Why Jujutsu Kaisen fans prefer Yuta over Yuji as the true lead

When I think about Jujutsu Kaisen and everything it has become, the explosive battles, the gut-wrenching deaths, and the incredibly layered characters, I can’t help but return to one central thought: Yuta Okkotsu should’ve been the main character. Not Yuji Itadori. This article is not about disliking Itadori as a protagonist. Gege has decently developed his character arc.

Everyone who went through this series was able to sympathize with his struggle, especially in the later arcs. But as Jujutsu Kaisen unfolds, it becomes more and more clear that Yuta was built to carry this story on his shoulders, narratively, emotionally, and thematically, especially after his character was introduced in Jujutsu Kaisen 0.

Yuta was unlike Yuji, whose emotional foundation was tied to a vague dying wish from his grandfather. I believe that his motivations felt deeply personal and rooted in genuine grief. Yuta came into the series with a painfully grounded backstory, and it is Rika. She was the girl who was cursed because of his grief and attachment. That alone gave his arc more emotional resonance from the get-go.

While Yuji’s grief over Junpei, Nobara, and eventually Gojo hits hard, his arc always felt like it was being pulled away from plot point to plot point. Yuta’s story, on the other hand, had time to breathe. It developed naturally and slowly, and fans felt every step of it. Additionally, I think there is something quietly powerful about the way Yuta looked at Gojo.

Out of all the students, it felt like Yuta internalized Gojo’s lessons the most. He stayed calm in battle. He protected civilians. He made tough decisions without sacrificing his humanity. If Gojo was ever looking for someone to surpass him, it was Yuta. In contrast to him, Yuji had a more conflicted relationship with Gojo. There were moments of connection, but the bond never quite deepened.

This brings me to my next point: Yuta isn’t just a strong sorcerer. In Jujutsu Kaisen, he is one of the strongest naturally. Unlike Yuji, who had to rely on Sukuna’s presence to even be relevant in battle, Yuta earned his power. He trained, grew, and unlocked abilities from within. And the fact that he does eventually become the head of the Gojo Clan isn’t just symbolic.

It cements what many fans already felt: that Yuta is the true heir to Gojo’s ideals, the one student who can carry forward his legacy. Yuji, despite everything he’s done, was never set up to lead. He was set up to contain. To survive. To suffer.

One of the clearest signs that Yuta had protagonist energy was what happened when he returned in the main series. The moment he walked back into the story post-Shibuya Incident, the atmosphere shifted. Suddenly, there was hope again. At the end of the day, Jujutsu Kaisen may have started with Yuji, but it was always Yuta who felt like the real heart of the story.

Yuji Itadori’s ending in Jujutsu Kaisen felt incompelete

In my opinion, by the time the manga neared its conclusion, it was like Yuji wasn’t the main character anymore. He had been reduced to the vessel for the final boss, someone whose biggest role was not saving the world but ending it.

Yes, he got a power-up. Yes, he fought hard. But it didn’t feel like his story. It felt like he was standing in for something larger: a symbol of curses, loss, and failure.

In contrast to that, with Yuta’s ending. Even in the face of overwhelming odds, he remained sharp, consistent, and emotionally resonant. When Yuta fights, it feels earned. When he hurts, we hurt with him. When he wins, it feels like a victory, not just for the characters but also for the readers of Jujutsu Kaisen.

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In conclusion, Jujutsu Kaisen may have started with Yuji, but for me and many other fans, it was always Yuta who felt like the real main character. Yuji often came across as someone who was just being dragged along by the plot, while Yuta felt more in control. He made choices with confidence, stayed true to himself, and showed real emotional strength.

Because of the way Yuta was written and how he handled everything thrown at him, I honestly believe he became the heart of Jujutsu Kaisen, not just a strong fighter, but the one who truly carried its meaning.

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