Yuta Okkotsu

Yuta Okkotsu
Jujutsu Kaisen character
Yuta Okkotsu as drawn by Gege Akutami
First appearance	Jujutsu Kaisen 0 #1, "The Cursed Child" (2017)
Created by	Gege Akutami
Voiced by	Japanese: Megumi Ogata English: Kayleigh McKee

Yuta Okkotsu (Japanese: 乙骨 憂太, Hepburn: Okkotsu Yūta) is the protagonist of Gege Akutami's manga Jujutsu Kaisen 0. Yuta Okkotsu is a teenager who is surrounded and helped by the spirit of the late Rika Orimoto, his childhood friend who died six years ago and is now cursed as both of them promised to get married when they grow up. In November 2016, he meets Satoru Gojo, a Jujutsu sorcerer in whose guidance he joins Tokyo Metropolitan Curse Technical School in order to control the Curse of the Rika. He reappears in the sequel Jujutsu Kaisen as a more experienced warrior.

Yuta was created by Akutami as a character he would not properly develop due to how Jujutsu Kaisen 0 previously had no planned serialization. He wrote and compared him with the Jujutsu Kaisen protagonist Yuji Itadori based on their initial characterization but with different personality. In the 2021 animated film that adapts the manga, Jujutsu Kaisen 0, Yuta is voiced by Megumi Ogata in the Japanese version and Kayleigh McKee in the English version. Ogata's performance was praised by the staff members for showing a more aggressive side.

Critical response to Yuta has been mixed with critics finding him to be more appealing or not than Itadori as a result of their powers and backstories. His reappearance in Jujutsu Kaisen also surprised critics due to his changed traits. Nevertheless, Yuta has been a popular character within the series.

Creation[]

Because of the character's similarities with Fushiguro, Akutami decided to alter the former's early design.

Manga author Gege Akutami said Yuta and Rika were created first as intended as a combo for the manga. The name Okkotsu (乙骨) sounded appealing to the author while Yuta (憂太) was his given for his kanji's meaning, "One With Many Friends" which the mangaka also liked.^[1] He never intended for his series Tokyo Metropolitan Curse Technical School to be serialized, with Yuta being originally planned as the main protagonist of the franchise. Similarities between Yuta and Itadori include their introduction into the world of jujutsu, tragedy, naivety and having become faced with death. Despite their similarities, the two have been differentiated with notability given to how "they carry themselves very differently...Itadori is outgoing, where Yuta is more reserved."^[2][3]

Akutami included the addition of the late Michizane Sugawara, a famous figure in Japanese history, being the ancestor of both Yuta and Gojo to explain their large powers, as a tribute to a late editor, Yamanaka. A scene that Akutami enjoyed writing was when Maki Zenin is comforted by Yuta in the third chapter when the former explains why she is not accepted by her clan and Yuta supports her in response to defeat the Zennin clan. Upon seeing this scene, Akutami's editor, Katayama, said that Yuta really understood Maki's feelings. Akutami decided to revise this scene in the storyboard following his editor's praise.^[4]

In retrospect, Akutami found that the early design of Yuta was too similar to fellow jujutsu sorcerer Megumi Fushiguro to the point that they might confuse the readers.^[5] As a result, Akutami changed Yuta's look for the main series. His clothing was also altered, but with the intention of representing his different ranking of sorcerer. For such series, Akutami also teased readers with the possibility that Yuta might be romantically involved with another woman as Rika had passed to the afterlife.^[1]

Sunghoo Park, who directed the first season of the series' anime adaptation as well as the prequel film, originally wanted to cover Yuta's story in the first few episodes of the anime, but ultimately decided to begin the show where the manga starts off, with Yuji's introduction to the world of sorcerers and Curses.^[6] In the original format, Park would dedicate the series' first three episodes to develop Yuji Itadori and then replace him with Okkotsu, but the idea was scrapped.^[7] Although Yuta was not present in the first season of the anime, he was given a brief cameo in the second introduction sequence which was created months before the studio MAPPA confirmed the production of the Jujutsu Kaisen 0 anime film.^[8] For the film, Park said, "The highlight of the movie is of course, the story of Okkotsu and Rika as the main characters of Jujutsu Kaisen 0" while at the same time wanted to focus on more characters from the manga.^[9] Sunghoo Park was also behind the casting of Yuta's voice actor, with Ogata's job surprising them as a result of Yuta being a young male voiced by a woman.^[10] The film's theme song, King Gnu's "Ichizu" (一途, "The Only Way"), places focus on the relationship between Yuta and Rika.^[11]

Casting[]

Megumi Ogata voices Yuta in Japanese

In casting Megumi Ogata as Yuta's Japanese voice, Gege Akutami envisioned the character as a "neutral, soft, and kind, and there is also a big emotional swing and head." Ogata's name was mentioned as an example of an actor close to that, and in response to that, the director Sunghoo Park and the anime staff also unanimously decided. Ogata herself said she would like to cherish the original image and create her own image of Yuta with all the hearts of the team in good faith.^[12] Ogata describes him as an attractive character due to how stronger he becomes when interacting with others.^[13] She read the manga and was further surprised by Yuta's action in the animation. Kana Hanazawa, who voices Rika, looked forward to interacting with Ogata.^[11] Ogata went to say that Yuta is one of the most relatable characters she ever found due to the parallels she found when comparing both of their lonely childhoods and how, little by little, both became sociable people. She also found Yuta relatable for the way he continues suffering pain and manages to overcome his internal struggles.^[14]

When the film premiered, Ogata said she was satisfied with her work and looked forward to her future projects. Fellow voice actors Yuichi Nakamura and Takahiro Sakurai felt that the feeling of "synchronization" is great in regards to Ogata's performance as Yuta. When asked about Ogata, Kana Hanazawa commented, "I was listening to Yuta's voice on my side, and it was the first time I felt that I was getting more and more love!". Hanazawa enthusiastically expressed her love for Yuta. In response to that, Ogata praised Hanazawa's work as Rika.^[15]

Ogata saw the ending in the secret and was emotional about it and was also grateful for her work. In retrospect, Ogata said that voicing Yuta was a difficult work due to social distancing protocols.^[16] Ogata had to interact with the director Park in order to get a better understanding of him. With the help of Park and other staff members, Ogata managed to understand Yuta as a character.^[17]

For the English dub, Yuta is voiced by Kayleigh McKee.^[18] McKee expressed satisfaction over being selected for Yuta's voice, calling the work "amazing, challenging, and so fun".^[19] McKee related to Yuta's lonely life during the Curse and his eventual growth which helped her find the pitch required to voice the character. She also found that Yuta's story is similar to that a coming-of-age story due to his need to control the late Rika while forming friends in the process.^[20]

Characterization and themes[]

Yuta's early characterization was compared to people suffering from grief.

Real Sound saw Yuta as the main focus of Jujutsu Kaisen 0 with the narrative primarily focused on his growth ever since Rika's death. The curse of Rika causes the opposite effect on Yuta's early life as, rather than being a student who often is the subject of bullying, Yuta accidentally attacks other bullies when Rika is released. On the other hand, when meeting the students from Jujutsu High in Tokyo, Yuta is able to form bonds with students who specialize in exorcising Curse.^[21] Polygon praised the handling of Yuta as the protagonist for being trapped in Curse of a young girl he loved with the narrative's themes being the idea that Yuta has to accept the death of Rika.^[22] The Mary Sue said that with a curse they are trying to get rid of although Yuta's growth makes him appealing as he stops wanting to have a death as he appreciates his life.^[23] Anime News Network saw Yuta as an emotionally ambiguous character due to how he deals with his feelings for Rika even after her death. Dewspite his early passive nature, Yuta shows a more aggressive personality when his friends are wounded by Seguru Geto especially when the scene is animated.^[24] We Got This Covered said his character is compelling and Curse helps to give the audience a story focused on traumas, something the main series is known for.^[25]

The film further expands Yuta's weak self as a result of featuring suffering an illness and rejected his surroundings. Through encounters with his peers, Yuta learns that he is accepted by others and at the same time he accepts others. Yuta's reluctance to accept Rika's death is a parallel to how Yuji Itadori has to accept his grandfather's death to the point both accept the idea of their deaths. Fighting Geto and confronting Rika's Curse allows Yuta to finally accept death and over the trauma of losing her.^[26] Yuta's hero's journey advances through his both physical growth when Maki starts training him in order to for him to stand on his own allowing him to turn into a proper hero.^[26]

Park considers Yuta to be a straightforward teenager whom he aimed to show his loneliness caused by being chased by Rika's Curse. Megumi Ogata surprised Park in the making of the film for giving Yuta a sensitive characterization when crying.^[27] Komatsu noted that while, at first glance Yuta appears to be quite weak, Ogata's performance helped to give the character a stronger impression.^[28] Fellow voice actor Yuichi Nakamura, who voices Satoru Gojo, expressed similar commentary about Ogata's performance.^[29]

Appearances[]

Jujutsu Kaisen 0[]

The protagonist of Tokyo Metropolitan Curse Technical School, Yuta is initially a cursed victim of Special-Grade, haunted by the spirit of his childhood friend, Rika Orimoto. Satoru Gojo takes charge of Yuta's case and enrolls him at Tokyo Prefectural Jujutsu High School, where he befriends Panda, Maki Zenin, and Toge Inumaki. After training with Gojo and the other students, Yuta learns to control his cursed energy and becomes a skilled swordsman, often sparing with Maki.^[30][31] However, the power of Rika attracts the sorcerer Suguru Geto, a sorcerer friendly with Gojo but at the same time keeps an antagonistic relationship with him. Geto attacks Yuta and his friends, severely wounding them.^[32]

Enraged by his actions, Yuta unleashes Rika's Curse, promising her to join her if she helps him to defeat Geto. The match ends with Yuta overwhelming Geto who escapes after losing an arm in combat. As Gojo takes down the escaping, it is revealed that Rika did not curse Yuta but was instead reversed; When Rika died, Yuta's desire to make her survive resulted in him accidentally turning her into a Curse Demon. Now familiar with his powers, Yuta manages to make Rika free and both say farewell as Rika departs to the afterlife.^[33]

In December 2021, Akutami wrote a new chapter based on Jujutsu Kaisen 0. After Rika passed away, Yuta, Panda, Maki, Inumaki have part-time jobs in a store. During their time, they receive Utahime Iori as a customer.

Jujutsu Kaisen[]

While Yuta does not appear in the early chapters of Jujutsu Kaisen, Satoru Gojo mentions him as one of the upperclassmen attending Jujutsu High with the capability to surpass him one day when discussing the students to Yuji Itadori. In Jujutsu Kaisen, Yuta comes back as the executioner of Yuji for possessing a powerful vengeful spirit, Ryomen Sukuna, after his mentor Gojo had been sealed away. When saving a child from a spirit, Yuta is surrounded by a demon whom he calls Rika but whether or not it.^[34] Yuta arrives at where Yuji and Choso are facing off against Naoya Zenin.^[35] Yuta easily defeats Yuji and pretends to kill him.^[36] Yuji is confused, but he is told by Yuta that he was acting due to Gojo's request to protect him in case something happened to him.^[37] Yuta then reunites with Maki and other sorcerers in order to help Gojo and assist Yuji in stopping Sukuna if he can no longer control the vengeful spirit..^[38]

Reception[]

In a Viz Media popularity poll conducted in March 2021, Yuta was voted as the eighth most popular character in the Jujutsu Kaisen franchise.^[39] In promoting the series, his outfit was added to the NetEase video game Knives Out,^[40] while a figurine of him holding Rika was released by Shibuya Scramble Figure.^[41]

Critics often compared Yuta with Yuji during their reviews of Jujutsu Kaisen 0. Erik Kozura from Comic Book Resources saw parallels with how they are presented but went to call their paths different. He criticized Yuta's character arc as it is "far from groundbreaking in a shonen protagonist's origin". However, Kozura found his growth in the manga appealing due to how he forms bonds with other characters briefly seen in Jujutsu Kaisen.^[42] Anime News Network commented that Yuta is often mentioned in Jujutsu Kaisen, making his introduction in the prequel intriguing.^[43] Similarly, Jacob Parker-Dalton from Otaquest felt that the manga was needed to properly explain Yuta's characterization and role in the main series as such manga does not explore Yuta's character. However, he felt that Yuta was a more interesting character than Yuji as his character is more compelling to the point that Yuji feels less active.^[44] Comic Book Resources made an article completely dedicated to Yuta that viewers need to read in order to understand the film adaptation of the prequel manga. Yuta was criticized for being overpowered in comparison to the rest of the cast, making him less relatable than the weaker Yuji. Nevertheless, the potential of power Yuta has was seen as promising as he is connected to the already powerful Satoru Gojo.^[8] The Digital Fix noted that there were multiple differences between the two leads, but found Yuta's story darker than Yuji's.^[45]

Critics commented on Yuta's tragic romance, with Boston Bartand Brigade saying it made him more appealing than Yuji that contrasts Yuji's demon Sukuna.^[46] The Mary Sue also saw parallels between the mangaka's protagonists as both deal with a curse they are trying to get rid of, although Yuta's growth makes him appealing as he stops wanting to have a death as he appreciates his life. The fact that Yuta cursed Rika than reversed felt like a strong twist according to the reviewer. As a result, while Yuta becomes more sympathetic through Jujutsu Kaisen 0.^[23] Manga News enjoyed the commentary on Yuta's dark romance,^[47] while Bleeding Cool regarded it as a story worth recommending for Valentine's Day.^[48] Polygon looked forward to the character's role in the film due to his appealing previews and his interactions with other characters often seen in the main series.^[49] Megumi Ogata's portrayal of the character in Japanese was acclaimed by Anime News Network for making the character stand out as more unique in the film than in the original manga when he changes tones from calm, which was compared to her early deliveries as Shinji Ikari from Neon Genesis Evangelion, to more aggressive tones when there are elements of horror or action. Yuta's relationship with Rika was also praised for giving the former a more unpredictable characterization.^[24] IGN also praised Ogata's work for providing lonely and angsty traits to the character even if she often sounds too similar to Shinji as Yuta becomes a more action-oriented hero in the film's narrative. The tragic relationship between Yuta and Rika was praised for the horror elements as the reviewer found it interesting how the Curse has the voice of a calm teenage girl making their growth a good addition to the famous series.^[50] Polygon praised Yuta's fight against Geto as MAPPA's most appealing ones to the point they are superior to most of their past works such as The God of High School.^[22]

Yuta's return into Jujutsu Kaisen surprised The Mary Sue, finding ironic that the former protagonist's role is to kill the current one as it contrasted his initial characterization.^[23] Real Sound also felt that the return of Yuta was surprising for taking the mission of killing Yuji,^[51] eventually shocking him more when confronting his apparent target.^[52] Comic Book Resources felt that Yuta's new appearance in Jujutsu Kaisen was quite different from the original one but still felt his role in the film was still "perfect" as the narrative primarily focuses on him rather than other Jujutsu Kaisen characters commonly explored in the main series.^[53] The same site placed emphasis on Yuta's ambiguous antagonistic side into the main series as it could serve as interesting role should he meet Yuji in his quest to kill him.^[54] Following the revelation that he was just a double agent, the site claimed that Yuta is highly loyal to Gojo considering he is actually assisting Yuji. Although Akutami hinted that there might be romance between him and another character, the writer claimed that it seemed ambiguous as in the main series, Yuta is only friendly with Maki despite all the jokes Panda once made in Jujutsu Kaisen 0 about how much they got along.^[8]

References[]