Gege Akutami Opens Up About the Journey Behind Jujutsu Kaisen
A heartfelt reflection from Gege Akutami, creator of Jujutsu Kaisen, on his seven-year journey of creativity, challenges, and gratitude.
Gege Akutami, the creative force behind the globally acclaimed manga Jujutsu Kaisen, has offered fans an intimate glimpse into his seven-year-long creative odyssey. In a heartfelt and candid message, Akutami reflected on the intense challenges, moments of self-doubt, and the lessons learned during the serialization of his iconic work. His words provide a raw and honest narrative of the emotional and professional hurdles he faced, revealing a deeply human side of the celebrated mangaka.
The Struggles Behind the Success
In his statement, Akutami opened up about the frustrations and self-imposed pressures that defined his journey. Reflecting on his creative process, he admitted, “The product Jujutsu Kaisen was pissed out for six and a half years, nearly seven years if you include the special issues, and what I learned was, ‘I am really an idiot…’” He confessed to pushing himself to the brink, with the strain of serialization gradually taking a toll on his personality and mental well-being.
Akutami also shared moments of absentmindedness and mistakes during the production process, citing an error in volume 18 as an example. He humorously likened himself to Gecko Moria, saying, “Well, if something happens, the people around me will figure it out.” These admissions underline the immense pressure creators often face in delivering quality work on a tight schedule.
Acknowledging the Team’s Support
Despite his self-criticism, Akutami expressed profound gratitude to his collaborators, including editors, designers, and assistants, for their unwavering support. “I have greatly troubled all of my editors—Katayama-san, Ikeda-san, and Fukuda-san—the volume manager Yanagida-san, the designer Ishino-san, and my assistants,” he wrote. He also reminisced about the early days of Jujutsu Kaisen and his partnership with his first editor, Yamanaka-san, emphasizing the importance of teamwork in bringing the series to life.
Battling Self-Doubt and Finding Conviction
Even amid Jujutsu Kaisen‘s remarkable success, Akutami admitted to grappling with self-doubt and a lack of confidence. “When first becoming serialized, I took into consideration that Jujutsu Kaisen was being serialized in a major magazine. I had this feeling of trying to alleviate those who might feel hurt reading it,” he shared. However, this desire led to self-criticism, which he described as a constant internal battle.
Akutami’s reflections also highlight the challenges of navigating the expectations tied to creating for a brand as iconic as Shonen Jump. “The good thing about Shonen Jump is that the brand image is built around not the creator but the created work,” he noted, vowing to learn from the past seven years and approach future projects with renewed determination.
A Farewell Filled with Gratitude
As he concluded his message, Akutami expressed heartfelt thanks to fans who supported him throughout the journey. “To everyone who supported me, to the people who read it all at once when it became topical, to those who read it wanting to see what came after the anime, to the person who just happened to read this final volume—any reason is fine. I truly thank you,” he wrote, leaving fans with a warm and sincere farewell.
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