Arguably, not a single character made more of an impact on anime recently than Satoru Gojo, the Jujutsu Sorcerer who mentors Yuji, Megumi, and Nobara throughout Jujutsu Kaisen. On the surface, Gojo doesn't seem like an especially remarkable character, but he has proven deeply complex and possibly even dangerous.
Gojo is far from the first masked shonen mentor figure to capture fans' hearts, yet he brings a degree of grit to the table that Kakashi never did. And while it may take another season or more to fully explore the depths of what makes Gojo the flawed, powerful individual he is, the first season laid the groundwork for a character who won't soon be forgotten. Gojo Satoru has given fans ample opportunities to fall for him.
10 When He Met Yuji & Sukuna
Most Jujutsu Sorcerers who hear about Yuji's existence immediately resolve to kill him. Sukuna finding a viable vessel is one thing, but Sukuna finding a vessel as inherently strong and capable as young, naive Yuji Itadori is another can of worms. Sukuna is among the worst special grade cursed spirits who have ever existed, and he would happily destroy the world for kicks and giggles.
And yet, when Gojo Satoru greets Sukuna's vessel on a decimated rooftop, he does so with a smirk and a spark of genuine curiosity. Rather than killing Yuji on the spot, he chooses to take him in and train him. And though he tells Yuji that his fate is sealed, and he'll be killed once he collects all of Sukuna's fingers, fans know better than anyone that Gojo isn't likely to let harm come to Yuji.
9 When His Sweet Tooth Was Revealed
The first time Gojo makes an appearance, he's carrying a bag of Kikufuku mochi, souvenirs from traveling to Sendai. Mangaka Gege Akutami confirms that Gojo began eating sweets because they helped him energize his mind, but this led to him developing a real sweet tooth. Later in the series, Gojo can be seen in the background purchasing more omiyage and sweets, much to Megumi's annoyance. An accidental sweets addiction is a deeply relatable character trait, and it's oddly comforting to know that even the world's best sorcerer can't resist the pull of sugar.
8 When He Demonstrated His Cool Demeanor Under Fire
While Gojo isn't the first shonen mentor character to battle enemies with a smile on his face, he embodies an effortless aura of cool that few such characters do. What might feel like posturing from another character feels like a genuine lack of concern from Gojo.
Take, for example, his battle with Jogo, and how long it takes Satoru to get remotely serious during the fray. And while Gojo's confidence borders on arrogance and may one day be his undoing, in the meantime it's extremely entertaining to watch him face monsters with the nonchalant confidence of a very powerful individual.
7 When Fans Witnessed His Chemistry Nanami
Nanami is one of Jujutsu Kaisen's best characters, hands down, and he and Gojo have history and a chemistry that's endlessly fun to watch. While Nanami hasn't always had enough screentime in the anime, an omake short after the credits really helped hammer their offbeat dynamic home.
Gojo asks Nanami out to dinner, but Nanami, ever the straight man of this comedic duo, blankly refuses. The interaction devolves into Satoru briefly stalking Nanami and finally delivering a love note to him, but the love note contains only a particularly childish drawing.
6 When He Revealed His Hidden Eyes
Pictures of Gojo's striking blues eyes made their rounds on the internet long before the anime unmasked him. Once again, it seemed fans had another Kakashi situation on their hands, and immediately wanted to know what this guy really looked like. And yes, while his eyes are remarkably sparkly and pretty, that's not what makes their reveal so impactful. Satoru Gojo's eyes prove simply too powerful to be allowed, and when he unmasks them, it's a good sign that a fight scene is about to become truly epic.
5 When He Demonstrated His Domain Expansion
While it was obvious from the get-go that Gojo's powers would be tied to his hidden eyes, seeing his Infinite Void ability in action for the first time was rewarding. During the battle with Jogo and with Yuji by his side, Gojo expands his domain with a single gesture and the pulling away of his blindfold. In an instant, it's clear that Gojo is the definition of overpowered, blinding Jogo with all of existence before casually decapitating him. There are bound to be some limits to Gojo's Limitless Technique in the future, but for now, Gojo Satoru has good reason to feel so confident.
4 Every Time He Demonstrated Confidence In His Pupils
During the Kyoto School Exchange Event, Gojo suspects immediately that Kyoto's goal will be to kill Yuji. But he never considers withdrawing his students from the fray. When Mei or Gakuganji try to rattle him, he remains unshaken, confident that his pupils will handle whatever trials are thrown their way.
While this might seem reckless, and Satoru frequently jokes that he's not much of a teacher, Satoru Gojo is a caring mentor who knows his students possibly better than they know themselves. Satoru usually knows precisely when he needs to step in. No coddling, but no neglect. That's a tough balance to achieve.
3 When He Proved To Be Just As Eccentric As His Students
It would be fair to describe Gojo as goofy. Gojo is just as excited about strolling through Tokyo and trying out sweets as the two country kids are. It's not that Satoru is especially immature, but that he chooses to relate to his students on their level.
Maddening as his attitude might be for other adults and even Megumi at times, Satoru's casual nature helps endear him both to his students and the audience. Even when things are deadly serious, Gojo treats his students like young adults, and not idiots. This degree of respect is sorely missing from some adult-children relationships.
2 When Gojo Used Cinema To "Train" Yuji
No otaku is unfamiliar with shonen training montages, and usually, fans know what to expect: lifting weights or dragging junk, balancing on clifftops, meditating under waterfalls, balancing chakras, and aiming for impossible targets. But Gojo must train Yuji while still pretending Yuji is dead, and so he elects for a less conventional method of training -- watching movies.
This training has a purpose: Yuji must maintain a steady flow of cursed energy output while enjoying the movies, honing his ability to use his abilities subconsciously. Even so, the result is the sort of humorous disaster only Satoru would come up with.
1 When His Flaws Become More Apparent, Humanizing Him
All jokes aside, when things get down to the nitty-gritty and cursed spirits or other sorcerers threaten Yuji, Nobara, or Megumi, Gojo stops smiling. In the wake of Yuji's apparent death early in the series, Gojo is clearly disturbed, even broken. Again, many anime mentors have this nonchalant-until-it-goes-down attitude, but Gojo's grief feels truly genuine.
The fact is, though Satoru's confidence in Yuji and company is often warranted, sometimes he misjudges their youth and the dangers presented to them. Just because Gojo himself has never met a monster he couldn't beat doesn't mean his pupils will be so lucky. Sometimes, Satoru Gojo arrives late for the party or proves unavailable when they need him most. While this can be seen as a flaw, Satoru's tendency to underestimate danger due to his own arrogance is deeply humanizing.
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