Despite Jujutsu Kaisen’s protagonist Yuji Itadori not appearing in Jujutsu Kaisen 0, the film’s events significantly impact his story in the world of Jujutsu sorcerers.
When Does Jujutsu Kaisen Take Place?
The events in Jujutsu Kaisen season one, when Yuji is dragged into the world of Tokyo Jujutsu High, begin in June 2018 and continue throughout that year. Creator Gege Akutami regularly uses reports with precise dates to mark key events in the series. For example, the Shibuya Incident, despite taking over 50 chapters to cover, takes place precisely on October 31st, 2018. Looking at the dates of Jujutsu Kaisen’s events, it’s fair to say that Yuji’s life is a whirlwind by the time he joins Tokyo Jujutsu High! The Culling Game, which has spanned multiple arcs, happened directly after the Shibuya Incident and is still ongoing. Based on recent key announcements, the manga is currently set around late 2018.
When Does the Prequel Jujutsu Kaisen 0 Take Place?
Jujutsu Kaisen 0, on the other hand, predominantly takes place in 2017, one year before the main series. However, the movie spans a much longer period, moving backwards and forwards across the timeline. Yuta Okkotsu is first spotted by Jujutsu High and Satoru Gojo after events in November 2016, but doesn’t join the sorcerer’s school until sometime in 2017 Once he’s joined, the story follows a similar speed to the Jujutsu Kaisen series, with the main climax (the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons) occurring on December 24th, 2017. Jujutsu Kaisen 0 also regularly jumps around the timeline. For example, Rika’s death occurs in 2011, while the post-credits scene takes place at some point between season 1’s conclusion and the Shibuya Incident, which is set to take place during season 2.
Jujutsu Kaisen’s Timeline
If you’re wondering how events in Jujutsu Kaisen 0 and the main Jujutsu Kaisen anime and manga stack up, here’s a simple timeline to help:
2006 – Gojo’s Past Arc, following him and Geto as students at Tokyo Jujutsu High [Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2]2011 – Yuta Okkotsu’s childhood friend Rika dies [Jujutsu Kaisen 0]November 2016 – Yuta Okkotsu kills four students at his school, leading to a visit by Satoru Gojo, now a powerful sorcerer and teacher at Tokyo Jujutsu High [Jujutsu Kaisen 0]2017 – Yuta joins Tokyo Jujutsu High alongside first years Maki Zenin, Panda and Toge Inumaki [Jujutsu Kaisen 0]December 2017 – The Night Parade of a Hundred Demons takes place [Jujutsu Kaisen 0]June 2018 – Yuji Itadori, after accidentally becoming Sukuna’s vessel, enrols in Tokyo Jujutsu High alongside first-year students Megumi Fushiguro and Nobara Kugisaki [Jujutsu Kaisen]2018 – Satoru Gojo visits Yuta Okkotsu in Kenya [Jujutsu Kaisen 0]October 2018 – The Shibuya Incident takes place [Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2]2018 – Yuta returns to Tokyo and meets Yuji [TBC]
Even for those that have watched the series, the Jujutsu Kaisen timeline can be a lot to take in, as so much happens so fast! Thankfully, Akutami has excellently woven these narratives into a hugely enjoyable story – seeing where everything fits is just the icing on the cake!
