Aoi Todo
Aoi Todo is a character in Jujutsu Kaisen. He’s a third-year student at Kyoto Jujutsu High School and holds the rank of grade 1 jujutsu sorcerer. When he was younger, he was trained by Yuki Tsukumo. Todo sees Yuji Itadori as his closest friend.
Personality:
Aoi Todo is a tall and muscular young man, standing at a height similar to Satoru Gojo. He has tan skin and small black eyes, with shoulder-length black hair usually tied up in a top-knot bun. Notably, his hair has unusual flyaway strands resembling flower stamens, which matches the meaning of his name. Todo bears a prominent scar on the left side of his face, a result of rigorous training with Yuki. In his jujutsu high uniform, Todo often removes his jacket and tears the undershirt before or during battles. He prefers loose martial arts pants that stop above the ankle, paired with slippers and a bright blue sash around his waist. While playing ping-pong with Mei Mei, he opts for a tennis-style outfit, wearing a collared shirt and shorts instead of his usual attire.
In Todo’s fantasy of attending junior high with Yuji Itadori and Takada, he imagines himself wearing a school uniform similar to his Jujutsu High one. His black jacket, like always, is left open to reveal the undershirt. Even in these imagined memories, Todo sports his blue sash with his pants.During the Shibuya Incident, Todo faced a dire situation. To prevent being fully transfigured by Mahito, he had to make the difficult decision to sever his left hand. Additionally, he severely injured his right palm by briefly slapping Mahito’s hand in order to swap places with Yuji.
Aoi Todo is known for his eccentric personality, often seen as a battle-loving eccentric by his peers. He enjoys flaunting his muscles and thrives on the excitement of combat. Another significant aspect of his character is his deep admiration for his favorite pop idol, Takada-chan. Todo frequently mentions her in conversation and prioritizes attending her shows and meet-and-greets without fail. He even imagines conversations with Takada during his inner dialogues. During his childhood, Todo felt bored with life despite his exceptional strength. However, everything changed when he met Yuki Tsukumo, who brought excitement into his life. Todo fondly recalls the moment his boredom was flipped upside down by Yuki’s introduction, where she asked him, “what kind of girls do you like?” This phrase became a part of Todo’s own identity.
Todo despises boredom above all else, often gauging people’s responses to the question “what kind of girls do you like” to assess their personality. His reactions to their answers can range from mild to extreme. When Megumi’s response was deemed boring by Todo, he resorted to physical violence, expressing his frustration at the lack of excitement, particularly due to the absence of Yuta Okkotsu, whom he saw as a worthy opponent, at the last Goodwill Event.
Todo also holds disdain for his peers at Kyoto Jujutsu High, finding fault in their taste in women. During the planning stages of the Goodwill Event, he showed no interest in the mission to exorcise Sukuna’s vessel and openly criticized the plans of his team and Principal Gakuganji, threatening them with violence if they tried to give him orders again. However, Todo’s reaction to Yuji’s response to the same question was drastically different. Learning that they shared the same taste in women, Todo envisioned a false memory where Yuji comforted him after being rejected by Takada, solidifying their friendship in his mind. Even after returning to reality, Todo tearfully declared Yuji as his best friend, much to Yuji’s confusion.
During the Goodwill Event, Todo revealed a more intelligent and philosophical side while mentoring Yuji. He took pleasure in guiding Yuji and felt proud of helping him develop his potential. Todo emphasized the importance of properly channeling cursed energy, explaining its flow and how individuals are connected to the world through their mind, body, and soul, a concept often overlooked by many. This philosophical insight inspired Yuji to elevate his jujutsu skills, eventually mastering techniques like Black Flash. Todo’s confidence in his abilities shines through even in dangerous situations, as he enjoys heated combat. He casually mentioned his prowess during the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons, revealing that he defeated a special grade using only his cursed technique.
Despite his peers acknowledging his power, they find Todo irritating and struggle to get along with him. This was evident during a baseball game where Todo’s actions led to him being disliked by everyone except Yuji. Maki even went as far as hitting him in the face with the baseball, earning praise from others for the action. Amidst the chaos of the Shibuya Incident, Todo remained composed and made strategic decisions. Recognizing the urgency to rescue allies over prioritizing Satoru Gojo’s rescue, Todo focused on finding Yuji, whom he believed would be at the heart of the turmoil.
When Todo located Yuji, he found him in a battered state after battling Mahito. Despite Yuji’s condition, Todo reassured him, emphasizing their exception to the rule that prosperity must decline. He urged Yuji to rise again, stating that their battle was far from over. Yuji expressed his inability to continue fighting due to guilt over his fallen allies. In response, Todo challenged conventional thinking, reminding Yuji that they were all jujutsu sorcerers fighting together. He emphasized that as long as one of them remained standing, their fallen comrades had not truly been defeated. Todo encouraged Yuji to reflect on what their friends had entrusted to him, acknowledging that it may take time to find the answer. He believed that this introspection was the only true punishment sorcerers must endure, urging Yuji to keep moving forward until he discovered it.
Power and Abilities:
Aoi Todo is considered one of the most powerful students at Jujutsu High, achieving the rank of grade 1 sorcerer despite not coming from a sorcerer family. During Geto’s Night Line attack in Kyoto, Aoi showcased his strength by defeating five grade 1 cursed spirits and one special grade all on his own. He managed to defeat the special grade using only his cursed technique, leading to rumors that he had defeated all six curses without relying on his cursed technique. Aoi’s physical prowess rivals that of Yuji, Maki, and Panda. His brute strength and skilled martial arts techniques allowed him to easily overpower Megumi and initially dominate Yuji in their battle. Even while mentoring Yuji to become stronger, Aoi maintained control of the fight due to his experience and strategic thinking.
Aoi and Yuji proved to be a formidable duo, complementing each other’s abilities well. Aoi demonstrated his intelligence and deep understanding of jujutsu sorcery and battles, guiding Yuji in harnessing cursed energy effectively alongside his impressive speed and strength. In the intense battle against Hanami, Aoi showcased his analytical skills by swiftly devising counters to Hanami’s moves using his own cursed technique. Despite Hanami initially underestimating Aoi’s strength, Aoi’s strategic planning and teamwork with Yuji enabled them to gain the upper hand and dominate the fight.
At the start of the Goodwill Event, Aoi quickly closed the distance to the opposing team, showcasing his remarkable speed. Even Yuji was caught off guard by Aoi’s swiftness, momentarily overwhelmed by his physical abilities. Aoi’s speed also adds unpredictability to his movements when he combines it with his cursed technique, as seen in his battle against Hanami.
Despite his seemingly brash demeanor, Aoi possesses remarkable intelligence. He claims to have an IQ of 530,000 and demonstrates a deep understanding of jujutsu. Aoi played a crucial role in transforming Yuji into a formidable fighter capable of facing special-grade cursed spirits. He also possesses a philosophical side, offering insights that help Yuji grasp the complexities of jujutsu. Aoi’s thinking speed is unparalleled, allowing him to analyze and counter Hanami’s attacks in a fraction of a second. His tactical prowess and strategic thinking make him a formidable opponent, capable of outsmarting even the most powerful adversaries.