In the latest pamphlet for the theatrical release of Jujutsu Kaisen: Shibuya Incident Special Edition × Culling Game Advance Screening, now in theaters, a special dialogue interview between Junya Enoki, the voice of Yuji Itadori, and Megumi Ogata, the voice of Yuta Okkotsu, has been unveiled. In this dark fantasy series, the Culling Game arc marks a major turning point as Okkotsu fully enters the main storyline.

Serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from 2018 to 2024, Jujutsu Kaisen begins when a powerful cursed object is unsealed, thrusting high schooler Yuji Itadori into the deadly world of curses. The manga has surpassed 100 million copies in circulation.

The first TV anime aired from October 2020 to March 2021, followed by the 2021 film Jujutsu Kaisen 0, which became a global hit with 26.5 billion yen in worldwide box office revenue. Season 2 aired from July to December 2023, and the story will continue with Season 3, Jujutsu Kaisen: Culling Game Part One, premiering in January 2026.

Interview

— Okkotsu, who served as the protagonist of the film Jujutsu Kaisen 0, finally enters the core storyline in the Culling Game arc. How did you feel approaching these episodes?

Enoki
Yuji has no prior relationship with Okkotsu, so at first his reaction is simply “Who is this person?” Hearing the name, though, it all clicks: “Someone terrifying has arrived.” Still, a clash between two protagonists is an exciting development, so I was really looking forward to recording those scenes.

Ogata
During the recording of 0, I was honestly just doing everything I could to keep up. For the teaser, I was asked to deliver a single line that would make everyone instantly recognize “Ah, that is Okkotsu’s voice,” which was a lot of pressure.

In the film proper, Okkotsu grows dramatically over a short span of time, so I had to explore what kind of personality would make that believable. I remember struggling because it took a while before I finally received an OK. But in the final episode of Season 2, the OK came very easily, which surprised me in a different way.

Enoki
Not getting an OK makes you nervous, but getting one too fast also makes you nervous. That’s such an actor thing.

— The opening episode features a fierce battle between Okkotsu and Yuji. What was it like performing that scene?

Ogata
Even though it is to fake Yuji’s death, Okkotsu still has to stop his heart once, so he moves with cold calculation, deciding how to kill him. He has internal monologues like “He is fast,” analyzing Yuji while fighting and searching for openings to exploit.

Enoki
Did he ever consider the possibility of failing?

Ogata
I do not think he thought much about it.

Enoki
So he is just that confident in his own abilities?

Ogata
Probably. Besides, characters in Jujutsu Kaisen rarely worry about what happens if they fail.

Enoki
True. A lot of them attack with pure momentum, thinking “I’ll make this work.”

For battle scenes, we often refrain from adding too many vocal effects like sharp breaths, letting the animation carry the impact. Especially since Okkotsu completely outclasses Yuji.

Ogata
The stronger character generally cannot use too many of those sounds. The one getting hit uses a few.

Enoki
Exactly. Because of the overwhelming gap in strength, Yuji has a bit more reaction in his performance. But since the visuals are not fully completed during recording, I was also excited to see how everything would turn out in the final broadcast.

Source : ORICON NEWS