Jujutsu Kaisen, in its recent release of chapter 265, has brought a lot of complexities to light. As one of the most anticipated chapters in the series, there was a lot of hype surrounding it. Then again, things were not as the fans expected at all. We got the death reveal instead.
The chapter offers some reveals that not only throw the readers down an abrupt trip into their memory lanes (maybe tear up a little) but raise a few questions that are difficult to answer. Like the current status quo of our long-lost friend, Higurama.
1. What Happened to Higuruma?
Hiromi Higurama was grievously injured by Sukuna and taken by Ui Ui to Shoko Ieiri for treatment. Higurama has been missing from the series since. Higurama has either been recovering or has succumbed to his injuries.
The calm discussion between Yuji and Sukuna is thought-provoking and raises many questions. One of them is – what happened to Hiromi Higuruma? Hiromi Higurama was last seen in a dangerous situation following a failed attack on Sukuna. Higuruma was faced with a severe counterattack from the demon king.
Sukuna’s relentless assault left him gravely injured, as we have seen in those chapters. Right then, Ui Ui stepped in like an angel and stopped Sukuna from hurting the sorceres further. He then hurriedly took them away to get to Shoko Ieri to get treated for their injuries.
Despite the urgency and the uncertain (kinda of cliffhanger) nature of their plight, the author just did not mention the fate of the characters, including Higuruma. It was speculated by amateur internet sleuths that Higurama succumbed to the injuries.
The death portraits that Sukuna shows do not contain Higurama at all. The other characters are all dead, so does that indicate Higurama might be alive? These images depict significant figures such as Gojo, Choso, Nobara, Nanami, Junpei, and Naobito—each of whom had a profound influence on Yuji’s journey. It is also possible that since Higurama did not have that level of influence on Yuji, he was omitted.
2. What happens in Chapter 265?
The readers were expecting a showdown between the protagonist, Yuji Itadori, and the all-powerful demon king, Ryomen Sukuna. While the much-anticipated clash did not happen, the chapter showed everyone the ‘savior’ side of Yuji.
Yuji, in this chapter, goes to meet Sukuna, his long-time companion and (sort of) mentor. Yuji approaches Sukuna to talk. The conversation shows no signs of sparks but instead is very civil (considering the usual battle-hungry natures of both Yuji and Sukuna).
During the conversation, Sukuna lets Yuji take a glimpse into his past. Yuji is unsuccessful in his attempt to make nice with Sukuna, but we see that there is a collection of characters shown in this chapter, that passed away. Hiromi Higurama is not one of them, leading to the question of – Is he alive?
3. Possible Explanations
The absence of Hiromi Higuruma from the “death portraits” of Sukuna allows for three possibilities:
- Higuruma is Dead: This has been the accepted explanation amongst readers and avid anime otakus as there was no way that the character would be omitted from the story suddenly. The impact of Higurama’s death would be weak; as such, it was not mentioned in the series.
- Higuruma is Alive (Seriously Injured): Another possibility is that Higuruma is alive but is in a seriously injured state. After being taken for treatment (by Ieri), Higurama might have survived, but the impact of the onslaught from Sukuna took a toll on him. The “death portraits” do not record him (although Sukuna would be the reason he died); thus, he might be alive and make a comeback later.
- Higurama was forgotten: Higurama played a memorable role in the Sukuna attack arc. But that was it, he isn’t indispensable to the series. Thus, when he was taken away for treatment, the author might have thought he had run his course. So, Hiromi Higurama was dropped from the panels (they couldn’t accommodate him anymore) and that is the reason he vanished. Irrespective of him being alive or dead.
4. About Jujutsu Kaisen
Jujutsu Kaisen, also known as Sorcery Fight, is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Gege Akutami, serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump since March 2018.
An anime television series adaptation produced by MAPPA premiered in October 2020.
The story revolves around Yuuji Itadori, a high-school student who, despite hating athletics, is insanely fit. Yuuji gets involved in the world of sorcery when he swallows a powerful talisman to protect his friends from its curse.
On observing that Yuuji wasn’t affected much even when inflicted with this curse, Satoru decides to send Yuuji on a quest to save the world.
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