Key Points
- Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 launches with two intense episodes following the Shibuya Incident.
- Episode 1 delivers a shocking moment with Yuji Itadori’s fake execution by Yuta Okkotsu.
- Episode 2 introduces Tengen’s reveal and explains the deadly mechanics of the Culling Game ritual.
- Megumi learns his sister Tsumiki is a participant, forcing him into the battle.
- The arc sets up a survival test where trust, sacrifice, and betrayal define the stakes.
A Dark New Chapter After Shibuya
Season 3 of Jujutsu Kaisen wastes no time in shifting the tone of the series. Picking up after the catastrophic Shibuya disaster, the opening episodes show a fractured jujutsu world on the brink of collapse. Instead of explosive battles, the story begins with betrayal, sacrifice, and a twist that redefines the fate of its central characters.
Yuji’s Fake Death Sets the Stage
The most shocking moment arrives in Episode 1, when Yuta Okkotsu is ordered by the jujutsu higher-ups to execute Yuji Itadori, seen as a threat due to Sukuna’s presence. Bound by an unbreakable vow, Yuta complies—stabbing Yuji through the heart and stopping his heartbeat.
But the twist comes immediately after. Yuta revives Yuji using Reverse Cursed Technique, making the execution valid in the eyes of the elders while secretly saving him. This deception allows Yuji to move freely, hidden from headquarters, and exposes the corruption within the jujutsu system.
Tengen’s Revelation and the Culling Game
Episode 2 expands the scope of the arc. Yuji, Megumi, and their allies meet Tengen, the immortal sorcerer who maintains Japan’s protective barriers. In a surreal white space, Tengen reveals the true nature of the Culling Game—a ritual orchestrated by Kenjaku that forces sorcerers with cursed energy to fight within colonies across Japan.
The ritual thrives on killing, survival, and cursed techniques, feeding into a larger plan. For Megumi, the revelation becomes personal when he learns his sister Tsumiki has been marked as a participant, leaving him no choice but to enter the deadly contest.
Yuji also commits to fighting, but with a chilling caveat: he asks Yuta to kill him if Sukuna ever regains control, underscoring his fear and sense of responsibility.
Why These Episodes Change Everything
The ending of Episodes 1 and 2 doesn’t resolve the chaos—it amplifies it. Yuji is alive but officially dead. Megumi is driven by family ties into a battle he cannot avoid. Yuta is both executioner and protector, caught between duty and loyalty.
The Culling Game is not framed as a tournament of strength but as a survival system designed to break its participants. With Tengen’s involvement, the arc confirms that the stakes extend far beyond individual battles, threatening the very foundation of the jujutsu world.
Context: A Turning Point for the Series
These episodes mark the beginning of Jujutsu Kaisen’s most dangerous phase yet. Trust is fragile, rules are lethal, and every decision carries irreversible consequences. By starting with betrayal and sacrifice rather than spectacle, the series signals that the Culling Game arc will test not only the characters’ strength but their humanity.
What Happens Next?
As Season 3 continues, fans can expect escalating tension as Yuji, Megumi, and Yuta enter the Culling Game colonies. With alliances uncertain and survival at stake, the arc promises to deliver some of the most emotionally charged and strategically complex battles in the series to date.
