Meet Yuta Okkotsu: A Powerful Character of Jujutsu Kaisen Manga (Spoilers Warning)
Yuta Okkotsu is an important character in the Jujutsu Kaisen series and the main character in its prequel, Jujutsu Kaisen 0: Jujutsu High. He used to be haunted by his late friend, Rika Orimoto, turning into a powerful cursed human. Under the guidance of Satoru Gojo, Yuta became a student at Tokyo Jujutsu High. He’s in his second year at the school, training to become a jujutsu sorcerer. After the Shibuya Incident, Yuta returned to Tokyo from training in Africa with his friend Miguel.
Appearance:
Yuta has a youthful appearance with messy black hair and dark blue eyes. As a first-year student, he often displayed signs of stress through his body language, such as slouching and dark circles under his eyes from lack of sleep. As a second-year, his hair has grown longer and he adopts a more relaxed hairstyle. Previously, at his old school, Yuta wore a suit as part of his uniform. For casual wear, he opted for a long-sleeve shirt or a black t-shirt paired with dark green pants. After transferring to Tokyo Jujutsu High, he received a specialized uniform consisting of a loose white jacket with mid-length sleeves and slender blue jeans tucked into white sneakers. Yuta is often seen carrying his katana case on his back.
Yuta had a tough upbringing, enduring a lot of bullying and feeling lonely most of the time. Rika’s haunting presence in his life made it hard for him to connect with others, causing him to lose confidence in himself. This made it challenging for Yuta to interact with people, as he often felt scared or too shy to talk to them. Despite his timid nature, Yuta genuinely cared about others but distanced himself from them to avoid getting hurt. Maki Zenin pointed out that Yuta lacked direction in life, which made him realize he needed to find a purpose. This motivated him to become a jujutsu sorcerer, hoping to gain the confidence to belong somewhere.
Over time, Yuta started to open up more and engage with others, although he still struggled at first. He initially found it hard to understand Toge Inumaki but eventually realized Toge’s kindness and made an effort to befriend him, showing signs of social improvement. As Yuta gained friends, he started to believe in himself more and set a goal to free Rika from her curse. Feeling responsible for her condition, he worked tirelessly to find a way to help her, pushing himself during training and taking advice from his friends and mentors to heart. He wanted to become someone who could protect others from harm.
However, when faced with Suguru Geto, who had hurt his friends, Yuta’s darkest side emerged. Fueled by rage, he was willing to kill Geto to avenge his friends, even commanding Rika’s power with ease. Yuta was prepared to sacrifice himself to use Rika’s abilities to eliminate Geto and protect those who gave him the confidence to keep going. Upon returning to Jujutsu High after his time overseas, Yuta appeared consumed by darkness, agreeing to carry out a mission to kill Yuji Itadori as revenge for Toge’s injury. He adopted a serious and cold persona, showing no hesitation in his actions. Despite his apathetic facade, Yuta’s actions were driven by his desire to protect his friends and fulfill his goal of freeing Rika from her curse.
Power and Abilities
Yuta Okkotsu is recognized as one of the special grade sorcerers by Jujutsu High, mainly due to the immense power of Rika’s spirit haunting him. When Satoru Gojo assigned him his first mission, Yuta struggled with fighting and controlling his cursed energy. However, when faced with a life-threatening situation, he tapped into his emotions and fully manifested Rika’s power, completing the mission despite his physical limitations.
Realizing his weaknesses, Yuta underwent training with Maki to improve his combat skills. Despite being unable to land a hit on Maki during training, Yuta worked hard to enhance his abilities. In his second mission with Toge, Yuta demonstrated progress by successfully assisting in exorcising a curse, showcasing improved combat techniques and control over his cursed energy.
During the 2017 Goodwill Event, Yuta surprised everyone by dominating his opponents from Kyoto Jujutsu High, including Aoi Todo. Although he didn’t fully manifest Rika’s power at the time, it was implied that her presence played a significant role in his victory.
Continuing his training at Jujutsu High, Yuta’s growth as a sorcerer was evident. When Suguru Geto targeted him and injured his friends, Yuta unleashed extraordinary levels of cursed energy, enhancing his physical abilities and senses. With Rika’s help, he matched Geto in combat, displaying the rare ability to use the reverse cursed technique and even copy other cursed techniques. Despite the odds, Yuta emerged victorious by displaying his willingness to sacrifice himself to unlock Rika’s full power, ultimately overpowering Geto and his formidable techniques.
Physical Prowess:
Yuta Okkotsu has developed exceptional physical abilities, particularly in wielding his katana and engaging in hand-to-hand combat.
Expert Weapons Specialist: Initially trained to stabilize his cursed energy, Yuta became proficient with a katana through rigorous training with Maki Zenin. His skills with the sword allow him to hold his own against cursed spirits and powerful sorcerers like Suguru Geto. Yuta’s swordsmanship has dramatically improved over time, showcasing superhuman physical prowess and precision in his attacks.
Expert Hand-to-Hand Combatant: Yuta has also become skilled in hand-to-hand combat, employing powerful strikes that can incapacitate opponents with a single blow. He utilizes a combination of brute force and calculated moves to dominate close-quarters combat situations, even against formidable adversaries in the Culling Game.
Intelligence:
Yuta demonstrates a high level of tactical intellect and strategic thinking, allowing him to effectively navigate various challenges in the jujutsu world.
High Tactical Intellect: Although initially a novice sorcerer, Yuta possesses a keen awareness of his abilities and how to utilize them in battle. He strategically assesses situations, such as when facing a formidable curse with Toge Inumaki, recognizing the need to restore Toge’s cursed speech to overcome the threat. Additionally, Yuta’s intelligence extends beyond combat, as demonstrated by his clever manipulation of the higher-ups to execute a plan involving Yuji Itadori, showcasing his ability to outsmart opponents and navigate complex situations.
