Understanding the Jujustu Kaisen Culling Game

MAPPA has recently revealed that they are currently in the process of animating the Culling Game arc for Jujutsu Kaisen. Here's a sneak peek of what fans can anticipate without giving away any spoilers. With the thrilling conclusion of the Shibuya Incident arc and the second season of Jujutsu Kaisen, fans were delighted to learn that a Season 3 is already in the works with a teaser video released by the MAPPA team.

Get ready for an adrenaline-packed season with intense battles and shocking character losses as the next season of the anime airs. Dive into the details of Jujutsu Kaisen’s Culling Game arc, which includes a glimpse into the enigmatic ancient sorcerer and cunning mastermind central to the story.

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What is the Culling Game?

The "Culling Game Arc" for ‘JUJUTSU KAISEN’ has been announced. pic.twitter.com/pVf25QQFso

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) December 28, 2023

The Culling Game, orchestrated by the evil sorcerer Kenjaku whom we will discuss later, is essentially a massive Battle Royale that pits 1000 sorcerers and curse users against each other. Following the end of the Shibuya Incident arc, the Culling Game is the most unprecedented act of Jujustu terrorism ever witnessed.

How are players selected?

The game consists of 10 colonies interconnected by boundary-binding barriers, creating a line across Japan. Participants are required to follow strict rules as they engage in a fight to the death, otherwise facing elimination and the loss of their lives.

Shueisha

The Culling Games select players on two different occasions. The first is for those who have ingested cursed objects, such as Hajime Kashimo. The second is for those whose cursed technique has awakened, like Hiromi Higuruma.

The former are primarily sorcerers who struck a deal with Kenjaku several years back. These sorcerers would enter a deep sleep connected to cursed objects, which would then be consumed by an innocent or unsuspecting vessel (similar to how Yuji Itadori became Sukuna's vessel), allowing the sorcerer to take control of the vessel’s body.

The latter are ordinary people who possess the ability to utilize cursed energy, like Megumi’s younger sister Tsumiki Fushiguro. As the Culling Games progress, they release increasingly more cursed energy, creating a shroud of cursed energy that will compel all of humanity to 'evolve'. This essentially involves unlocking the full potential of human and cursed energy.

What are the Culling Game rules?

Studio MAPPA

When the Culling Game began, Kenjaku established eight unbreakable rules for all participants. This guaranteed that no one would have ultimate control over the game, allowing Kenjaku's scheme to gather cursed energy to persist even in the event of his death. The rules are as follows:

Upon awakening their cursed technique, players are required to join the Culling Game at a colony of their choosing within 19 days. Breaking this rule will result in the removal of their cursed technique and ultimately, their death.

Non-players who enter a colony will become players. But civilians trapped inside a barrier at the beginning of the game, will be allowed to exit safely

Players score points by killing other players

The game master assigns points according to the player's life value, with sorcerers worth five points and non-sorcerers worth one point. Participants have the option to exchange 100 points in order to introduce a new rule to the Culling Game.

The game master is required to approve any new rule, as long as it does not have a permanent impact on the game. Additionally, if a player's score remains unchanged for 19 days, their cursed technique will be lifted and they will be eliminated.

What is Kenjaku planning?

Furthermore, an additional rule was only disclosed to the players after the commencement of the game. According to this rule, once a player enters the barrier, they will be transported to a random location within its span, as the barriers cover various parts of Japan.

Kenjaku aims to drive the evolution of Jujutsu. With such an open-ended ambition, there seems to be no limit for him. The success of one plan will only lead to the birth of another. He will not be satisfied even if his creation succeeds. #JJK #ShadzJK #JujutsuKaisen pic.twitter.com/6t3mYjnCsH

— Shadz (@ShadzMangaOnly) June 22, 2023

What is Kenjaku's ultimate goal, you may be wondering?

At the moment, our knowledge of Kenjaku is fairly limited. We do know that he is incredibly ancient and has been orchestrating the Culling Game for over a millennium. This has allowed him to form a pact with other powerful and ancient sorcerers, such as Hajime Kashimo, to participate in the game by awakening within a vessel.

His ultimate goal remains a mystery, but fans have equated Kenjaku to a mad scientist due to his insatiable curiosity. The Culling Game serves as his method to push humanity towards evolving into a new form, ultimately aiming to unite the entire species with Master Tengen to create a single, cursed entity.

Master Tengen claims that the Culling Game involves harnessing the players’ cursed energy and the barriers as part of a ritual to prepare humanity for a merger. Once the ritual is finished, Master Tengen could be compelled to merge with the impacted humans to drive them to evolve into a different form.

Nevertheless, all of this is merely an extensive experiment to him, as he is uncertain of what the final outcome will be.

What’s the end result of the game?

Studio MAPPA

Kenjaku not being the game master means the game won't end when he dies. This raises the question, what will end the game? However, Yuji and Megumi face the unfortunate reality that Kenjaku's binding vows ensure the game will continue until all the players are dead, with no way to stop it.

Don't worry, we won't give away the ending, but you can read the manga to discover what happens in the arc. Be sure to catch Jujutsu Kaisen's first two seasons and film on Crunchyroll, which includes the Cursed Child Arc, Fearsome Womb Arc, Gojo’s Past Arc and the Shibuya Incident Arc.

How to watch Crunchyroll from outside your location in 2023

Crunchyroll stands as the premier destination for streaming anime, featuring popular series such as One Piece, Attack on Titan, and Jujutsu Kaisen. With the help of ExpressVPN, users can enjoy unrestricted access to the platform's extensive library from anywhere in the world.

When traveling internationally, follow these steps to access Crunchyroll's complete library of content - and it's incredibly easy:

1. Subscribe to ExpressVPN, known for its high-speed servers and ability to provide a secure and private internet connection from anywhere in the world.

Connect to any location in the US with Express VPN, offering 24 different spots to choose from, including New Jersey and Santa Monica. Head to Crunchyroll online to start streaming your favorite animes, as well as discover new ones.

Accessing Crunchyroll’s US selection offers a significant advantage. For instance, Hong Kong users are limited to less than 100 titles, while the US boasts nearly 1,000 movies and TV shows.

Additionally, you can watch anime on Crunchyroll for free with ads, or opt for a subscription. There's even a 14-day free trial if you're undecided.

See our other JJK coverage below, and you can check out our other anime coverage here.

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Editor's P/S

As a passionate fan of Jujutsu Kaisen, I am thrilled to hear about the upcoming Culling Game Arc and the release of Season 3. The Shibuya Incident Arc left me on the edge of my seat, and I can't wait to see what MAPPA has in store for us next. The Culling Game promises to be even more intense and action-packed, with high-stakes battles and shocking character losses. I'm particularly intrigued by the mysterious Kenjaku and his sinister plot, and I can't wait to learn more about the rules of the Culling Game and how it will affect our favorite characters.

The concept of the Culling Game is both exciting and terrifying. It's a Battle Royale on a massive scale, with 1000 sorcerers and curse users fighting to the death. The rules are strict and unforgiving, and the stakes are incredibly high. I can't imagine what it must be like for the participants, knowing that their lives are on the line and that they must constantly fight for survival. The Culling Game is a true test of strength, courage, and cunning, and I can't wait to see how our heroes navigate this dangerous new world.