Jujutsu Kaisen【ch.2】Full-page explanation

Hi everyone, こんにちは!
This is Kyle Scouter.

Welcome to a thrilling journey into the dark and mystic world of Jujutsu Kaisen!

In this blog, I will break down each panel, offering insightful commentary and analysis to enhance your understanding of the story, characters, and the fascinating world created by Gege Akutami Sensei.

I’ve created visual aids to help illustrate each point on every page, making it easier to follow the details.

I will explain in detail in the text what the images alone cannot explain enough.

This time I am going to explain Jujutsu Kaisen Ch.2

Let’s dive into the Jujutsu Kaisen world now!

Page 1

① 秘匿死刑(Hitokushikei)

“秘匿 (Hitoku)” means “concealment” , “secrecy.”
“死刑(Shikei)” means “Death Penalty”.

Usually, when we say “Secret” we use the word “秘密(Himitsu)”.

Both words use the kanji character for “秘(Hi)”.
This kanji has the meaning of hiding, concealing, or not showing to others.
The kanji for “密(Mitsu)” means to hide, while the kanji for “匿(Toku)” means to hide or conceal.

They mean almost the same thing, but “秘密(Himitsu)” is used with the nuance of not letting people know about it, while “秘匿 (Hitoku)” is used with the nuance of not revealing it to the public.

That is why the title of Ch.2 used the word “秘匿 (Hitoku)”.

Page 2&3

① What is 高専(Kousen)?

“高専(Kousen)” is a Japanese term that stands for “高等専門学校” (Koto Senmon Gakko) in full. In English, it is commonly translated as “National Institute of Technology” or “National Technical College.” These are higher education institutions in Japan that focus on providing specialized and practical education in engineering and technology fields. Students at these institutions often pursue degrees in engineering, applied sciences, and related disciplines, preparing for careers in technical professions.

Jujutsu High is not for engineering, but they learn about Jujustu techniques.

That’s why Gege Sensei made it “高専(kousen)”.

Page 4&5

① スウウウ(Suuuu)

“スウウウ” is an onomatopoeic expression in Japanese that represents the sound or sensation of something gradually changing or transitioning, often associated with a visual transformation such as a color gradually shifting.

② Gojo’s way of saying “Hello”

Gojo just says “や(Ya)” when he greeted Megumi.

Usually, when greeting someone casually, you can say “やあ(Yaa)”.

In this scene, he greets him super casually that he doesn’t even say the rest of a single letter.

And this greeting is actually coming from his best friend, Geto.

③ はせ参じた(Hasesanjita)

Gojo says “はせ参じた(Hasesanjita)” when he arrived to Yuji’s school.

“馳せ参じる” is a Japanese phrase that can be translated into English as “to hasten and come” or “to hurry and arrive.” It is a more formal and traditional way of expressing the act of someone promptly going or coming to a place.

You normally say “急いできた(Isoidekita)” if you wanna say “I came here in hurry”.

Gojo’s use of this phrase sounds like he’s joking for Japanese.

Page 6&7

① 見えてんの？(Mietenno)

Yuji says “見えてんの？(Mietenno)”, can you see? in English, to Gojo.

”Gojo is blindfolded, but can he really see?”

Everyone must think so.
Yuji speaks for our feelings.

But Yes, Gojo is actually able to see even with blindfold.
According to Official Fanbook,

“To put it bluntly, Six Eyes is the eyes that shows Cursed Energy in so much detail. He can even see like high-resolution thermography when wearing a blindfold. He can even recognize things that don’t have Cursed Energy, such as buildings, through the residue and the flow of the Cursed Energy.”

② Yuji says ”スクナ(Sukuna)”

Yuji calls Sukuna as “スクナ” in this scene.
Usually people call him in Kanji, “宿儺” .

This is because Yuji doesn’t know about Sukuna right now.

In Japanese manga, katakana is sometimes used when speaking of something unfamiliar or incomprehensible.

By changing the letters, it expresses that the character does not understand 100% about it.

That’s why Yuji calls Sukuna this way.

③ What is 喜久福(Kikufuku)?

Kikufuku is a fresh cream Daifuku sold by the famous shop “Kikusuian” in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture.

The cream is placed in the center, surrounded by a red bean paste, and the outermost layer is a mochi (rice cake).

The rice cake is made from Miyagi Prefecture’s “Miyakogane” variety of glutinous rice. Other ingredients include fresh cream and read beans from Hokkaido, matcha and hojicha tea leaves from Uji in Kyoto, and dada-cha beans from Tsuruoka in Yamagata Prefecture.

There are four standard flavors: fresh cream, green tea, hojicha fresh cream, and zunda fresh cream. Originally, they were popular as an ordered sweet.

Since Gojo eats it in Jujutsu Kaisen, it’s got so popular in Japan.
After this scene was aired in Jujutsu Kaisen anime, it collaborated with Jujutsu Kaisen.

I tried Kikufuku Mochi before and it was really good.

As Gojo recommended, the zunda whipped cream was very tasty.

Page 8&9

① Gojo’s Selfishness

Gojo bought Kikufuku, but it’s not for Megumi, but for himself!!

He just showed it to Megumi.

How selfish he is!

And Selfish means “自己中(Jikochuu)” in Japanese, which is in short of “自己中心的(Jikochuushinteki)”

② Gege Sensei’s Technique

Gojo moves so fast that Sukuna coiuldn’t even react.
Gege Sensei dared to draw only Gojo’s hands to express this.

Then he appeared behind Sukuna.
By not drawing between the movements, he was able to express the fast speed.

And this move is due to his technique.

③ 呪術師(Jujutsushi)

呪術師(Jujutsushi) means Sorcerer.
呪術(Jujutsu) means Curse.

“師(Shi)” is a suffix in Japanese that translates to “master” or “teacher” in English. When added to the end of a word or a title, it denotes someone who is an expert, a skilled practitioner, or an instructor in a specific field or discipline.

For example,

教師(Kyoushi)→Teacher
医師(Ishi)→Docter
看護師(Kangoshi)→Nurse

Page 10&11

① ピタ(Pita)

“ピタ” is an onomatopoeic expression in Japanese that represents the sound or sensation of something abruptly stopping or fitting perfectly into place.

② 何者(Nanimono)

“何者” is a Japanese term that translates to “who are you?” or “what kind of person are you?” in English. It’s used to express skepticism or suspicion about someone’s identity, motives, or actions. This phrase can also imply a sense of curiosity or disbelief regarding someone’s character or behavior, often questioning their intentions or background.

Page12&13

① クエスチョン(Question)!

Gojo says “クエスチョン(Question)” in this scene.

Question is ”質問(Shitsumon)” in Japanese, and he’s supposed to use Japanese one in this serious scene.

But he used an English one.
This sounds like he’s not in a serious mood and a little jokey to Japanese people.
This word shows Gojo’s personality.

② What is 呪術規定(Jujutsu Kitei)?

呪術規定(Jujutsu Kitei) means Jujutsu Regulations.

These are the laws of jujutsu society that must be upheld to protect non-jujutsu sorcerers.

In the world of jujutsu, in which the protection of non-sorcerers is of the utmost importance, the practice of jujutsu and contact with curses demands compliance with many regulations. If a jujutsu sorcerer violates these regulations, immediate action is taken at the discretion of the higher-ups.

③ Megumi’s personality

Megumi looked straight ahead and said, “I don’t want him to die”.
Regardless of rules and logic, emotionally he does not want Yuji to die.

This moment vividly portrays Megumi’s deep-rooted convictions.

Page 14&15

② Sukuna’s finger

No one can break Sukuna’s finger even after 1000 years since he became the Cursed Object.

This shows how strong he is.

③ Sukuna = 呪い(Noroi)

In this scene, “宿儺(Sukuna)” is written and the reading kana “のろい(Noroi): Curse” is assigned to the word.

In manga, when the intended meaning of a word differs from its conventional reading, furigana is employed to provide the correct pronunciation or alternative reading. This is particularly common when characters use slang, colloquial expressions, or alternate readings for certain words.

This use of furigana helps convey nuances, cultural references, or character-specific speech patterns that might not be immediately apparent to the reader. It enhances the understanding of the intended meaning, especially in cases where the characters are using informal or unconventional language.

This is called “Ruby”.

Page 16&17

① Goal of Jujutsu Kaisen story

For manga, it is important for Ch.1 to tell the reader what kind of person the main character is, while Ch.2 is important to convey the mission and direction of the story.

② コンコン(Kon Kon)

“コンコン(Kon Kon)” is an onomatopoeic expression in Japanese that signifies the sound of knocking or tapping lightly on a door. In English, it can be likened to “knock-knock” or “tap-tap,” representing the gentle sound made when someone lightly knocks on a door or surface to get attention or announce their presence.

Page 18&19

① 別れ(Wakare)

“別れ” is a Japanese term that translates to “farewell” or “parting” in English. It refers to the act of separating or saying goodbye to someone or something.

② 火葬場(Kasouba)

Japanese “crematoriums” are facilities specifically designed for the cremation of deceased individuals. They often feature modern and efficient equipment for the cremation process. Traditionally, family members attend the cremation ceremony and may participate in placing the deceased in the cremation chamber or witnessing the process.

Page 20&21

① 御の字(On no Ji)

The literal translation of 御の字(On no Ji) means “the shape of the character ‘御'”.

But in Japanese, it means “much appreciated” or “very satisfied”.
Why is that so?

“御(On)” is a prefix that is attached to the beginning of a word to add a sense of respect, indicating something especially excellent or top quality.

Thus, “御の字(On no Ji)” has the meaning of “something so highly appreciated that you want to add the character “御(On)” to it.

② Last Word = Curse

These were the final words of Yuji’s grandfather.

In Jujutsu Kaisen, last words often transform into curses haunting someone. For Yuji, these words became an agonizing curse, tormenting his soul. Yuji’s fervent desire to help people clashed with Sukuna’s influence, plunging him into despair.

Page 22&23

② 逸材(Itsuzai)

“逸材(Itsuzai)” means “exceptional talent” or “outstanding individual” in English. It refers to a person who possesses remarkable skills, abilities, or qualities that set them apart from others in their field or area of expertise. This term is often used to describe individuals with extraordinary potential, exceptional abilities, or outstanding talents.

③ 覚悟(Kakugo)

“覚悟(Kakugo)” means “resolution” or “preparedness” in English. It refers to a mental state of readiness or determination to face and accept a difficult or challenging situation. It involves being mentally prepared for potential outcomes, often with a sense of determination, courage, and readiness to confront whatever might come, regardless of the difficulties or hardships involved.

This word is often used in Manga and Anime, such as Jojo.

Page 24&25

① Grandpa’s last word again

Once more, here are the final words of Yuji’s Grandpa. Gege Sensei emphasizes the profound significance of these words to Yuji, serving as the cornerstone of Jujutsu Kaisen’s narrative.

② Design of Jujutsu High

The buildings inside Jujutsu High are from actual temples.

Kiyomizu Temple and the five-storied pagoda are so familiar to Japanese.

And Jujutsu and Buddhism are closely related.

So Gege Sensei uses actual temples to imply that.

That’s it for this chapter.
My aim is to enhance your enjoyment of Jujutsu Kaisen by providing insights and explanations. If you have any questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

I will now explain in detail each chapter individually.

If you read this, you will discover something new that you could not have known only from the English version.

So look forward to the next one!!

Watch this too↓

https://youtu.be/7qKVAVehukw