Do you know? Jujutsu Kaisen‘s Satoru Gojo was inspired by a character from Naruto. Many anime enthusiasts think of Kakashi Hatake, Naruto’s mentor who looks almost identical to Gojo.
It might come as a surprise to them that Gojo isn’t inspired by Kakashi but another character you may or may not remember. Since he is not as popular as other characters from the most beloved anime series.
In this article, you’ll find which character from Naruto served as the inspiration for Yuji Itadori’s mentor.
Gojo’s Design Isn’t Inspired By Kakashi
On Twitter, a statement attributed to Gege Akutami – the creator of Jujutsu Kaisen – was circulated, delving into Gojo’s appearance and Naruto’s influence on the series.
Similar to Naruto, Jujutsu Kaisen revolves around a young protagonist who acts impulsively, yet displays a protective nature towards those around them, all while harboring a powerful entity capable of widespread devastation.
Both Naruto and Itadori can be seen as living prisons, striving to enhance their strength. Given these parallels, it’s not unexpected that connections between the two series would be made, including resemblances in the designs of each protagonist’s mentor.
Akutami explains that Gojo’s character design was not primarily influenced by Kakashi-sensei. He says :
As for Gojo’s character design, it was actually influenced more by the proctor wearing the bandages and blindfold in his head during the second phase of the Chuunin Exams, rather than Kakashi-sensei. The character design left a massive impression on me back then but when I finally met Kishimoto-sensei and asked him about it, he said ‘Was there a guy like that…?’
Akutami discloses that he is Tonbo Tobitake, a minor Naruto character, who served as the inspiration behind Gojo’s appearance.
Also Read: Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2: Major Characters You Aren’t Prepared to See Die in Shibuya Arc
Who is Tonbo Tobitake?
As indicated in the snippet, Tonbo Tobitake serves as an examiner during the Chunin Exams. He made his initial appearance in the third episode of Naruto and chapter 40 of the manga. His head and upper facial features are predominantly concealed beneath the bandages encircling his head, while his forehead protector is positioned over his eyes.
In contrast, Gojo also uses an eye covering, yet he is recognized for removing it to utilize his Six Eyes jujutsu. Understandably, this characteristic might appear to be influenced by Kakashi’s Sharingan, especially considering that both characters sport spiky white hair.
Tobitake, despite his lack of widespread recognition, remains a character possessing limited exceptional capabilities within the Naruto universe. Currently, his role seems fairly commonplace, apart from his position as a Chunin within the Konohagakure Intelligence Division, tasked with the responsibility of collecting and scrutinizing information.
It is worth noting that Tobitake does bear some resemblance to Kakashi Hatake, but it must be emphasized that Satoru Gojo was not directly modeled after the renowned Naruto’s mentor.
Source: Twitter/X
