Dies iræ, dies illa Solvet sæclum in favilla

sunflowers and daffodils

My gift to @astridstark13 for the Discworld Community Discord's 2025 Hogwatch exchange!

Gojo before his enrollment in Jujutsu Technical College The coming-of-age ceremony for Gojo Satoru, held by the Gojo clan: Gojo Satoru, somewhat forcefully, decided to leave the Gojo clan to attend the Jujutsu Technical College. At that time, to ensure that (at least) the Zenin clan, the Kamo clan, and the Jujutsu Headquarters would not misunderstand the Gojo clan and Gojo Satoru as being in conflict, the clan set the condition that he undergo the coming-of-age ceremony before enrolling, and he accepted.

Akutami Gege gave us a deeper look into the dynamics within the Gojo clan, as well as the political and social dynamics of the influential groups within the Jujutsu world, with a single sketch, so here is a bit of my (unorganized) thoughts.

The main purpose of holding Genpuku (元服: a traditional coming-of-age ritual, marking a person’s transition from childhood to adulthood and their formal assumption of responsibilities within their family or social role) was to publicly affirm Satoru’s allegiance to the clan before he entered the Jujutsu Technical College, where he would have to directly interact with other clans and the Jujutsu Headquarters. The clan was sending a political signal that, despite leaving for the college, it was not an act of rebellion but a sanctioned move, and that Satoru remained tied to the Gojo clan’s values and authority.

At the same time, it was the clan utilizing his status (being feared and perceived as powerful even at a young age). The Genpuku ceremony served to formally establish his status as an adult and a key figure within the Gojo clan before he fully entered the Jujutsu society. This move would ensure that other clans or the Jujutsu Headquarters viewed him as a representative of the Gojo clan rather than an independent actor.