The following contains spoilers for Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3, Episode 8, which is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.
After an unexpected week off from Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3, the anime returned yesterday with a brand new episode. Leaving us hanging on the threshold of meeting one of the most interesting characters since Nanami Kento was cruel. Fortunately, Episode 55, “Tokyo Colony No. 1, Part 2,” more than made up for it with a strong introduction to newly-turned sorcerer, Higuruma Hiromi.
With Season 3, Cour 1 barreling quickly toward the season break, that leaves just four episodes. I’m still not sure when Cour 2 will air. I would like to hope it continues into the Spring 2026 Anime Season, but I highly doubt it. We may have to wait until summer or fall, which just means I better appreciate these new episodes while they last!
Higuruma’s Backstory Took Its Time In Jujutsu Kaisen Ep. 55
For me, one of the greatest things about Episode 55 was that Higuruma’s backstory spanned half of the episode. As a fan who loves the manga, it is nice to see the anime bring a treasured character to life. If you haven’t guessed already, Higuruma will play a huge role going forward. As of right now, however, anime-only fans don’t know if that role will be antagonistic or not.
Prior to the Culling Game, Higuruma was a defense attorney in Japan, where the legal system tends to almost always judge criminals guilty. Regardless of evidence proving innocence, Japan has a 99% conviction rate, and Jujutsu Kaisen reflects frustration with a flawed justice system through Higuruma accurately. As a defense attorney, he puts everything into his job, working hard to gather evidence proving his clients’ innocence.
Unfortunately, not even compelling evidence is enough to guarantee an innocent verdict. No matter how hard he works, it doesn’t reflect in the outcome of his clients’ trials. And it’s him the convicted blame in the end. Why? Because even while tempering their expectations, his belief in them gives them hope. The moment that hope is dashed, he becomes the outlet for their anger, even though he did everything in his power to help them.
A Flawed Justice System Is Enough to Break an Honest Man
Image property of Studio MAPPA
Higuruma’s dedication to true justice shapes the kind of man he is. Much like Nanami, Higuruma believes in following the rules. He’s done it all his life, but to no avail. When his final client’s third trial ends with a guilty verdict, he snaps in the courtroom, demanding a retrial as his innate technique awakens. Judgeman, his shikigami, begins to manifest, along the Domain Expansion, Deadly Sentencing, directly tied to it.
The dialogue between him and Yuji after they meet demonstrates how broken Higuruma is. The anime gave a preview of why, and we also get a sense of his reason for refusing to give over his points. He doesn’t want to end the Culling Game too soon. For the first time in his life, he feels empowered by a system that allows him to mete out justice against people who actually deserve it.
In a world now turned on its head, he’s experimenting with things he never would have considered doing before. Like bathing with his suit on. Killing people simply because they annoy him. Now, he’s about to bring Yuji Itadori to justice. When considering the amount of guilt he’s carrying around since Shibuya, it should be an interesting trial.
Jujutsu Kaisen Separating Megumi & Yuji Was for the Best
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With Megumi and Yuji immediately cast at different ends of the colony upon entering the Culling Game, both instantly met with opposition. While Yuji was battling his way toward finding Higuruma, Megumi was doing the same. We learn quickly in Episode 55 that Megumi went with Remi, the liar. The person she leads him toward isn’t Higuruma, but one of the reincarnated ancient sorcerers, Reggie Star.
Turns out Remi was scouting potential victims for Reggie to prey on, but as Megumi approaches, Reggie strikes up a conversation on his theory about the Culling Game. He believes each colony has 100 players, with one powerhouse player like Higuruma and Kashimo in each one to weed out the weaker ones. Megumi surmises this would create a stalemate, but Reggie confirms it already has in Tokyo Colony 1.
So, what is Kenjaku’s end goal? Megumi believes it is to use the cursed energy, but Reggie thinks Kenjaku plans to drop a bomb on the whole affair. This would allow the Culling Game to achieve its true purpose. We then see Kenjaku walking into a meeting with government officials, interposing with a bomb dropping on Tokyo.
First of all, why does he look so smug? And secondly, does he have to do it walking around in Geto’s body? (Yeah, I’m still crying, so what?) Speaking of which, I wonder how many crunches Gojo’s up to in the Prison Realm by this point. Man, he’s gonna have even more ridiculous ab strength by the time he gets out.
Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3, Episode 8 on a Scale of 1 to 10
Image property of Studio MAPPA
Now that things in the Culling Game are finally starting to feel like they’re moving forward, I am more eager than ever for new episodes. I feel like I’ve been waiting forever to see this arc of the story come to screen. Of course, that just makes me anxious that we will have to wait until October 2026 for the second half of Season 3.
Higuruma is, hands down, one of JJK‘s best characters. He’s such a complex and noble person. Watching his faith in the justice system he has upheld himself to crumble is truly heartrending. One interesting review that came up in my feed was from a lawyer, who felt a deep connection to Higuruma’s frustration with a flawed system. I’m super excited to see how Yuji handles Deadly Sentencing, and what Judgeman has to say about his crimes.
Another thing I am really looking forward to is seeing more of Kenjaku’s plan come into the light. We have basic ideas as anime viewers right now, but you know it’s gonna get way whackier, just like Kenjaku. I’m also super curious if we’ll get to see Fumihiko Takaba again before the end of Cour 1. I’m thinking probably not, but I may need to go back and refresh my manga memory. All in all, a solid episode, one of the best so far this season. The animation has been absolutely stunning, and I’m still shamelessly in love with JJK.
VOID RATING: 10/10
