Ask any casual fan who the main character in JJK is, and they’ll point straight to the pink-haired kid eating fingers. It makes sense. Yuji Itadori is the face on the volume covers, the guy in the first episode, and the vessel for the King of Curses. But Gege Akutami doesn't play by the rules.
If you’ve been keeping up with the manga—especially the Culling Game and the Shinjuku Showdown—you know the "protagonist" title feels a bit slippery. Honestly, it’s one of the most debated topics in the Jujutsu Kaisen fandom. Sometimes it feels like Yuji is just a witness to someone else's story. Other times, he's the only thing holding the world together.
The Case for Yuji Itadori (The Traditional Choice)
Yuji is the classic shonen lead on paper. He’s got the tragic backstory, the "save everyone" ideology, and a physical prowess that borders on superhuman even before he learns about Cursed Energy. He is the anchor. When the story begins, we see the world through his eyes. His transition from a normal high schooler to a sorcerer in training provides the framework for the entire power system.
But here’s the thing.
Unlike Naruto or Luffy, Yuji doesn't really have a grand, self-serving dream. He isn't trying to become the Hokage or the Pirate King. He’s just trying to ensure people have a "proper death." It’s a reactive goal, not a proactive one. This is why some people get frustrated. He spends long stretches of the story getting sidelined or beaten down.
Think about the Shibuya Incident. Yuji is there, and he does incredible things, but the narrative weight often shifts to the sheer chaos of the environment and the actions of the villains. Yet, Gege keeps coming back to him. Why? Because Yuji represents the human element of a world that is increasingly inhuman. He is the main character because he is the soul of the series, even when he isn't the strongest person in the room.
Is Satoru Gojo the Secret Protagonist?
There was a period of time—roughly three years in real-world time—where it felt like Satoru Gojo was the actual main character of Jujutsu Kaisen.
He’s the strongest. He’s the most popular. He has the most complex relationship with the primary antagonist, Suguru Geto (or the entity inhabiting his body). When Gojo is on screen, the plot moves. When he’s sealed, the plot becomes a desperate scramble to get him back. It’s a weird dynamic for a "supporting" character.
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Go back and look at the Hidden Inventory arc. That’s Gojo’s story. It’s the emotional core of the entire series. It explains why the world is the way it is. If you remove Yuji from that flashback, the story remains perfectly intact. If you remove Gojo, the entire series collapses.
Some fans argue that Gojo is the "functional" protagonist while Yuji is the "thematic" one. Gojo drives the world-building, but Yuji drives the morality. It’s a bit of a tug-of-war. Usually, the main character is the one who changes the most. Gojo starts strong and stays strong (mostly), whereas Yuji’s evolution is a grueling, painful grind. That growth is what keeps him in the lead role, despite Gojo’s massive shadow.
The Yuta Okkotsu Problem
We can't talk about who’s the main character in JJK without mentioning the guy who actually was the original main character. Yuta Okkotsu.
Jujutsu Kaisen 0 was the pilot. Yuta was the protagonist. He had the cursed spirit girlfriend, the massive power spike, and the clear character arc. When he showed up in the main series during the Itadori’s Extermination arc, it felt like a collision of two different shows.
Yuta has "Main Character Energy" in spades. He has a more traditional power set for a top-tier sorcerer, involving complex techniques and a massive reservoir of energy. In the later chapters of the manga, Yuta takes on roles that you would typically expect the protagonist to handle. He’s the one making the tactical plays. He’s the one stepping up when Gojo can't.
But Yuta is a finished product. By the time he enters the main story, he’s already found his resolve. He’s a mentor figure who happens to be a peer. That’s the distinction. Yuji is still "becoming," while Yuta has already "arrived."
Megumi Fushiguro and the Deuteragonist Trap
Then there's Megumi. In any other series, Megumi would be the Sasuke to Yuji’s Naruto. But in JJK, the lines are blurred.
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Megumi’s lineage, his relationship with Sukuna, and his potential "Ten Shadows" technique make him feel like the true center of the plot’s mystery. For a long time, Sukuna wasn't interested in Yuji at all; he was interested in Megumi. When the main antagonist of your series spends 200 chapters obsessed with the "sidekick," you have to wonder if the sidekick is actually the point of the story.
The tragedy of Megumi is that he often lacks agency. He is a prize to be won or a vessel to be used. While Yuji fights to maintain his identity, Megumi is often fighting just to survive the weight of his own potential.
Why Gege Akutami Hates Traditional Protagonists
Gege is a bit of a troll. He knows what we expect. He knows that in a shonen manga, the hero is supposed to get a power-up right when things look dire and save the day with a flashy move.
JJK subverts this constantly.
Yuji doesn't get a "Domain Expansion" for the longest time. He doesn't have a flashy cursed technique for the bulk of the series. He punches things. He hits them very hard with Black Flash. It’s visceral and gritty, but it lacks the "chosen one" flair. This is intentional. By stripping Yuji of the typical protagonist perks, Gege makes us question his status.
It forces the reader to look at the ensemble. The series is often more of a "chronicle" of an era than the story of one person. It’s about the death of the old era (Gojo, Geto) and the messy, violent birth of the new one (Yuji, Yuta, Megumi, Maki).
The Shinjuku Showdown: Final Proof?
The final arc of the manga (no spoilers here, don't worry) really cements who holds the title. When everything falls apart, who is left standing?
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It’s Yuji.
The narrative eventually strips away the distractions. Gojo is sidelined, the heavy hitters are exhausted, and it comes back to the boy who ate a finger in a high school club room. The reason people ask who’s the main character in JJK is that Gege allows other characters to be the "main character" of specific moments.
- Maki Zenin is the main character of the Sakurajima Colony.
- Hakari is the main character of his fight against Kashimo.
- Higuruma is the main character of his courtroom drama.
But these are all satellites. They orbit the central conflict between Yuji Itadori and Ryomen Sukuna.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you're trying to settle a debate or just understand the story better, here is how you should categorize the roles:
- Look at the Narrative Intent: Yuji is the thematic protagonist. The story’s questions about the value of life and the definition of a "good death" are answered through him.
- Acknowledge the Power Shift: Gojo is the "World Protagonist." He is the sun that the entire setting revolves around, but he isn't the one the story is about.
- Respect the Origins: Yuta is the "Legacy Protagonist." He carries the weight of the series' beginning and acts as the benchmark for what a sorcerer should be.
- Embrace the Ensemble: JJK is an ensemble cast disguised as a solo journey. Don't get hung up on "screen time" as the only metric for who is the lead.
The truth is, Yuji Itadori is the main character specifically because he is unremarkable in a world of gods and monsters. His struggle to remain "human" while surrounded by Cursed Techniques and ancient sorcerers is the entire point. He isn't the main character because he's the strongest; he's the main character because he's the one who refuses to look away.
Check out the official Shonen Jump releases or the anime on Crunchyroll to see how this dynamic evolves in real-time. The way the focus shifts between characters is masterful, even if it leaves you wondering who to root for next. Focus on Yuji's growth in the latest chapters—it's where the real answers lie.