This post contains spoilers for Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo, currently available for U.S. readers from VIZ Media
The fate of human/Simurian relations rests heavily on the planned cultural exchange in Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo. With Yuka and Maru excitedly planning a takoyaki event to give the aliens a taste of Japanese cuisine, everyone’s on edge. Everything is riding on their cultural exchange. That means everything all has to be perfect.
It wouldn’t be a compelling manga if everyone ate delicious takoyaki, held hands, and sang around a campfire. Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo Chapter 11, “Cultural Exchange,” sounds innocent enough. Behind the scenes tensions are rising. Before chapter’s end, things hit a high note there may be no turning back from.
Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo’s Cultural Exchange Is a Chance for a New Beginning
In Chapter 10, we saw the Simurian council voting on whether they would invade or take the time needed to learn about humanity. With Dabura casting the final vote, the alien majority is ready to make a cultural exchange with the humans, but there is definite tension among them. The Simurians came from a place of suffering and oppression, and for many, the only way to avoid ever enduring that again is to become the oppressor.
In order to score the choicest octopus for their “takopa,” Yuka calls on Usami for help. Usami puts the task on Tsurugi and Cross, who make their way to the beach, where they meet a man in a tropical shirt who asks them about octopus tentacles. Despite regular octopi having eight tentacles, the one they will seek only has one. The wancha octopus is a mutated species, born with eight tentacles that shrivel up and fall off as they grow up. The man at the beach laughs hysterically, claiming that all the flavor goes into that one tentacle, making it the ultimate gourmet octopus.
As Cross and Tsurugi go diving, things get hilarious, as they both wound up stung repeatedly by schools of jellyfish. The opposing panels of the two of them will linger in my mind for a while because the two of them tend to put up tough guy acts. Even the little note at the bottom of the panel reminding people to seek medical help if ever stung by jellyfish is still cracking me up.
Simurian Women Finally Make An Appearance
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After their excursion, Tsurugi and Cross sit on the beach talking about the differences in their cultures. What makes a warrior? On Earth, both men and women can be jujutsu sorcerers.
Simurian women, on the other hand, aren’t warriors. They can’t wield rolloluca/cursed energy. Tsurugi realizes it’s an outdated, patriarchal view, but he also gets it.
Cross mentions that they will be at the cultural exchange, however. They’ve been cooped up on the ship for so long. While he feels bad about it, it’s just how it is.
We actually get a glimpse of the women. Just a small one, but they’re so adorable. I can’t wait to see how they factor into the future of the story, especially given what we now know about their society.
What If Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo Just Married Dabura Off In the Name of Peace?
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With wancha octopus in tow, they return to Yuka and Maru. The pair work alongside Jujutsu High Nutritionist, Kyoko Tomoe, to get the party’s food started. This is the first time we’ve been introduced to Kyoko, but given her significance in the chapter, I have a feeling we might see a lot more of her. Considering considering Usami’s half-joking comment to Mino earlier about brokering a marriage alliance with the Simurians, she may just fit the bill.
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With the cultural exchange in full swing, Usami is in talks with Jabaloma and Dabura about the death curse the Deskunte put on Dabura’s younger sister. Usami mentions a cursed tool in Africa that might break its hold over her. Really, they would find themselves in the Simurian’s debt. That would definitely be a good thing.
Back to Kyoko, however, she comes face to face with Dabura in the hallway. They just stop and stare, Kyoko wide-eyed and stunned, and Dabura cool and assessing. At leas on the outside, anyway. He’s definitely intrigued, if we can judge by the fact that he damn near faints and cracks his horn on the doorframe. It makes him look like a big softie
But, it’s the exchange between Usami and Mino that really makes me laugh. Seeing this happen from the sidelines, Usami’s mind immediately goes back to the notion of a marriage alliance. It may just happen after all.
Akutami Sensei Finally Confirms the Nature of Kalyans
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The earliest chapters went to great trouble detailing the importance of the Kalyans to the Rumelians. Their entire culture is built around this precious spirit. As Tsurugi and Cross see their efforts going over well, he comments to Cross that it’s the Simurian’s turn next. The scene then shifts to the Simurian ship hovering in Earth’s orbit.
A group of Simurians tries to convince last chapter’s antagonist, Osuki, to come with them to the next cultural exchange. He still has no interest, but before the scene takes off there’s a problem. Elder Boro is on his knees in the hallway as they approach, tears streaming from his third eye. We already know this is a rare instance, generally only on two occasions: birth and death. The third, very rare occasion they cry from this eye, is the death of a Kalyan.
When asking Boro what’s wrong, he declares that he just witnessed the Japanese Earthlings killing a Kalyan. In fact, Jujutsu Sorcerers base their entire society around the killing of Kalyans, or rather, cursed spirits. It’s a shocking twist. There were a few moments when they were talking about Kalyans during Cross’s flashback chapters that I had suspicions. Now it’s confirmed. The source of Rumelian cursed energy is cursed spirits, the one thing Jujutsu Society goes out of their way to destroy.
Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo Chapter 11 On a Scale of 1 to 10
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This week’s chapter earns a full 10 out of 10 for me. There was a nice balance between tension and humor, and the end reveal made it all worthwhile. Akutami sensei took such care in demonstrating the importance of the Kalyans leading up to this point. It’s a major emotional blow to the reader to learn how different their cultures truly are. One built around worshiping curses, the other bent on destroying them. I am fully invested in finding out where this goes, and can’t wait until Chapter 12.
I’m also quickly finding myself on the Dabura/Kyoko ship now. He’s proving himself a rather sensitive character, despite his status as a powerful and brutal warrior. And the imagery of his first meeting with Kyoko is absolutely adorable. He almost has a Sukuna vibe going on in that stoic encounter, which gives me some intriguing ideas about reincarnation.
I have said this several times over the last eleven weeks, but it bears repeating. Akutami sensei has truly grown as a creator, and Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo is the proof.
VOID RATING: 10/10
