If you were scrolling through the Culling Game arc and suddenly paused on a close-up of the Sky Manipulation expert, you aren't alone. Takako Uro is a fan favorite for many reasons—her "clothing" made of literal space, her brutal Heian-era backstory, and that terrifying Thin Ice Breaker technique. But lately, a lot of readers have been squinting at their screens or volumes asking: have Uro’s eyes in JJK always looked like that? It’s one of those things where once you see it, you can't unsee it.
The short answer? Yes. And no. It’s complicated because Gege Akutami’s art style has shifted more than a cursed spirit’s shape over the last few years.
The Pitch-Black Void: Understanding Uro’s Sclera
When Takako Uro first dropped into the Sendai Colony, she looked otherworldly. It wasn't just the fact that she was effectively wearing the atmosphere. It was those eyes. Most characters in Jujutsu Kaisen have standard white sclera (the "whites" of the eyes). Uro doesn't. Her eyes are characterized by a dark, almost entirely black sclera with a bright, piercing iris.
It makes her look less human. That’s intentional.
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She’s a reincarnated sorcerer from the Heian Era, a time when sorcery was at its peak and humanity was, frankly, secondary to power. Many fans who ask if her eyes always looked like that are usually comparing her initial manga debut in Chapter 173 to later panels or the colored versions. In the black-and-white manga, Gege uses heavy ink for her eyes, which makes them pop against her pale hair. If you’re coming from the anime expectations or colored fan art, the starkness of the black sclera can feel like a "new" addition, but it’s been there since her first panel.
The "Gege Evolution" Factor
We have to talk about how Gege Akutami draws now versus how he drew during the Shibuya Incident. Gege's style has become much more "sketchy" and minimalist. Lines are rougher. Details are sometimes sacrificed for movement and impact.
Because of this style shift, Uro’s eyes sometimes look like simple black dots or heavy smears of ink in wide shots. In the Sendai Colony fight against Yuta Okkotsu and Ryu Ishigori, her facial features are sharp and distinct. However, in more recent depictions or flashback sequences, the eyes might seem "different" simply because the line work is thicker.
She's an ancient assassin. She was the captain of the "Sun, Moon, and Stars Squad" under the Fujiwara clan. Her design needs to reflect a certain level of "not-quite-right" compared to modern sorcerers like Yuta or Megumi. The black sclera is a visual shorthand for her being a relic of a more violent, cursed age.
Comparing Uro to Other Heian Sorcerers
If you look at Sukuna or Kenjaku (in his various forms), they often have standard eyes unless they are actively tapping into something monstrous. Uro is unique. Why? Some theorists suggest it’s a side effect of her specific Cursed Technique, Sky Manipulation. When you spend centuries "wearing" the sky, maybe it changes you.
Actually, look at characters like Choso or the Death Paintings. They have unique markings and eye structures because they aren't fully human. Uro is human—or was—but her reincarnation through Kenjaku’s bridge might have emphasized her more "monstrous" sorcerer traits.
Honestly, the confusion usually stems from the lighting in specific chapters. In the fight in Chapter 176, the "Thin Ice" she shatters creates a lot of visual noise. In those panels, her eyes look incredibly dark. In more static dialogue scenes, the iris is clearer. This discrepancy makes people think the design changed, but it's really just the interaction of Gege’s heavy ink style with the "shattering sky" effects.
The Anime vs. Manga Debate
We haven't seen Uro fully animated in a long-form fight yet (as of the current production cycle), but promotional materials and color spreads are where the "have Uro's eyes in JJK always looked like that" question really catches fire. In the official color pages, her eyes are often a striking pink or magenta set against that dark background.
In the manga, you’re filling in the gaps with your brain. When you finally see a high-res colored version, it’s a shock. You might have imagined her with normal eyes because your brain "corrected" the black ink as just heavy shadow. But no, the lore-accurate Takako Uro has those void-like eyes. They are a permanent fixture of her character design, intended to make her feel cold and detached from the modern world she’s been forced into.
Why This Matters for the Culling Game
The Culling Game is a mess of identities. You have modern-day sorcerers who look like normal high schoolers and Heian sorcerers who look like nightmares. Uro’s eyes serve as a constant reminder that Yuta isn't just fighting another person; he’s fighting history.
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Her eyes didn't change; our perception of them did as the stakes got higher. When she gets frustrated—specifically when she’s screaming about the Fujiwara clan’s betrayal—Gege draws her eyes with even more intensity. The black sclera bleeds into the surrounding lines, making her look genuinely deranged. It’s brilliant character design that uses "ink creep" to show emotion.
Final Verdict on Uro’s Design
If you think Uro’s eyes look different now than they did twenty chapters ago, you’re probably just noticing Gege’s evolving pen pressure. The black sclera has been a constant since her introduction. It’s her trademark. It’s what makes her one of the most visually striking characters in the entire Culling Game.
Next time you're reading, check the eyes of the reincarnated sorcerers. You'll notice a pattern. The ones who harbor the most grudge, the ones who are the most "detached" from humanity, usually have the most distorted features. Uro, with her sky-skin and void-eyes, is the peak of that aesthetic.
Actionable Steps for JJK Fans:
- Go back to Chapter 173: Look at Uro's first full-body reveal. Zoom in on the eyes. The dark sclera is there, though the iris is small.
- Compare with Ryu Ishigori: Notice how Ryu, despite being from the same era, has much more "human" eyes. This highlights that Uro’s look is a specific choice, not just a Heian-era trait.
- Watch the Shonen Jump official color spreads: These provide the definitive look for her eye color (magenta/pink) which clarifies that the black part isn't just shadow—it's her actual eye anatomy.
- Track the art style shift: Note how Gege’s lines become more jagged starting around the Zen’in Clan massacre arc; this is when all character eyes started becoming more "intense" and less "clean."
Uro is a masterclass in how to make a character feel ancient without saying a word. Her eyes haven't changed—they’ve just been waiting for you to notice how scary they really are.