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Suguru Geto and Satoru Gojo in Jujutsu Kaisen
Geto and Gojo in Jujutsu Kaisen (Image via MAPPA)

The significance of December 24 in Jujutsu Kaisen

Priya MajumdarBy Updated:6 Mins Read Anime

Gege Akutami’s Jujutsu Kaisen has time and again stressed on December 24 throughout the series. The importance was first revealed during the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons incident in Jujutsu Kaisen 0, but later it gained prominence with a specific character’s death and the date of a particular battle. 

Although December 24 may be seen as just another normal day or Christmas Eve, Japanese people attach a different meaning to the date. In Japan, Christmas is a romantic event, but December 24 is equivalent to the Western concept of Valentine’s Day. Despite Akutami bringing back the date again and again, many fans have mulled over whether or not the mangaka was trying to prove or hint at something through the specifications of the date. While Akutami himself hasn’t said anything regarding, the occurrences of a few incidents have led fans to think otherwise.

Note: This article contains spoilers from the Jujutsu Kaisen manga.

What were the events that took place on December 24?

Night Parade of a Hundred Demons

On December 24, 2017, Suguru Geto orchestrated a terrorist attack on the jujutsu community in Shinjuku (Tokyo) and Kyoto. Prior to this, he goes to Tokyo Jujutsu High to declare the war, where, irrespective of the name, one thousand cursed spirits will be released in both the cities in order to kill any non-sorcerer on site. The aim was to purify the world of non-sorcerers, who Geto called ‘monkey’.

Following this, the Jujutsu sorcerers in both cities were stationed in different locations to neutralize the attack and subdue the spirits. At one point, Gojo understood Geto’s absence and sent Inumaki and Panda back to the school to aid Maki and Yuta, whom he thought would be attacked by Geto. The aftermath of the battle was the jujutsu sorcerers who were able to protect civilians, fights spirits and sorcerers working for Geto, and bring the situation under control.

Death of Suguru Geto

During the events of Night Parade of a Hundred Demons in Jujutsu Kaisen 0, Geto was defeated by Yuta and his cursed spirit, Rika. However, Geto survives the attack but ends up with fatal injuries. As he takes a rest in a shaded corner of the school premises, Gojo, his best friend from school, appears. The Six Eyes User then asks Geto if he has any last words, to which the latter says that he couldn’t be any happier (this part was muted in the film). Following this, Gojo kills Geto behind-the-screens, so viewers don’t get to witness his death. However, December 24 becomes established as the day Suguru Geto died canonically.

Gojo declares he wishes to fight Sukuna on December 24 in Jujutsu Kaisen

Following a waiting period of almost three years, Gojo, who was sealed inside Prison Realm during the Shibuya Incident arc, was finally released in Jujutsu Kaisen chapter 221. Upon instant unsealing on November 19, he confronted Kenjaku, or Pseudo Geto, and declared December 24 (19 days from the present day) as the date when he will battle the King of Curses. Here, Kenjaku implied being disgusted at the prospect of having to spend December 24 (a romantic day in Japan) with Gojo. However, true to their words, both Gojo and Sukuna commenced their battle fiercely on the day. 

What do fans think about the value of December 24 in Jujutsu Kaisen?

While the fight is still ongoing in the manga, it remains to be seen if Gojo, after defeating Sukuna, will be able to kill Kenjaku (who is in possession of Geto’s body). This will mean that Gojo will be killing his best friend for the second time. Now, the importance of December 24 in Jujutsu Kaisen comes to readers through Gojo, for whom it is a tragic day even though he may not outwardly express his grief.  

According to Redditor u/Catveria77, “Love is the greatest curse” as they explain how they interpreted the ending of Jujutsu Kaisen 0 where Gojo kills his only best friend, Geto. The Reddit user explains how love can be interpreted in various ways, including “platonic and familial love.” Given Gojo and Geto shared an incredibly close relationship, it is still possible that the Six Eyes User still mourns him despite Geto choosing the opposite side of the law.  u/Catveria77 says how Gojo killing Geto did not just happen on physical level but also emotional level, which is why he remembers the death anniversary of his best friend.

Moreover, the Rediitor replies to another comment under the same post and says how East Asian cultures value a proper burial or send-off, which is why to see Geto’s corpse being “defiled in the most vile way” may mean that he wants to exact revenge on Kenjaku for the atrocity.

Screenshot of an user's speculation post on December 24 in Jujutsu Kaisen
Screenshot of an user’s analysis post (Image via Reddit/ u/Catveria77)

Commenting on the same vein, Redditor u/adnauuuseam adds:

“I also don’t think Gojo will kill Megumi on that day. My prediction is Gojo will kill Sukuna, therefore for once in the series the person who says ‘I will win’ will win because he’s Gojo. But I also suspect he will die. This ties back to what Gojo said to Megumi (flashback during the finger bearer fight) on the difference between ‘winning by dying’ and ‘winning then dying.”

Another Redditor, u/Soupergame, suggested that the date could mean the rest of Gojo’s students at Tokyo Jujutsu High could get slaughtered because of his hubris, so the date could then be seen as his downfall.

Meanwhile, some users on Twitter contend that December 24 in Jujutsu Kaisen may be the day when mangaka Gege Akutami might kill Gojo in the manga. This would mean that he would die on the same day as his best friend. Twitter user kira hayakawa even tweets how the rescheduling of the fight may mean that if he dies, people will remember December 24 as the day Gojo died. Since Geto’s absence wasn’t mourned nor is his death remembered, it would be Gojo’s way to honor the deceased.

Suffice to say, the implications that Gege may have wanted to thrust on December 24 in Jujutsu Kaisen all spell disaster for Gojo. The romantic notions that are associated with day are being overwritten for a narrative of tragedy. So, any outcome out of this day is sure to guarantee a week full of bawling for readers of Jujutsu Kaisen. On a side note, Jujutsu Kaisen 0 was released on December 24, 2021, so now the fandom theorizes that the manga may also come to an end on the same day this year, irrespective of Gojo dies or not.

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Priya is an anime lover and writer at GamesHorizon. A graduate from EFL University, she is deeply interested in anything remotely anime, manga, and fan culture. In her free time, she likes to draw, cook, visit cafes, and read fanfiction on a variety of anime fandoms' ships.