Where are the parents in Jujutsu Kaisen?

Summary

• JJK lacks father figures; present toxic or deeply troubled.
• Gojo mentors Itadori, Fushigoro, and Okotsu as surrogate parents.
• The faculty of Jujutsu High guides the students, helping them to self-actualize.

Jiu-jutsu Kaisen fans rarely meet the parents of Jujutsu High students. In addition, several of Jiu-jutsu Kaisen parental figures are toxic and dismissive. This detail is ironic given the emphasis on bloodline and inherited cursed methods among the three great families.

Instead, Jujutsu High's faculty noticeably fills the gaps left by JJK's absent tutors. This topic becomes especially relevant when you consider the first-year students at Tokyo Jujutsu High who have been orphaned or separated from their families. Watching the bonds formed between students and teachers at Jujutsu High highlights the important role a teacher plays in the development of their students into adults.

Parents are largely absent from kaisen jujutsu

Few current parents are poor role models

There are few parental figures in Jujutsu Kaisen. Few of the parents either exist off-screen or are seen in minor roles. Yuji's grandfather, his main caregiver, dies in the first series of the anime. Nobara's grandmother is mentioned in the dialogue, but she never appears.

Then there are parents who are present but not well. The best example of a toxic father figure in JJK is Toji Fushigora, who abandons his two children and sells Megumi to the Zenin clan. As for Megumi, Todji is a stranger.

The last group of current parents in JJK are troubled people who are trying their best. These characters have flaws that could be a beige flag, but they take care of their children as best they can. For example, Nagi Yoshina loves her son Junpei. She is genuinely enthusiastic when Junpei brings a new friend, Yuji, home for dinner. And Junpei admits to Yuuji that he and his mom are close.

Unfortunately, Nagi is going through a difficult divorce with Junpei's father. She copes by drinking, even passing out during dinner with Yuji. Also, Nagi depends on Junpei to carry most of the emotional burden in their relationship, to the point where he hides most of the bullying he goes through to protect Nagi's feelings.

Gojo takes from Itadori, Fushigora, and Okotso

He vigorously advocates for them behind closed doors

Satoru Gojo plays an amazing role in the development of his students at Tokyo Jujutsu High School. Despite his reputation as a man of great selfishness and self-centered thinking, he steps in to fill in the gaps where several parents are missing. For all intents and purposes, Gojo adopts Yuji Itadori almost immediately after the young man's grandfather dies. Also, if not for the intervention of a powerful sorcerer, Itadori would have died at the hands of the jujutsu council.

And then there's Megumi. After the murder of Toji Fushigora, Gojo regularly checks on the orphaned Megumi and Tsumiki and supports them financially. He also negotiates with the Zenina clan, voiding their deal with Toji for Megumi. Finally, there is Yuta Okotsu. The troubled teenager was on the verge of suicide after meeting Gojo. Fortunately, Gojo helped Yuta find purpose by showing him how his curse could become an instrument for good.

There are other moments where Gojo uses his natural parental instinct. A prime example is the second day of Kyoto Nursing School's Goodwill Event. After a disastrous first day interrupted by nefarious actors, the high school jujutsu students are physically, emotionally and mentally exhausted. The curatorial faculty almost canceled the event, ending the student competition on a somber note. Gojo pushed Yaga and Gakuganji to continue the event, but the wily instructor planned a twist.

Traditionally, the second day of the goodwill event features all sorts of one-on-one witcher battles, which, given the current situation, isn't a very good idea. Fortunately, Gojo intervenes, bringing with him sleight of hand, pulling slips of paper from a jar filled with the second day's tasks. Which contest will be chosen? Baseball. Is this an Akutami fanservice moment? Maybe, but it serves the plot well. This is where Gojo's emotional intelligence and compassion shine. He knows that their future will be bleak and gives them the opportunity to be children at least for a day. There is a lot of moral ambiguity in the world of jiu-jutsu. A net positive result may justify harsh tactics or physical/emotional burnout that requires students to grow too quickly. Gojo wants more for his students, and that's very important.

High school jujutsu instructors mentor and support their students

Their guidance allows students to self-actualize

High school is an important time in a young person's life. Teens discover their values ​​and goals, and how their actions affect the world around them, all while navigating the turbulent throes of puberty. They are incredibly vulnerable individuals, and how adults interact with them can affect their future. There are mysterious individuals on the faculty of Jujutsu High. Some of them are rebellious rebels like Gojo. Others are more pragmatic, like Kento Nanami. Then there are qualified but ethically dubious teachers like Mei Mei. They are all flawed people, but they do their best to turn the young minds of Jujutsu High into the guardians of the future.

Despite Megumi's disdain for Gojo, the wild instructor has a positive effect on the reserved prodigy. Gojo's conversation with Megumi, as he encourages the self-aware sorcerer to allow himself to lose control, ultimately leads to a breakthrough that allows Megumi to perform domain expansion for the first time. Maki attends a jujutsu school, fighting against the negative prejudices of the Zenin clan. If it were up to a more conservative sorcerer, the gifted fighter would be held back at class 4 indefinitely. Fortunately, Mei Mei, having turned her underrated Cursed Technique into a very valuable Grade 1 tool, recognizes Maki's potential and nominates her for promotion.

Kenta Nanami sets an example for her students. Despite his distaste for the world of jiu-jutsu and what it puts its magicians through, he still returns to the practice out of a sense of duty to others. His strength of character inspires Yuuji to never give up, even as Mahita and Sukuna bring the tortured teenager to his end during the Shibuya incident. Jujutsu High teachers are not on a pedestal. They are objectively no better parents than the blood relatives of their students. However, they demonstrate the importance of a good teacher in a student's development into adulthood. In some cases, a dedicated teacher can build the foundation of a found family for students who lack a support system and thus initiate tremendous change.