Today, season 3 episode 9 of “Jujutsu Kaisen” released, and all the hype surrounding Higuruma continued to pay off in dividends. After last week’s episode, it was a given that this next episode would be amazing. And the anime definitely did not disappoint.
I’d rate this anime episode a solid 10 out of 10. It basically had everything: an intriguing domain expansion, added lore about the history of jujutsu techniques, a phenomenal battle with beautiful animation, and an emotional ending. No matter what aspect of “Jujutsu Kaisen” you prefer, it was in this episode.
Below is a review and recap of the episode, along with reactions from fans. This article has spoilers for the newest episode, but it’s free of manga spoilers.
Higuruma’s Domain Expansion — ‘Deadly Sentencing’ — Was Phenomenal to Observe
Episode 56 jumped immediately into Higuruma’s domain expansion technique. While Yuji wanted to start fighting right off the bat, Higuruma informed him that “all acts of violence are prohibited in this space” — for both of them. It was a light touch of humor that I appreciated.
From the get go, we know that this domain is going to be treated much like a regular courtroom. Except, as Yuji astutely observed, Higuruma is playing the role of a prosectuor rather than the defense attorney that he normally is.
That’s when we learn an important piece of lore. Domains used to lack the “guaranteed kill” element of modern domains. Instead, they simply guaranteed that the target would be hit, and as such, were easier to create than they are now. Higuruma is using the old-time domain technique, which is why the defendants have a chance to present their cases and possibly be found innocent.
Higuruma is given a piece of evidence for the trial that may or may not determine a person’s guilt, but it’s not shared until after the defendant puts in a plea and makes their case. After Higuruma then presents his case, the Judgeman makes a decision.
Yuji is accused of entering a pachinko parlor while underage in 2017. Well, he definitely did it! He can either be silent, confess, or deny (even with false facts.) Yuji considers that he could confess and ask for leniency, but chooses not to go that route since he’s not sure if leniency is even allowed in this domain.
Instead, he just claims he went inside to poop. Of course, Higuruma’s evidence is enough to prove that excuse is a lie, and Yuji is found guilty.
There’s a great line during these scenes when Yuji realizes he’s allowed to lie. Higuruma tells him, “If everyone told the truth, there would be no need for trials.”
The Animation for Yuji & Higuruma’s Battle is Beautiful
The punishment is Confiscation, but not death in this case. Since Yuji doesn’t have a technique to temporarily confiscate, he’s blocked from manipulating cursed energy. Higuruma is going to fight him with his gavel — a cursed tool that is so much fun to watch. He can change its size at will, and it automatically returns to his hand if he loses it.
The animation for their fight is nothing short of amazing. (As one fan on X writes, it’s a “masterclass episode.”) Yuji and Higuruma are illustrated beautifully, and you can tell that immense care was taken to get each second of their fight just right. The choreography is unmatched.
Higuruma is proven to be a prodigy as he fights, having mastered sorcery in just two weeks.
Yuji is able to hold his own against Higuruma for awhile due to his insane physical strength and stamina. Even Higuruma — who has already killed 20 sorcerers and is a genius — acknowledges to himself that this is a terrifying skill and he’ll have to watch himself.
Ultimately, Yuji can’t hold up, but he realizes he can demand a retrial. Since Higuruma’s a lawyer, his domain follows the Japanese legal system’s rules. Yuji is allowed up to two retrials.
But for his second trial, he’s accused of mass murder in Shibuya. And without any hesitation, he simply confesses to it. In his heart, he does feel guilty for not being able to stop Sukuna.
The Heartfelt Conversation Between Yuji & Higuruma Provided the Perfect Ending
The punishment is confiscation and death. But as Higuruma wields the executioner’s sword this time instead of a gavel, he’s struck by Yuji’s confession. He had the evidence that Yuji was innocent and Sukuna did the crime. But Yuji confessed anyway. That pureness of Yuji’s soul strikes Higuruma and reminds him of his own roots, of a time when he wanted to help the weak as well.
And even though he’s killed people who probably deserved it, he feels guilty for what he’s done as well. So in the end, he chooses to essentially revert back to being a defense attorney rather than a prosecutor (or, perhaps, a judge) and determines that Yuji is innocent due to “non compos mentis” (i.e. not having full control of his mind.)
He uses his 100 points to create a rule that players can transfer their points, and those transfers fulfill the rule about needing to have a change in your points in order to not be stripped of your technique. He also transfers one point to Yuji, so he won’t be stripped of his technique for the next 19 days.
This closing conversation — and the shot of Yuji at the end — created the perfect emotional conclusion to a beautiful episode. As one fan wrote, this is truly a piece of art, not just TV.
