Yuji Itadori has always been very close to a typical shonen protagonist. He is someone who’ll never bat an eye when it comes to saving others, and has a personality that is lovable.
Though Akutami felt that his character has the possibility of making the story bland, Yuji has mostly won the hearts of Jujutsu Kaisen fans.
However, the one thing that differentiated Yuji from the other cliched shounen MCs is his lack of lofty ambitions or a personal goal at the start. He did not want to be a hokage or a pirate king, he was just content being a cog in the large mechanism of the Jujutsu society.
This was also the one thing that probably irked readers a lot when it came to his character. But come Jujutsu Kaisen chapter 265, Itadori has finally shown signs that he is breaking free from this cog mentality of his.
As I mentioned, Yuji’s cog mentality has been looked down. However, I personally found it very refreshing, and it was one of the reasons that made me love Jujutsu Kaisen more.
So, before we get into the almost perfect manner which Yuji broke free of this mentality, we are first going to understand why he was content being just a cog.
Deconstructing Yuji Itadori’s cog mentality:
For the uninitiated, cog mentality is a psychological construct where an individual perceives themselves as a small, interchangeable part of a larger machine.
They prioritize the system’s goals over personal needs and desires, often suppressing their individuality in favor of collective efficiency. Cogs are typically characterized by a high degree of compliance, a strong sense of duty, and a diminished sense of self-worth.
Yuji Itadori, from the outset, displays marked characteristics of a cog. He becomes a vessel, a means to an end, rather than an individual with agency.
His life and his goals became secondary to his role as a jujutsu sorcerer. But why? What made him stick to the role of being just a cog.
Wasuke Itadori’s curse:
The genesis of Yuji Itadori’s cog mentality can be traced back to a single, pivotal moment: his grandfather’s dying wish. Wasuke Itadori, in his final moments, implored Yuji to “help others.”
This seemingly simple request became the lodestar guiding Yuji’s actions. One could wonder why Itadori chose to be so compliant. Maybe it was innate nature. Maybe he felt indebted to his grandpa for raising him when his parents were not around.
Anyways, his decision to consume Sukuna’s finger, a life-altering act, was rooted in his determination to save Megumi Fushiguro, aligning with his grandfather’s call to help others.
He was undeniably terrified of the consequences of getting involved in something he shouldn’t be. A fear of death as Itadori himself analyzed.
However, the weight of his grandfather’s wish, combined with an innate sense of responsibility, compelled him to act.
Cogs often exhibit a high degree of compliance, and this action more than proved what was set to come. And, though only subtly, this established Yuji’s compliant character.
Yaga Masamichi, the principal of Tokyo Jujutsu High, astutely observed this dynamic. He recognized that Itadori’s actions were driven by a sense of obligation rather than a personal desire to become a sorcerer.
While Yaga beat some clarity into Yuji’s mindset, he only made Yuji realize that he was a cog in a larger machine.
Forging the cog:
The world of jujutsu sorcery is unforgiving, demanding absolute dedication and sacrifice. Yaga drilled into Yuji the harsh reality that sorcerers must often confront their own death and that of their comrades without faltering.
This relentless focus on duty over self is a core tenet of the cog mentality.
The role of a jujutsu sorcerer is rigidly defined: to eradicate curses. There is little room for personal ambition or emotional attachment.
Yaga tested Yuji’s resolve, pushing him to his limits to determine if he possessed the necessary fortitude. By imposing these stringent requirements, Yaga solidified Itadori’s position as a cog in the jujutsu world.
And it is here that he was given an even bigger role to fulfil – help the jujutsu society to finally get rid of Ryomen Sukuna.
Yuji never considered himself the chosen one – as he was unaware of Kenjaku’s role in the grand scheme of things. In his mind, he was an ordinary boy thrust into extraordinary circumstances.
However, the realization that he was the only one capable of reigning in Sukuna led him to accept his role. His refusal to take up this burden would have led to dire consequences, a fact not lost on him.
Yuji was resigned to impending execution after consuming all of Sukuna’s fingers. He was on borrowed time. And this awareness led him to seek fulfillment through his role.
From there on, Yuji would go on to fulfil his duties diligently. Even when faced with the deaths of his mentor and his close companion at Shibuya, Yuji pushed through, albeit with the help of a chad Todo.
Yuji’s cog mindset was perfected during his fight with Mahito, and is portrayed brilliantly in his monologue at the fight’s climax.
I’m You Mahito – Understanding Yuji’s words:
Yuji wanted to hate Mahito for what he had done. He wanted to reject the cursed spirit’s ideals. However, Yuji came to the realization that he was not any different from Mahito.
Mahito was a cursed spirit. And for a cursed spirit killing people without any second thought was nothing out of the ordinary. One could say that it was their role and the essence of their existence.
There was no right or wrong here. Yuji’s sense of justice didn’t apply to Mahito.
And just like Mahito killed innocents without reason, Yuji’s role was to exterminate cursed spirits without a second thought. He was not at the liberty to judge their actions, or pass judgement on them.
He didn’t have to find any rhyme or reason in his actions. All he had to do was to kill curses, no matter how many times they showed up in whatever form. Check the following link for a more detailed analysis!
And it wasn’t just Itadori’s role. Jujutsu sorcerers were meant to do this. Todo’s statement to Itadori at Shibuya also puts this into perspective.
We are Jujutsu Sorcerers. You and I! Kugisaki! Mr. Nanami! All of our allies. Together we are jujutsu sorcerers.
As long as we live, our friends who passed away will not truly have been defeated.
It’s not about sins or punishments. The moment we become jujutsu sorcerers, our lives cannot be limited to such misfortunes. Looking for meaning or logic in death can at times defile the memories of those we’ve lost!
Even so! What have you been entrusted with? You don’t need to answer right now. However, until you find your answer, never stop moving. For those of us who live as jujutsu sorcerers…that is the punishment we must endure.
Yuji’s cog mindset was further exemplified when he went to meet Hakari to ask for his help in the upcoming Culling Games.
Hakari noted that Yuji was simply being compliant to other’s wishes by seeking him out. But just because he was compliant didn’t mean Yuji would run away when it mattered the most.
While raining down the blow, it dawned on Hakari that Yuji was built differently. He possessed an inner resilience that allowed him to rise to the occasion when faced with adversity. The fever of the cog!
Shaping Itadori’s worldview:
Now, Yuji’s interaction with Hakari also throws some much needed light into understanding how the cog mentality shaped his worldview.
He developed a rigid perception of individuals as mere mechanisms within a larger system, each with a specific function. This belief was rooted in his understanding of his own role in the world.
Central to Itadori’s worldview was the belief that individuals derived meaning and purpose from the roles they fulfill. This perspective was evident when he questioned Hakari what his function was in the grand scheme of things.
This role-centric worldview had implications for Itadori’s decision-making too. When faced with challenges, he prioritized the needs of the group over his own desires.
He showed a sense of self-sacrifice that bordered on self-neglect.
This was summed up perfectly in chapter 212 right before Sukuna took Megumi’s body. Here, we see Itadori thanking everyone in his mind for giving him a role to play. He believed that his life gained some value because of that and he was willing to die.
However, come chapter 265, note that Itadori’s worldview is not entirely rigid. While his cog mentality has shaped his perspective, it does not define him entirely.
Somewhere along the lines, he evolved!
JJK 265 and Itadori’s evolution:
Yuji was content living his life as a cog. But it’s not like he never wavered. Nanami and Nobara’s death were the first to test his resolve. However, Todo’s timely appearance prevented him from going astray.
However, during the Shinjuku showdown, Higuruma and Choso’s deaths really shook him, so much that he began questioning his role in everything and in some way, evolved.
Higuruma is someone who had the same outlook as Itadori. He wasn’t proud of what he had done in the past. And as a means to deliver justice, he was intent on fulfilling his role and dying.
He didn’t see any value to his life more than being a cog. This was probably an eye opener for Itadori. While he admitted that he wasn’t any different from Higuruma, he didn’t want the sorcerer to throw away his life without any value.
But, he did end up throwing away his life in the end.
For a long time Higuruma was unsure about what his role would be in the Shinjuku showdown. In the end, he decided to sacrifice his life to give Itadori a chance to finish off Sukuna. The moment Higuruma looked Itadori in the eye spoke volumes.
Once again, it was a moment when Itadori’s resolve might have wavered, but that is why he reiterates to himself that he is a Jujutsu sorcerer.
And despite Higuruma having fulfilled his duty, there was an emptiness which surrounded his death. Because, Sukuna eventually survived. It certainly ignited a self reflection in Itadori.
The next instance that made Itadori question his beliefs was Choso’s sacrifice. Much like Higuruma, Choso too fulfilled a role – protecting his younger brother and dying.
It is a noble feat. But for Itadori, Choso fulfilling that role didn’t justify his sacrifice. He’d rather have had his oni-chan live by his side than die for him.
Yuji started to question the idea that a person’s worth was solely tied to their role or how well they fulfilled it. This realization was a turning point in Yuji’s evolution.
Similar to how Todo made an appearance after Nobara’s death, he was at the right place at the right time once again when Itadori was at his lowest. However, even Todo seemed to have run out of words to justify what was happening.
Yuji’s monologue in Chapter 265 solidified his evolving perspective. He began to understand that a person’s value was not dictated by their role or the function they served in society.
Instead, he started to believe that everyone’s life had intrinsic value, regardless of their contributions or sacrifices. This marked a significant departure from his previous cog mentality, where he saw himself as expendable, only useful for as long as he could serve a purpose.
This evolution in Yuji’s thinking is not just a rejection of his old beliefs but also points to a new understanding of life and self-worth.
It suggests that Yuji is moving towards a more holistic and compassionate view of the world, where the value of a person is not measured by their utility but by their inherent humanity.
This shift in perspective is perfectly portrayed by Gege Akutami in a panel featuring Buddha, just before Yuji delivers one of the coldest lines in Jujutsu Kaisen.
Put this together with Itadori’s Domain Expansion Hand Sign and it all fits in quite well!
Itadori tells Sukuna that he is capable of killing him, but was ready to show compassion if the King of Curses was willing to spare Megumi. This once again is a stark contrast to how he treated Mahito.
When Itadori bested Mahito, there was no room for compassion; his focus was on eliminating Mahito to fulfill his role as a jujutsu sorcerer and eradicate curses.
Sukuna is an even bigger curse than Mahito will ever be. Yet, rather than adhering to his assigned role, Yuji is willing to deviate from the path and instead focus on saving Megumi—because that is what he believes is right.
This choice mirrors Megumi’s own decision in the initial chapters to save Itadori, even though jujutsu rules dictated that Itadori should have been designated a curse and killed after consuming Sukuna’s finger.
However, Itadori’s evolution is still not complete. As he himself admits, he is still grappling with questions of right and wrong and what truly constitutes humane action.
On top of that, I don’t think Itadori has completely stopped viewing himself as a cog either.
It will be interesting to see what kind of a conclusion Akutami will give Itadori. Regardless of that, I guess we can stop with Itadori not being a well written character accusations now I guess.
What are your thoughts on Itadori’s cog mentality and its evolution? I’d like to read them in the comments below!