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- It's showtime, partner.
- —Kenjaku to Takaba, Chapter 242
TakaKen is the non-binary ship between Fumihiko Takaba and Kenjaku from the Jujutsu Kaisen fandom.
Canon[]
Shinjuku Showdown Arc[]
Chapter 239[]
This is the chapter where the two first meet. As soon as the two encounter one another, Kenjaku doesn't waste any time to attack Takaba. As he begins to wonder why the other sorcerers may have summoned the comedian to fight him, Takaba is suprisingly unharmed by his attack. Takaba states that the most thrilling thing in the world is when comedians, who are only there to pad out the cast, end up stealing the show; Kenjaku agrees.
Chapter 240[]
In a flashback, we discover that it was Angel who proposed sending Takaba to fight Kenjaku. Presently, Kenjaku struggles to deal damage to the comedian. After Takaba manifests an American flag bandana and a pair of sunglasses on Kenjaku, the ancient sorcerer concludes that his ability allows Takaba to create and control the scenarios he imagines. Kenjaku is determined to discover the comedian's weakness, and asks him to identify himself.
After Takaba introduces himself, Kenjaku is revealed to be knowledgeable on comedy, and Takaba feels as if he could hold a conversation with him. Upon hearing Kenjaku's summarized motives, Takaba asks if Kenjaku would give up his plans if he found something more interesting, to which he confirms that he might. Takaba delivers a joke, but that only earns a critique from the ancient sorcerer. With his confidence shattered, Kenjaku manages to deal some damage to the comedian.
As Kenjaku pursues Takaba, the comedian attempts to dismiss the other's critique. Takaba suggests having a staring contest, but Takaba loses and Kenjaku deals more damage to him. On the ground, Takaba begins to completely lose his confidence as he wonders if Kenjaku is funnier than him. Being met with Iori Hazenoki's corpse, Takaba is horrified; however, Kenjaku approaches him and demands him to laugh.
Chapter 241[]
In chapter 241, after we get a glimpse at Takaba's past, Takaba wonders why he dismissed Kenjaku's critiques. As Kenjaku approaches a prostrating Takaba, Kenjaku finds his thoughts to be odd, as if some unknown force were controlling them. Takaba profusely apologizes, explaining that his insecurities led to him dismissing Kenjaku. Determined, he announces that he will make Kenjaku laugh his guts out. Kenjaku questions Takaba's ability to do so, but his excitement is written on his face, literally.
Chapter 242[]
In this chapter, Takaba places Kenjaku and himself in different scenarios, all created by his technique. In one of them, Takaba is a drunk driver that happened to run over Kenjaku. Soon, Kenjaku reappears as a police officer to ask Takaba to breathe into a breathalyzer; if he is under the influence, the goldfish in the bag will die and Takaba will be arrested. As the animal is already dead, Kenjaku and Takaba turn into doctors. After their futile attempts to resuscitate the fish, Takaba asks Kenjaku, now dressed as a nurse, to gather all the nurses to fawn over him -- since he is depressed. Since Kenjaku refuses to obey, they deciding to settle their differences with rock-paper-scissor. With the two returning to their original outfits, they simultaneously decide to attack each other.
Kenjaku realizes that Takaba's innate technique does not only manifest things and force him to compel according to the comedian's imagination, but also integrates his own imagination to create feedback, essentially causing their souls to resonate. The two then appear in a mountainous area and begin participating in a game show. As the game show continues, the two sorcerers eventually rush towards the doors that appeared in front of them. Takaba's attention abruptly shifts to saving a cat from an oncoming car. The cat suddenly transforms into Kenjaku, surprising Takaba as he is hit by the car. When the environment changes again, Takaba is now the cat drowning, and Kenjaku is the one surfing over in an attempt to save him. Takaba chases after him on a jet ski and catches up, hitting Kenjaku in the head with it.
The scene changes once more to reveal the two of them playing in the water. Kenjaku thinks about how much fun he is having and expresses how it makes the Culling Game completely worthwhile. Noticing that Takaba's technique is influencing his thoughts, he then grabs Takaba's head and tries to drown him in the water. However, Takaba quickly distracts Kenjaku by informing him that the water is actually Fanta. In his head, Kenjaku notes that the damage taken in these imaginary situations are only simulations to Takaba, and if the fight continues like this, he will eventually lose. Realizing that the fight cannot be won with brute force and can only end when Takaba's goal, to make the other laugh, is complete -- Kenjaku changes the scene. The two are dressed in suits, when Kenjaku tells Takaba that warm-up is over. The two then walk on stage, greeted by an audience awaiting their comedy performance.
Chapter 243[]
Takaba and Kenjaku walk on stage and prepare to begin their comedy routine. After greeting the audience and briefly bantering, Kenjaku introduces their comedy duo as Pinchan. After their bit has ended, Kenjaku asks Takaba if something is wrong. Takaba, who realizes that his dream performance is about to end, expresses his wish to continue the performance and begins to cry. Kenjaku tells him not to cry, as it will spoil the mood. As Takaba touches Kenjaku, the imaginary scenario ends.
Back in the forest, Kenjaku looks over Takaba, who is laying on the ground in funeral attire. Takaba thanks Kenjaku, before Kenjaku declares that he was hilarious. After Kenjaku is then decapitated by an ambush attack coming from Yuta Okkotsu, Kenjaku gazes upon the seemingly deceased Takaba, as he realizes that the comedian didn't want anyone interrupting the show and prevented him from sensing Yuta. Yuta confirms that Takaba would have never killed anyone, including him.
Chapter 244[]
Atsuya Kusakabe briefly mentions the plan to have Fumihiko Takaba distract Kenjaku.
Chapter 249[]
After Yuta's sword stabs Kenjaku in the head, Kenjaku admits that, while he did not have as much fun, he was glad that he got to fool around with Fumihiko Takaba, in the end. As he admits that, he smiles.
Chapter 270[]
In a cafe, Takaba seems to be conversing with his new comedy partner. Takaba argues with his partner over the explicit content of their jokes, even as they exit the cafe. While we are not aware of who this mysterious person may be, as their face was hidden, certain fans speculate that it was Kenjaku.
Quotes[]
- “I'll make you laugh so hard, you puke up your guts!!”
- — Takaba vows to make Kenjaku laugh, Chapter 241
- “I'm having so much fun... How many centuries has it been since my heart was lit aflutter like this...? I'm so glad that I started this culling game!!”
- — Kenjaku's inner monologue while fighting Takaba, Chapter 242
- Takaba – “I want to keep going. I don't want this to end!!”
- Kenjaku – “Don't cry, you'll spoil the mood.”
- — Kenjaku and Takaba, Chapter 243
- Takaba – “Thanks.”
- Kenjaku – “You know, you were hilarious up there.”
- — Kenjaku congratulates Takaba, Chapter 243
- “I'm glad the one I've got to play with at my end was him.”
- — Kenjaku about Takaba, Chapter 249
Fanon[]
This section is in need of major improvement. Please help improve this article by editing it.
The ship is often paralleled to SatoSugu, the reason why that is comes from the story itself which it shows the duo dressed in suits on a stage in what appears to be a game show which is a nod to the chapter 77 cover which features Satoru and Suguru's "final show" this is an ironic contrast to the Kenjaku Vs Takaba fight.
Even though the ship is a rare pair in that sense by fans, that doesn't mean the two aren't popular, often more seen as the duo they are which fans really enjoy sometimes though cause of Kenjaku's past relationships, memes were made. Often the "with benefits" memes (which is often times a reference to Kenjaku's bed activities with Jin) but memes not in a sexual manner aren't uncommon.
TakaKen is a rarepair within the Jujutsu Kaisen fandom which only has 13 works under its tag on AO3. It is Takaba's second most popular pairing on AO3 behind his ship with Megumi Fushiguro. It is also Kenjaku's seventh most popular pairing behind ships like KenJin or GoJaku.
Trivia[]
- The ship was implied in a promo video for volume 27 (Takaba's cover) and it refers to Kenjaku as Takaba's boyfriend, as a comedy skit.[1]
- Kenjaku and Takaba blush several times throughout the fight.
- In the end, Takaba appears with someone who looks like Geto/Kenjaku, but we don't have the individual's identity, all we know is they are comedy partners practicing for a presentation. They are making sexual jokes while together.
- Takaba and Kenjaku dynamic is based off SatoSugu Harattare Honpo official art and comedy dynamic as "the strongest duo". Several panels and dynamics reference Gojo and Geto's official art.
- Sukuna creates introduced in the narrative the theme of "love" being connected to "satisfaction" (Chapter 238 - "Love is worthless, I never needed anybody to satisfy me") and Kenjaku acknowledges Takaba's love of comedy needs to be satisfied. Since they become comedy partners, this creates a subtext of possible romantic/sexual implications within their dynamics.
Fandom[]
- FAN FICTION
- Kenjaku/Takaba Fumihiko tag on AO3
- Kenjaku & Takaba Fumihiko tag on AO3
Gallery[]
This section is in need of major improvement. Please help improve this article by editing it.
Manga[]
Official Content[]
Promo Video[]
https://youtu.be/esClbgko-ic?si=TJB2kMlr2z66FTUO
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