Outside its dynamic fights, dazzling sorcery, and supernatural atmosphere,Jujutsu Kaisenis, at its core,a story about friendship. While creator Gege Akutami is known for weaving a variety of outside references and hidden insights into the narrative, perhaps his greatest “sleight of creative hand” is in blurring the story’s central theme of friendship behind the flashy, thrilling battles between powerful sorcerers and malevolent curses.
The importance of friendship inJujutsu Kaisenis more than just a backdrop for the series’ renowned action and adventure—it’s the foundation upon which the entire story is built. From start to finish, friendship drives the plot forward. For example, if not for Yuji Itadori’s concern for his friends in the Occult Research Club, he likely wouldn’t have rushed back to school to protect them. His desire to help, especially after they were attacked by a curse drawn to Sukuna’s finger, directly led him to swallow the finger, which ultimatelyset Kenjaku’s plan into motion. Yuji’s friendship - in essence - starts the fight for humanity.
Jujutsu Kaisen’s Trio Of Young Sorcerers Were More Than Just Teammates
The Bonds Between Yuji, Megumi, and Nobara Made Them Family
Perhaps the best illustration of the series’ theme of friendship is the relationship between its three young protagonists – Megumi Fushiguro, Nobara Kugisaki, and, of course, Yuji Itadori. At first, there was nothing in their personalities to suggest they would form such a close-knit group. In fact, combining Yuji’s bold enthusiasm with Megumi’s aloofness and Nobara’s chip-on-her-shoulder attitude seemed like a recipe for dysfunction. Yet, they bonded in a way that no other group of sorcerers has, proving themselves to be the most dynamic group in the story.
Undoubtedly, their contrasting personalities made them unlikely companions. Yuji, the charismatic athlete, was almost the polar opposite of Megumi, the reserved introvert. Meanwhile, Nobara, the rustic country girl, seemed worlds apart from both. However,the looming threat of Sukunaand his benefactor, Kenjaku, to Jujutsu Society thrust the three young sorcerers into perilous situations together. Shared life-or-death struggles compelled them to rely on each other, fostering trust, understanding, and ultimately, a profound bond that bordered on familial love.
The series offers many examples of how their friendship empowered them, but none illustrate their bond better than Yuji and Nobara’s fight against the Cursed Womb brothers, Choso, Eso, and Kechizu. This battle highlighted how deeply they cared for each other, which allowed them to combine their strengths, coordinate their attacks and defenses, and share a fierce determination to overcome a threat initially far more powerful than them combined. Furthermore, their bond helped them break through personal barriers — such as Yuji’s struggle with the morality of killing and Nobara’s hesitation to use Resonance.
Once the trio’s deep connection was established, the world of Jujutsu sorcery was forever changed. Without the bond between Yuji and Megumi,Yuji’s relentless determination to save his friendand Megumi’s ultimate choice to trust him and embrace life despite his deep sense of worthlessness, Sukuna would likely have succeeded in setting Kenjaku’s plan into motion to usher in the “New Age of Sorcery.” Indeed, their personal backstories of hardship and pain informed how they would support each other through the personal trials they confronted as sorcerers in training.
Gojo And Geto’s Friendship Was Different But Just As Strong
One of the Key Relationships in Jujutsu Kaisen
InJujutsu Kaisen, friendship manifests in various forms, including brotherly love, mentorship, and camaraderie. These relationships serve as a pivotal catalyst for character development, forging unbreakable bonds between friends through shared adversity. Ultimately, these bonds prove more important to success than any cursed technique or battlefield strategy. Notably, creator Gege Akutami explores friendship across diverse groups, transcending traditional notions of good and evil. By depicting friendships on both sides of the moral divide, Akutami highlights the universal power and significance of these relationships and their influence on the characters.
Although Satoru Gojo often carried himself as the ultimate “lone wolf” outsider, that wasn’t always the case. In fact, he was once part of one of the story’s most significant and influential friendships—his bond with Suguru Geto. Their friendship grew out of a shared experience as two of the greatest sorcerers of their generation, a status that set them apart from others and fostered a natural camaraderie. Only they could truly understand each other, at least in ways no one else could.
In many ways,Gojo and Geto were opposites who attracted, their contrasting views forging an unbreakable bond over time. As Gojo poignantly admitted after Geto’s passing, “You’re my best friend, my one and only.” At its peak, their friendship was an extraordinary source of strength, fueling their growth as sorcerers and individuals. It empowered them to confront fears and despair that would have been insurmountable alone. However, their mission to protect Star Vessel Riko Amanai proved a crucible for their otherwise rock-solid friendship, testing its limits.
For friends as close as Gojo and Geto, shared hardships usually serve to strengthen and deepen their bond. In their case, these hardships centered ontheir failure to save Riko from Toji Fushiguro, despite their renowned generational abilities. Gojo viewed this tragic event as motivation to redouble his efforts to become the best sorcerer he could be for the public good. In contrast,Geto saw it as evidence of the futility of sorcerers being obligated to protect the public from harm. Thus, the opposing views that once characterized their relationship resurfaced — but now with few, if any, shared beliefs to bridge their differences. This ideological clash became irreconcilable, as history illustrates.
Not Even Cursed Energy Can Stop The Power Of Friendship in Jujutsu Kaisen
Friendship Is the Strongest Power in the Series
While Yuji, Megumi, Nobara, Gojo, and Geto are the most prominent examples of friendship’s significance inJujutsu Kaisen, they are not the only ones.Yuji’s bond with Todoalso illustrates this theme. Unlike friendships formed through adversity or shared experiences, theirs grew from mutual respect and admiration. Through both support and constructive criticism,they helped each other evolve beyond who they were before. Their relationship not only propelled Yuji to new heights but also enabled Todo to overcome his self-doubt.
Their friendship was not unlike that between Maki and Yuta. Yuta admired Maki’s ability to thrive in Jujutsu society despite her difficult family situation and her lack of cursed energy. Conversely, Maki admired Yuta’s strength of purpose and the ability to look past stereotypes. Their bond, based on mutual understanding and shared values helped, like Yuji and Todo’s, to inspire the other to be their best selves, always.
The power of friendship inJujutsu Kaisenextends beyond the sorcerers. If one looks past their antagonistic roles, the friendship shared by Mahito, Hanami, Jogo, and Dagon also shines. Like Yuji, Megumi, and Nobara, they remained loyal to one another and provided mutual support in the face of a common enemy. Similar to Gojo and Geto, they showed that opposites don’t always clash; sometimes, unexpected friendships can arise. Like Maki and Yuta, they demonstrated how shared values can bridge complex emotions and form the foundation for friendship, especially in the midst of conflict.
Jujutsu Kaisenchallenges fans to reconsider the nature of friendship and its diverse manifestations, even among adversaries. More than anything else, it demonstrates that friendship — regardless of its form — matters. The simple yet profound power of friendship depicted inJujutsu Kaisenultimately reveals that even in a world filled with darkness and despair, the strength of connection can illuminate the path forward.
Jujutsu Kaisen
Jujutsu Kaisenis a Japanese anime and manga series created by Gege Akutami. The story is set in a world where Cursed Spirits, born from negative human emotions, prey on humanity. It follows high school student Yuji Itadori as he becomes entangled in the world of Jujutsu Sorcery after swallowing a cursed talisman—Ryomen Sukuna’s finger—and becomes the host for one of the most powerful curses. Yuji joins the Tokyo Metropolitan Magic Technical College to learn how to combat curses while searching for the remaining fingers of Sukuna to exorcise him permanently.
