Jujutsu Kaisen【ch.8】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!

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.

This time I will talk about Jujutsu Kaisen Ch.8 “呪胎戴天 -参-(Fearsome Womb -Part3-)” and explain in detail in the text what the images alone cannot explain enough.

Before Explanation

Before explaining each page, let me explain the basics of how to read manga.

Right → Left

Top → Bottom

This is the basic rule.

See the images for specifics.

I follow this rule in my commentary.

I state what number of panels on each page.

・For descriptions, etc

I quote panels from Jujutsu Kaisen manga.

・For Japanese, history, environment, etc

I list the order of the panels and the description.

Let’s dive into the Jujutsu Kaisen world now!



P1 ① Check “小僧/Kozou” meaning!!!

In the English version, it’s translated as “Brat”. While this is a correct translation, the Japanese version conveys a deeper meaning. The term aligns well with Sukuna’s personality.

Firstly, ‘小僧’ (kozou) refers to young males but with a more casual tone. However, it’s not a common way to address a man. It carries a nuance as if an elderly person or someone similar is speaking. Indeed, Sukuna is not young. It is believed that Sukuna was a real figure who lived over a thousand years ago. This is why he refers to Yuji as “Kozou.” When Yuji transforms into Sukuna, this nuance is deeply felt in the Japanese context.

P1 ④Gege Sensei’s compact drawings greatly aid in understanding the story.
These simple illustrations, often used to capture specific situations or explanations, are a hallmark of his style. In the early chapters of Jujutsu Kaisen, you’ll notice these drawings are quite detailed. However, as the series progresses into its latter half, the style becomes more simplified. Reflecting on this evolution is fascinating – it’s a testament to Gege Sensei’s creative approach!

Is it the same feeling with me?

P2 ①Japanese often hear the word “ふりだし(Furidashi)” Do you know what it comes from?

Sukuna thought to himself, “ふりだしに戻してやる,” which translates to “I’ll return you to ‘Furidashi’.”

This phrase can be challenging to translate accurately. “ふりだし” (Furidashi) in Japanese, particularly in manga, signifies the idea of ‘starting over’ or ‘going back to the beginning.’ It’s akin to the concept in board games where players return to the starting point. In manga, this expression conveys a character or situation reverting to its original state, typically following a significant event or change. Grasping this nuance can enrich a reader’s understanding, underscoring the recurring nature of challenges and development in narratives.

This concept is familiar in Japan, partly due to its prevalence in board games like “人生ゲーム” (Jinsei Game, or Game of Life) and “桃太郎電鉄” (Momotaro Dentetsu, often abbreviated as Momotetsu).

Please remember ふりだし.

You often find the word in lots of Manga and Anime.

P2 ③Take a closer look at Sukuna’s finger in this scene!
It’s an instance of Sukuna utilizing his Reverse Cursed Technique. Pay attention to the peculiar movement and shape – it’s not just visually odd, but the accompanying sound, “ボコォ” (Bokoo), suggests a strange transformation.

At this point in the story, Sukuna’s use of the Reverse Cursed Technique isn’t explicitly explained. The narrative relies solely on the sound effect and visual depiction. However, this subtlety signifies a highly advanced technique. More impressively, Sukuna is seen regenerating his missing fingers. This single frame subtly conveys the sophistication of Sukuna’s mastery over Cursed Energy.

P3 ①馬鹿(Baka)? The word is from China?!!

“馬鹿” (Baka) translates to “Fool” in English. It’s a word commonly recognized even by non-Japanese speakers, partly due to its frequent use by characters like Asuka from Evangelion among others. But have you ever wondered about its origin? It actually originates from China!

The term “馬鹿(Baka)” in Japanese signifies “fool” or “idiot.” Among the various theories of its origin, the most prevalent one is that it is a combination of two kanji characters: “馬” (horse) and “鹿” (deer). This blend stems from an ancient Chinese story that symbolizes “calling a horse a deer,” signifying the act of pointing out an obvious error or the inability to discern the truth.

This theory is well known among the Japanese. But even if there are Japanese who don’t know about it, don’t call them “馬鹿(Baka)”.

P4 ④&⑤Why do we perceive Sukuna as extremely powerful? A key reason is the “Gap” evident in his character.
Take a look at panels 4 and 5 on page 4. The contrast in Sukuna’s expression between these two panels is astonishing. I personally find individuals who express anger with a smile to be particularly intimidating, and Sukuna exemplifies this.

He smiles while saying “良い良い” (good, good) in Japanese, then quickly shifts to “ここで死ね” (You can die here). The stark disparity between his words and the emotion displayed on his face creates a chilling gap. Isn’t this contrast terrifying?

P5 ②Repeating a word can dramatically alter its perceived meaning!

Consider Sukuna’s phrase, “頑張れ頑張れ” (Ganbare Ganbare).

In this scene, he says, “ほら、頑張れ頑張れ” (Hora, Ganbare Ganbare) in Japanese. “頑張れ” translates to “do your best” or “hang in there” in English, typically used as encouragement.

However, in Japanese, repeating the same word, especially with varying tones, can ironically convey the opposite meaning. Sukuna’s usage of this phrase is a perfect example. When “頑張れ” (Ganbare) is repeated, it takes on a mocking tone, as if taunting the listener. In this context, Sukuna is not genuinely encouraging the Finger Bearer, but rather ridiculing him. A similar instance occurs with Jogo during the Shibuya Incident.

Observing Jogo’s reaction, the fear evident in his face and eyes, further underscores the taunting nature of Sukuna’s repeated phrase.

P6 ⑤Observe Sukuna’s hands and pockets – they symbolize his formidable strength.
Sukuna often keeps his hands in his pockets, but why is this significant?

It’s a display of confidence and ease.

Even when the Finger Bearer grabs his feet, Sukuna remains nonchalant, hands still in his pockets, signifying his overwhelming advantage.

This casual demeanor during combat is a subtle jab at the Finger Bearer’s efforts, underscoring Sukuna’s superiority.

It highlights that Sukuna is far more powerful than characters like Megumi and Yuji… he truly appears invincible.

P7 ④Sukuna’s attack is depicted with minimal frames, emphasizing his incredible speed.
Observe how Sukuna moves so swiftly that the Finger Bearer can’t even react. Furthermore, he’s positioned atop crumbling rubble, adding to the dramatic effect. Contrast this with Yuji and Megumi, who were completely unable to keep pace with the Finger Bearer’s speed. This inability of the Finger Bearer to react to Sukuna further accentuates Sukuna’s formidable strength.

Such action scenes are eagerly anticipated in the anime adaptation.

It was exciting to revisit these moments and see how MAPPA, known for their outstanding action sequences, brings them to life.

P8 ③Pay attention to Sukuna’s distinctive laughter.

The sound of his laugh is quite peculiar. Sukuna’s laughter is characterized by “ケヒッケヒッ” (Kehi Kehi) and “ゲラゲラゲラ” (Gera gera gera). This style of laughing is not only eerie but also carries a sense of condescension. Notably, “ゲラゲラゲラ” (Gera gera gera) is used in a scene where Sukuna and Mahito laugh at Yuji following Junpei’s death.

This manner of laughing symbolizes something far from justice. It’s a manifestation of sheer evil, both in sound and the way it’s visually represented in the font.

P9 ④Observe Megumi’s speech bubbles – their design is quite inventive!

In this scene, Megumi’s speech bubble is depicted as stabbing Ijichi’s head.

This is a visual play on the Japanese idiom “言葉が刺さる” (kotoba ga sasaru), which translates to “The word stabs you.”

This phrase implies that words can have a profound impact, resonating strongly and carrying deep emotional weight. When words “stab” in a positive sense, they can be inspiring or deeply touching. In a negative context, they might cause pain or discomfort. Such words often leave a lasting impression, affecting one’s emotions or thought process.

In anime and manga, this concept is frequently illustrated by depicting words as physically piercing a character, as shown here with the speech bubbles.

The visual representation in this case makes the concept immediately clear.

Gege Sensei’s creativity shines through in such artistic choices!



Thank you for reading.
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Jujutsu Kaisen【ch.8】Full-page explanation

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