Jujutsu Kaisen’s Yuji is One of Anime’s Most Underrated Heroes, but That’s What Makes Him Great

Jujutsu Kaisen’s main character is often somewhat unclear, with many people assuming Gojo Satoru is the protagonist, not Yuji Itadori. Gojo is indeed a prominent figure in the franchise and has grown into a pop culture icon, but Yuji Itadori is the true main character of the series. Unfortunately and quite surprisingly, Yuji frequently fades into the background, almost becoming forgotten at times.

In other famous shonen series, like Naruto and Dragon Ball, there is no mistake as to who the main character is. Fans and strangers to anime alike could likely recognize these franchises anywhere based on the familiar designs of the famous protagonists.

However, Gojo Satoru and Nanami Kento are arguably more recognizable and talked about Jujutsu Kaisen heroes than Yuji. Even more surprisingly, even amongst the other high school sorcerers, such as Megumi Fushiguro and Nobara Kugisaki, Itadori does not always stand out as the most important leader, even though he perhaps should when considering his role in the series.

Yuji Is The Protagonist of Jujutsu Kaisen, But Not Its Most Popular Hero

Other characters like Gojo, Megumi, and Nanami have earned spots as fan-favorites, stealing Yuji’s spot

Many of Jujutsu Kaisen’s most gripping and crucial battles don’t contain Yuji, for example, Gojo vs. Sukuna and Toji vs. Gojo, among countless others. Further exacerbating this problem, Jujutsu Kaisen’s recently released second season contained the Hidden Inventory / Premature Death arc, which did not include Itadori at all and exclusively delved into Gojo Satoru’s high school days and past experiences before becoming a teacher, as well as his falling out with previous best friend, Geto Suguru due to shifting ideals. It’s astounding that Yuji was not present for the first half of a season of the show he is the main character of.

There are other instances in Jujutsu Kaisen where Yuji is absent for a while, and at times, it almost appears as if the show focuses more heavily on Gojo’s life, sorcerer journey, and character arc than Yuji’s, especially in the second season. However, Yuji’s significance is undoubtedly made clear and even if he has moments where he is not conspicuously impacting the plot or fighting in the foreground, crucial plot points do always ultimately lead back to him. From the very first episode, Itadori has been growing stronger and more competent as a sorcerer and these other characters mentor and aid him along the way.

Yuji Is Not Always Prominently Featured In Jujutsu Kaisen, But His Impact Is Undeniable

His importance to the series has grown remarkably as Jujutsu Kaisen has progressed

In later episodes and manga chapters, Yuji has begun to take on even more responsibilities. In season 2, he personally killed the bone-chillingly evil and nearly undefeatable cursed spirit, Mahito. This same villain was able to take down his classmate and good friend, Nobara Kugisaki, and even, one of his most prized mentors, Nanami Kento. Nanami specifically was a Grade 1 sorcerer at the time of his death, so Itadori’s ability to kill a curse who defeated a Grade 1 is a testament to his newfound talent and growth in his sorcerer skills, which he used clumsily at first.

His journey is particularly inspiring when remembering that Yuji grew from an average high school boy into a phenomenal sorcerer, with very little background and training. He has faced countless special grade curses and even eliminated Mahito, something many of the adult sorcerers could not even accomplish. These achievements undeniably prove that Itadori is a strong and capable main character who deserves respect and admiration. Even if other characters are sometimes more appreciated by the fanbase or earn more screentime, Yuji’s impact is always evident.

Yuji Has Killed Curses Even Seasoned Sorcerers Could Not, Such As Mahito

These unfathomable achievements prove his status as a worthy protagonist for Jujutsu Kaisen

In a recent manga chapter, even Sukuna, the menacing and experienced King of Curses himself, remarked on Yuji’s “unnbreakable” persistence and giftedness as a sorcerer. Now that Itadori is finally finding his groove as a sorcerer and taking the lead in the series, his talented performance is making even more of an impact due to his humble origins. By allowing him to gradually grow into a respectable hero, rather than possess sheer strength from the very beginning, he is more relatable and impressive as a main character, making him undeniably one of shonen’s best heroes of all time.

With the tragic deaths of Gojo and Nanami, Yuji has distressingly lost both of his main mentors, as well a large number of friends, giving him the rightful anger and drive to fight even harder to take down the evil curses responsible. Although he has some big shoes to fill, his motivating and gradual growth into a hero makes Yuji both incredibly compelling to watch and more believable. Yuji Itadori has proven he is the only worthy choice for Jujutsu Kaisen’s main character by continually keeping the series fresh and interesting, and will hopefully be the one to defeat Sukuna for good.

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