Satō Steps Up From Assistant Director
The director's chair for Jujutsu Kaisen's next chapter belongs to Takeshi Satō (佐藤威). Satō worked as assistant director and episode director on Season 4's first half, the Culling Game Part 1, which aired from January to March 2026 under director Shōta Goshozono. For Part 2, Japanese manga and anime news site Comic Natalie reports, Satō takes over as full director.
It's a meaningful promotion. Goshozono, who also helmed the Shibuya Incident arc and won Best Director at the 2024 Crunchyroll Anime Awards, is not listed in the Part 2 announcement. Satō's other directorial credit is the Zombie Land Saga: Yume Ginga Paradise theatrical film, making this his highest-profile TV series role to date.
In a statement released alongside the teaser, Satō acknowledged the weight of the job: "I feel the tremendous responsibility every day of being entrusted with a work that carries such enormous passion, and a beloved original manga cherished by so many." He pledged to carry forward the visual ambitions the series has established while pushing the animation to "its highest form."
What the Teaser Shows
The teaser PV packs several of the Culling Game arc's most anticipated confrontations into a rapid montage. Kinji Hakari and Hajime Kashimo clash with their cursed techniques fully unleashed. Maki Zen'in tears through opponents in her brutal style. Choso squares off against Kenjaku, and Yuki Tsukumo appears in combat.
The footage also captures Yuji Itadori screaming in anguish and Megumi Fushiguro locked in a desperate fight. Manga readers will recognize these beats as some of the arc's emotional peaks. The PV was released on June 19, 2026, the same day as MAPPA's 15th Anniversary Lineup Presentation.
Behind the Scenes at the MAPPA Event
The same day, a special edition of the series' talk show "Jujutsu Talk" (じゅじゅとーく) aired in two parts. Junya Enoki, who voices Yuji Itadori, and Megumi Ogata, who voices Yuta Okkotsu, appeared in a segment recorded at the MAPPA event, streamed on the MAPPA Channel. A second part featuring the pair reading listener mail went up on TOHO animation's YouTube channel.
The event served as MAPPA's showcase for its upcoming slate, positioning Jujutsu Kaisen's continuation as the studio's flagship title heading into 2027.
Looking Ahead
No broadcast date has been announced for Culling Game Part 2. The teaser's tagline reads "Season 4 in active production" (第4期鋭意制作中), confirming work is underway without committing to a window. Industry watchers have speculated on a January 2027 premiere, but that remains unconfirmed.
More details may surface at Juju Fest 2026, the franchise's annual event expected in August. Crunchyroll, which streamed Part 1 across North America, Europe, Latin America, Oceania, and other territories outside Asia, is expected to handle Part 2's international distribution as well. The original manga by Gege Akutami, published by Shueisha, is available in English through Viz Media.
(c) Gege Akutami / Shueisha, Jujutsu Kaisen Production Committee