Jujutsu Kaisen【ch.9】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.9 “呪胎戴天 -肆-(Fearsome Womb -Part4-)” 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 ④ Deciphering the Expression “今際の際(Imawa no Kiwa)”

The phrase “今際の際(Imawa no Kiwa)” is traditionally used to describe the moment just before death, capturing the essence of one’s final moments or the brink of life. It conveys the critical point at which an individual is on the cusp of passing away or facing imminent death, highlighting the profoundness of the final moments before leaving life. This old term, indicative of a time long past, also signals the transition from Yuji to Sukuna in the narrative.

Although “今際の際(Imawa no Kiwa)” is not a commonly used term in contemporary Japanese, its recognition has grown due to its use in “今際の国のアリス(Imawa no Kuni no Alice) / Alice in Borderland”. Originally a manga, this series gained widespread popularity as a Netflix drama.

P2 ② What is that? “反転術式(Hanten Jutsushiki)/Reverse Cursed Technique”

This is the first time that Reverse Cursed Technique is mentioned. It’s not explained in detail this time, but Reverse Cursed Technique is one of the techniques of Jujutsu.

It is a special type of cursed technique that takes cursed energy and reverses it into positive energy. It is a very complex technique and is mainly used to heal human bodies.

This kind of Jujutsu term is not explained when it’s mentioned for the first time, so lots of people feel “?” that time. Maybe this is one of the reasons why Jujutsu Kaisen was not popular at the beginning. Some of my friends who gave up reading Jujutsu Kaisen also said that Jujutsu Kaisen is hard to understand.



But moving the story forward without a lot of explanation keeps the reader engaged.
Demon Slayer is said in Japan to be a good example of this.

P3 ③ Reflecting Sukuna’s Personality Through His Signature Pose

Sukuna’s unique personality is often exemplified by his signature pose, a distinctive movement where he brushes back his bangs. This gesture is so characteristic of Sukuna that it becomes a telltale sign of his presence.

Interestingly, Yuji mimicked this pose just before his battle with Mahito during the Shibuya Incident, sparking theories among fans.

Some speculated that this indicated Yuji had acquired Sukuna’s powers. Although I was among those who theorized this, it turned out to be merely a coincidence…lol.

P4 ② Shikigami user’s fighting style

The usual fighting style of the Shikigami user is for the sorcerer to let the Shikigami fight and for himself to stay in the back. In Megumi’s case, however, Megumi himself fights mainly and lets Shikigami support him. Sukuna sees this fighting style as interesting.

I remember in the Hidden Inventory / Premature Death arc, the old sorcerer said the same thing to Geto.

P4 ④Observing Sukuna’s Eyes: A Glimpse Into His Interest in Megumi

Notice the expression in Sukuna’s eyes, which reveals his intrigue towards Megumi. His gaze is peculiar and intense, suggesting a deeper interest in Megumi rather than Sukuna himself.

While the reason behind this interest becomes evident later in the story, it’s clear that Sukuna is carefully assessing Megumi at this moment. disagree, in the anime adaptation, Sukuna’s facial expressions as he observes Megumi are portrayed with a more humorous undertone.

It’s worth rewatching these scenes in the anime to catch these nuances!

P5 ① Exploring Manga Techniques “Hiki” and “Yori” Used by Gege Sensei

In this scene, Gege Sensei skillfully employs the manga techniques “Hiki” and “Yori”. In manga, “Hiki” refers to a “pullback” shot, which focuses on the setting or environment around the subject. This long shot zooms out to reveal more of the scene, providing context and establishing the surroundings. On the other hand, “Yori” (Yori) is akin to a “close-up” or “zoom-in” shot, concentrating on a specific subject, like a character’s facial expression or a particular object. It accentuates detail, heightens emotions, and spotlights critical aspects of the scene by reducing background distractions.

These techniques are fundamental in manga storytelling, offering creators ways to manipulate pacing, elicit emotional responses, and guide the reader’s attention through the narrative. Gege Sensei’s mastery of these techniques enhances the manga’s readability, engagement, and builds suspense about what will happen next.

P6 ① Have you ever wondered about the origins of “Nue’s ability to generate electricity” in Jujutsu Kaisen?


Let’s delve into this intriguing aspect.

Firstly, pay attention to the sounds accompanying Nue’s appearances: “パリ パリ (Pari Pari).”

These sounds mimic the crackling of electricity, reminiscent of the moments before a lightning strike.

But what exactly is Nue?

In Japanese folklore, the Nue is a legendary creature, often depicted as a chimera-like entity. Its appearance is unique, combining the body of a monkey, tiger’s legs, a snake’s tail, and the face of a tanuki (Japanese raccoon dog). Some stories even attribute eerie, human-like cries to it at night.

In Japanese mythology, Nue is sometimes associated with “雷獣 (Raiju),” a mythical thunder beast.

This association is likely the inspiration behind Nue’s electric powers in the manga. The concept of Raiju, intertwined with the legend of Nue, provides a rich cultural background for this character’s electrifying abilities.

Also, Nue’s appearance is distinctive, but through Gege Sensei’s illustrations, it’s a cool design.

P7 ③ The way to show Sukuna’s speed

In this scene, Sukuna moves behind Megumi so quickly that he does not notice. At this moment, Megumi’s eyes are still on the great serpent. The depiction of Megumi facing the great serpent shows how quickly Sukuna moved.

P8 ② 膂力(Ryoryoku) and 敏捷性(Binshousei)

Megumi uses the words 膂力(Ryoryoku) and 敏捷性(Binshousei) when talking about Sukuna’s power and agility. These words mean “Power” and “Agility” though, even Japanese seldom use them. So they have the furigana “パワー(power)” and “アジリティ(agility)” written on them. Perhaps Gege Sensei chose to write this character in kanji on purpose because it looks cool.

P9 ① Sukuna’s hand

Gege Sensei draws Sukuna’s hand and his left arm blurry to show how fast Sukuna’s punch is. He creates a sense of intensity in the battle by drawing separate areas that are blurred together.

P9 ③ Sukuna sees Megumi’s Technique

Megumi uses Nue and Great Serpent so far, but Sukuna sees Megumi’s Technique good. At this point he is realizing the potential of Ten Shadow Technique.

Ten Shadow Technique is as strong as Gojo, the strongest of this era.

Thank you for reading.
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Jujutsu Kaisen【ch.9】Full-page explanation

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