Yuta is Jujutsu Kaisen's best-written main character, and it's obvious why

Modified Nov 10, 2024 20:30 GMT

Yuta Okkotsu in Jujutsu Kaisen (Image via MAPPA)

Jujutsu Kaisen's Yuta Okkotsu is one of the series' best-written and most compelling main characters. His depth and resilience captured fans' attention from the very beginning. Introduced in Jujutsu Kaisen 0, Yuta’s journey from a haunted and isolated teenager to a powerful and confident Jujutsu sorcerer showcases remarkable character development.

His initial struggles with self-worth and isolation resonate with viewers, coupled with being haunted by the terrifying curse of his childhood love, Rika Orimoto. Nevertheless, Yuta's compassion, sense of duty, and sheer grit ultimately shine through. In the end, he evolves into an empathetic and morally grounded character whom fans adore.

With his nuanced motivations and well-rounded character, it is evident why Yuta is arguably Jujutsu Kaisen's best-written character.

Disclaimer: This article is speculative in nature and contains the author's opinions.

Jujutsu Kaisen: Yuta Okkotsu stands as the series' best-written protagonist

To begin with, Jujutsu Kaisen introduced Yuta Okkotsu as a timid and lonely boy. As a child, he was bullied quite a bit, which led him to shut himself away from others. Moreover, he was haunted by the Cursed Spirit Rika, making interacting with others even more challenging. Either they unintentionally scared him or he was too shy to speak to them. At one point, he even considered taking his own life.

However, everything changed when he met Gojo Satoru and joined Jujutsu High. Rather than live in fear, Gojo offered him the opportunity to control the frightening power he possessed. Thus began Yuta's transformation at the sorcerer school. Within a year, he gained substantial control over Rika and became adept at Jujutsu and Cursed Tool use.

Yuta was a prodigy whose talents had been awakened. From being timid and lonely, he formed invaluable relationships at Jujutsu High and developed into a fearless and powerful sorcerer. His bond with Rika (both the individual and the Cursed Spirit) is a testament to his character representing pure love. He cared deeply for Rika and his friends, willing to even die for them.

An example of this is Yuta opting to potentially die by taking over Gojo's body. As seen in many encounters, he wasn't afraid to jump headfirst into danger if it meant fighting for his friends. This no-nonsense approach highlighted his willingness to get the job at any cost. For instance, he even kissed Kurourushi to defeat the Cursed Spirit as a last resort.

Moving ahead, Yuta does not flaunt his strength nor take pride in it. As per the series' lore, he ranked only behind the likes of Gojo and Ryomen Sukuna in Jujutsu. He doesn't view Jujutsu sorcery as a badge of power but rather as a tool to protect those close to him. His only concern with power was its use in doing what needed to be done when it needed to be done.

Finally, Yuta did not start off as strong or smart. He developed these qualities as he matured as a person and a sorcerer. While he was a prodigy at Jujutsu, this potential remained hidden until he trained for it. He didn't have any ultimate goal he desired to achieve. All he wanted were relationships that he could cherish and protect without hearing that he would hurt those who came close to him.

Final thoughts

Jujutsu Kaisen's Yuta Okkotsu showcases natural and organic character development. It is relatable to many fans of the series, given how he started his journey. He wasn't born into a prominent sorcerer clan, nor was he physically gifted. Yuta was simply a normal boy who found himself entangled with a Cursed Spirit following an unintentional mishap.

Despite these challenges, his path to controlling Rika, freeing Rika Orimoto, and thereafter training further to become a powerful sorcerer is remarkable. Given these facts, it is not surprising why creator Gege Akutami first wanted him to be the protagonist of the series before switching to Yuji Itadori.