Jujutsu Kaisen’s Latest Episode Teases a Legendary Fan-Favorite Confrontation

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• The Mystery of Takeru and the Mechanics of Yaga’s Cursed Corpses

• Kinji Hakari’s Philosophy of Passion and the Looming Clash with Yuji

Following the visceral intensity of Maki Zenin’s Perfect Preparation saga, Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3, Episode 5, titled “Passion,” shifts gears to establish the stakes for the next major conflict. As the narrative gravity pulls toward the Culling Game, the series introduces pivotal figures like the enigmatic Hana Kurusu and the volatile Kinji Hakari—both previously teased by Master Tengen. This installment follows Yuji, Megumi, and Panda as they execute a precarious gambit to recruit Hakari to their cause.

The episode’s somber opening chronicles the downfall of Masamichi Yaga, the former Principal of Tokyo Jujutsu High. Caught in the political crossfire following the Shibuya Incident and the sealing of Satoru Gojo, Yaga finds himself scapegoated by the conservative jujutsu elite. Facing an execution order, he is presented with a coercive choice: reveal the methodology behind his autonomous Cursed Corpses or perish. The authorities’ paranoia stems from Panda’s existence; they fear Yaga’s ability to manufacture an unstoppable, self-sustaining army of sentient puppets, which could potentially classify him as a Special Grade threat.

While on the run, Yaga shares a moment with a cursed corpse named Takeru, a scene that hints at the deep emotional toll of his craft. The narrative structure here is somewhat fragmented, jumping across different timelines to explain the tragic nature of these creations and the circumstances leading to Yaga’s ultimate fate, casting a melancholic shadow over the episode’s first half.

The Mystery of Takeru and the Mechanics of Yaga’s Cursed Corpses

Image: MAPPA/Crunchyroll

The higher-ups have long viewed Yaga’s puppet jujutsu as a destabilizing force, especially after Panda demonstrated the capacity for independent growth as a sorcerer. To shield his creations, Yaga sequestered them within a hidden forest bolstered by Tengen’s barriers. Years prior, Grade 1 sorcerer Atsuya Kusakabe sought Yaga’s assistance for his sister, who was incapacitated by the loss of her young son, Takeru.

To provide her with a semblance of closure, Yaga utilized Takeru’s soul information to animate a cursed corpse. The episode depicts a heart-wrenching reunion where Kusakabe’s sister embraces the construct, which recognizes her as its mother. It is a bittersweet revelation, as Yaga explains that Takeru can never return home; his existence must remain a secret to protect the sanctuary of the other corpses.

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In the present, Yaga accepts his fate at the hands of Yoshinobu Gakuganji, the Kyoto Principal. Their duel occurs offscreen, mirroring Gege Akutami’s manga, highlighting Yaga’s intentional defeat. Fatally wounded, Yaga reveals the forbidden formula for his technique to Gakuganji, framing it as a “curse” rather than a confession. He details how these beings require three compatible souls to be anchored within a single core, initiating a symbiotic stabilization. Once self-awareness is achieved, the corpse becomes capable of generating its own cursed energy after a three-month window. This revelation shifts the burden of this dangerous knowledge to a stunned Gakuganji.

Panda eventually discovers Yaga’s body, offering a rare moment of vulnerability as he mourns his creator. However, the episode moves swiftly, transitioning into Yuji and Megumi’s high-stakes mission at Hakari’s underground fight club.

Kinji Hakari’s Philosophy of Passion and the Looming Clash with Yuji

Image: MAPPA/Crunchyroll

Kinji Hakari is introduced as a vital prospective ally, a powerhouse whose combat skill is said to rival Yuta Okkotsu. Following Gojo’s previous praise of Hakari’s potential, Yuji and Megumi attempt to infiltrate his operation by posing as unaffiliated sorcerers. Megumi proves his tactical worth, navigating the criminal underworld with ease, while Yuji provides a loud, animated distraction through a staged fight with Panda to capture Hakari’s interest.

We also meet Kirara Hoshi, Hakari’s partner, whose “Love Rendezvous” technique creates a navigational nightmare for Megumi and Panda. As Yuji finally meets Hakari in a room lined with monitors, the conversation turns toward the “passion” of the gamble. In the manga, this is called “fever”—a scorching, irrational drive that Hakari exploits to manipulate and control his surroundings. He views this heat as the ultimate motivator, one that even makes the act of love a tool for dominance.

Image: MAPPA/Crunchyroll

Yuji’s inability to deceive becomes his downfall. He fails to recognize that Kirara’s phone call is a warning, and when Hakari mentions Satoru Gojo, Yuji’s clumsy attempt to feign ignorance immediately signals his true identity. MAPPA emphasizes the claustrophobic tension of this moment with unsettling camera angles as the room’s atmosphere curdles into hostility.

The episode concludes with a sudden burst of energy as Hakari attacks, using his unique door-themed cursed technique to disorient Yuji. This explosive ending sets the stage for a showdown between two vastly different sorcerers—one driven by raw empathy and the other by a volatile, gambling-focused worldview.

New episodes of Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 are available for streaming every Thursday on Crunchyroll.

Source: Polygon