Jujutsu Kaisen Creator Reveals Goal for Gojo’s Past Arc

Jujutsu Kaisen creator Gege Akutami recently discussed their intentions behind exploring the past of key characters Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto through a flashback arc. Known collectively by fans as the “Gojo’s Past arc,” this storyline delves into previously uncharted territory within the anime’s broader narrative. Akutami shared their insights during a special art exhibition dedicated to Jujutsu Kaisen.

Before the gripping events of the Shibuya Incident arc, the anime took viewers on a journey into an essential mission from the past, split into the Hidden Inventory and Premature Death arcs. Akutami explained that the flashback arc was designed to enrich the unfolding story and enhance the significance of the Shibuya Incident. Specifically, they aimed to use the compelling characters of Gojo and Geto to keep fans invested in the connection between past and present events.

“I’ve always wanted to try creating a past arc,” Akutami revealed during the exhibition, as translated by @soukatsu_ on X. “My editor often told me that flashback arcs tend to be received poorly and dropped in survey rankings, but I really wanted to approach it in my own way. The reason for the timing was because one of the major events of the Shibuya Incident, Gojo’s sealing, wouldn’t have made sense to readers without that past arc. So, I kind of just inserted it at the closest narrative point.”

Akutami further elaborated on the choice of focusing on Gojo and Geto. They aimed to pique fan curiosity about how the past connects to the present. “Gojo and Geto had significant character appeal in this arc, so I sensed that it could be quite interesting. However, my editor at the time, Katayama, mentioned that past arcs where the protagonist doesn’t appear often lead to lower survey rankings and reader engagement. Despite this, I believed that continually posing the question, ‘Does this connect to present time?’ would keep readers intrigued.”

Akutami’s approach was a calculated risk, blending storytelling with character development to create a more immersive experience. This deeper dive into the history of Gojo and Geto was intended to lay the groundwork for future events, making the connection between the past and present clearer and more impactful for the audience.

For fans looking to stay up to date with Jujutsu Kaisen, the latest chapters of the manga are available through Viz Media’s digital Shonen Jump library and Shueisha’s Manga Plus service.