Jujutsu Kaisen has become one of the most popular anime and manga series in recent years with its blend of supernatural action and characters. At the center of this story is Yuji Itadori, a high school student who becomes entangled in the world of Jujutsu sorcerers. However, a vital choice during its development phase has come to light.
Creator Gege Akatumi recently revealed that the protagonist, Yuji Itadori, wasn’t always meant to be the main character. In fact, the original concept for Jujutsu Kaisen looked quite different, with another fan-favorite character initially slated to take the lead role.
Megumi’s Original Role as Sukuna’s Vessel
In a recent Q&A session at the Jujutsu Kaisen exhibition via @soukatsu on X, Akutami revealed that in the manga’s prototype, titled “Jujutsu Sousen,” Megumi Fushiguro’s character was convinced first and was intended to be Sukuna’s vessel. He explained:
Originally, Jujustsu Sousen had a character that became the prototype for Fushiguro. In Sousen, that young boy ended up housing Sukuna, and the setting was similar to the Culling Game, with Itadori in a supporting role.
Akutami further elaborates on Megumi’s character development, stating that at his core, Fushiguro hasn’t changed much from his original concept in Sousen. However, he did make some adjustments when developing Jujutsu Kaisen. Inspired by the first chapter of Bleach, he felt that Fushiguro needed a different approach to justice than Ichigo. As a result, elements similar to Rukia’s position as a senpai were added to Megumi’s character.
This change allowed for greater flexibility in the storytelling while maintaining Megumi’s integral role. Interestingly, he had already fleshed out some aspects of Megumi’s background before finalizing the story.
Yuji Emerges as a “Universal Protagonist”
Akutami decided to switch Yuji Itadori to the protagonist role during the serialization process. He aimed to create a story more suitable for Shonen magazine, leading to significant changes in the character dynamics. He stated:
When Sousen was dropped during our serialization meetings, I decided to try one more time and draw a story that was more suitable for a Shounen magazine…and I thought Itadori would be more adaptable so I changed the character configuration.
He described Yuji as a “universal protagonist,” capable of connecting with a broader audience due to his straightforward and adaptable nature to various story elements. One of Yuji’s key characteristics is his ability to react to new situations from a perspective similar to that of the reader. This quality makes Yuji an excellent stand-in for the audience, especially when dealing with complex plot elements.
His inspiration came from popular Shonen series like Naruto and Bleach. The relationship between Yuji and Sukuna mirrors that of Naruto and the Nine-Tailed Fox (Kuruma), while the overall story structure, particularly Yuji’s voluntary decision to become a jujutsu sorcerer, was influenced by Bleach.
While the change in protagonist has undoubtedly contributed to Jujutsu Kaisen‘s success, it also highlighted how the series ultimately followed a familiar Shonen trope. Akutami’s unique take has carved his identity in the crowded Shonen landscape.
Jujutsu Kaisen is available to watch on Crunchyroll.
