During his visit to the French convention Japan Expo Paris last July, we sat down with voice actor Junya Enoki to talk about his role as Yuji Itadori in Jujutsu Kaisen. Enoki-san visited the convention as part of the anime’s 5th-anniversary celebrations and took the opportunity to engage with European fans in a meet & greet.
While we wait for Jujutsu Kaisen Season 4, let’s dive into Enoki-san’s thoughts and experiences portraying our dear Itadori!
Portions of this interview have been edited for length and clarity. This interview was conducted with the assistance of an interpreter.
Q: While Itadori shares common traits with many traditional shonen protagonists, he’s also more relaxed than most of them. Was it difficult to strike this balance between his courageous and chill personalities?
A: Yeah, Itadori is a very courageous character. I didn’t try “too hard” to find the balance. He’s already written that way. I just followed the story so it felt pretty natural.
Q: How would you have dealt with Sukuna if you had him “inside” Itadori? Was it difficult to put yourself into Itadori’s mindset in that situation?
A: I had to change my approach to Itadori because of him. Sukuna, who is the character inside him, is the cause of all Itadori’s problems. Basically, Itadori is enduring a tough situation because of Sukuna. Itadori has to be very cautious as he can’t trust Sukuna. But even if this was the way I approached my role, when he was interacting with his other friends, like Megumi and Nobara, I had to keep conveying the trust inside of him.
Q: What was your first impression of Itadori compared to what you now know about him after three seasons?
A: Itadori is a character who has been through a lot. As I mentioned, because of Sukuna he’s facing difficult circumstances and many people have died. I feel sorry for him.
Q: What do you think was the hardest moment for Itadori in the anime so far?
A: Definitely the Shibuya Incident, because many people died, and he thinks it’s his fault. When I tried to put myself in his shoes, I couldn’t bear the guilt and darkness.
Q: What would you say to Itadori if you could meet him in real life?
A: I would hug him [gestures hugging].
Q: If you could play any role in Jujutsu Kaisen outside of Itadori, which one would you choose?
A: I would choose Inumaki because he doesn’t talk much. Itadori is always screaming, so Inumaki would be easier on my throat.
Q: What are your favorite anime songs (openings, endings, insert songs) from Jujutsu Kaisen?
A: My favorite is the ending song “more than words”. It represents how Itadori feels. I really like this song.
Q: Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 introduces a whole new set of characters. Do you have any favorites?
A: I like Kirara because the character’s power is interesting and unique. It’s actually very complex too. I also like the character’s visuals; Kirara has a very cute.
Q: Recording fight scenes with dialogue (like the ‘courtroom battle’ with Sugita-san’s Higuruma) is unusual. How do you physically prepare for sessions where Itadori is both talking and battling?
A: For those kinds of scenes, it’s more about internal dialogue. I approach it as a fight with myself, an internal fight.
Q: Could you share a final message to your overseas fans?
A: I know that a lot of people in France and worldwide love Jujutsu Kaisen. Right now, we are working on the next season, so I’ll do my best and scream a lot. Please look forward to Season 4 when it comes out.
We want to extend our thanks to Japan Expo Paris and Enoki-san for this interview. We hope to see him again in future events.
If you want to know more about the upcoming season, don’t miss our latest coverage (including the first trailer revealed).
Feature Image: © Gege Akutami/Shueisha, JUJUTSU KAISEN Project.
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