Jujutsu Kaisen is a manga that follows the life of a completely ordinary high school boy Yuji Itadori. One day, in order to save his friends from a curse spirit, he consumes a finger of the formidable Curse king, Sukuna, and now shares his body with the most powerful character in the Jujutsu world.
To eliminate the most powerful Curse of all time, Itadori joins Tokyo Jujutsu High School, a secret organization of Jujutsu Sorcerers. Thus begins the heroic tale of a boy who becomes cursed to fight curses under the guidance of the most powerful sorcerer, Gojo Satoru.
Gege Akutami is the author of this fantastic and beloved manga, which has been cherished by fans since 2018. In 2023, the author reveals something about the strongest character in Jujutsu Kaisen, a revelation that may intrigue many Naruto fans.
Jujutsu Kaisen’s Author Revealed Real Inspiration Behind The Strongest Jujutsu Sorcerer
The Naruto manga and anime have served as a wellspring of inspiration for countless individuals worldwide, leaving traces of Naruto frequently detected in other creative works.
A recent example of this influence is evident in Michael B. Jordan‘s film, Creed III, which features several scenes inspired by the Naruto series.
When observing the character design of Gojo Satoru from Jujutsu Kaisen, it’s natural for Kakashi Hatake from Naruto to come to mind. Both characters share traits such as being teachers, wearing eye masks, and exhibiting dual personalities. However, assuming that Kakashi served as the inspiration for Gojo would be incorrect.
Interestingly, the character design of Gojo Satoru is inspired by a character from the Naruto series that many fans might not remember.
In an interview with Gege Akutami and the author of Naruto, Masashi Kishimoto, Akutami revealed that the real inspiration behind Gojo was a character named Tobitake Tonbo, a blindfolded proctor wearing bandages.
Tobitake Tonbo made an appearance during the second phase of the Chunin Exams in Naruto. It’s interesting to note that even Gege Akutami initially couldn’t recall this character’s name. Nevertheless, Akutami emphasizes that this minor character had a notable influence on the creation of Gojo Satoru in Jujutsu Kaisen.
Fun fact: The design of Gojo Satoru from Jujutsu Kaisen was inspired by Tonbo Tobitake from NARUTO! 🔥
Not Kakashi! #呪術廻戦 pic.twitter.com/egavcrHdfl
— 𝗞𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗼 岸本斉史 (@kishimotomasshi) August 12, 2023
It’s understandable if Tonbo Tobitake isn’t a character that readily comes to mind. In fact, when Gege Akutami met with Masashi Kishimoto and inquired about Tonbo’s design, even Kishimoto himself couldn’t recall the existence of this character, highlighting just how minor a figure he was in the series.
The Dragonfly Connection Between Gojo and Tonbo
Indeed, there are notable similarities between Tobitake Tonbo from Naruto and Gojo Satoru from Jujutsu Kaisen 0. Both characters cover their eyes with bandages and exude confidence in their abilities and powers. These resemblances clearly connect the two characters.
got a request to translate Akutami-sensei talking about Gojo's character design influence and how it was Tobitake Tonbo, rather than Kakashi in the fanbook
the dragonflies on Gojo's yukata might be another homage to that character as well since Tonbo (トンボ) means dragonfly pic.twitter.com/JvuawEoaH2
— Jさん🏀( ֊’ ‘֊)💥 (@soukatsu_) March 4, 2021
In Episode 3 of Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2, there’s a scene where Toji has a flashback conversation with Kid Gojo. In this scene, Gojo is seen wearing a yukata decorated with dragonfly patterns, which relates to the name ‘Tonbo’ in Tobitake Tonbo. ‘Tonbo’ is written as トンボ in Japanese, and it translates to ‘Dragonfly’ in English.
Source: Anime Senpai
