Jujutsu Kaisen’s Creator Reveals Which Legendary Manga Inspired One of the Series's Most Shocking Moments

Summary Jujutsu Kaisen is heavily inspired by iconic mangas like Naruto and Hunter X Hunter.

Akutami's admiration for Togashi's work is evident in power system and character development.

Emotional scenes in Jujutsu Kaisen draw inspiration from iconic moments in Hunter X Hunter.

It’s no secret that Jujutsu Kaisen has been heavily inspired by other series, since its author, Gege Akutami, has included several references to other works in his story, showing he is a great fan of iconic mangas like Bleach and Naruto. However, the works of Yoshihiro Togashi are one of his clear favorites, as Akutami has repeatedly made clear his respect and admiration for Hunter X Hunter and Yu Yu Hakusho.

The influence of Togashi’s work in Jujutsu Kaisen can be appreciated in its power system, battle choreographies, and even in some characters, as Akutami acknowledged once that Suguro Geto is based on the antagonist of Yu Yu Hakusho, Shinobu Sensui.

Moreover, Akutami has just made it even more obvious that Jujutsu Kaisen's biggest influence is Hunter X Hunter, Togashi’s legendary manga. The author recently revealed that one of the most shocking moments and key turning points in Jujutsu Kaisen, when Sukuna takes over Megumi Fushiguro’s body, took an iconic scene of Hunter X Hunter as a reference.

Related Jujutsu Kaisen's Author Just Proved Why He's Akira Toriyama's True Successor Jujutsu Kaisen’s creator made news with the return of the saga’s beloved character, a move that would surely make at least one fellow mangaka proud.

Jujutsu Kaisen’s Creator Looked at Hunter X Hunter To Draw Yuji’s Anguished Expression

The Author Was Inspired by an Emotional Panel of Killua Zoldyck From Hunter X Hunter

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In the climax of Jujutsu Kaisen’s Culling Game Arc in Chapter 212, Sukuna took control of Yuji, cut one of his fingers, and force-fed it to Fushiguro, and when the King of curses broke the binding vow he had with Yuji, he was able to ruthlessly take over Fushiguro’s body. The page that ends the chapter is a side-by-side panel of Yuji’s shocking and anguished expression as he realizes he has just lost his friend, while Sukuna mocks him with a haughty face.

In a recent photo shared by Mimumemo on Ameblo.jp from Jujutsu Kaisen’s Exposition, a comment from Gege Akutami revealed that not only had he been planning that moment long before, but that he thought of a scene of Hunter X Hunter when drawing Yuji’s gut-wrenching expression:

Maybe it’s because I had been thinking about the development and the scene for a long time, but I felt that I was able to draw Fushiguro’s (Sukuna) face in a cool way. When I drew Itadori here, I had in mind Killua’s face holding out Gon’s hand in front of Alluka. - Gege Akutami

The panel reference by Akutami is from Hunter X Hunter chapter 333, when Killua goes with Alluka to the hospital to save Gon, who is bedridden and withered after using his future potential, disregarding his own life, to take revenge on Neferpitou in the Chimera Ant Arc.

As Killua takes Gon’s shriveled hand, the expression he makes is painfully heartbreaking, even knowing that his friend can be saved by Nanika’s power. Although both moments are fundamentally different, it makes sense for Akutami to think of that scene while trying to convey the genuine agony of witnessing the loss of a best friend.

Jujutsu Kaisen’s Creator Has Included Several References to Hunter X Hunter in His Story

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This has not been the only Hunter x Hunter reference that Akutami has included in his work, since after Mahito damaged Aoi Todo's hand to prevent him from applause and activating his technique Boogie Woogie, what Todo said in Jujutsu Kaisen chapter 132: "An arm is merely a decoration, the act of applause is an acclamation of the soul" is a reference to one of Hunter X Hunter's best moments, Isaac Netero’s iconic quote to Meruem during their intense fight, after the Chimera Ant King cut his arm and leg in HxH chapter 297.

You believe I cannot pray with a single arm? A Prayer Comes From the Heart. - Isaac Netero

Also, the Shibuya Incident Arc was elevated thanks to the narration of the events, an element widely used in HxH. Togashi has inspired many manga artists of the new generation, and Hunter X Hunter's influence certainly helped Akutami convey his vision of Yuji’s reaction after Sukuna possessed Fushiguro, making it an emotionally charged moment while also giving his unique touch, which has crafted Jujutsu Kaisen into the best modern shōnen anime.

Source: Mimumemo user in Ameblo.jp