Gege Akutami’s Weekly Shonen Jump hit, Jujutsu Kaisenended its serialization exactly one year ago, leaving many fans dissatisfied. Debuting in 2018, the manga quickly gained popularity, but it reached new heights after its anime adaptation turned it into a global sensation. The series was at the peak of its fame when the highly anticipated Gojo vs. Sukuna battle began, with each new chapter keeping fans on edge. Around the same time, the anime’s second season was airing, further boosting its momentum. For much of 2023, Jujutsu Kaisen dominated discussions in the anime community, and Gojo’s shocking death in September of the same year only intensified the hype.
The fight pressed on without pause, keeping readers hooked week after week. Even after Gojo’s death, the manga continued with weekly releases for nearly a year before suddenly announcing its finale, a decision that wasn’t well received. Still, given how close the story was to its conclusion and considering Gege’s ongoing health struggles, the ending felt inevitable. Now, a year later, the initial backlash has faded, with fans shifting their excitement toward the anime’s upcoming third season and the sequel manga, Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo.
Why Was Jujutsu Kaisen’s Ending Controversial?
After Gojo’s death, the story continued with the fight against Sukuna and Kenjaku, as the majority of the characters jumped at the chance to confront the villains. Since they were facing the two most powerful fighters in history, rushing head-on into battle like Gojo did would have been the most foolish course of action. The sorcerers had several contingency plans to prepare for the worst-case scenario, and they had long anticipated Gojo’s defeat. However, the sudden announcement about the manga finale in only five chapters came when the fight didn’t seem anywhere near its ending.
Not to mention, the number of unanswered questions at the time only caused more outrage, but it ultimately worked out for the better. Excluding Gojo’s death, the series hadn’t seen many controversial moments up until the finale announcement. The ending was bittersweet, with the sorcerers moving on from the major battle that changed the Jujutsu world for the better. The battle against Kenjaku was difficult, but the real challenge was always Ryomen Sukuna. The best part about the ending was that his defeat came from the combined efforts of most of the major characters, rather than putting the spotlight solely on the protagonist, which is the norm in most Shonen.
However, some questions remained unresolved, including the name and functions of Yuji’s Domain Expansion and Kenjaku’s sudden return. Even the epilogue included in the final manga volume, released in December 2024, didn’t answer everything fans wanted to know. However, while the initial reaction to JJK’s ending was chaotic, fans have come to terms with how things concluded, since it wasn’t nearly as bad as many had feared.
What’s Next for Jujutsu Kaisen?
Although the original manga has long bid farewell to fans, the franchise’s popularity hasn’t diminished at all. Jujutsu Kaisen has many exciting projects in store for fans, including the upcoming anime season. Season 2 ended on a major cliffhanger after Yuta Okkotsu’s return, as he is determined to execute Yuji Itadori, who was indirectly responsible for the tragedy in the Shibuya Ward, since he couldn’t keep Sukuna in check. The anime is hyping up the Culling Game, but before that, it will feature Itadori’s Extermination and the Perfect Preparation Arcs, which will cover the aftermath of the Shibuya Incident Arc.
Additionally, gege akutami return in September 2025 with a sequel manga, Jujutsu Kaisen Modulowhich is being illustrated by Yuji Iwasaki. The story is set in the same world of curses but takes place 68 years after the brutal Culling Game. The manga will run for about six months, following the Okkotsu siblings, Yuka and Tsurugi, the grandchildren of Yuta Okkotsu and Maki Zenin. During their mission to investigate the missing children, they encounter Maru, short for Marulu Val Vol Yelvori, a Simurian, who is working incognito with the sorcerers as an inspector.
The sequel manga has completely changed the story by introducing the alien race known as the Simurians, who noticed that the sorcerers in Japan possess the same powers as them. With the introduction of extraterrestrial beings, we may be closer to discovering the origins of curses and sorcerers, as well as understanding why most of them only appear in Japan.
If the manga ends up receiving an anime adaptation as well, it would no doubt become as popular as the original show. While the sequel was a pleasant surprise to fans, the franchise also plans on releasing a spin-off novel from Yumeaki Hirayama, a well-known horror writer. While the plot details and release date haven’t been revealed so far, we can expect the story to capture the true essence of Jujutsu Kaisen since it has been approved by Gege Akutami.
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