Who Is The Protagonist In Jujutsu Kaisen Zero?

The protagonist of 'Jujutsu Kaisen 0' is Yuta Okkotsu. He’s introduced as a young man tormented by a curse linked to Rika — a tragic, obsessive bond that turns her into a fearsome cursed spirit. The prequel centers on Yuta’s enrollment at the jujutsu school, his awkward attempts to fit in, and how he slowly accepts training and friendship while dealing with the destructive side of his power.

What’s neat is how the story balances heavy themes (grief, guilt, loss) with moments of levity from his classmates and mentors. Yuta’s journey is less about becoming the strongest and more about reclaiming his life from the shadow of that curse. If you like stories where the emotional stakes drive the action, 'Jujutsu Kaisen 0' makes Yuta a memorable lead — sympathetic, volatile, and surprisingly brave by the end. It’s a great starting point if you want an entry into the wider 'Jujutsu Kaisen' universe with a strong, character-focused punch.

Yuta Okkotsu is the protagonist of 'Jujutsu Kaisen 0', and honestly he’s one of those characters who stuck with me long after the credits rolled. I first dug into the one-shot and then went to see the movie when it hit theaters, and what grabbed me wasn’t just the flashy battles but how personal the whole thing feels. Yuta starts as a terrified kid haunted by a vengeful curse tied to the girl he loved, Rika — she’s basically the emotional engine of the story, both protector and catastrophe. The arc is about him learning to live with that pain, to separate guilt from identity, and to find agency as he trains at Tokyo Metropolitan Curse Technical School (the prequel setting to 'Jujutsu Kaisen') under people like Satoru Gojo and alongside classmates who quickly become family.

The worldbuilding around Yuta is compact but rich: we see how curses form from human emotions, how the sorcerers organize to handle them, and how power and responsibility can warp someone. Yuta’s power level is wild — he’s essentially a special-grade case because of Rika — but the story treats him like a real kid figuring things out, not just a walking power fantasy. Watching him move from being defined by a tragic incident to actively choosing who he wants to protect is genuinely moving. And the supporting cast — Maki, Toge, Panda — bring a great balance of humor and heart. I still get chills thinking about certain scenes where Yuta’s raw grief becomes this terrifying force, then flips to this fierce protectiveness.

If you haven’t read or seen 'Jujutsu Kaisen 0', expect something that’s both punchy and unexpectedly intimate. It’s the kind of prequel that deepens the main series while standing on its own, and Yuta as the central figure gives the story a bittersweet, human core. Personally, I love revisiting his moments of doubt and growth; they make the big fights mean more because you care who’s behind the power. Definitely worth a watch if you want a darker, more emotional spin on the curses-and-sorcery setup — and it left me wanting more of Yuta’s next steps.