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Who is Takeru and how do Yaga’s cursed corpses work in Jujutsu Kaisen?
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Kinji Hakari’s obsession with “passion” previews his epic fight with Yuji in the next episode
Last week, Jujutsu Kaisen exceeded expectations with Maki Zenin Perfect preparation arc, which delivered a cathartic payoff through stunning visual storytelling. Maki’s Revenge illustrates an important narrative development, so it makes sense that J.K. season 3 episode 5, titled “Passion,“ spends considerable time setting the stage for the next epic showdown. As we move into Culling’s Game, new characters like Hana Kurusu/Angel and Kinji Hakari enter the fray. Master Tengen mentioned both in episode 3 as important players in the upcoming conflict. In “Passion,” we meet Hakari in person, courtesy of an elaborate plan devised by Panda, Yuji Itadori, and Megumi Fushiguro.
[Ed. note: This article contains spoilers for Jujutsu Kaisen season 3 episode 5.]
The episode begins with the tragic circumstances surrounding Masamichi Yaga, who used to be the esteemed headmaster of Tokyo Jujutsu High. In the aftermath of the Shibuya massacre and the sealing of Satoru Gojo, Yaga is falsely framed by the corrupt higher-ups of jujutsu society and sentenced to death. This threat of execution comes with an ultimatum: they demand the secret behind her Cursed Corpse technique, with which Yaga is able to create self-sustaining cursed corpses like Panda, using a complex link between “body” and “soul” information. Yaga’s friction with jujutsu authority dates back to Panda’s creation, after which jujutsu superiors became so paranoid about Yaga’s potential ability to create an army of Pandas that they were tempted to label him a special grade threat.
With Yaga on the run in the present day, we see him speak to a cursed corpse named Takeru, whose true heritage is revealed. These sections feel quite rushed as the show jumps between different time periods, so the nature of these cursed corpses and Yaga’s eventual death seem a little confusing, injecting a somber tone throughout the first half of the episode.
Who is Takeru and how do Yaga’s cursed corpses work in Jujutsu Kaisen?
Yaga’s puppet jujutsu had always been seen as a threat by superiors, especially after she created Panda, who grew up to become a jujutsu sorcerer. To protect her precious creations, Yaga kept them within a forest protected by the barriers of Tengen. At one point in the past, Grade 1 Sorcerer Atsuya Kusakabe asked Yaga for help after his sister (who remains unnamed) lost her son, Takeru.
To help her cope with this pain, Yaga used information from Takeru’s soul to create the cursed corpse of the same name, which provides context for the reunion scene in the episode. We see Kusakabe’s sister collapse after hugging Takeru in the forest, and the cursed corpse is able to identify her as his mother. This is a sweet but heartbreaking exchange, as Yaga clarifies that Takeru will not be able to live with his mother, as this would expose the existence of the other cursed corpses.
Currently, Yaga allows herself to be attacked by Yoshinobu Gakuganji, the traditionalist director of Kyoto Jujutsu High. The battle takes place off-screen, as in Gege Akutami’s manga, as it is a fight that Yaga deliberately loses. Yaga allows himself to be fatally wounded by Gakuganji and passes the formula to his executioner, but makes it clear that it is “a curse from me to you.” Yaga explains that cursed corpses are created by replicating soul information, which must be poured into the cores of these inanimate beings.
In addition to this, three compatible souls must be put into a cursed corpse until a symbiotic stabilization process occurs. After the cursed corpse gains self-awareness, it should be able to replenish its own cursed energy after a period of three months. This spoken formula functions as forbidden knowledge, thus transferring the burden of moral responsibility from the dying Yaga to Gakuganji, who is bewildered by this sacrifice.
Panda arrives at the scene to pick up Yaga’s body and, through tears, says, “Even pandas cry.” This emotional intensity is felt, but the episode’s refusal to dwell on this tragic moment robs it of any lasting impact. Before we know it, the scene changes to Yuji and Megumi’s infiltration of Hakari’s Gachinko fighting club.
Kinji Hakari’s obsession with “passion” previews his epic fight with Yuji in the next episode
The grand strategy session with Master Tengen in episode 3 made Kinji Hakari a crucial ally for the jujutsu sorcerers. He is described as a master hand-to-hand combatant whose power potentially rivals that of Yuta Okkotsu. This, combined with Gojo’s endorsement of Hakari’s jujutsu prowess before being sealed, leads Yuji and Megumi to pose as random sorcerers unaffiliated with Jujutsu High to meet with him. Megumi emerges as the most skilled strategist here, as she is able to convince Hakari’s men that they are prime candidates for the illegal fighting club (there’s even a cheeky reference to the first rule of fight club included just in case). Despite the simmering tension, MAPPA weaves these scenes together with lively lightness, with Yuji engaging in a fun, over-the-top showdown with Panda to attract Hakari’s attention.
We are also introduced to Hakari’s love interest, Kirara Hoshi, whose cursed Love Rendezvous technique prevents Megumi and Panda from reaching the roof of the fight club (where Hakari eventually meets Yuji). The manga frames this meeting in a closed location, alternating the expressions of Yuji and Hakari as they engage in a conversation about fixed fights and the passion that drives people to gamble. The manga calls this “fever”, as Hakari perceives it as a burning motivator that makes people susceptible to logical errors and manipulation. The anime translation replaces it with “passion,” which feels bland in comparison, but ties in quite well with Hakari’s proclamation that even the act of loving someone is about control.
Given Yuji’s inability to lie or improvise, he makes a serious misstep during his encounter with Hakari. He cannot anticipate that the phone call Hakari receives from Kirara is a sign that something is wrong. And when Hakari mentions Satoru Gojo, Yuji pretends not to know who he’s talking about. While the manga presents it as a humorous slip tinged with anxiety, MAPPA uses a distant and uncomfortable wide-angle shot to heighten the tension.
As Yuji and Hakari talk in a confined space walled off with countless television screens to one side, their next confrontation feels more visceral and charged. Hakari throws his glass in Yuji’s face despite his attempts to explain the situation and summons flanked doors to disorient his perceived enemy. This sudden clash makes Hakari an unpredictable wild card in the exciting fight ahead, which will mark a distinction between opposing personalities who could end up presenting a united front.
new episodes of Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 releases every Thursday on Crunchyroll.
