Highlights
- Shinjuku Showdown delivers on fan expectations, featuring epic battles and heroes coming together to defeat Sukuna.
- Yuji and Higuruma vs. Sukuna showcases new abilities and Domain Expansion, culminating in a fierce battle with tragic consequences.
- Gojo vs. Sukuna is a highly anticipated fight between the strongest sorcerers, living up to the hype with intense power clashes.
Widely thought to be the last arc of Jujutsu Kaisen, the Shinjuku Showdown has more than delivered on the expectations and hopes that fans have had for such a momentous point in the series. As such, the action in this arc has been incredible and ongoing since Chapter 222, with the entirety of the remaining heroes of Jujutsu High coming together in an attempt to defeat Sukuna.
Due to this, Sukuna fought almost every single hero one after the other, as their plans to defeat the King of Curses kept failing. However, despite the overpowered and one-sided showings of the King of Curses during all his battles, the fights have all been jaw-dropping to behold, so let's break down which battle in Jujutsu Kaisen's Shinjuku Showdown has been the best of them all.
Jujutsu Kaisen: The Heian Era, Explained
The Heian Era was called the Golden Age of Jujutsu and saw some of the strongest Jujutsu in history, so what exactly happened?
Yuji And Higuruma Vs. Sukuna
First Appearance | Jujutsu Kaisen, Chapter 244, "Inhuman Makyo Shinjuku Showdown, Part 16" |
|---|---|
Date | December 3, 2023 |
Combatants | Yuji, Higuruma, Sukuna |
Kashimo's fight against the King of Curses was greatly anticipated but it ultimately didn't last long, as Sukuna finally transformed back into his true, Heian Era form. Proving to be far too strong for Kashimo, Sukuna used his Space Dismantle to end the resurrected sorcerer before he could even put up much of a fight. Just as this fight ended, however, Yuji and Higuruma made their grand entrance to the battlefield.
Higuruma was a fairly minor character who was introduced in the Culling Game arc, but quickly won the hearts of fans due to his strong sense of justice and willingness to help the heroes. He was a genius and a Jujutsu prodigy, quickly picking up advanced Jujutsu techniques fairly early on, and his inclusion in this fight against Sukuna promised great things.
Itadori didn't kill anyone. His confession during the second trial was due to irrational feelings of guilt.
When the eventual fight began, it certainly did not disappoint, as the battle revealed Yuji's new ability with his Demon Arms, showing Sukuna that he too has improved. Eventually, Higuruma would surprise everyone by opening his powerful Domain Expansion, which was part of the plan the entire time to seize Sukuna's Cursed Technique and kill him with the Executioner's Sword, all while separating him from Megumi's soul.
While mostly successful, Higuruma's Domain would instead seize his Cursed Tool Kamutoke, taking the battle to the streets of Shinjuku once more. Here, Sukuna would return to form, swatting Yuji away while taking on Higuruma, who he confirmed to be a talent equal to Gojo himself. After learning RCT on the spot, Higuruma would finally meet his end, being commended by Sukuna once more,] for putting up an amazing fight.
Jujutsu Kaisen: Maximum Techniques, Explained
Some characters in Jujutsu Kaisen can use powerful offensive attacks called 'Maximum Techniques'. What are they and who uses them?
Yuji, Yuta, And Rika Vs. Sukuna
First Appearance | Jujutsu Kaisen, Chapter 248, "Inhuman Makyo Shinjuku Showdown, Part 20" |
|---|---|
Date | January 21, 2024 |
Combatants | Yuji, Yuta, Rika, Sukuna |
The plan to fight against Sukuna saw little success overall, though the one to take out Kenjaku ended up working out. After Yuta deals with the ancient Curse User, he quickly makes his way to Shinjuku and initiates the fight against the King of Curses with Rika. He initially deals quite a lot of damage and keeps the pressure on by opening his Domain Expansion.
Finally, fans got to see Yuta's powerful Domain Expansion that had been teased ever since his three-way battle against Uro and Ryu back in the Culling Game. This Domain was one of the strongest ever seen before in the franchise, where Yuta used his copy technique to store seemingly thousands of Cursed Techniques, which could all be used.
I wanted to defeat Kenjaku with my own hands. I created this situation. This is all my fault. So... Domain Expansion.
This was amazing to see because the action in these chapters was consistently awesome, with Sukuna finally being on the back foot. Yuta's mastery over his Domain and his Cursed Technique was wonderful to behold, while Yuji and Rika were also keeping the pressure on the King of Curses to save Megumi and kill Sukuna once and for all.
At the end of this fight, Sukuna was seen at his most vulnerable after his fight with Gojo, where it finally seemed like the heroes were about to get the better of him. However, everything came crashing down, as Megumi refused to be saved, causing a momentary lapse where Sukuna regained composure and fired a massive Space Dismantle, breaking the Domain and injuring the heroes in the process.
Gojo Vs. Sukuna
First Appearance | Jujutsu Kaisen, Chapter 223, "Inhuman Makyo Shinjuku Showdown, Part 1" |
|---|---|
Date | May 22, 2023 |
Combatants | Gojo and Sukuna |
There could have been no other choice for the best fight in this entire arc. In fact, Gojo vs Sukuna might just be the best fight in the entire Jujutsu Kaisen franchise. This fight was easily one of the most anticipated in anime/manga history as it had been teased since the very first chapter, pitting the strongest sorcerer of the modern day against the strongest sorcerer of all time.
With such a lofty build-up, it was very easy for Gege to mess it up, but the fight more than lived up to the hype, with both characters truly showing why they are so powerful. Gojo and Sukuna lived in a world of their own since no one else could compare to their strength, so the fight was very important in the sense that the two of them could finally enjoy themselves.
You did well, Gojo Satoru. I won't forget you for as long as I live.
Sukuna was inhabiting Megumi's vessel during their bout, giving him access to his Ten Shadows Technique, which he was able to use perfectly against Gojo's Limitless. The Six Eyes user, however, had the upper hand for most of the fight, proving to everyone that he was far more than his natural talent, as he was the hardest worker in any situation.
The fight saw both characters on the winning front at different points, causing a lot of destruction in the process. With each chapter, the stakes got even higher, and the power of both sorcerers was shown repeatedly in the Domain Battles. In the end, Gojo's incredible talent and offensive abilities are defeated by Sukuna's overwhelming knowledge of Jujutsu in an incredible battle that will break the internet once it's animated!
Jujutsu Kaisen can be streamed on Amazon Prime.
Jujutsu Kaisen: Sukuna's Black Box, Explained
Sukuna's Black Box is an insanley powerful technique in JJK.
Jujutsu Kaisen
Based on Gege Akutami's Jujutsu Kaisen manga, Mappa's battle shonen anime envisions a world where Jujutsu Sorcerers battle against entities born out of Cursed Energy. One day, a teenager named Yuji Itadori is dragged into this conflict when he eats a possessed finger.
- Release Date
- October 3, 2020
- Seasons
- 2
- Studio
- MAPPA
- Creator
- Gege Akutami
- Number of Episodes
- 47
