The hugely popular K-pop singer Jungkook from the widely loved boy band BTS made a gesture in a recent behind-the-scenes video that delighted both K-pop fans and anime lovers.
In the video, which shows Jungkook working on the music video for the “Standing Next to You” remix with famous American singer Usher, Jungkook is seen making a hand sign by crossing his fingers over his eyes.
This gesture mimics the signature move done by Satoru Gojo, who is a fan-favorite character from the popular anime series “Jujutsu Kaisen.”
When K-pop and anime fans noticed Jungkook’s gesture, they were overjoyed and quickly spread the video clip far and wide on various social media platforms.
K-pop Star JUNGKOOK (BTS) makes Gojo's domain hand sign during behind the scenes of making JK × Usher ‘Standing Next to You’ remix MV pic.twitter.com/jzXwAdNHJG
— Jujutsu Kaisen (@Go_Jover) December 15, 2023
The fact that someone as famous as Jungkook made reference to an iconic anime character shows how much crossover appeal there is between these two entertainment worlds.
Both K-pop lovers and anime enthusiasts found common joy in Jungkook’s simple hand sign, which speaks to the incredible influence of global pop culture today.
Jungkook’s Homage to Jujutsu Kaisen’s Satoru Gojo
It comes as no surprise that Jungkook would pay homage to Satoru Gojo, the powerful sorcerer from the hit anime series Jujutsu Kaisen. After all, Jungkook has previously stated that Jujutsu Kaisen is his favorite anime.
In the behind-the-scenes video, Jungkook perfectly mimics two of Gojo’s iconic moves – the “Domain Expansion” hand sign as well as the “Infinite Void” pose.
Jungkook’s admiration of Gojo and the Jujutsu Kaisen series has clearly endeared him even further to both anime fans and his own supportive fanbase.
For those unfamiliar with the series who want to understand Jungkook’s references better, an article on CBR provides helpful background.
The article explains basics about the dark fantasy anime, how to watch it, and why the unpredictable Gojo has become such a wildly popular antihero.
As Jungkook continues to engage with anime culture and share his favorite series with fans, cross-fandom appreciation will likely only grow. Moments like his Gojo reenactment builds common ground between music and anime lovers from all backgrounds.
Jungkook’s Passion Unveiled Through Music and Collaboration
Jungkook’s love of anime is undoubtedly shared by his BTS bandmates. As a group, BTS has worked with popular anime platform Crunchyroll on songs for their 3D animated “Bastions” series.
Jungkook wowed fans earlier by covering the opening theme song “Kick Back” from the hit dark fantasy anime “Chainsaw Man.”
Music and animation have become increasingly intertwined for BTS over their meteoric rise to fame. So Jungkook referencing the Jujutsu Kaisen character fits into that crossover appeal.
His gesture came in a behind-the-scenes video for the remix song “Standing Next to You” featuring Usher, which was released on December 1st, 2023.
Meanwhile, both Jungkook and fellow BTS member Jimin recently enlisted in the South Korean military to fulfill their mandatory service requirement.
But fans can likely expect more anime-inspired moments from Jungkook and BTS down the road when the entire group reunites. Their genuine love of anime speaks to their wide-ranging artistic talents and how the entertainment worlds continue blending.
More About Jujutsu Kaisen
The popular anime series centers around Yuji Itadori, an extraordinarily strong high school student living in Sendai, Japan. On his grandfather’s deathbed in 2018, his grandfather told him two meaningful pieces of advice: “Always help others” and “die surrounded by people who care about you.”
Soon after, Yuji’s friends at school unseal a cursed talisman that attracts evil spirits known as Curses. To protect a new friend named Megumi Fushiguro, who is training to battle Curses, Yuji swallows the talisman and becomes the host of an incredibly dangerous Curse called Ryomen Sukuna. All the Curse-fighting sorcerers are then supposed to exorcise Yuji to destroy Sukuna.
However, Megumi’s mentor Satoru Gojo sees potential in Yuji’s ability to restrain Sukuna’s evil. Gojo convinces his superiors to let Yuji train as a Curse fighter at Tokyo’s sorcery high school instead of executing him immediately. This allows time for Yuji to consume all of Sukuna’s 20 fingers so the demon can eventually be destroyed for good.
In the meantime, a band of rogue Curses led by an evil one named Mahito and a corrupt sorcerer named Geto plot chaos and attack the world of Jujutsu sorcerers. During training, Sukuna briefly takes control of Yuji and Yuji allows them both to nearly die before Sukuna resurrects Yuji, newly intrigued by Megumi’s potential.
The series follows Yuji’s quest to harness his own good-hearted strength to overcome Sukuna’s evil influence and stand with his mentor Gojo and friends against the chaotic attacks of Mahito, Geto and their villainous collective.
