What Are Star Plasma Vessels in Jujutsu Kaisen?

In Jujutsu Kaisen, several safeguards exist to protect everyday humans from cursed spirits. However, Master Tengen’s barrier is one of the most valuable. As Jujutsu Kaisen’s Hidden Inventory/Premature Death arc demonstrates, a threat to this barrier is perilous.

Master Tengen’s immortality helps maintain their barrier, sealing most of the world’s cursed energy inside Japan. However, when unchecked, Tengen’s powers can become too strong to control. So, the sorcerer resets their powers by assimilating into a new human form known as the Star Plasma Vessel.

Master Tengen’s Barrier Keeps Cursed Spirits Inside Japan

Their Immortality Keeps the Barrier Functioning

Tengen manages several barriers that protect the world from cursed spirits. Their most significant barrier encompasses Japan, sealing cursed energy within its borders. This barrier explains the large number of cursed spirits and jujutsu sorcerers within the nation. A smaller barrier camouflages Tokyo Jujutsu High, shuffling the institution’s buildings to hide the “cursed warehouse,” a storage space for cursed objects.

An elevator inside the cursed warehouse descends into the Tomb of the Star, a series of tunnels leading to a towering sacred tree. Tengen’s final barrier shields themself from inside the tree. Only those invited by the sorcerer may enter.

As one would guess, Tengen’s cursed technique is godlike. They are immortal, having existed for over a thousand years. However, this immortality comes at a price. Over time, Tengen’s cursed energy accumulates to the point that it overpowers the sorcerer’s will, turning them into a being of higher power.

Star Plasma Vessels Reset Master Tengen’s Powers

Vessels Prepare for This Task From Birth

Master Tengen must reset their power levels to prevent their cursed energy from taking over their will. That’s where the Star Plasma Vessel comes in. A star plasma vessel is a human that is compatible with Master Tengen. When the star plasma vessel assimilates with Tengen, the sorcerer’s biological information gets rewritten, thus resetting their power. Consider this process as a reincarnation.

Star plasma vessels prepare for the assimilation from birth. For instance, they are not permitted to go out much and have limited interpersonal relationships. These restrictions prevent the vessel from growing attached to the human world, which could result in the vessel refusing to assimilate.

A caretaker looks after the star plasma vessel. These characters take on multiple roles, such as preparing the vessel’s meals, treating them when sick, and protecting them from assailants. Star plasma vessel caretakers are like nannies combined with security guards.

Two Factions Work to Prevent Assimilation

These Groups Target Star Plasma Vessels

One would assume that the star plasma vessel’s assimilation benefits everyone. After all, who would want to unleash the powers of an unmanageable Tengen? Surprisingly, two factions do not want assimilation to occur: the Q and Star Religious Groups.

The Q Group is a faction of curse users who want to overthrow the establishment of jujutsu by preventing the assimilation of the star plasma vessel. Its theory is that if Tengen’s power does not reset, the sorcerer will turn on humanity and Jujutsu High. This calamity would allow curse users to act unrestrained by jujutsu’s enforcement.

The Star Religious Group is a faction that worships Master Tengen as a god. Tengen practiced Buddhism during the Nara period, spreading its principles across Japan. These teachings are responsible for the tenets of jujutsu that sorcerers practice today. However, a sect of Tengen’s followers sought to idolize the sorcerer, forming a religion dedicated to Tengen’s omnipotence.

Followers of the Star Religious Group, known as Children of the Star, want Tengen to remain untainted by a vessel so the sorcerer can transform into a deity. They willfully accept the consequences of Tengen’s ascension, viewing it as a rapture.

Since the Q Group consists of curse users. They can employ their members as assailants of the star plasma vessel. On the other hand, the Star Religious Group consists of non-curse users, shielding the organization from attacks by jujutsu sorcerers (sorcerers are bound to protect non-sorcerers regardless of their intentions). Since the Children of the Star are not strong enough to fight sorcerers, the group enlists outside help from the curse user underworld.

Based on Gege Akutami’s Jujutsu Kaisen manga, Mappa’s battle shonen anime envisions a world where Jujutsu Sorcerers battle against entities born out of Cursed Energy. One day, a teenager named Yuji Itadori is dragged into this conflict when he eats a possessed finger.

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Release Date

October 3, 2020

Main Genre

Animation

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Seasons

2

Studio

MAPPA

Japanese Title

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Based On

Manga

Creator

Gege Akutami

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Number of Episodes

47

MyAnimeList Score

8.57 (Season 1)

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