Satoru Gojo (五条 悟 ごじょう さとる) is the strongest Jujutsu sorcerer in the big hit anime, Jujutsu Kaisen. His overwhelming power, hot looking and happy-go-lucky attitude attract numbers of fans in the world. By the way, do you know there are several ways to call oneself in Japanese? Satoru used to call himself “ore”, but now he calls himself “boku”. Why is that? Today, I considered the reason and how his mind changed.
Basic Information
In Japanese, basically there are 4 ways to call oneself: ore, boku, watashi, watakushi. Actually, there are more words for the first-person pronouns, but I don’t think you would really hear other words in daily life but these 4 words.
The time Satoru was in Jujutsu tech as a student
When Satoru was a junior in Jujutsu tech, he used to call himself “ore”(Comic No.8 p.85). Back then, he was selfish and didn’t care about others at all. His classmate Suguru Geto (夏油 傑 げとう すぐる) advised him to change the way he called himself to something else at least “boku” because he should show some respects to older people, and younger people wouldn’t be afraid of him. Ore sounds kind of rough and is usually used between close friends and family. Boku sounds more casual but it includes humility so that you can use it when you are catting with your teachers, bosses, or older people. At that time, Satoru, of course, didn’t listen to him and kept calling him “ore”.
Satoru’s awakening and Suguru’s depressing
At this point, I don’t think there were much difference of power between Satoru and Suguru, but a mission split their paths in life in totally different directions. One day, their teacher gave them the task to guard a girl. The girl was supposed to merge into Master Tengen, who is kind of superexistance to strengthen the barriers of the Jujutsu tech and Jujutsu sorcerers. The mission turned out a desperate battle against Toji Fushiguro (伏黒 甚爾 ふしぐろ とうじ) who was hired to kill the girl with money. Though Toji’s incredible strength beat 2 young sorcerers once, Satoru awakened as the user of the Limitless Jujutsu Technique (無下限呪術 むかげんじゅじゅつ) through the battle and killed Toji. On the other hand, Suguru started doubting the significance of Jujutsu sorcerers.
Tragedy caused by Suguru
Curses are only generated by non-Jujutsu sorcerers and Jujutsu sorcerers sacrifice themselves to save non-sorcerers. What for? Suguru’s conflict gradually turned into hate towards non-sorcerers and he finally murdered over 100 non-sorcerers in one night and disappeared. Satoru was arrogant and self-centered but noticed that he couldn’t save everyone by himself.
Meeting Megumi Fushiguro
Shortly after the incident, Suguru was expelled from the Jujutsu tech and recognized as the curse user to be executed. Satoru went to see Toji’s son, Megumi Fushiguro who was only a first grade in elementary at the time and told him that Satoru would take care of him. At this time, he called himself “boku”.
The reason must be related to Suguru’s advice to change the way to call himself because it’s the only part that mentioned about first-person pronouns.
And Suguru said that Satoru should change “ore” to “boku” because
- He should show some respects to older people.
- Younger people wouldn’t be afraid of him.
Obviously, 1 is not Satoru’s reason because he doesn’t care about showing respects to older people even now. So, the answer is 2.
Satoru realized that being the strongest sorcerer didn’t mean he was perfect, and he needed people to fight together against irrationality, so he told Megumi that he would take care of him because he saw through the little boy’s potential as a sorcerer. Suguru was the only one Satoru called “best friend” (Comic no.0 p.197). Even though Suguru became an evil curse user, he still was the one to respect for Satoru. Satoru is the type of person who wouldn’t change his way by what others say to him. He doesn’t care about high-ups or positions, but he showed his respect to his only best friend by changing how he called himself.