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Jujutsu Kaisen is one of the most well-known names in modern anime. What does the name mean, and does it represent the story well?
Jujutsu Kaisen has reshaped modern shonen anime through its complex storytelling and shocking plot twists. However, this leads to one important question – what does Jujutsu Kaisen mean?
When translated directly, Jujutsu Kaisen translates to “Sorcery Fight” or “Sorcery Battle”. While this accurately describes the events of the story, the title’s deeper meaning is lost in between the conversion from Japanese to English.
The Meaning of Jujutsu Kaisen
Jujutsu (呪術) refers to sorcery or spellcraft, implying the ability to manipulate Curses and other supernatural forces. This also plays on the name Jiu-Jitsu, a Japanese close-combat martial art.
In the anime, Sorcerers who can perform Cursed Techniques are also called Jujutsushiki (呪術式).
At the same time, Kaisen (廻戦) translates to battle or fight. Taken at face value, the name means Sorcery Fight.
This broadly describes the overall plot of the manga. However, the Japanese language and Kanji allow us to see this title in a new light. This gets lost in translation, but let us take a look at what Jujutsu Kaisen truly means.
How the Jujutsu Kaisen Kanji Came to Be
The characters of Jujutsu Kaisen (呪術廻戦) are meant to represent both traditional elements as well as modern ones, similar to the themes of the story itself.
The first character Jujutsu – Ju (呪) is the character for Curses while the latter Jutsu (術) stands for techniques or art. Jujutsu is a pre-existing word. Kaisen on the other hand, was one created by Gege Akutami. He did this by combining two different Kanji – Kai (廻) and Sen (戦). This is where the name truly shows its ingenious nature.
Kai can mean “rotation” or “to circulate.” The same Kanji is also used in the Buddhist term Samsara (輪廻), which talks about the endless cycle of life and rebirth. Sen refers to a battle or a fight.
Therefore, the title itself talks about the endless cycle of battles between the Jujutsu Sorcerers and the Curses.
Does the Name Fit the Jujutsu Kaisen Series?
As we have explored so far, there are a lot of elements that go into the name of the series. While the simple English translation might convince a few to think the name is “on the nose”, the Japanese kanji perfectly reflects the series.
The name Jujutsu Kaisen fits the context of the series as an epic battle between good and evil. It depicts the high-stakes battles between powers outside human control and is able to capture the essence of what makes the manga so unique.
Hence, while English viewers might not be able to fully connect to the name, Japanese fans will be able to appreciate its intricacies and think of it as a better fit.
What is Jujutsu Kaisen About?
In Jujutsu Kaisen, negative human emotions give rise to Curses that wreak havoc in society. The only line of defense are the Jujutsu Sorcerers, who use Cursed Energy to exorcise these Curses.
The protagonist, Yuji Itadori, is an athletic boy who swallows a powerful Cursed Object after getting entangled with Cursed Spirits. This makes him harbor a very dangerous individual inside his body, The King of Curses – Ryomen Sukuna.
In order to control Sukuna’s threat and contend with the dangerous Curses in society, Itadori enrolls into a school that trains sorcerers to combat them.
Through Yuji’s adventures, we get to experience the complicated themes of life and death in the story and the fine line between good and evil.
Where to Read and Watch Jujutsu Kaisen
The Jujutsu Kaisen manga recently completed serialization in Weekly Shonen Jump with 271 chapters. The entire series can be read online on the Viz Shonen Jump Website and the MANGA Plus App by SHUEISHA.
MAPPA Studios adapted the anime, which currently has two seasons and a movie available for streaming on subscription services like Netflix and Crunchyroll.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the title of Jujutsu Kaisen has both literal and symbolic meanings tied to the themes depicted in the series. The level of thought that went behind the name itself mirrors the story of the series, layered and filled with complexity.
It embodies the intense and philosophical themes shown through the never-ending battle and struggles between Curses and Sorcerers.
Overall, the series offers a thrilling exploration of the supernatural, and its name gives clear insight into what to expect from the series.
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