Updated November 13, 2023 by Noel Vermen
In the world of Jujutsu Kaisen, he is known by many names: the fallen one, the disgraced one, and the most well-known title of all – the king of curses… Ryomen Sukuna!
But wait, what if I told you that he’s not evil? And Actually a GOOD GUY?!
Some of you might find it hard to believe, but let me tell you that this two-faced, four-armed GIGA chad is… Yeah, he’s a good boi! And I’m gonna show you WHY! I’m gonna prove it!
WATCH THE FULL VIDEO HERE!!!
RYOMEN SUKUNA IS NOT A VILLAIN?!
Nihon Shoki is a SHAM!
According to the Nihon Shoki, a Japanese history/mythology book, Sukuna was labeled as a rebel. why?
Number 1: In some stories, he refused to kneel to the imperial court (which was led by the Yamato clan at that time) and, according to MOST sources, he defied their “order.”
Number 2: They portrayed him as a murderer who killed THOUSANDS of people!
That’s why Emperor Nintoku sent the shogun, Takefurukuma no Mikoto, to defeat him.
You know what… this version of the story is kinda SUS because if Sukuna truly is this “bloodthirsty monster,” why do people in the Hida region love him and worship him?
Also… what exactly is this “order” from the imperial court that Sukuna defied?
To understand this, let’s first learn who Sukuna was in the eyes of his people…
He ruled in the Hida region, and in that place, he was NOT a demon who ruled his lands with tyranny. Instead, he was known as a benevolent ruler and a wise guardian.
It was mentioned that he introduced Buddhism in Hida, built temples, slew demons btw, and even DRAGONS!
Plus, they even refer to him as a GOD INCARNATE!
Demon and Dragon Slayer
He is a being with two faces on one body; each head faces in the opposite direction
Sukuna has extra limbs, wields two swords, and carries two bows and arrows.
This guy is dangerous like my mom… with her favorite weapon… SLIPPERS!
In the Hiyomo version, Sukuna still has the extra limbs, but he wore armor, carried a staff, and wielded two axes. I know, very handy!
With his malformed form, he might not sound attractive, but what I love about this Sukuna is that he is kindhearted and OP.
According to legends in Takayama City, Sukuna stands at a towering height of eighteen meters! That’s like… 8 Shaquille O’Neals stacked together!
It is also said that he was an incarnation of Kannon, the Bodhisattva of compassion.
One of my favorite stories about Ryomen Sukuna is when the emperor ordered him to defeat the demon “Shichina” of Mt. Kurai.
The legend also mentions a sacred treasure known as the “Hair of Shichina.”
While in Shimono-Ho in Seki City, Sukuna slew a poisonous dragon!
Nabe (Hotpot)
After he received the subjugation order, what happened next?
Sukuna knew that Mikoto would come to subdue him…
To spare the village from the upcoming war, Sukuna decided to leave.
If this dude was truly born evil, why would he care for the safety of the people?
TBH I’m starting to like this guy.
He was also welcomed by the villagers, but Sukuna was worried about causing them problems. That’s why he chose to use a stone that had fallen from the roof of a house as a DIY pot lid to prepare his meals!
In his honor, the festival “Nihon-ichi Sukuna Nabe” is held in Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture.
During this festival, the residents gather to cook a massive stew in Sukuna’s enormous pot, using 5000 liters of water, 300 kilograms of pork, and around 10 types of local vegetables.
This stew can feed 2500 people, with each person receiving 200 ml of broth.
Sadly, the festival stopped happening in 2008 due to the pot’s old age; it is no longer in use today.
If that makes you hungry, let’s whet your appetite even more by checking out this cooking manga.
Mt. Dainichi
According to the legends in Gero City when Sukuna went to Dewagahira to a small mountain in Kanayama, Sukuna prayed for 37 days… praying for the safety of the nation and a bountiful harvest!
Sooo… what kind of demon will pray for 37 days?! Think about it!
Sukuna along with his men was ambushed by their enemy led by, the general Mikoto at Mt. Dainichi.
Team Sukuna fought for a while but they were at a disadvantage, their forces retreated and disappeared into the mountains.
It was also mentioned that when the Imperial army arrived at Nakatsubaru, they saw a white dove flying northward.
In many cultures, a white dove can symbolize peace and hope. But thanks to that damn bird, Mikoto headed straight north and continued to hunt down Sukuna!
Sukuna vs. Mikoto
General Mikoto and his army eventually reached Mt. Norikura, and with one look, he knew that Sukuna was there.
When Mikoto discovered Sukuna’s stronghold, a double-sided cave and natural fortress, the imperial army climbed the rocky mountain, leading to a fearsome battle.
During that battle, Sukuna was GODLY! It was said that he had the strength of fifty men, and he proved it by hurling rocks and large trees at his enemies!
Sadly, Sukuna’s small force gradually grew tired
And with that, ladies and gentlemen! At the cave’s entrance, a dramatic showdown had begun! In the left corner, we have the beast, the OG, four-armed Ryomen Sukuna!!!! In the right corner, the warrior with the very LOOONG name, General Takefurukuma no Mikoto!!!!
In the end, our boy Sukuna was subdued, bound, and captured.
Mikoto was actually impressed by Sukuna’s superhuman abilities; that’s why he encouraged Sukuna to surrender and follow peacefully.
Sukuna remained defiant, and Mikoto had no choice but to ultimately defeat him.
TBH, with all the references I’ve found, I’m starting to think… Did Mikoto actually defeat or kill Sukuna?
Or is this just another ‘edited’ version of history? If you know what I mean…
In the anime/manga, who do you think will defeat Sukuna?
Not a Single Entity
What if I told you… Sukuna is NOT a single being.
During the reign of Emperor Nintoku, there existed a powerful clan in the Hida region known as Ryomen Sukuna— Yep not a single entity but a family!
This badass clan was also mentioned in the Nihon Shoki, and the story goes that they KILLED a dragon! But this wasn’t just any ordinary fire-breathing lizard–it was a DRAGON GOD!
Right in the very place where the dragon god once resided, Ryomen Sukuna built a shrine.
If this clan is cool and powerful, then everything makes sense…
Meaning that the portrayal of Sukuna as an evil demon that terrorized the people is propaganda by the Yamato Imperial family. They did this to take over the Sukuna clan’s territory.
This unfavorable depiction might have even resulted in the nickname ‘Ryomen,’ which means “two-faces” or should I say… “two-sided” because there are two sides of the story:
One represents a heartless demon. The other side represents a powerful, kindhearted being or a family that fell victim to greed and power.
Conclusion
If the real life Ryomen Sukuna was actually defeated by Takefurukuma no Mikoto… is it possible Mikoto reincarnated as Yuji Itadori?!
