Jujutsu Kaisen mangaka might be as dissatisfied with the manga as an average fan, and it's hilarious

Modified Jul 11, 2024 22:30 GMT

Jujutsu Kaisen mangaka might be as dissatisfied with the manga as an average fan, and it's hilarious (Images via MAPPA)

Both manga and anime of Jujutsu Kaisen have become known for the captivating storyline, the diverse main characters, and the unexpected twists, attracting fans globally. The heart of this success, though, is the work of Gege Akutami, whose combination of action and emotion has brought the series to its peak.

Besides that, during the ongoing Jujutsu Kaisen exhibition in Shibuya, the recent revelations presented by Akutami himself have shown a bit of humor and a real side to his personality, demonstrating that even the genius behind this phenomenal series experiences familiar situations as his fans.

Jujutsu Kaisen: Gege Akutami's remarks on Kento Nanami's death and Gojo Satoru's defeat

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During the ongoing exhibition in Shibuya, Gege Akutami made some remarkable revelations that have left the fandom both intrigued and amused. The mangaka confessed that he did not intend for Kento Nanami to die during the Shibuya Incident arc, a pivotal event that shook the fandom significantly.

Fans also found out that Akutami expressed his reluctance to write off Nanami, a fan-favorite sorcerer, and even stated that he had originally planned for the character to merely lose a limb instead of meeting a tragic end.

Gojo Satoru and Ryomen Sukuna (Image via Shueisha)

Similarly, Akutami also voiced his discontent at not allowing Satoru Gojo to emerge victorious in his battle against the King of Curses, Ryomen Sukuna. Here, Akutami may be indicating the desire or frustration of writing.

This defeat and imprisonment of the character of Gojo somehow led to other events in the manga. Akutami's admission that he was not entirely satisfied with this outcome suggests a level of internal conflict within the mangaka's creative process here.

Jujutsu Kaisen: Understanding Gege Akutami's perspective

Kento Nanami as shown in the anime series (Image via MAPPA)

Initially, Gege Akutami's words may seem a bit confusing to the average Jujutsu Kaisen fan. After all, as the author, Akutami has the ultimate authority over the narrative and the fate of his characters. Why would he then express dissatisfaction with decisions that he himself made?

The way in which Akutami looks at his own thoughts is through his ability to separate the personal from the story. Being a professional mangaka who has mastered their craft, Akutami realizes that the integrity and flow of the story ought to be the focus rather than his own personal attachments to a particular character and/or the plot.

Gojo was killed by Ryomen Sukuna (Image via Shueisha)

Despite his could-have-been personal wish to let Nanami survive and to make Gojo win, Akutami realized that these were outcomes that would be better off not being met because they would not drive forward the plot of Jujutsu Kaisen.

This intricate decision, where Akutami is actually able to distinguish between his own emotional attachment and the needs of the story, is the very thing that defines him as a wonderful mangaka. In contrast to some creators who may doggedly refuse to let go of their original creative vision, Akutami displayed his ability to come up with tough decisions, whether or not they harmonize with his personal favoritism, but in the end, they serve the narrative more.

Nanami was murdered by Mahito (Image via MAPPA)

Right after the chapter with Nanami's death, fans were the first to criticize Akutami, and they were not aware that the writer himself was upset to see one of his favorite characters leave the world in such a tragic manner. Akutami's commitment and his capability of putting the story ahead of his own feelings for particular characters are quite self-explanatory.

Final thoughts

The revelations of Gege Akutami about his discontent with certain story parts in his anime and manga series serve as a reminder that even successful manga authors face narrative challenges. As Jujutsu Kaisen unfolds, fans trust that he writes considering the series' overall demands, despite his personal wishes. This decision shows his deep understanding and dedication to delivering excellent manga.