Have you ever had a fever dream—one so absurd that it defies all logic? That’s exactly how the majority of the Takaba vs. Kenjaku fight in the Jujutsu Kaisen manga felt to me.
Their face-off was an unpredictable blend of surrealism and deadpan humor, with jokes so offbeat that many of the puns would be hard to grasp for non-Japanese readers.
The rapid-fire shifts in tone and scenes provided plenty of laughs, but it was the shocking twists at the end of Chapter 243 that truly caught us off guard.
By the time Takaba was finished, not only had Kenjaku’s head been cleanly severed from his body, but Takaba’s own fate was thrown into doubt—largely due to his own actions. I mean, who just lies down like that after a battle?
The uncertainty surrounding Takaba’s future stemmed from his peaceful repose, which made it seem as though he was dead. Naturally, fans began speculating if Kenjaku wasn’t the only character about to bid farewell to the series.
With that in mind, let’s take a closer look and try to understand whether Takaba is really dead or alive.
Is Takaba dead or alive?
Most fans believe Takaba is still alive in the Jujutsu Kaisen manga after his fight with Kenjaku, and for good reason.
While lying down, Takaba was still engaging in a casual conversation with Kenjaku, showing no signs of distress or injury.
There were no visible wounds on his body, which strongly suggested that Takaba was simply taking a breather. He seemed content with how the battle unfolded.
For Takaba, this was more than just a fight—he got to have his moment as a comedian in front of a crowd, even if it was merely a side-effect of his cursed technique (though Takaba himself likely doesn’t realize this).
It’s entirely possible that, in the aftermath, Takaba just wanted to lie down and savor the moment, reflecting on how he had just lived out his dream.
I hope that this assumption is true because losing Takaba at this stage would be very hard. I have come to like that stupid survivor for some reason.
But as of chapter 269, there’s no official word on his status. The initial optimism is fading, especially due to a concerning detail about his clothes.
A burial attire:
Were you one of those people who thought something was off with Takaba’s attire when he was lying down? I, for some reason, couldn’t take my mind off it.
As the title of this section suggests, Takaba is actually dressed in a traditional burial attire—a white kimono and a corpse-hat.
The origins of this outfit trace back to the Heian era, but it became more prominent as a burial attire during the Edo period in Japan.
The kimono is known as a kyokatabira which is traditionally worn by the dead. The white headband with a triangular shape, commonly known as a “corpse hat,” symbolizes ascension to a higher level, often referred to as the “heaven’s crown.”
While not its official name, the triangle’s sharp point is believed to ward off evil spirits.
So, based on Takaba’s attire in Chapter 243, it’s possible that he might be dead, or at least dying. Another troubling sign is that he didn’t react at all to Kenjaku being decapitated, which only raises more concerns.
Adding to this, in Chapter 249, we see Yuta dragging Takaba’s body after he successfully ambushed Kenjaku. Despite the chaos unfolding around him, Takaba didn’t move, which doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in his fate.
And here’s another clue: the way Kenjaku looked down and praised Takaba felt eerily similar to how Sukuna gazed down at Gojo after their fight—a moment of admiration that seemed to signal the end.
But then again, I might be overthinking this. Takaba’s burial attire could just be another one of his jokes. It could be his way of showing that he is soo content that he could move to the afterlife!
Remember, the corpse hat symbolizes ascension to a higher state?
Well, Takaba went through his own character development during the fight, coming to a deeper understanding of himself and his purpose. So, in a metaphorical sense, you could say he “ascended.”
Additionally, the color white represents purity in Japanese culture, and Takaba is undeniably a pure soul—someone who refuses to kill, even in life-or-death situations. His white clothing might symbolize that purity.
With only a few chapters left before Jujutsu Kaisen comes to an end, what do you think about Takaba’s future? Do you believe he’s dead or alive? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!