonen lead, from their casual and easily relatable attitude mixed with a superhuman kindheartedness equal only to their superhuman strength. However, while he is unique within the world of the story, it’s hard to say that his quirks give him that great of an edge as a sorcerer - at least, not at first.
Yuji’s Super Strong Start
We’ve written quite a bit about Yuji before,from his relationships with other characters, his struggles, and generally the qualities that make him a solid leading man. This feature, however, is more concerned with his relationship toJujutsu Kaisen’s power scaling, how it makes him stand out, and how it contributes to a captivating character arc. For starters, the unexplained superhuman strength that Yuji possesses at the beginning of the series.
Giving a protagonist some sort of special trait is nothing new - it’s the foundation of many iconic shōnen leads. It can provide a gateway to the central narrative, inform their personality, give them an edge in battle, or all of the above. What’s fascinating about Yuji’s strength at the start, then, is how it doesn’t inherently give him an advantage when faced with cursed spirits for the first time.
Jujutsu Sorcery Isn’t Just About Strength
As early as Episode 1, he learns that only cursed energy can kill a cursed spirit, rendering his punches and kicks somewhat useless.It’s only after consuming Sukuna’s fingerthat he acquires the ability to access cursed energy, but even then, he has little understanding of how to wield it, and it’s not as if Sukuna is much help. A few more episodes and one near-death experience later, he starts getting private lessons from Satoru Gojo, but things take time.
Shōnen protagonists can sometimes be overpowered, so now and again, writers create underdog characters who start with practically nothing but gain great power over time. Think Izuku Midoriya fromMy Hero Academiaor Asta fromBlack Clover. WhatJujutsu Kaisenmanages to do is have its cake and eat it too. It can place its protagonist on the lowest rungs of the power-scaling ladder while still giving him the strength and athletic qualities of a more powerful main character.
How Yuji Goes Far With Nothing But Fists
While rewatching Season 2 with a friend, he pointed out howYuji doesn’t have his own unique “thing"like other characters do, and all this time, that had never really crossed my mind. Yet it’s somewhat true; even by the end of the Shibuya Incident arc, Yuji does not possess an innate technique. He solely relies on the circulation of cursed energy to strengthen his melee attacks and the resulting chance of triggering a Black Flash.
What About Sukuna?
Sukuna could hardly be called Yuji’s “secret weapon” or “special trait.” The only benefits Yuji gains are his resistance to poison, the ability to injure Mahito, and Sukuna acting as a deterrent against Mahito’s Idle Transfiguration, all of which are pretty situational. Other than that, Sukuna is nothing more than a beast caged within, andthe worst-case scenario should Yuji lose control.
What About Divergent Fist?
Early in Season 1, the closest thing Yuji has to a unique technique derives from the combination of his superhuman strength and his less-than-ideal grasp on cursed energy manipulation. “Divergent Fist” is a trick in which he activates cursed energy on a delay from when he hits his opponent, creating a two-part attack of sorts that relies mostly on taking the opponent by surprise. The problem is, halfway through Season 1, the inadequacy of this trick is pointed out by Aoi Todo.
Divergent Fist is a neat trick, but it’s also the result of a bad habit. Todo teaches Yuji to activate cursed energy at the moment of impact and from there, he teaches him about the Black Flash as well. After just one arc with Todo, Yuji’s understanding and command of cursed energy improved dramatically, making Todo look like a better teacher than Gojo honestly.
Frankly,every time these two are together on-screen, they bring out the best in each other. Even with Todo’s guidance, though, Yuji’s arsenal is still rather bare compared to his peers. It can be boiled down to athletics and an objectively strong control of cursed energy. It’s not like he can rely on Black Flash activating after every strike.
Why This Simplicity Works
Despite his lack of an innate technique, Yuji is the furthest thing from boring when it comes to the fight scenes. The reasons why are the same qualities that makeJujutsu Kaisensuch an appealing series in the first place, and which make Yuji so cool. It’s the mixed martial arts, the raw and often downright nasty exchanges of blows, and the mix of grounded and spectacular choreography that leave the action brimming with personality.
Yuji’s fight against Choso is a perfect exampleof why Yuji doesn’t need an innate technique to leave fans speechless. Besides his unrelated brother/ unofficial teacher Todo, no one else throws hands quite like him, which makes his entire fighting style a unique calling card in itself. By the end of Season 2, he even reincorporated Divergent Fist - no longer a bad habit, but rather a useful trick to keep in his back pocket.
What This Means for Yuji’s Journey
Yuji’s strength as a protagonist is a testament not only to his unique standing within the world or the masterful storytelling of the anime’s staff but also to how these factors enhance the themes.The Shibuya Incident was a harrowing arcthat changed the entire series as fans knew it, and it is a story marked by repeated failures - failures that loom over Yuji perhaps most of all. His strengths shined their brightest, but his weaknesses cast a great shadow.
As the anime continues - and as the manga has already demonstrated - Yuji Itadori will continue to grow stronger and acquire new powers to fight his enemies. No matter what powers he needs to harness to help his friends or how he will acquire them, though, it will be all the more earned thanks to the work thatJujutsu Kaisenhas put in, as explored above. It’s worth studying how this series patiently builds up its protagonist without sacrificing their cool factor.
