Jujutsu Kaisen Creator Shares How Bleach and Naruto Inspired the Series

Jujutsu Kaisen’s creator recently discussed how iconic manga series Bleach and Naruto influenced the first chapter of their work. Currently, Jujutsu Kaisen is in the midst of the Shinjuku Showdown arc, delivering increasingly intense chapters. The franchise has never been more popular, with the anime’s success boosting its global recognition and prompting collaborations with brands like McDonald’s, Megan Thee Stallion, and Fanta. This makes it a great time to reflect on the manga’s journey.

Jujutsu Kaisen has launched a special exhibition in Japan, showcasing new aspects of the manga. Series creator Gege Akutami shared some interesting behind-the-scenes insights during this exhibition. According to translations by @soukatsu_ on X, Akutami elaborated on how Tite Kubo’s Bleach and Masashi Kishimoto’s Naruto inspired the dynamics between characters in the first chapter of Jujutsu Kaisen, especially the relationship between Yuji and Sukuna.

“In Naruto, it’s the relationship between the main character Naruto Uzumaki and the Nine-Tailed Fox,” Gege Akutami explained. He noted the similarities with Jujutsu Kaisen, stating, “For Itadori, it’s Sukuna and for Okkotsu, it’s Rika. In Volume 0, the story ended in reconciliation like in Naruto, but I thought Jujutsu Kaisen needed a different approach, so I tried to portray Sukuna as someone completely incompatible with Itadori.”

Discussing the Bleach influence, Akutami pointed out how Yuji was shaped to be a more driven character, much like Ichigo in Bleach. “For Bleach, it’s the story framework. The protagonist Ichigo becomes a shinigami of his own volition after getting swept up in an unexpected incident. I was really conscious of the ‘of his own will’ aspect in Jujutsu Kaisen when Itadori gets the cursed object.”

Jujutsu Kaisen often pays homage to its Shonen Jump roots, frequently acknowledging connections within and beyond its universe. Learning about these deeper influences behind the manga’s inception is particularly fascinating, especially considering how Jujutsu Kaisen has developed into a major hit.