On Thursday, November 9, 2023, the latest episode of season 2 of the Jujutsu Kaisen anime series was released. This episode continued the Shibuya Incident arc and brought excitement to fans. Although fans were anticipating a focus on Jogo versus Sukuna, a significant portion of the episode revolved around the confrontation between Toji Fushiguro and Megumi Fushiguro.
Fans had uncertain expectations for the father-son matchup in the latest episode, but the outcome was unexpected. After inquiring about Megumi's name, Toji's spirit decided to end himself by killing the body he was inhabiting, effectively concluding his return to the series.
Jujutsu Kaisen set up Toji’s actions long before Shibuya Incident arc even began
Despite some Jujutsu Kaisen enthusiasts easily comprehending Toji's actions, there are skeptics questioning the logic and motivation behind his decision. Nonetheless, the answer is rather straightforward and can be traced back to Toji's origins as portrayed in the Gojo's Past arc and his final request to Satoru Gojo during that period.
Why Toji ended himself, explained
In the latest episode of Jujutsu Kaisen, Megumi surprises Toji by revealing that his last name is "Fushiguro" instead of "Zen'in," as Toji had anticipated. A flashback before this scene explains why Toji held this expectation, as he had struck a deal with Naobito Zen'in to sell Megumi back to their clan when he reached a certain age. The deal even included specific conditions depending on whether Megumi possessed an inherited Cursed Technique.
Unfortunately, Toji passed away shortly thereafter, and in his final moments, he entrusted his son Megumi to his killer, Satoru Gojo. Toji likely did not anticipate that Gojo would fulfill this request, particularly considering that Naobito could reach out to Gojo at any time regarding the agreement he and Toji had established.
Yet, upon returning to the battlefield in Jujutsu Kaisen’s Shibuya Incident arc, he discovered
that his son was still free, reinforcing his belief in Gojo's trustworthiness. This revelation alone became a pivotal motive for Toji's willingness to sacrifice himself, once again entrusting Gojo with his son’s life and future, having validated his initial decision.
Considering Toji’s resentment towards the Zen’in clan, it still brought him some happiness to see his son following in his footsteps, to a certain extent. This happiness may have been due to the fact that Megumi chose this path without any knowledge of his father's identity or his connection to the Zen’in clan.
Although Toji initially wanted his son to succeed within the clan, it brought him comfort to discover that Megumi had also chosen to create his own path outside of the clan. Furthermore, the sight of Megumi enjoying his freedom, a result of his distance from the clan, brought Toji a similar or even greater amount of joy than if he had witnessed his son as a successful member of the Zen’in clan.
Be sure to keep up with all Jujutsu Kaisen anime and manga news, as well as general anime, manga, film, and live-action news as 2023 progresses.
Editor's P/S
Toji's decision to end his own life in the latest episode of Jujutsu Kaisen was a complex one, but it was ultimately motivated by his love for his son, Megumi. Toji had made a deal with Naobito Zen'in to sell Megumi back to the Zen'in clan when he reached a certain age, but he had also entrusted Megumi to Satoru Gojo in his final moments. When Toji returned to the battlefield in the Shibuya Incident arc, he discovered that Megumi was still free, reinforcing his belief in Gojo's trustworthiness. This revelation alone became a pivotal motive for Toji's willingness to sacrifice himself, once again entrusting Gojo with his son’s life and future, having validated his initial decision.
Although Toji initially wanted his son to succeed within the clan, it brought him comfort to discover that Megumi had also chosen to create his own path outside of the clan. Furthermore, the sight of Megumi enjoying his freedom, a result of his distance from the clan, brought Toji a similar or even greater amount of joy than if he had witnessed his son as a successful member of the Zen’in clan. Toji's decision to end his own life was a tragic one, but it was ultimately an act of love and selflessness. He knew that by doing so, he would be giving Megumi the best chance at a happy and fulfilling life.