The wait for Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 has been long, but studio MAPPA is proving it was worth every minute. The anime giant has finally brought one of the most intellectually intense moments from Gege Akutami’s manga to the screen: Hiromi Higuruma’s Domain Expansion, Deadly Sentencing. Fans who have been eager to see how the studio would handle this unique, courtroom-based power can now breathe a sigh of relief. Early reactions and the latest episodes confirm that MAPPA has not only done justice to the character but has elevated the scene beyond what many expected.
The third season, which kicked off in January 2026, is currently deep into the Culling Game arc. This part of the story is a massive battle royale set up by the ancient sorcerer Kenjaku, forcing hundreds of new and old players to fight across ten colonies in Japan. Amidst all the chaos and brutal hand-to-hand combat, Higuruma’s arrival offers something completely different: a psychological and moral battle where words are as sharp as any cursed blade.
Who Is Hiromi Higuruma? The Lawyer Who Became a Sorcerer
Before diving into the animation, it helps to understand why Higuruma matters so much. Unlike Yuji Itadori or Megumi Fushiguro, who were thrown into the world of jujutsu relatively early, Hiromi Higuruma was a successful defense attorney in the regular world. He spent his career defending innocent clients, believing in the justice system. But when that system failed an innocent person he truly believed in, he lost all faith. He became disillusioned and bitter, questioning the very concept of justice.
When Kenjaku activated the Culling Game and altered the brains of thousands of people across Japan, Higuruma awakened as a sorcerer. But he wasn’t just any sorcerer. Within just two weeks of gaining his powers, he reached Grade 1 level and even taught himself Reverse Cursed Technique to heal, something most sorcerers struggle with for years . This rapid growth shows just how naturally gifted and dangerously intelligent he is.
His Cursed Technique, named Judgeman, is directly tied to his past as a lawyer. When he activates his Domain Expansion, Deadly Sentencing, he doesn’t trap his opponent in a fiery wasteland or a void of slashing attacks. Instead, he summons a courtroom.
Deadly Sentencing: A Courtroom Where Violence Is Banned
The latest episodes of Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 finally gave fans a full look at this power in motion, and the reaction online has been massive. In the manga, Higuruma’s domain was already a fan favorite because it changed the rules of engagement. MAPPA had the difficult task of taking black-and-white panels of a silent courtroom and making them feel alive and terrifying.
They succeeded by focusing on atmosphere. When the domain activates, the screen is washed in cold, almost sterile lighting. The wooden benches of the courtroom stretch into the darkness. Higuruma stands calmly in his suit, looking completely at home, while his opponent is stripped of their Cursed Energy and weapons. Violence becomes impossible.
Then comes the star of the show: Judgeman. This massive, humanoid shikigami looms behind Higuruma with its eyes stitched shut. In the anime, its movements are slow, deliberate, and ghostly. It carries a set of scales, symbolizing its role as an impartial arbiter. MAPPA gave Judgeman a color palette that feels ancient and divine, making it clear that this entity is not something to be fought, but something to be convinced .
The shikigami acts as the judge. Higuruma acts as the prosecutor. The trapped opponent becomes the defendant. Judgeman then reviews the evidence—based on the opponent’s memories and actions—and delivers a verdict. If the defendant is found guilty, they face Confiscation, losing access to their Cursed Technique. If the crime is severe enough, like mass murder, Judgeman can even grant Higuruma the Executioner’s Sword, a weapon that kills instantly with a single cut.
Why MAPPA’s Animation Choices Matter for This Scene
Fans have praised MAPPA for not just animating the scene, but for understanding its deeper meaning. The studio used a more cinematic, almost noir-inspired visual style for these courtroom sequences. The lighting is harsh, creating deep shadows that reflect the moral gray areas of the series. The camera lingers on Higuruma’s calm face, contrasting with the panic of his opponent .
This is a major departure from the usual bright, flashy battles of Jujutsu Kaisen. MAPPA understood that this fight isn’t about who can punch harder. It is a conceptual battle. By giving the courtroom a heavy, oppressive atmosphere and making Judgeman feel genuinely otherworldly, they translated the intellectual dread of the manga perfectly.
For those who only know the series through its high-octane fights, seeing Yuji Itadori forced to stand trial instead of trading blows is a shocking and refreshing change. It highlights the genius of Gege Akutami’s writing and shows that MAPPA is willing to trust the source material, even when it slows down the action to ask big questions about guilt, innocence, and justice.
The Voice Behind the Attorney: Tomokazu Sugita’s Performance
Another reason the character has landed so well with audiences is the casting. Tomokazu Sugita voices Hiromi Higuruma, and his performance has been widely praised . Sugita brings a world-weary calm to the role. His voice carries the weight of a man who has seen too much corruption and lost his faith in the systems that were supposed to protect people. Yet, there is no malice in his tone. He isn’t evil. He is simply following the new rules of the game he has been thrust into.
In the courtroom scenes, Sugita’s delivery is methodical and precise, like a real prosecutor laying out a case. This makes the moments when he does show emotion—surprise at a defendant’s genuine innocence, or grim determination when wielding the Executioner’s Sword—even more impactful.
Where Does Higuruma Fit in the Culling Game?
For viewers catching up on Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3, it is important to know where Higuruma stands. He is not a traditional villain. He is a player in the Culling Game, just like everyone else. When he first meets Yuji Itadori, he does not attack out of hatred. Instead, he subjects him to a trial, forcing Yuji to confront the crimes committed by Sukuna when the King of Curses took over his body.
This encounter is pivotal for Yuji’s character development. It forces him to face the consequences of being Sukuna’s vessel in a legal and moral sense, rather than just a physical one. MAPPA’s handling of this delicate, dialogue-heavy confrontation will likely set the tone for the rest of the arc.
The anime has confirmed that Higuruma’s story is just beginning. As the Culling Game progresses and the rules change, his role becomes even more crucial, especially when the sorcerers finally face their biggest threat.
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Streaming Details and What’s Next for Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3
Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 is currently streaming on Crunchyroll for audiences in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and India . The series premiered on January 8, 2026, with a special double episode. New episodes typically arrive on Thursdays at 9:00 AM PT (12:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM GMT / 10:30 PM IST) .
The season is split into two parts. Part 1 consists of 12 episodes and will run until March 26, 2026 . There is currently a one-week break, with no new episode on February 19, but the show returns on February 26 . Part 2 is expected to premiere later in the year, likely around June or July 2026, continuing the story until the conclusion of the Culling Game arc .
With MAPPA confirming their commitment to quality and the fan response to Higuruma’s introduction being overwhelmingly positive, the future of the anime looks bright. The studio has successfully taken one of the most complex characters from the manga and given him a debut that matches, and in some ways surpasses, the source material.
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So, as the Culling Game heats up and more players enter the battlefield, keep your eyes on the man in the suit. In a world full of monsters and mayhem, Hiromi Higuruma proves that sometimes, the most terrifying weapon of all is the truth. And with MAPPA bringing every thrilling moment to life, VvipTimes will keep you updated on all the latest twists in this unforgettable season.
