You Can’t Ignore Gojo’s Past If You Want To Understand Jujutsu Kaisen's Present

Pavas Gagneja
Jun 8
3 min read

Why Gojo's past still matters in the present timeline on Jujutsu Kaisen

Gojo Satoru is known as the strongest Sorcerer in the modern world of JJK. But his power isn’t the only thing that defines him. His past, especially the events from his time as a student, still shapes everything happening in the story now. Whether it's the enemies he made or the people he couldn't save, Gojo's past keeps coming back in ways that impact the entire world of Jujutsu Kaisen.

It’s easy to look at Gojo today and just see a cocky, overpowered Sorcerer who cracks jokes while destroying Curses. But deep down, he’s someone who has seen pain, loss, betrayal, and failure. And that’s what makes him so human. His experiences during the Hidden Inventory arc and the Star Plasma Vessel mission aren’t just flashbacks; they’re the reason the present timeline is so chaotic.

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The Fall Of Geto: A Broken Friendship

One of the biggest reasons Gojo’s past matters is because of Suguru Geto, his former best friend. Back when they were students at Jujutsu High, Gojo and Geto were an unbeatable team. They were both strong, confident, and believed they could change the world. But during the Star Plasma Vessel mission, things changed.

After witnessing too much cruelty and losing faith in humanity, Geto turned evil. He started believing that only Sorcerers should exist and that normal people were the root of all pain. Gojo couldn’t stop him. Fast forward to the present, Geto’s body is being used by Kenjaku, one of the main villain of the story. So not only did Gojo lose his best friend, but now he has to face him again, except it’s not even really him anymore.

The Burden Of Being The Strongest

Gojo breaks the seal during the Kyoto Goodwill Event Arc

Gojo’s insane strength isn’t just a gift; it’s a Curse in its own way. After the events of his past, Gojo started to believe that he was the only one who could truly protect the world. That’s why he made it his mission to raise strong students like Yuji, Megumi, and Nobara.

He doesn’t want to repeat his past mistakes. He failed to save Geto, he couldn’t protect the Star Plasma Vessel, so now, he’s doing everything he can to prepare the next generation so that when he’s gone, they can carry the torch. This mission started because of what happened in the past. Gojo knows what loss feels like, and he doesn’t want his students to suffer the way he did.

Kenjaku And The Long Game

Another reason Gojo’s past still matters is because Kenjaku; the ancient Sorcerer who now controls Geto’s body, has been around since those days. Kenjaku’s plans go back hundreds of years, and everything he’s doing now was partly set in motion during Gojo’s student years.

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By using Geto’s body, Kenjaku is making Gojo face his deepest pain. He’s not just trying to win through brute force; he’s playing with Gojo’s emotions. The villain knows that mental wounds are harder to heal than physical ones. And that’s what makes their battle even more intense.

A Mentor Shaped By Pain

Gojo reveals that Yuji Itadori is still alive

Gojo’s past also explains why he acts the way he does. Sometimes he seems careless, goofy, or overconfident. But that’s just a mask. Underneath all that, Gojo is deeply serious about protecting people. His way of teaching might seem weird, but it comes from experience.

He knows what happens when you’re not strong enough. He knows what happens when you let your emotions cloud your judgment. He wants his students to be better than he is. That’s why he pushes Yuji to keep fighting, even when it gets tough, and that’s why he places so much trust in Megumi. Gojo doesn’t just want to win battles. He wants to break the old system of Cursed Energy, corrupt leaders, and hopelessness.

Final Verdict: Why Gojo's Still Past Matters In Jujutsu Kaisen?

Gojo Satoru’s past still matters because it never really left him. His pain, his failures, his lost friendships; they all shape who he is today. In Jujutsu Kaisen, the past and present are tightly connected, and Gojo stands at the center of it all.

From Geto’s betrayal to Kenjaku’s plans, from his lonely strength to his role as a mentor, everything we see now has roots in what happened before. And unless Gojo can finally face and overcome his past, the future may stay trapped in the same endless cycle of pain.