On This Day 1 Year Ago Shonen Jump’s Greatest Hit Bowed Out Amid Fan Outcry

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Gege Akutami’s Weekly Shonen Jump manga, Jujutsu Kaisen, concluded its run exactly one year ago, much to the disappointment of many fans. The manga first appeared in 2018 and quickly became popular, but it really took off after the anime adaptation made it a worldwide hit. The series was incredibly popular when the long-awaited fight between Gojo and Sukuna started, with each new chapter leaving fans anxious to see what would happen. At the same time, the second season of the anime was being released, which gave the series even more momentum. Throughout most of 2023, Jujutsu Kaisen was a major topic of conversation within the anime community, and Gojo’s surprising death in September of that year only made things even more intense.

The battle raged on relentlessly, captivating audiences each week. Even following Gojo’s passing, the manga continued to be released weekly for almost a year before its unexpected finale was announced, a choice that many fans disliked. However, considering how near the story was to ending and given Gege’s health issues, the conclusion seemed unavoidable. Now, a year has passed, and the initial negative reaction has subsided, with fans now looking forward to the anime’s third season and the sequel manga, Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo.

Why Was Jujutsu Kaisen’s Ending Controversial?

Following Gojo’s death, the story moved forward with the battle against Sukuna and Kenjaku, and most of the characters were eager to fight them. Knowing they were up against the two strongest fighters ever, the sorcerers understood that charging into battle like Gojo did would have been unwise. They had multiple backup plans in place, preparing for the possibility of Gojo’s defeat, and had even predicted it. However, the news that the manga would end in just five chapters was surprising, as the fight didn’t appear to be close to finishing.

Adding to the frustration, the many questions left unanswered initially sparked a lot of anger, but things eventually resolved themselves positively. Aside from Gojo’s death, the series hadn’t faced much controversy until the finale was announced. The ending was a mix of happy and sad, as the sorcerers moved forward after a huge battle that ultimately improved the Jujutsu world. While the fight with Kenjaku was tough, Ryomen Sukuna was always the bigger threat. What made the ending so good was that Sukuna’s defeat was a team effort, involving most of the important characters, instead of relying on just the protagonist – something that happens a lot in Shonen series. It was a refreshing change.

Despite a satisfying conclusion, some mysteries lingered, such as the specifics of Yuji’s Domain Expansion and the reasons behind Kenjaku’s unexpected reappearance. Even the epilogue in the final manga volume, which came out in December 2024, didn’t provide all the answers fans were hoping for. Initially, the ending sparked a lot of debate, but most fans now accept how the story finished, as it turned out better than many had anticipated.

What’s Next for Jujutsu Kaisen?

Even though the original manga has finished, the Jujutsu Kaisen franchise remains incredibly popular. There are lots of exciting things coming for fans, including a new season of the anime. Season 2 left viewers on a huge cliffhanger with Yuta Okkotsu’s return, as he’s set on stopping Yuji Itadori, who played a role in the events that unfolded in Shibuya Ward because he couldn’t control Sukuna. The anime is building anticipation for the Culling Game, but first, it will show Itadori’s Extermination and the Perfect Preparation Arcs, which will deal with what happened after the Shibuya Incident Arc.

Furthermore, Gege Akutami is back in September 2025 with a sequel manga, Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo, with illustrations by Yuji Iwasaki. The story unfolds in the same world of curses, but takes place 68 years after the intense Culling Game. The manga is planned to run for approximately six months and will focus on Yuka and Tsurugi Okkotsu, the grandchildren of Yuta Okkotsu and Maki Zenin. While investigating a case of missing children, they meet Maru-also known as Marulu Val Vol Yelvori-a Simurian who is secretly working with sorcerers as an inspector.

I’ve been following the sequel manga, and it’s taken the story in a completely new direction. It’s introduced this alien race, the Simurians, and it turns out they’ve noticed that Japanese sorcerers have powers just like theirs. This addition of extraterrestrial beings feels significant – it might finally bring us closer to understanding where curses and sorcery actually come from, and why so many sorcerers seem to be located in Japan. It’s really exciting to think about the possibilities!

If the manga gets an anime adaptation, it will likely become just as popular as the first series. Fans were happily surprised by the sequel, and even more content is on the way: a spin-off novel by acclaimed horror author Yumeaki Hirayama. Although we don’t yet know the story details or when it will be released, it’s expected to stay true to the spirit of Jujutsu Kaisen, as it has been given the go-ahead by Gege Akutami.

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2025-09-29 21:11