While many popular manga and anime properties, likeĀ Dragon BallĀ andĀ Cowboy Bebop, have anglicized titles that donāt require translation for English-language audiences, one major exception isĀ Jujutsu Kaisen. Gege Akutamiās best-selling manga series and its hit anime adaptation have retained the Japanese title for international audiences.
Jujutsu Kaisen Meaning in English Explained
![Megumi, Nobara, and Yuji are surprised. This image is part of an article about the English meaning of Jujutsu Kaisen.](https://www.escapistmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Jujutsu-Kaisen-header-1.jpg?w=1024&resize=1200%2C675)
The termĀ Jujutsu KaisenĀ features two compound words in Japanese, whichĀ must be broken downĀ into their individual components for a more accurate translation. āJuā means flexible or yielding, while ājutsuā means technique or art. When combined, the term means flexible technique,Ā which isĀ the Japanese term for sorcery.
Kaisen isĀ something ofĀ a made-up term devised by Akutami, derived from combining two different Kanji characters to create its own meaning that suits the storyās premise. In Kanji, āKaiā means to rotate or move in a cycle, whereasĀ āSenā means battle. When combined, Kaisen roughly translates as circular or never-ending battle.
ThisĀ means that, altogether,Ā Jujutsu KaisenĀ can mean sorcery battle, but,Ā more specificallyĀ and accurately, a never-ending sorcery battle that the Jujutsu Sorcerers and curses find themselves embroiled in.Ā ThisĀ isĀ certainlyĀ a bit of a somber or fatalistic term to underscore the story, but asĀ the stakes increase and losses become more palpableĀ asĀ Jujutsu KaisenĀ progresses, it certainly fits in with the overarching themes of the story itself.
Related: Tojiās Heavenly Restriction In Jujutsu Kaisen Explained
What Is Jujutsu Kaisen About?
Jujutsu Kaisen follows a group of magic users, known as Jujutsu Sorcerers, who battle sentient evil curses that feed on negative emotions from the unsuspecting public. High schooler Yuji Itadori is bonded to the malevolent curse, Ryomen Sukuna, but manages to channel its powers to help the Jujutsu Sorcerers battle other curses, who in turn help Yuji hone his developing supernatural abilities.
And that’s the meaning of Jujutsu Kaisen in English.
Jujutsu Kaisen is streaming now on Crunchyroll.
Published: May 3, 2024 08:47 am