Gojo Satoru smiled through the pain: The hidden burden of Jujutsu Kaisen’s strongest

In Jujutsu Kaisen, there is one character that has stood out among everyone and has been a fan favorite from the second he made an entrance. Gojo Satoru, with his white hair, blindfolded smirk, and godlike techniques, instantly set him apart in a cast of powerful sorcerers. But beneath his charm and confidence of being the strongest lies a deep well of loneliness, responsibility, and pain.

From the moment Gojo was born, the world changed. Curses began hiding. Sorcerers started whispering. For the first time in 400 years, someone was born with both the Limitless technique and the Six Eyes.

This combination is so rare and powerful in the world of Jujutsu Kaisen that it shifted the balance. As a child, Gojo had bounties placed on his head before he could even talk. He was a walking weapon, objectified by the sorcerer world before he had a chance to find out who he really was. His strength made him untouchable—and not just physically.

Moreover, his Limitless technique creates an infinite space between him and others, and in a metaphorical sense, this is who he is. No one can truly reach him. He allowed people to get close, like his students and friends, but not too close. He can't afford to. He’s built walls made of infinity, because letting anyone in risks breaking everything he’s holding together.

In early episodes and chapters of Jujutsu Kaisen, Gojo comes off as eccentric, boastful, maybe even selfish. He’s the strongest and he knows it. But if you’ve only seen the anime, you’re missing what makes his character so layered. Gojo isn't just a cocky teacher with a god complex—he's a man who wears arrogance like armor.

This becomes painfully clear in the Hidden Inventory arc. When Gojo Jujutsu Kaisen achieves his full power after nearly dying at the hands of Toji Fushiguro, he claims the title “I alone am the honored one.” A statement echoing the Buddha upon his birth, it’s meant to be transcendent. But for Gojo, it’s not enlightenment; it can be interpreted as egoic delusion. He may have survived death, but he lost something in the process: his humanity.

The Tragedy of Suguru Geto

Suguru Geto was Gojo’s best friend in Jujutsu Kaisen. Possibly the only person who ever truly understood him. Where Gojo was brash and reactive, Geto was thoughtful and philosophical. They balanced each other. They were equals. And then, they weren’t.

After the failed Star Plasma Vessel mission and Riko’s death, the cracks in their friendship widened. Gojo rose higher into the heavens, while Geto sank into darkness. Gojo was sent on missions alone, exercising his strength. Geto was left alone to consume curses and question his morality. Without each other, they spiraled in different directions.

The line that defines their divergence is haunting: “Are you the strongest because you’re Gojo Satoru? Or are you Gojo Satoru because you’re the strongest?” In that one question, Geto strikes at the core of Gojo’s identity.

The burden of being the strongest in the world of Jujutsu Kaisen

At its heart, Jujutsu Kaisen is about the flaws in a system built on power. Gojo represents the peak of that power. And he knows better than anyone that it’s not enough. His strength was supposed to protect people, yet he couldn’t save Geto. He couldn’t save Riko. And he might not be able to save Yuji.

The higher-ups depend on him but fear him. They send children to die. They worship bloodlines and reject change. Gojo wants to burn that system to the ground, but he knows that if he does, someone just like them will take their place. So instead, he plants seeds.

He trains his students. He tells Yuji and Yuta that he won’t let their youth be taken like his was. But unfortunately, because of Kenjaku, he was sealed in the prison realm, and he was not able to witness the new generation in their prime.

Trending

Final thoughts

Gojo’s journey in Jujutsu Kaisen is one of quiet tragedy masked by loud charisma. He is adored and revered, yet profoundly alone. He fights for a world that rejected him. And even after everything, he chooses to protect others—even if he cannot protect himself. Because in a world that only values strength, a smile is the last piece of humanity he has left.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback