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Discover how the Jujutsu Kaisen mangaka, Gege Akutami, warned fans in advance about Satoru Gojo’s heartbreaking fate.
About a year ago, on September 24, 2023, the Jujutsu Kaisen fandom was rocked to its core when everyone’s favorite blindfolded sorcerer, Satoru Gojo, met a gruesome end in the conclusion of the Battle of the Strongest. Being slashed in half by Sukuna immediately after getting back his momentum in the fight was a fate few could have anticipated.
Throughout the series, Gojo was portrayed as a character who embodies unrivaled power and unshakable confidence, which made him seem untouchable. As such, his sudden death caught the entire fandom off-guard. That being said, his death didn’t come out of nowhere, even if it may seem like it at first glance.
This is because Gege Akutami, the mangaka of Jujutsu Kaisen, had always foreshadowed the downfall of the strongest sorcerer of the modern era. From cryptic interviews to certain deliberate narrative decisions, Gojo’s ultimate fate isn’t as shocking as it initially appeared—that is if you were paying attention to Akutami’s warnings. With that in mind, let us explore how Gege Akutami set the stage for the heartbreaking demise of Jujutsu Kaisen‘s most beloved character.
Gojo’s Fate in Jujutsu Kaisen
For three years, Satoru Gojo was sidelined in the Jujutsu Kaisen manga after being sealed inside the Prison Realm by Kenjaku during the Shibuya Incident arc. On April 23, 2023, Gojo made his highly anticipated return in Chapter 221, where he immediately went after Kenjaku following his release from the Prison Realm and came face-to-face with the King of Curses, Ryomen Sukuna.
The two characters, who represent the pinnacle of jujutsu sorcery, agreed to face off in a Battle of the Strongest, a fight that would determine the fate of the world itself. The epic showdown between Satoru Gojo and Ryomen Sukuna officially kicked off in Chapter 222 of the manga, marking the beginning of the series’ final and most monumental arc—the Shinjuku Showdown.
Unfortunately for Gojo’s fans, this arc also marked the end of the road for their beloved character. In his climactic showdown against the King of Curses, Gojo gave it his all—every skill and technique he had mastered, all of his physical training, his explosiveness, his quick thinking, and unwavering resolve—to reach Ryomen Sukuna, who had remained undisputed throughout history. Gojo even faced off against the Ten Shadow technique’s strongest shikigami—Mahoraga, Agito, and Sukuna at the same time—overwhelming them all toward the end of their battle.
In the end, Sukuna’s strategic thinking and years of experience prevailed against Gojo’s brute strength and skill. By using Mahoraga as a model, Sukuna was able to bypass Gojo’s Infinity, slashing his entire body in half with his World Bisecting Dismantle. Standing tall over his fallen opponent, Sukuna praised Gojo’s efforts and promised to never forget him as long as he lived—allowing Gojo to pass away with a satisfied smile on his face.
Gege Akutami’s Warning About the Fate of the Protagonists Jujutsu Kaisen
Long before Gojo’s demise, Gege Akutami had hinted that the journey of Jujutsu Kaisen would not be a happy one. During Jump Festa 2020, Akutami revealed that he had two possible endings in mind for the series. Either one out of the four main characters (Yuji Itadori, Megumi Fushiguro, Nobara Kugisaki, and Satoru Gojo) would die, or everyone would die except for one character.
In other words, Akutami had already planned on a bittersweet ending for the series in 2019 itself. His warning planted seeds of dread among fans, though few could have expected Gojo to fall. In a narrative sense, it does make sense for Gojo to die in battle, allowing students to shine and surpass him as he had envisioned. This narrative approach also meant that no character was safe, not even Gojo, whose overwhelming power made him seem invulnerable.
Was Gojo’s Ultimate Fate a Result of Gege’s Hatred?
Gege Akutami never shied away from admitting his disdain for Gojo. In several interviews, Akutami mocked Gojo for not having a personality and called him insufferable. What’s more, after sidelining Gojo in the Shibuya arc, Akutami claimed it would be a good year for him since Gojo was gone.
As such, some fans speculated that Akutami killed Gojo off purely due to his hatred for the character. Additionally, sidelining Gojo for the majority of the story and not giving a character of his stature a proper sendoff convinced fans of this claim. However, it’s important to keep in mind that these are merely interpretations based on Akutami’s narrative choices. They are, in no way, actual confirmation that Akutami killed Gojo purely out of spite or hatred.
It’s certainly no secret that Akutami didn’t like Gojo’s character. While many may not agree with how Gojo died, it remains a fact that his death was perhaps the best narrative choice for the story. It not only raised the stakes to an all-time high, but it also got many fans hooked on each and every chapter of the final arc.
Furthermore, if Gojo emerged victorious in the Battle of the Strongest, it would have diminished Sukuna’s capabilities and status as the series’ primary antagonist. If anything, Gojo’s death was necessary for the story to progress. It also allowed Sukuna’s final battle against the entire roster of Jujutsu Kaisen characters in the Shinjuku Showdown arc to go down as one of the most epic showdowns in the animanga industry.
Should Gojo Have Lived Till the End of Jujutsu Kaisen?
The question of whether Gojo should have survived until the series’ conclusion is a divisive one. On one hand, his death stripped the characters and the jujutsu society of their safety net. It not only raised the stakes to an all-time high, but it also showcased that even the strongest can fall. His demise also allowed other characters to step out of his shadow and confront the overwhelming threat of Sukuna on their own terms.
As such, we can argue that Gojo’s death was a good decision for the narrative, as it allowed the story to progress. However, on the other hand, Gojo surviving the events of the Shinjuku Showdown arc would have allowed for a happier ending for the series. This is because a lot of fans were hoping for Gojo’s comeback at the end of the story.
Gojo surviving and witnessing the growth of his students with his own eyes would undoubtedly have satisfied almost every single fan. His charismatic and flamboyant personality provided a sense of comfort to many, with his absence leaving a void that’s impossible to fill. Many argued that Gojo deserved to see the conclusion of the battles he fought so hard to prepare his students for, making his death feel both touching and frustrating.
Conclusion
In all, we can conclude that Gege Akutami had always warned fans of Satoru Gojo’s gut-wrenching fate. As heartbreaking as it was, it was nonetheless a calculated move to push the story forward and give other characters room to grow and showcase their abilities.
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