Yuta Okkotsu

Megumi Ogata voices Yuta in Japanese

Manga author Gege Akutami said Yuta and Rika were created first as intended as a combo for the manga. The name Okkotsu (乙骨) sounded appealing to the author while Yuta (憂太) was his given for his kanji's meaning which the mangaka also liked.[1] He never intended for his series Tokyo Metropolitan Curse Technical School to be serialized. Yuta was originally intended to be the main protagonist of the franchise. Similarities between the two characters include their introduction into the world of jujutsu, tragedy, naivety and having become faced with death. Despite their similarities, the two have been differentiated with notability given to how "they carry themselves very differently...Itadori is outgoing, where Yuta is more reserved."[2][3]

In retrospect, Akutami found that the early design of Yuta was too similar to fellow jujutsu sorcerer Megumi Fushiguro to the point they might confuse the readers.[4] As a result, Akutami changed Yuta's look for the main series. His clothing was also altered but with the intention of representing his different ranking of sorcerer. For such series, Akutami also teased readers with the possibility that Yuta might be romantically involved with antoher woman as Rika had passed to the afterlife.[1]

Sunghoo Park, who directed the first season of the series' anime adaptation as well as the new prequel movie, originally wanted to cover the Yuta's story in the first few episodes of the anime, but ultimately decided to begin the show where the manga starts off, with Yuji's introduction to the world of sorcerers and Curses.[5]

In casting Megumi Ogata as Yuta's Japanese actress, Gege Akutami envisioned the character as a "neutral, soft, and kind, and there is also a big emotional swing and head." Ogata's name was mentioned as an example of an actor close to that, and in response to that, it the director Sunghoo Park and the anime staff also unanimously decided. Ogata herself said she would like to cherish the original image and create her own image of Yuta with all the hearts of the team in good faith.[6] Ogata describes him as an attractive character due to how stronger he becomes when interacting with others.[7] She read the manga and was further surprised by Yuta's action in the animation. Kana Hanazawa who voices Rika looked forward to interacting with Ogata.[8] Sunghoo Park was also behind the cast of Yuta's voice actor with Ogata's job surprising them as a result of Yuta being a young male voiced by a woman.[9]

The movie's theme song, King Gnu's "Itto" (一途, "The Only Way"), places focus on the relationship between Yuta and Rika.[10]

In a Viz Media popularity poll taken in March 2021, he was voted the eight popular character in the franchise.[15]

In a review of the Jujutsu Kaisen 0, Comic Book Resources saw parallels between Yuta and Yuji in regards to how they are presented but went to call their paths different. He criticized his character arc as it is "far from groundbreaking in a shonen protagonist's origin". However, the writer found his growth in the manga appealing due to how he forms bonds with other characters briefly seen in Jujutsu Kaisen.[16] Having previously seen the older Yuta in an ironic position during the manga's narrative, The Mary Sue also saw parallels between the mangaka's protagonists as both deal with a curse they are trying to get rid of although Yuta's growth makes him appealing as he stops wanting to have a death as he appreciates his life. The fact that Yuta cursed Rika than reversed felt like a strong twist according to the reviewer. As a result, while Yuta becomes more sympathetic through Jujutsu Kaisen 0.[17] Similarly, Otaquest felt the manga was needed to properly explain Yuta's characterization and role in the main series as such manga does not explore Yuta's character. However, Otaquest felt that Yuta was a more interesting character than Yuji as his character as is more compelling to the point Yuji feels less active.[18]

Comic Book Resources made an article completely dedicated to Yuta that viewers need to read in order to understand the movie adaptation of the prequel. Yuta was criticized for being overpowered in comparison to the rest of the cast, making him far less relatable than the weaker Yuji. Nevetheless, the potential of power Yuta has was seen as promising as he is connected to the already powerful Satoru Gojo.[19] Boston Bartand Brigade on the other hand felt Yuta as a more appealing character than Yuji due to his tragic story, most notably his relationship with the late Rika, something that contrasts Yuji's demon Sukuna. As a result, the reviewer hopes Yuta returns into the main Jujutsu Kaisen manga.[20] The Digital Fix noted that there were multiple differences between the two leads, but found Yuta's story darker than Yuji's.[21] Manga News also enjoyed the focus given to Yuta's romance as well as their deep bond featured in the prequel and hoped he might return in Jujutsu Kaisen supporting Yuji.[22]

Yuta's return into Jujutsu Kaisen surprised The Mary Sue finding ironic that the former protagonist's role is to kill the current one as it contrasted his initial characterization.[17] Comic Book Resources felt that Yuta's new appearance in the Jujutsu Kaisen was quite different from the original one but still felt his role in the 2021 was still "perfect" as the narrative primarily focuses on him rather than other Jujutsu Kaisen characters commonly explored in the main series.[23] The same site placed emphasis on Yuta's ambiguous antagonistic side into the main series as it could serve as interesting role should he meet Yuji in his quest to kill him.[24]