A recent survey in Japan, Oshikatsu MAP 2025 Autumn, revealed that the followers of Jujutsu KaisenThey are between 28 and 29 years old on average. 60% are men and 40% women. The study, which included 4,400 participants, shows a clear generational difference within shonen. The public of Jujutsu Kaisen is noticeably younger than that of Demon Slayer (39 years old) or One Piece (38 years old).
What is attracting this new generation to the world of Jujutsu Kaisen? Why has Gege Akutami's work managed to connect so deeply with this specific demographic of young adults? We analyze it.
The emotional maturity of a new shonen audience
The 28- to 29-year-old generation, located between late millennials and the first wave of Gen Z, grew up in a world that no longer promises optimism. While One Piece with an average fan base of 38 years old celebrates adventure and the pursuit of dreams, Jujutsu Kaisen It takes place in a contemporary and gloomy Tokyo, where heroism is tested in the face of hopelessness, the fragility of life and the corruption of a system that seems exhausted.
The incident arc Shibuya makes it clear, there are no easy triumphs. The characters suffer real losses, mutilations and traumas that no discourse of friendship can repair. Perhaps that is why a 29-year-old young adult, tired of work pressure and uncertainty, sees himself reflected in Yuji Itadori, a protagonist trapped in a destiny he did not choose, rather than in the romantic pursuit of being the “King of the Pirates.”
The duality that conquers all audiences
The 40% female audience is not just any figure. It is the heart of what is known in Japan as “Oshikatsu”a culture of fans who actively support their favorite characters through events, collectibles, and social media. Jujutsu Kaisen has found an almost perfect balance point between two audiences.
For the male sector, it offers an intricate power system and animation that stands out for its precision and brutality, an unmistakable signature of the studio MAPPA. For the female audience, on the other hand, it delivers characters with a deep emotional and psychological charge, led by Satoru Gojo.
However, gojo He is far from the classic hero. His magnetism comes not only from his strength or charisma, but from the shadow of his failures, especially his bond with Geto. That mix of arrogance, pain and vulnerability makes it a reflection of emotional maturity. This explains why this generation connects so much with characters who, beyond winning or losing, carry the weight of having lived.
Two phenomena, two generations
Here the most interesting point of the analysis is revealed. Although Demon Slayer and Jujutsu Kaisen They were born at the same time, they speak to completely different generations. Demon Slayer managed to become a family phenomenon, something that explains why its audience is an average of 39 years old. Its story, focused on universal values such as the goodness of Tanjiro or brotherly love towards Nezuko, offers an optimistic vision of good and evil. Even in its violence there is a moral intention, making it an experience that parents and children can share without conflict, a truly intergenerational event.
Jujutsu Kaisen, Instead, it inhabits another terrain. His darkness is not hidden, and his conflicts do not have clean solutions. The physical horror of Mahito or the despair of the arch Shibuya They do not seek consolation, but rather show the rawness of suffering and loss. It is a series that challenges the young adult who lives in an uncertain environment saturated with pressures, who no longer expects invincible heroes or happy endings. While Demon Slayer comforts, Jujutsu Kaisen confront. And therein lies the generational difference that defines both works.
The Verdict
The age difference between the followers of Jujutsu Kaisen and those of Demon Slayer or One Piece It is not a casual or statistical fact. It represents a clear changing of the guard in the manga and anime audience. While Demon Slayer managed to unite different generations with universal values, and One Piece grows and ages alongside its original fans, Jujutsu Kaisen has established itself as the voice of a generation of young adults, between 28 and 29 years old, who seek in stories a faithful reflection of their complexity, their cynicism and the pressures they face every day.
Jujutsu Kaisen It's not just the new shonen popular; is he shonen that this generation needed. It has redefined what success means by prioritizing emotional impact and showing a harsher reality, moving away from traditional optimism. This shows that today's audience is not only seeking escape, but also a direct confrontation with their own experiences and emotions.
But now we want to know your opinion. Are you part of this demographic? Do you think this is the main reason for the connection, or do you see other factors explaining the JJK phenomenon? Leave us your analysis in the comments.
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