Jujutsu Kaisen is one of the more famous manga-turned-anime of the new generation, and in its 2 years of being featured as a Television anime, it has already become notorious for being one of the most heartbreaking anime ever featured, and this article will discuss why.
Anime Heartbreak comes in all forms, and Jujutsu Kaisen’s heartbreaks aren’t particularly unique, but the way it was inserted into the storyline definitely breaks you in a different way. Gege Akutami’s incredible delivery of each of the scenes has both manga readers and anime watchers reaching for a box of tissue when it happens.
1. “We are the Strongest because we are together”
If you’ve watched Jujutsu Kaisen, it’s nearly impossible that you missed Gojo Satoru’s most recognizable and famous line, “It’s going to be alright, after all, I am the strongest.” Though it is certainly one of the most catchy lines of the series, the history of Gojo Satoru being the strongest stemmed from the fact that he had a partner who helped him become confident in the strength he possesses, and that partner is Suguru Geto, his only best friend, and the only half of his soul.
Gojo and Geto were an inseparable pair—they did everything together. They lived together, fought curses, and even went on holidays and business trips together. Everything they did made an impression, hence Gojo and Geto were the strongest because they were together. However, one conversation triggered a horrible turn of events, and suddenly, Geto was an outcast, a mass murderer, and a criminal. He is no longer Gojo’s comrade, but an enemy, but he is still his best friend. And so when Gojo saw Geto (Kenjaku) in Shibuya after he had thought he killed him, he felt deceived and confused, and then two thousand days later, he is still sealed inside the prison realm.
Read More: Gojo and Geto’s Relationship Dynamic Explained
Gojo and Geto’s relationship is something that the fans have been mourning ever since it was first released in the manga. Every single one is heartbroken at the fact that Geto is actually Gojo’s closest friend and his history with him goes way way back, it is one of many of the heart-wrenching stories of the Jujutsu Kaisen series.
2. “Please come back again!”
Ever heard of Nanami’s pretty bakery lady? We can assure you that no one else, except that pretty bakery lady, has said this line in the whole Jujutsu Kaisen series. And it is heartbreaking because of one thing: Nanami never comes back.
The Shibuya Incident has got to be one of the most heartbreaking arcs of the whole manga (that’s why this article will have a whole lot of incidents referenced to that particular arc). This is because many of our beloved characters died during that arc, and one of them is fan favorite, Kento Nanami.
Nanami was just supposed to be an ordinary office worker. He would work his 8-hour shifts and he’d get money at the end of the month. He chose to be an office worker instead of a Jujutsu Sorcerer because this was a safer and more ordinary job, but his life grew sedentary, and eventually, he grew tired of it. However, before quitting his office job, Nanami always passed by a bakery on his way home. There he would buy a piece of bread—the exact same one—every time, and because he kept on coming back, the lady who sells it had already remembered his order. Long story short, the girl was the one who helped Nanami realized that the Jujutsu world is where he belonged, but he always remembered their little moments at the bakery after work, and that’s what kept him afloat.
Read More: How Does Nanami Die in Jujutsu Kaisen?
Now, this would have been a cute love story, one that would make shoujo fans scream, except Jujutsu Kaisen is a shounen manga, and in every shounen manga, someone has to die eventually. In this particular shounen manga, Kento Nanami dies, and his possible love story with the girl at the bakery is buried with him 6 feet underground.
3. “Not Zen’in huh… Good for you.”
Exhibit C of why Shibuya is the most heart-breaking arc of Jujutsu Kaisen. As we all are aware, Megumi Fushiguro was raised by Gojo Satoru in Tokyo’s Jujutsu High School. But many are not aware of the reason yet.
Toji Fushiguro, Megumi’s real father was a criminal in the Jujutsu world. Though he belongs to the Zen’in family, he was cast out because he had no cursed energy and was merely strong because of his physical capabilities. Being one of the most prominent Jujutsu families, the Zen’in clan despised this and he was cast out.
Now, years later, Gojo was tasked to kill Toji (you’ll find out why in the second season). After killing Toji, Gojo comes to his house and finds Megumi, Toji’s child, and takes him to Jujutsu High with him. Yada yada, everything else is history.
During the Shibuya Arc, many fans were surprised when they found out that Toji Fushiguro came to fight alongside the villains. Kenjaku was able to harness his corpse, and Toji became a ghost capable of fighting the other sorcerers. Before the end of the fight, Toji sees Megumi, and because he is merely a puppet, he fights Megumi without holding back.
Megumi never realized that he was fighting with his biological father. Towards the end of the fight, Toji surprisingly woke up for a little while and he realized who he was fighting. So he asked him his name… and Megumi answered “Fushiguro.” To which Toji responds, “Not Zen’in huh? Good for you,” and he stabs himself in the head with the knife he used for fighting.
Read More: New Jujutsu Kaisen Manga Chapter Unveils Megumi and Gojo’s Father-Son Bond
This was his sole act of becoming the father he never got to be. He never was supposed to remember who Megumi was in his life, but we’re guessing that Toji’s father-instincts were just too strong that he was able to remember Megumi during the Shibuya Incident.
4. “When you die, you should be surrounded by people who were close to you”
To be very honest with you, the moment this scene aired, we all should have known what kind of devastation Jujutsu Kaisen would bring us. The whole reason why Yuuji Itadori became Sukuna’s Vessel was that he was afraid of oblivion—he was afraid of being forgotten, of dying without leaving a mark.
Right before Yuuji swallowed his first Sukuna finger, his grandfather died. He died without anyone beside him, and his last words to Yuuji were that he should be of help to everyone around him, that way, when he dies, he would be surrounded by people who were close to him.
Yuuji thought of this parting message long and hard, and when an opportunity presented itself to him, he immediately took it. He became the hero his grandfather wanted him to be. Yuuji followed his wise words and he was of help to those who were around him. Yuuji Itadori became a vessel for Sukuna because this was the only way he knew how to help. But his Grandfather’s dying wish isn’t the saddest of it all. The reason why this line is so heartbreaking is that it might never be fulfilled. The manga’s plot at the moment assures nothing about what the future holds for Jujutsu Kaisen. But it’s only one of two things: (1) Yuuji won’t have anyone beside him when he dies because they are all dead or (2) They won’t be by his side because they won’t see him die, and by time they arrive, he would already be dust.
Read More: Jujutsu Kaisen’s Creator Reveals Inspiration Behind Yuji Itadori
Jujutsu Kaisen is starting a brand new season in July 2023, and many are anticipating each and every episode. For the anime-only fans who are curious as to why this arc is a “fan-favorite,” you’re definitely in for a wild, wild treat.
