Jujutsu Kaisen: Hakari’s Cursed Technique Is Confusing – Which Makes It More Effective

The suspended third-year Jujutsu High student Kinji Hakari was first introduced in Jujutsu Kaisen’s “Perfect Preparation” arc. After the analysis of the Culling Game was completed, Megumi Fushiguro and protagonist Itadori Yuji sought out the student who was busy running the Gachinko Fight Club. Maki told the first-years were to rendezvous with their upperclassman, who knew their goals couldn’t be achieved without his raw strength. Even without his innate technique, Hakari possesses an extraordinary amount of rough cursed energy and is even regarded by Gojo Satoru as a student with the potential to rival him.

Hakari’s fascinating cursed technique is centered entirely around luck and gambling. Due to its unconventional basis which opposes tradition, it is frowned upon by the elders of Jujutsu society despite its incredible power. Private Pure Love Train allows Hakari to manipulate probability and use attacks inspired by the romance manga series, and is primarily used through his domain: Idle Death Gamble. This pachinko-themed domain also manipulates probability, allowing Hakari to hit a “jackpot” and get a temporary bonus of unlimited cursed energy.

Kinji Hakari’s Cursed Technique Is an Information Overload

One of the most interesting features of Private Pure Love Train and Idle Death Gamble is the technique’s meta aspect, more so than the literal logistics of how it works. The only thing Jujutsu Kaisen readers need to understand is the “rules” that explain the technique, but it’s much more for any opponent in the story — and Hakari knows this. The three-page explanation in the JJK manga is what every rival faces upon brawling with the sorcerer, and it completely overloads them with information.

Hakari’s cursed technique reveal appeared when he faced aspiring mangaka Charles Bernard. Here, manga readers saw that canonically, the three-page spread is what’s downloaded into the opponent’s brain as Hakari activates his technique. This is a complete info dump that forces incomprehensible information onto the rival. In a matter of speaking, whoever is facing Hakari is as confused as any real-life manga reader was upon opening the chapter — but for them, it’s a life-or-death situation.

The Info Dump Makes Hakari’s Technique More Powerful

To an extent, the overload of information is part of Hakari’s technique. It throws off his opponent and increases his odds of winning a jackpot — which makes him essentially immortal for exactly 4 minutes and 11 seconds. In the time it takes for the opposing curse or sorcerer to become aware of their surroundings and comprehend the rules of the technique while also fighting Hakari, he is using the opportunity to keep hitting jackpots. At that point, Hakari has a psychological, geographical and physical advantage over his opponent.

As the rival is scrambling to make sense of what is going on, Hakari grows stronger with each passing moment. The unlimited cursed energy he receives from winning a jackpot allows him to consistently open his domain, which most sorcerers can only do once a day. Also, as if Hakari wasn’t difficult enough to face, the nature of Domain Expansion: Idle Death Gamble, makes it resistant to being overridden by another’s domain. Once an opponent is faced with Hakari’s technique, they are absolutely trapped by him — both physically and psychologically.

With his incredible stream of cursed energy mixed with his innate technique, Hakari is one of Jujutsu Kaisen’s most frightening opponents. His battles so far have had fans consistently on the edge of their seats, with his unconventional approach to fighting making him all the more appealing. It’s no surprise that the strongest sorcerer alive sees Hakari as someone who may one day give him a good fight.