From intended protagonist to 'Potential Man': the evolution of Megumi Fushiguro
In short: Before Jujutsu Kaisen became a global phenomenon, Megumi Fushiguro was meant to be the lead in a much darker, more cynical draft. However, a critique of his personality forced a role swap that redefined the series' dynamic and birthed one of anime's most debated power scales.
In the original draft of the series, titled 'Jujutsu Sousen,' Megumi was the primary protagonist. He was designed as a 'boring and melancholy' character with a last name meaning 'crocodile abyss.' This version was significantly more depressing and cynical than the final product. After presenting this draft, creator Gege Akutami was told Megumi was too gloomy, leading to a pivotal shift: Yuji Itadori became the protagonist, and Megumi was repositioned as the deuteragonist to serve as a foil to Yuji's optimism.
This shift highlights a deliberate character contrast. While Yuji is defined by his outward joy and willingness to save strangers, Megumi was written as more insightful and prone to negative thinking. He was specifically designed to care less about the fate of strangers and more about the death of animals. This internal conflict is reflected in his 'sullen' veneer; while he often acts as the 'straight man' to his peers, voice actors note that he harbors a deeper emotional core that surfaces when he is pushed to his limits.
Megumi's narrative arc is also tied to his lineage and the 'Ten Shadows Technique.' As a descendant of the Zen'in clan, he inherited a technique that allows him to summon ten different Shikigami. However, his power is often defined by its high stakes: once a Shikigami is destroyed, it can never be summoned again. Fans dubbed him 'Potential Man' because he frequently invoked Mahoraga for 'mutually assured destruction' instead of employing his entire range of abilities. Despite these criticisms, his growth is marked by high-level feats like his first Domain Expansion, Chimera Shadow Garden, which creates a vacuum-like environment of shadowy liquid.
The character's journey has faced scrutiny in recent arcs, particularly after he became a vessel for the villain Sukuna. Some readers felt this move wasted his potential, while others praised the depth of his character exploration during his most grueling fights. Regardless of the controversy, his impact is cemented by his ranking in the 2026 Anime Grand Prix, where he was voted the second-best character.
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