"Sukuna's fearless smirk" and "I can see his pained back": The clever details in the Jujutsu Kaisen AJ illustration featuring Yuji Itadori and Hiromi Higuruma go viral

The official X account for animation studio MAPPA has released a special newly-drawn illustration for AnimeJapan promoting the TV anime’s third season, Jujutsu Kaisen: The Culling Game Arc (Part 1), and it's currently the talk of the town.

The unveiled illustration depicts a tense confrontation between Hiromi Higuruma (CV: Tomokazu Sugita), clad in a suit and holding his gavel, and Yuji Itadori (CV: Junya Enoki), who gazes at him with a stern expression. A giant scale stands between the two, while the eerie-faced Shikigami, Judgeman, looms behind Higuruma. Furthermore, the background features Ryomen Sukuna wearing a fearless smirk, and the bottom shows Yuji’s back as he huddles down—a finish that vividly evokes the deep-seated fate found within the series.

Jujutsu Kaisen is a dark fantasy work depicting the fierce battles between Curses, born from negative human emotions, and Jujutsu Sorcerers who exorcise them using sorcery. Based on the manga of the same name by Gege Akutami, the series has previously aired its first and second TV seasons. Starting in January 2026, the third season, The Culling Game Arc (Part 1), has been airing, portraying a brutal death game where sorcerers kill one another for points.

On social media, many passionate reactions have been pouring in, such as "Sukuna's fearless smirk," "This is so good," "I can see his pained back near the bottom," and "I love that Yuji is there huddling from the tragedy in Shibuya lol."

(C)Gege Akutami/Shueisha