Jujutsu Kaisen has earned a reputation for its ruthless approach to character fates. The series doesn’t shy away from killing off prominent characters, leaving fans on edge with each new episode.
However, some viewers have noticed a curious trend: some less powerful characters seem to survive against all odds. As it turns out, creator Gege Akutami has a specific method to his madness.
A recent Jujutsu Kaisen exhibition in Tokyo featured a Q&A booklet with Akutami, offering insights into his creative process. One of the question was about Mei Mei getting out alive without any major injuries from Shibuya District. Akutami’s response was surprisingly straightforward:
“Mei Mei didn’t die because characters who don’t have the appeal to make readers sad when they die, don’t need to die.”
This answer offers a fascinating glimpse into Akutami’s storytelling philosophy. It suggests that character deaths in Jujutsu Kaisen aren’t just for shock value, but are carefully calculated to maximize emotional impact on the reader.
Mei Mei’s survival of the Shibuya Incident is a prime example of this principle in action. Despite being caught in one of the most dangerous events in the series, she managed to come out alive.
During the Shibuya Incident, Mei Mei found herself facing off against a formidable foe: Pseudo-Geto, a vessel for the ancient sorcerer Kenjaku. However she managed to live but how you may ask.
We never got to see the fight between Mei Mei and Kenjaku, but Mei Mei later confirmed that she was able to escape Kenjaku thanks to her little brother Ui Ui (whose cursed technique is unknown at the moment). She also revealed that if they had not escaped, they would have been killed.
Also Read: Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 Announced, Will Adapt ‘Culling Game Arc’
While Mei Mei’s survival might seem miraculous given the casualties of the Shibuya Incident, it aligns perfectly with Akutami’s revealed criteria. Her character, while competent and interesting, doesn’t carry the emotional weight that would make her death particularly impactful to the overall narrative.
What are your thoughts on Jujutsu Kaisen’s creator, Akutami Gege criteria to kill or let the character live based on their emotional impact on the readers? Let us know in the comment section.
Source: X
