Does Yuta actually love Rika in Jujutsu Kaisen? Explained

Modified Sep 01, 2024 19:00 GMT

Does Yuta actually love Rika in Jujutsu Kaisen? Explained (Image via MAPPA)

In Jujutsu Kaisen, Yuta Okkotsu's connection with Orimoto Rika is probably the most important aspect of his character development, raising the question of whether Yuta actually loves Rika. In the beginning, their relationship had an unbreakable bond formed through emotional connection and traumatic experiences.

After Rika died, Yuta's grief transformed her into a haunting vengeful spirit, for which he felt remorseful. Throughout the show, Yuta's feelings toward Rika change as he deals with guilt and responsibility, as well as the burden of the curse she left behind.

Eventually, the importance of Rika's presence is established for Yuta when he makes a selfless promise to her as a sign of love, surpassing his friendship for her and revealing a complex mix of sympathy, mourning, responsibility and loyalty.

Jujutsu Kaisen: Yuta's feelings for Rika

Orimoto Rika and Okkotsu Yuta as kids (Image via MAPPA)

Yuta Okkotsu's feelings for Orimoto Rika in Jujutsu Kaisen are quite complicated and deeply rooted in their childhood bond. For him, Rika was his closest friend and first love, so her tragic death was traumatic for him.

This strong emotional bond forced her to become a cursed spirit because he was extremely pained and guilty. Throughout the story, Yuta experiences a plethora of feelings like sorrow and confusion before eventually arriving at acceptance and love, which allowed him to truly understand the nature of their bond.

Eventually, Yuta's love for Rika transcends her curse, which is a clear sign of a deep affection that survives after her curse is released.

Yuta and Rika's origins in Jujutsu Kaisen

Rika in her Cursed Spirit form (Image via MAPPA)

Yuta Okkotsu was born on March 7, 2001. During his childhood, he made an acquaintance with Rika Orimoto, a girl from Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, and the two were friends. Rika's life was mostly bitter; her mother died when she was five. due to unexplained health issues; a year later, her father died in a mountain climbing accident.

Having experienced all these, Rika was sent for an examination where she met Yuta, a patient suffering from pneumonia. Later, her grandmother, who believed that Rika was guilty of the death of her father and mother, brought her to visit the doctor.

When Rika was 11, she stole her mother's ring and gave it to Yuta as a birthday gift, promising to marry him in the future, but she tragically died in a motor accident. Witnessing that, Yuta, in the heat of the moment, unintentionally cursed Rika, and she was transformed into a powerful vengeful spirit.

Over the next six years, Rika's violent nature caused problems for Yuta and those around him, making him isolate himself to protect others from her wrath.

Jujutsu Kaisen: Why Yuta's confession broke Rika's curse, explained

As Gojo and Yuta talk about Rika, Gojo tells Yuta that breaking a powerful curse like Rika's cannot be accomplished with a simple exorcism.

Yuta must unravel each knot of cursed energy that forms her cursed spirit. To help him, Gojo gives Yuta a katana, explaining that the only way to break the curse is by gradually imbuing the cursed tool with Rika's energy.

At this point, both Gojo and Yuta believe that Yuta is cursed by Rika, not the other way around. Gojo suggests that Yuta can rid himself of the cursed spirit by transferring her energy into the katana, thereby gaining control over it. However, it's actually Rika who is cursed and not Yuta. During Yuta's confrontation with Geto Suguru, the katana is broken.

Yuta and Rika always fight together (Image via MAPPA)

In response, Yuta vows to fully release Rika and all her power in exchange for his own life, using a Binding Vow.

He promises Rika that he will be with her forever if she allows him to use her cursed energy one last time to defeat Geto. The only way to break a curse like this is if the person who cast the curse cancels the bond, and the cursed victim forgives them without seeking revenge.

Yuta's sacrifice and promise sever the cursed bond, as Rika, who loves him, chooses not to punish him, thereby breaking the curse. Yuta's acceptance of her death and his letting go allows Rika to forgive him, and she thanks him for giving her six extra years by his side.

Final thoughts

A snapshot from the anime series (Image via MAPPA)

Yuta Okkotsu’s deep love for Rika Orimoto in Jujutsu Kaisen is undeniable. His emotions transcend her transformation into a cursed spirit, showcasing a bond that goes beyond life and death.

Yuta’s final act of releasing Rika proves his enduring affection and willingness to let her spirit find peace.