How Riko Amanai's fate became the catalyst for the path of the story

Key points

• Amanai's innocence affected Gojo and Geto, altering their perception of strength and humanity.
• Amanai's tragic death shaped Gojo's decision to mentor compassionate sorcerers and influenced Geto's radical ideology.
• If Amanai had survived, the trajectory of the story would have been drastically different, potentially leading to Gojo and Geto becoming villains.

Stories like Jujutsu Kaisen masterfully shows how an event or a single character can divert the course of an entire series to shape both heroes and villains. Perhaps one of the most important characters in the plot of Jujutsu Kaisen is that of Riko Amanai, whose tragic fate serves as the basis for the emotional depth and philosophical nuances of the series.

Amanai's story shows a fine line between duty and personal growth, and her interactions with Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto really highlight the fragile humanity that even the strongest of sorcerers possess. His role not only influenced their perspective, but set in motion events that would redefine their lives and, to that extent, the entire series.

Who was Riko Amanai

Innocence in a sinful world

The Star Plasma Vessel, Riko Amanai, was a young girl selected for the aforementioned fusion process with Master Tengen, an immortal sorcerer responsible for restoring balance to the world of Jujutsu. In his early age, he maintained a sunny and more sensitive personality and also came to terms with his inevitable position. Selflessness and kindness were his character's only selling points in a world that was often full of blood, courage and power struggles.

Protected by Gojo and Geto, Amanai becomes the heart of their mission. Although it may have seemed like just another responsibility to both sorcerers, his innocence and willingness to accept his fate left a lasting impression. For Gojo, who had always thought of himself as invincible, and for Geto, who thought the world was devoid of anything worth redeeming, Amanai's presence began to change their perspectives.

How Amanai changed Gojo and Geto

He showed the strongest how to live life

These two, often called the strongest sorcerers of their time, took a fairly detached approach to their role as protectors. Gojo displayed overconfidence resulting from his power and often ignored the weak as they were simply irrelevant to him. On the other hand, Geto resented non-sorcerers, as he felt they were in the way of the sorcerers' world.

However, Amanai's unwavering courage and humanity forced both sorcerers to confront their beliefs. His ability to find beauty in life, despite his sad fate, inspired Gojo to consider the value of others beyond their strength. For Geto it represented the purity of humanity that he had begun to doubt. Together, they found purpose in their mission, seeing Amanai not just as a vessel but as a person worth protecting.

An unfortunate and sad fate

The turning point

Amanai's tragic death at the hands of Toji Fushiguro broke the fragile bond between Gojo and Geto's ideologies. Gojo, overcome by guilt and anger, unleashed his power in a way that hinted at the dangerous potential of his abilities. For a brief moment, the world could witness an unbridled and vengeful Gojo, one who could become a villain himself. It was Geto who brought Gojo back, providing him with the moral compass he needed at that very critical moment.

For Geto, however, Amanai's death solidified his growing disdain for non-sorcerers. Seeing someone as pure as Amanai lose his life to a system built to protect those who couldn't defend themselves led him down the dark path of eradicating humanity. His death became the catalyst for his transformation into a curse user, marking a complete departure from the ideals he once shared with Gojo. It's clear that Riko wasn't the only one who died that day, but parts of Gojo and Geto died along with her.

How Amanai's fate shaped the future

Gojo's determination to create a world where strength was not the only measure of worth can be directly traced to Amanai's influence. His death led him to mentor the next generation of sorcerers, with the goal of cultivating strong but compassionate individuals who could carry the burden of their duties. Characters like Yuji Itadori, Megumi Fushiguro and Nobara Kugisaki owe their growth to Gojo's change of perspective.

On the other hand, Amanai's death planted the seeds of Geto's radical ideology. His hatred of non-sorcerers became the driving force behind his actions, turning him into one of the series' most formidable antagonists. Without losing Amanai, Geto might have continued to be Gojo's ally, and the world of Jujutsu might never have faced the challenges that arose from their ideological clash.

What if Amanai had survived?

If Amanai had survived, everything in history would have completely changed course. Perhaps it would have cemented the friendship between Gojo and Geto and further stabilized Geto's views on the positivity of humans. Both together could develop a new definition of the world of sorcerers, using their strength to protect the weak without falling into the darkness of their powers.

Sorry, Amanai. I'm not even mad at you right now. I don't hold a grudge against anyone. It's just that the world seems so, so wonderful right now. Satoru Gojo

On the other hand, if Gojo and Geto had never met Amanai, their detachment from humanity could have grown unchecked. Gojo's unchecked arrogance and Geto's growing resentment could have made them a threat to the world they were sworn to protect, which is pretty scary when you think about it: are Gojo and Geto both bad together? This is a duo that would be unstoppable. Amanai was that catalyst that forced them to truly confront their ideologies, thus setting in motion defining events Jujutsu Kaisen.

Riko Amanai's brief but impactful appearance in Jujutsu Kaisen shows how much one person can change the course of a story. Indeed, his life and death lay the foundation for this series' philosophical journey regarding strength, morality, and purpose. It is often a symbol, in those aspects of human nature, capable of changing even in the darkest moments of life, even when power seems to surpass compassion.