TV-Series
Description
Hiromi Higuruma is a character who appears in the Culling Game arc of Jujutsu Kaisen. Before becoming a sorcerer, he was a defense attorney regarded by his peers as a genius due to his superior intellect. He often took on difficult cases with the goal of protecting the wrongfully accused, driven by a strong penchant for justice. However, he became disillusioned with a legal system he saw as corrupt, culminating in a specific case where his client, a young man named Keita Oe, was found guilty despite compelling evidence of his innocence. In his resulting rage and frustration, his latent cursed energy awakened, leading to the death of the judge and prosecutor in the courtroom. This event prompted him to participate in the Culling Game, seeking a system of punishment that he considered to be absolute and impartial, unlike what he perceived as flawed human law.
In terms of personality, Higuruma initially presents an apathetic and overworked demeanor, often seen in a standard suit with a girasol pin, the emblem of lawyers in Japan. Behind this tired facade is a deep-seated cynicism about human nature, which he considers to be inherently weak and ugly, a depravity he both values and empathizes with. He initially views the Culling Game with interest precisely because its rules punish transgressors without the prolonged and often unjust processes of a human court. This perspective puts him at odds with Yuji Itadori, who seeks to end the deadly game. However, Higuruma is not unfeeling; he carries significant guilt for the people he killed, stating that the act felt awful. His worldview is profoundly challenged by Yuji, whose willingness to accept blame for crimes he did not commit, specifically the massacre caused by Sukuna during the Shibuya Incident, forces Higuruma to re-evaluate his own moral compass.
Higuruma's role in the story is that of a formidable opponent who becomes an unexpected ally. He is one of the top players in the Culling Game, having accumulated over 100 points by defeating more than twenty other participants. His talent as a sorcerer is extraordinary; he achieved a level of power comparable to a Grade 1 sorcerer within only twelve days of his awakening, a feat that leads to comparisons with Satoru Gojo in terms of raw potential and learning speed. His primary relationship is with Yuji Itadori. Their initial confrontation is not merely a physical battle but a legal and ethical trial where Higuruma, acting as prosecutor, uses his domain expansion to judge Yuji for past crimes. After Yuji confesses to the Shibuya Incident out of misplaced guilt, Higuruma is moved by his sincerity and chooses to spare him, ceasing hostilities and agreeing to help his mission. He decides to use his points to add a new rule to the Culling Game, allowing players to share points, and supports Yuji's goal of protecting the weak.
Higuruma's notable abilities are intrinsically tied to his former profession. His primary weapon is a cursed tool in the form of a judge's gavel, which can change size and shape, transforming into a variety of forms including a long staff, a hook, or a giant hammer. His most powerful technique is his Domain Expansion, named Deadly Sentencing. This domain is an exception to most modern domains, as it does not guarantee a lethal attack. Instead, it creates a courtroom where violence is prohibited for both the caster and the target. Within this space, a shikigami called Judgeman presides over a trial, acting as the judge. Judgeman possesses knowledge of all past crimes committed by the accused. Higuruma acts as the prosecutor, presenting evidence to argue for a guilty verdict, while the opponent acts as the defendant with the options to remain silent, deny the accusation (even falsely), or confess. If a guilty verdict is reached, the punishment of Confiscation is imposed, which seals the opponent's cursed technique. If the opponent has no technique, their ability to use cursed energy is taken away instead. In cases of especially heinous crimes, the Death Penalty can be issued. This transforms Higuruma's gavel into the Executioner's Sword, a weapon that can kill any living being in a single strike.
The character's development is centered on his moral realignment. He begins as a cynical man who has abandoned faith in justice, using the Culling Game as a personal experiment in absolute punishment. His encounter with Yuji acts as a catalyst for change. By witnessing Yuji accept guilt for Sukuna's crimes, something he has no control over, Higuruma is reminded of the nobility in taking responsibility and protecting others, which he recognizes as a core part of his own forgotten ideals. He decides to atone for his own murders by planning to surrender to authorities once the Culling Game concludes, and he steps away from Yuji's group to reflect on his actions, demonstrating a profound sense of responsibility and a desire to return to his roots of seeking justice without becoming a killer himself.
In terms of personality, Higuruma initially presents an apathetic and overworked demeanor, often seen in a standard suit with a girasol pin, the emblem of lawyers in Japan. Behind this tired facade is a deep-seated cynicism about human nature, which he considers to be inherently weak and ugly, a depravity he both values and empathizes with. He initially views the Culling Game with interest precisely because its rules punish transgressors without the prolonged and often unjust processes of a human court. This perspective puts him at odds with Yuji Itadori, who seeks to end the deadly game. However, Higuruma is not unfeeling; he carries significant guilt for the people he killed, stating that the act felt awful. His worldview is profoundly challenged by Yuji, whose willingness to accept blame for crimes he did not commit, specifically the massacre caused by Sukuna during the Shibuya Incident, forces Higuruma to re-evaluate his own moral compass.
Higuruma's role in the story is that of a formidable opponent who becomes an unexpected ally. He is one of the top players in the Culling Game, having accumulated over 100 points by defeating more than twenty other participants. His talent as a sorcerer is extraordinary; he achieved a level of power comparable to a Grade 1 sorcerer within only twelve days of his awakening, a feat that leads to comparisons with Satoru Gojo in terms of raw potential and learning speed. His primary relationship is with Yuji Itadori. Their initial confrontation is not merely a physical battle but a legal and ethical trial where Higuruma, acting as prosecutor, uses his domain expansion to judge Yuji for past crimes. After Yuji confesses to the Shibuya Incident out of misplaced guilt, Higuruma is moved by his sincerity and chooses to spare him, ceasing hostilities and agreeing to help his mission. He decides to use his points to add a new rule to the Culling Game, allowing players to share points, and supports Yuji's goal of protecting the weak.
Higuruma's notable abilities are intrinsically tied to his former profession. His primary weapon is a cursed tool in the form of a judge's gavel, which can change size and shape, transforming into a variety of forms including a long staff, a hook, or a giant hammer. His most powerful technique is his Domain Expansion, named Deadly Sentencing. This domain is an exception to most modern domains, as it does not guarantee a lethal attack. Instead, it creates a courtroom where violence is prohibited for both the caster and the target. Within this space, a shikigami called Judgeman presides over a trial, acting as the judge. Judgeman possesses knowledge of all past crimes committed by the accused. Higuruma acts as the prosecutor, presenting evidence to argue for a guilty verdict, while the opponent acts as the defendant with the options to remain silent, deny the accusation (even falsely), or confess. If a guilty verdict is reached, the punishment of Confiscation is imposed, which seals the opponent's cursed technique. If the opponent has no technique, their ability to use cursed energy is taken away instead. In cases of especially heinous crimes, the Death Penalty can be issued. This transforms Higuruma's gavel into the Executioner's Sword, a weapon that can kill any living being in a single strike.
The character's development is centered on his moral realignment. He begins as a cynical man who has abandoned faith in justice, using the Culling Game as a personal experiment in absolute punishment. His encounter with Yuji acts as a catalyst for change. By witnessing Yuji accept guilt for Sukuna's crimes, something he has no control over, Higuruma is reminded of the nobility in taking responsibility and protecting others, which he recognizes as a core part of his own forgotten ideals. He decides to atone for his own murders by planning to surrender to authorities once the Culling Game concludes, and he steps away from Yuji's group to reflect on his actions, demonstrating a profound sense of responsibility and a desire to return to his roots of seeking justice without becoming a killer himself.