Gege Akutami’s Jujutsu Kaisen manga came to an end in September 2024, and even nearly a year later, the series has left a void that fans still want to see filled. While it is unfortunate that the manga won’t be returning, the creator is already preparing a new project for Shonen Jump. Regardless, Jujutsu Kaisen had a major impact on fans, though its abrupt conclusion left many feeling unsatisfied. The ending highlighted how premature the series still was, as it could have easily continued by giving more spotlight to several deserving characters.
Had these characters been explored further, Jujutsu Kaisen could have expanded on its lore, much of which was only hinted at in the text and left for fans to interpret or imagine how past events unfolded. While dozens of characters could have received their own arcs to deepen and lengthen the story, we believe these three were criminally underused. Each of them could have added something unique to the series, further elevating its already rich narrative.
3) Utahime Iori
Jujutsu Kaisen is a very unconventional Shonen series, filled with oddities that don’t always align with the genre’s usual tropes. However, it still falls into one common criticism often directed at Shonen: the lack of compelling female characters. Fans are still left questioning Nobara Kugisaki’s role in the story, while Maki Zenin, despite receiving significant attention after the Shibuya arc, never truly gets a defining moment in the final war. While both are criminally underused, it is Utahime Iori who had immense potential that the series could have explored to add a unique twist.
With Utahime’s introduction, fans were immediately intrigued by her dynamic with Gojo Satoru, even going so far as to ship them together. However, this potential plotline was never developed. If the series had explored this direction, it could have not only introduced a romantic element into Jujutsu Kaisen but also given Gojo, a sorcerer often portrayed as more of a monster than a man, a much-needed human dimension. Gojo largely embodies the archetype of an aura-driven character who feels distant from reality, and while that has its appeal, showing him with romantic vulnerability would have made his presence far more grounded. Such a twist could have drawn him closer to audiences, making him feel like a more relatable “Superman.”
2) Yuji Itadori
Jujutsu Kaisen’s protagonist, Yuji Itadori, is one of the most unconventional shonen leads, but not necessarily in a positive way. His role as the main character feels like one of the series’ biggest oversights, as Yuji lacks the defining traits of a central hero. It is only at the very end that it’s revealed he carries a fragment of Sukuna’s soul, making him the one capable of standing toe-to-toe with Sukuna and ultimately defeating him. Beyond this twist, Yuji’s role as the protagonist is largely overshadowed, and while he does defeat the main villain in the finale, the buildup to his ultimate confrontation feels unearned.
A key reason for this disconnect is Yuji’s lack of compelling ambition. Unlike most shonen heroes, his only stated goal is to be surrounded by friends and loved ones when he dies. With such a vague motivation, Yuji often feels distant from the core narrative, which is why Megumi Fushiguro comes across as the more natural protagonist, given how central he is to many of the series’ pivotal events. The real issue, however, lies in Jujutsu Kaisen’s failure to build a strong foundation for Yuji’s journey when it had one. The revelation that Kenjaku had overtaken his mother could have provided the most compelling reason for Yuji’s path, a deeper drive to uncover the truth behind his mother’s fate. Instead, that thread remained largely unexplored, leaving Yuji’s role as the main character underwhelming.
1) Kenjaku
One of the major reasons Jujutsu Kaisen feels incomplete is the lack of a true central villain. Among all the antagonists, Kenjaku stands out as the one who feels like a true villain, even more so than Ryomen Sukuna. While Sukuna was portrayed as the fearsome warrior of the past, it was Kenjaku who orchestrated the Shibuya Incident and sealed Gojo. His true villainy came to light during the Culling Game Arc, a scheme he had been planning for centuries. With such groundwork, it was heavily implied that despite Sukuna’s return, Kenjaku would emerge as the final obstacle for the sorcerers, with a twist revealing Sukuna’s revival as part of his strategy all along.
Yet Kenjaku never truly gets a defining moment in the final arc. While his interaction with Fumihiko Takaba was entertaining, it diminished his role as the supposed mastermind. It would have made far more sense for Kenjaku to serve as the final villain, allowing Akutami to extend the narrative while also delving deeper into the events of the past, particularly the Heian era, often regarded as the most fascinating period of sorcery. Through Kenjaku’s perspective, while exploring the past, fans could have also gained greater insight into Sukuna’s origins and how he became the monster he is known as today. Making Kenjaku the central and ultimate antagonist would have felt more fitting, and because that never happened, he stands out as one of the most criminally underused characters in Jujutsu Kaisen’s narrative.
Which character from Jujutsu Kaisen do you think was underused, and why? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
