Cursed corpses, Hakari, and more

Last week, Jujutsu Kaisen surpassed expectations with Maki Zenin’s Perfect Preparation arc, which delivered a cathartic payoff through stunning visual storytelling. Maki’s revenge illustrates a major narrative ramp-up, so it makes sense that JJK season 3 episode 5, titled “Passion,” spends considerable time setting the scene for the next epic showdown. As we inch towards the Culling Game, new characters like Hana Kurusu/Angel and Kinji Hakari enter the fray. Master Tengen name-dropped both back in episode 3 as major players in the upcoming conflict. In “Passion,” we meet Hakari in the flesh, courtesy of an elaborate plan hatched by Panda, Yuji Itadori, and Megumi Fushiguro.

[Ed. note: This article contains spoilers for Jujutsu Kaisen season 3 episode 5.]

The episode opens with the tragic circumstances surrounding Masamichi Yaga, who used to be the esteemed Principal of Tokyo Jujutsu High. In the aftermath of the Shibuya massacre and the sealing of Satoru Gojo, Yaga is falsely framed by the corrupt higher-ups of jujutsu society and sentenced to death. This threat of execution comes with an ultimatum: They demand the secret behind his Cursed Corpse technique, with which Yaga is able to create self-sufficient cursed corpses like Panda, using a complex link between “body” and “soul” information. Yaga’s friction with jujutsu authority can be traced back to Panda’s creation, after which the jujutsu higher-ups became so paranoid about Yaga’s potential ability to create an army of Pandas that they felt tempted to label him as a special grade threat.

With Yaga on the run in the present day, we see him speak with a cursed corpse named Takeru, whose true heritage is revealed. These sections feel rather rushed as the show jumps between different time periods, so the nature of these cursed corpses and Yaga’s eventual death come across as a bit confusing, injecting a somber tone through the episode’s first half.

Who is Takeru, and how do Yaga’s cursed corpses work in Jujutsu Kaisen?

Yaga’s puppet jujutsu had always been seen as a threat by the higher-ups, especially after he created Panda, who grew up to become a jujutsu sorcerer. To protect his precious creations, Yaga kept them inside a forest protected by Tengen’s barriers. At one point in the past, grade 1 sorcerer Atsuya Kusakabe asked for Yaga’s help after his sister (who remains unnamed) lost her son, Takeru.

To help her cope with this grief, Yaga used Takeru’s soul information to create the cursed corpse of the same name, which provides context for the reunion scene in the episode. We see Kusakabe’s sister break down after hugging Takeru in the forest, and the cursed corpse is able to identify her as his mother. This is a sweet but heartbreaking exchange, as Yaga clarifies that Takeru won’t be able to live with his mother, as this would expose the existence of the other cursed corpses.

Image: MAPPA/Crunchyroll

In the present day, Yaga allows himself to be attacked by Yoshinobu Gakuganji, the traditionalist Principal at Kyoto Jujutsu High. The battle takes place offscreen, just like in Gege Akutami’s manga, as it is a fight that Yaga deliberately loses. Allowing himself to be fatally injured by Gakuganji, Yaga passes on the formula to his executioner, but makes it clear that it’s “a curse from me to you.” Yaga explains that cursed corpses are created through the replication of soul information, which must be poured into the cores of these inanimate beings.

In addition to this, three compatible souls should be put into one cursed corpse until a symbiotic stabilization process occurs. After the cursed corpse attains self-awareness, it should be able to replenish its own cursed energy after a window of three months. This uttered formula functions as forbidden knowledge, thus transferring the onus of moral responsibility from the dying Yaga to Gakuganji, who is rattled by this sacrifice.

Panda arrives at the scene to scoop up Yaga’s corpse, tearfully stating, “Even pandas cry.” This emotional poignancy is felt, but the episode’s refusal to linger on this tragic moment robs it of any lasting impact. Before we know it, the scene shifts to Yuji and Megumi’s infiltration of Hakari’s Gachinko Fight Club.

Kinji Hakari’s obsession with “passion” anticipates his epic fight with Yuji in the next episode

Image: MAPPA/Crunchyroll

The big strategy session with Master Tengen in episode 3 set up Kinji Hakari as a crucial ally for the jujutsu sorcerers. He’s described as a master hand-to-hand combatant whose power potentially rivals that of Yuta Okkotsu. This, combined with Gojo’s endorsement of Hakari’s jujutsu prowess before he got sealed, prompts Yuji and Megumi to pose as random sorcerers not affiliated with Jujutsu High to meet with him. Megumi emerges as the smoother strategist here, as he’s able to convince Hakari’s men that they’re prime candidates for the illegal fight club (there’s even a cheeky reference to the first rule of Fight Club thrown in for good measure). Despite the simmering tension, MAPPA weaves these scenes with animated levity, where Yuji engages in a fun, exaggerated showdown with Panda to garner Hakari’s attention.

We’re also introduced to Hakari’s love interest, Kirara Hoshi, whose Love Rendezvous cursed technique prevents Megumi and Panda from reaching the fight club’s roof (where Hakari eventually meets with Yuji). The manga frames this meetup in closed quarters, alternating between Yuji and Hakari’s expressions as they engage in a conversation about rigged fights and the passion that drives people to gamble. The manga dubs this “fever,” as Hakari perceives it as a burning-hot motivator that makes people susceptible to logical lapses and manipulation. The anime translation substitutes it with “passion,” which feels mellow by comparison, but it ties well enough with Hakari’s proclamation that even the act of loving someone is about control.

Image: MAPPA/Crunchyroll

Given Yuji’s inability to lie or improvise, he commits a grave misstep during his meet-up with Hakari. He’s unable to anticipate that the phone call Hakari receives from Kirara is a signal that something is amiss. And when Hakari mentions Satoru Gojo, Yuji pretends he doesn’t know who he’s talking about. While the manga frames it as a humorous slip-up tinged with anxiety, MAPPA uses a distant, uneasy wide-angle shot to heighten the tension.

As Yuji and Hakari speak within a cramped space walled off with countless television screens on one side, their upcoming showdown feels more visceral and charged. Hakari flings his glass at Yuji’s face despite his attempts to explain the situation and summons flanked doors to disorient his perceived enemy. This sudden clash sets Hakari up as an unpredictable wild card in the exciting fight to come, which will etch a distinction between opposing personalities who might end up presenting a united front.

New episodes of Jujutsu Kaisen season 3 release every Thursday on Crunchyroll.