Overview
- Aoi Todo encourages his friends to reach their full potential, notably mentoring Yuji during the Kyoto Sister-School Goodwill Event.
- Todo fiercely defends his friends, notably standing up for Yuji against hostile classmates from Kyoto.
- During the Shibuya Incident, Todo provides emotional support for Yuji, helping him navigate grief.
This article contains spoilers from the Shibuya Incident arc in Jujutsu Kaisen.
Aoi Todo makes a striking entrance in Jujutsu Kaisen, leaving viewers curious about his complex nature. His unusual conversation starters, such as asking about a stranger’s taste in women, combined with his evident passion for idols, create a layered character that defies easy categorization. Is he merely a brute, or does he possess deeper insights? As with many characters in Jujutsu Kaisen, Todo showcases significant emotional depth.
Initially, Todo’s friendship with Yuji Itadori seems quite one-sided, but as their bond evolves, Todo’s profound loyalty and honor become evident. His remarkable emotional intelligence ultimately rescues Yuji from a dire fate at the hands of Mahito. In essence, Aoi Todo epitomizes what it means to be a true friend.
Todo Encourages Personal Growth
The Kyoto Sister-School Goodwill Event serves as a revealing backdrop for character development among Jujutsu High students, with Aoi Todo standing out through his remarkable sportsmanship. He enthusiastically takes Yuji under his guidance, even when initially met with reluctance.
Todo teaches Yuji the formidable Black Flash technique, a rare form of physical attack that sorcerers execute under very specific conditions—similar to athletes achieving a state of flow. Recognizing Yuji’s lag in connecting his physical strikes to his cursed energy, Todo isn’t afraid to challenge him to improve.
Todo, with his impressive standing as a Grade 1 sorcerer, refuses to accept mediocrity from friends. This mindset is highlighted in season 1, episode 15, where he confronts Yuji:
If you’re satisfied staying on that level, then sadly, you and I can’t possibly stay best friends.
Accepting Todo’s mentorship, Yuji learns to harness cursed energy more proficiently, which ultimately enables him to achieve a Black Flash against the formidable Hanami during an invasion of the Tokyo Jujutsu High campus.
Todo Stands Up for His Friends
Aoi Todo’s loyalty shines brightly when he forges a friendship. He proves that nothing can come between him and his friends, not even peer pressure from his allies. Following a sparring session with Yuji in the same episode of the Goodwill Event, Todo’s classmates interrupt the match, underlining a deadly order from Principal Gakuganji to eliminate Itadori. In a true display of camaraderie, Todo defies this command, insisting that his classmates back off.
Todo treats Yuji with deep respect in person, but the real measure of a friendship reveals itself through how friends speak of each other in their absence. Unlike two-faced individuals who praise one another publicly while disparaging them privately, Todo remains unwaveringly sincere. His commitment to advocating for Yuji is powerfully demonstrated at the end of season 1, when he volunteers to recommend Yuji for a promotion after witnessing his undeniable potential during the Goodwill Event.
Todo Respects His Friends’ Feelings
The Shibuya Incident marks a pivotal moment in the friendship between Yuji and Todo. Friends often struggle with supporting one another through grief, either minimizing emotions or allowing the relationship to wane in tough times. When Todo sees Yuji grappling with the loss of Nanami, Nobara, and countless victims of Sukuna, viewers are left wondering how he will respond.
Todo’s macho persona might lead audiences to expect him to issue tough love or harsh criticism. However, in a surprising turn, he demonstrates understanding, creating a safe space for Yuji’s sorrow. Instead of scolding Yuji, Todo speaks compassionately, validating his friend’s feelings of loss.
Brother, you’re a man amongst men. Don’t limit yourself to such narrow-mindedness.
Turning the conversation towards hope and progress, Todo reassures Yuji about the unpredictable nature of their work as jujutsu sorcerers, alleviating the heavy burden of guilt Yuji feels. Todo emphasizes the importance of continuing the fight to honor those who have fallen:
Attempting to find meaning in the deaths of the fallen can, at times, defile the memory of those we’ve lost… What is it that you have been entrusted with?… Until you’re able to find it, you cannot stop moving forward.
Through Todo’s wise counsel, Yuji finds a renewed sense of purpose, allowing him to channel the grief productively. This pivotal moment solidifies their brotherly bond. In season 2, episode 45, titled “Metamorphosis,”Yuji transitions into battle against Mahito, expressing heartfelt gratitude to Todo and affirming their brotherly connection. If only everyone could find a friend like Aoi Todo.
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