The Music of Jujutsu Kaisen 0
This article contains spoilers on Jujutsu Kaisen 0.
Jujutsu Kaisen 0 came to U.S. theaters on March 18, 2022. Already one of Japan’s top grossing movies of all time, and with a current 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s safe to say it’s been a huge success. Based on the best-selling manga of the same name, and acting as a prequel to the Jujutsu Kaisen show, it follows Yuta Okkotsu—a high school boy who gains control of a powerful, Special Grade curse after his childhood friend, Rika, dies in an accident. To learn to use this power and break Rika’s curse, Yuta is brought to Jujutsu High, a school for sorcerers.
It’s a compelling, fast-moving story, with dynamic, lovable characters and witty dialogue, all of which help make Jujutsu Kaisen 0 the hit that it is. But it wouldn’t be complete without its soundtrack— a soundtrack that I argue raises JJK 0 to the next level.
The first notable track in the film is “Greatest Strength,” the song that essentially starts off the entire story as we watch Yuta get ready for his day before making his way to Gojo, his new mentor (and the Strongest Sorcerer ™), finally ready to be taken to Jujutsu High just as the title credits appear. It’s in English, and I’d be lying if I said some of the lyrics don’t come across a bit cheesy, with lines such as “don’t be afraid to fall / ‘cause the world will take you,” but there’s enough heart behind them that somehow it all works.
With its slow-burn yet mystical start that steadily builds to a breathtaking climax, the song makes a scene of seemingly nothing at all very beautiful and memorable. And then, midway through, sung passionately over the beautiful backing vocals, the track’s title appears in the lyrics: “Your weakness is your greatest strength.” What at first sounds like an exceptionally simple statement and concept is actually much more complex and fascinating than it appears. It’s a truth that, while introduced in a song, is explored throughout the entire movie.
“Greatest Strength” continues to appear in the barest amounts during the rest of the film. For example, the echo of backing vocalization appears for just a second at the end of the elementary school incident, when Yuta manages to rescue both of the missing children and his classmate, Maki, single handedly carrying all three of them at once. This moment marks an important shift in Yuta, his turning point from a scared kid to someone who decides that he will get stronger and become someone who can save others. And the hint of “Greatest Strength” in the final moments of this scene is such a nice touch—the meaning of the song perfectly alluding to the growth of Yuta’s own power. In fact, my only complaint about “Greatest Strength” is that it should have been used even more!
Another notable track is that which emerges for Rika’s manifestation: “Special Grade Vengeful Cursed Spirit: RIKA.” Also first appearing during the elementary school incident, it’s a theme that starts off like a shocking punch to the face, hitting you with a disturbing but badass melody that toes the line between chill-inducing and straight up frightening; a perfect fit for the absolute mauling Rika inflicts upon the other curse present at the scene as the song plays on. But then the theme takes a turn, slowly showing its musical range as it transforms from something purely electronic and jarring to something beautiful and haunting, complete with gentle piano and strings (this is the track that contains hints of “Greatest Strength” at its end). An impressive feat for an original sound track (OST) that doesn’t even hit the two-minute mark.
Yuta Okkotsu’s second big mission comes in the form of his team-up with his other classmate, the cursed speech user Toge Inumaki. It’s an interesting pairing where we get to see Yuta bond more with someone who’s faced similar experiences of being feared for his power and, eventually, come more into his own as a sorcerer in the process (now with his own cursed energy-imbued katana!). As is expected from Jujutsu Kaisen battle scenes, the music, “Toge and Okkotsu,” sucks you into the fight, putting you on the edge of your seat as it gets your heart pumping. Like some other Jujutsu tracks, it contains an interesting mix of orchestral music and overlapping guitar and drums—a concoction that ends up fitting the atmosphere of the battle quite well. However, while it works for the scene, it’s not exactly catchy, or something that will stick in your mind a long time after.
In terms of pure intensity, I’d say it is outdone by some of the music played during the fights of the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons, with the battle between Gojo and his opponent, Miguel, acting as the main standout. The OST, appropriately titled “Gojo VS Miguel,” has an exceptionally suspenseful, gripping quality to it—one that is surprisingly serious in tone. There’s a sense of urgency to it, leaving you holding your breath as your eyes stay glued to the screen, unblinking, for fear of missing even a single second of the incredibly fast moving fight. Sure, it’s no “Hollow Purple” (the famous OST that showcases one of Gojo’s greatest moments from the show), but it’s certainly something. Watching Gojo absolutely destroy Miguel with hit after lightning quick hit to the thrumming strings and relentless drums is a wonderful experience. Not to mention, the visuals pair up spectacularly, easily matching the intensity of the music as Gojo’s fight takes us from location to location at break-neck, yet graceful speed.
In between all the action going on in Shinjuku (the main location for the Night Parade), the film cuts back to Yuta’s final boss battle against the film’s main villain, Geto. Isolated at Jujutsu High, with all his friends at death’s door, Yuta must take on Geto alone. To do so, he has to truly come into his own, making the accompanying track, “The Real You,” a very fitting one.
Containing lots of heavy, hard guitarwork, it’s the only other track played in the film that has lyrics, which also happen to be in English. With its message, “you’re gonna get back up and try again,” it is in the same vein as “Greatest Strength,” if not quite as memorable. But it works perfectly for what it needs to do: overlay an epic fight that acts as the perfect show of the growth Yuta’s character has gone through at this point in the film. There’s a brilliant part where the music fades away for a few seconds to near silence, and then a burst of spiraling guitar notes appears right as Yuta hits Geto with a surprise punch, marking the first time he uses the well-known, extremely difficult move, Black Flash. A move Yuta pulls off on his first try with no prior training or knowledge of. It’s a moment that shows us just what incredible and versatile potential he has as a sorcerer, as well as how confident he has grown in himself and his abilities—a moment that has its emotionality and significance all the more accentuated with the accompanying score of “The Real You.”
Toward the finale of this final fight between Yuta and Geto, the track “This is Pure Love” begins. It’s an amazing OST that ends up covering two of the most emotional scenes of the movie: Yuta asking Rika to help him one last time in exchange for his body and soul, and the final moment between Gojo and his best friend-turned-enemy, Geto.
The solemn, simple piano notes reflect the emotional beats of the story before, part-way through, it begins to turn into an epic, building orchestral piece with hints of the backing vocals from “Greatest Strength.” After the climax where Rika helps Yuta beat Geto with an overwhelming show of power, (a power that comes from “pure love”), the song fades back into the wistful piano and light strings. And this is what plays over Gojo and Geto’s last conversation. There’s a pain behind it, yes, but also an affection, when even after all they’ve been through, Gojo still holds no hate toward his one and only best friend. Gojo’s last words to him may remain a mystery, as we see his lips move and have the sound cut away, but Geto’s rueful laugh and responding “at least curse me a little at the end” tells us what we really need to know.
Up next, “Sakayume,” by the Japanese band King Gnu, begins playing after Rika’s curse is finally broken and continues on over the credits. It’s a truly gorgeous song, one that portrays the feelings of the film—bittersweet but hopeful—so well. There’s a joy to it but also a longing and a promise to continue forward even though things are difficult. When translated, the lyrics take you through the journey of Yuta’s character during the movie: “Even if I’m unreliable, someday/ If I can become someone else/ For no reason at all, I’m about to burst into tears.” And then finally, at the very end, “I’ll fill the night/ It will be a shining dream/ Whether it’s a good dream or a bad dream.”
“Ichizu” (translating to “One Way”) plays immediately after “Sakayume” as the last song of the film, closing out the end credits. Almost unpredictable in its bizarre-yet-catchy composition, it’s another great song by King Gnu and acts as a strong, memorable finish. As what is considered the “theme song” of the movie, I wish they’d played it throughout the film, perhaps as an instrumental version, rather than only at the very end. But, really, I am simply glad Jujutsu Kaisen 0 has given us this masterpiece to begin with.
You see, if asked what this film is really about, what its heart and soul are, I’d point people to Yuta’s answer to the question of why he is at Jujutsu High: “I want to believe that it’s okay that I’m alive.” A single line that encompasses how, at its core, complete with all the sorcery and epic battles, Jujutsu Kaisen 0 is a story about a boy learning that his life has meaning and that it can impact others in a positive way when he finally steps up and decides for himself that he has the right to live. It’s not necessarily about becoming a hero so much as it’s about taking action and making choices for himself. In fact, as we saw in his final fight with Geto, Yuta is not afraid to do what it takes to win, and he’s not going to pretend to know what the right thing to do is. But he will do what he has to in order to save his friends. And, in the end, he finally trusts his own strength and abilities enough to do this.
The lyrics of the final song, “Ichizu,” bring this character development and the themes of the movie as a whole, home: “Shatter my long-frozen heart / To carve the proof of my life / I don’t need a balance to decide what’s right or wrong” and later,“I don’t need a reason to stare straight ahead with my sole heart.” Within the context of the movie, the song describes the way Yuta is done needing to justify his purpose for being alive. He can stand on his own and go forward as he is.
At the time you’re watching the film, you may not be able to understand that this is what is being said since, like “Sakayume,” it is sung in Japanese, but the sound of the song itself carries the feeling across—impressively so. It leaves you with a swollen heart and a smile on your face, ready to add it to your playlist as, just like Yuta, you look ahead at your own life.
Then, before you know it, the movie is over and it’s time to go home. But with its sincere, action-packed narrative and equally epic and heartfelt soundtrack, Jujutsu Kaisen 0 is a story that’s sure to be with you wherever you go.