Summary

The Kokugan, wielded by Isshiki and Kawaki, offers two powerful techniques that can overpower even Naruto and Sasuke.
Inspired by Japanese religions, the dojutsu's symbolism ties back to Buddhism and Shintoism, adding depth to its abilities.
With roots in eastern mythologies, the Kokugan's golden hue and spoke-laden design symbolize the Wheel of Dharma.

With the Naruto franchise’s continuation in the form of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, the Three Great Dojutsu’s status quo has long ended, as the sequel has introduced all manner of powerful dojutsu. Isshiki Otsutsuki’s dojutsu is one such visual technique that has cemented itself as an unparalleled power, even rivaling the likes of the Rinnegan.

Known as the Kokugan, this dojutsu is unlike any other witnessed in Boruto before. From its rarity to its all-powerful derivative techniques, the Kokugan has raised the series’ power ceiling once more. Despite only offering two techniques to its users, the potency of these visual techniques far surpasses their ocular counterparts.

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What Is the Kokugan?

A Shinjutsu Wielded By the Otsutsuki

First Appearance	Boruto, Episode 214, "Predestined Fate"
Debut Date	September 05, 2021
Users	Isshiki Otsutsuki, Kawaki

Similar to the Byakugan and the Rinnegan, Kokugan is a dojutsu that stems from the Otsutsuki Clan. However, unlike the former two visual techniques, the Kokugan is exclusive only to Isshiki Otsutsuki, with Kawaki later gaining access to the power through Isshiki’s reimplanted Karma mark. With a striking golden hue and several spokes projecting from the center, the Kokugan bears an oddly unique appearance, truly befitting the Otsutsuki’s divine powers.

The Kokugan has only two official users in Boruto: Isshiki and Kawaki. While Jigen’s body could utilize the visual techniques of the Kokugan using hand signs, the dojutsu itself never manifested in his eyes. Moreover, his version of the Kokugan was severely limited, as the ocular jutsu’s true potential can only be unlocked in the body of an Otsutsuki. The Kokugan normally bears eight spokes, yet Kawaki’s version of the dojutsu only had four initially, meaning these rods are similar to the Sharingan’s tomoe.

The Kokugan’s Derivative Techniques

The Kokugan gives its user access to two visual techniques: Sukunahikona and Daikokuten. While the two techniques perform inherently different functions, their abilities are interlinked with one another. Sukunahikona and Daikokuten are two simple techniques in theory, yet their combined usage was potent enough for Isshiki to single-handedly overpower both Naruto and Sasuke simultaneously.

Sukunahikona

Sukunahikona is the Kokugan’s primary technique, one that essentially allows the wielder to shrink the size of any object in their line of sight, or alter their own size. While the concept of the technique might seem similar to the workings of the Body Expansion Jutsu, it differs significantly in terms of its principles and applications. For starters, Isshiki can not increase the size of objects beyond their original dimensions, and the same principle applies to his own body. This renders the technique only capable of shrinking objects and returning them to their original size.

The Sukunahikona is Isshiki's secret technique. It can shrink almost anything, and restore it almost instantly too.

Moreover, any living being other than Isshiki himself remains unaffected by Sukunahikona’s powers. This constraint severely limits the technique’s true potential, though the power to shrink any object in the user’s field of vision is unfathomable itself. Isshiki was able to turn his opponents’ weapons into miniscule objects, rendering them useless against him.

Daikokuten

The second technique granted by the Kokugan is Daikokuten, a space-time technique that is capable of storing any object shrunken by Sukunahikona into a separate dimension. In a way, Daikokuten works similar to the principles of the Kamui, as the technique gives the user access to a similar dimension that can only be accessed via the Kokugan. Objects retrieved from Daikokuten are sprung out at undetectable speeds, allowing the user to impale their opponents.

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Isshiki’s version of the Daikokuten was powerful enough to overwhelm Naruto and Sasuke in their prime, yet it was later revealed to be a weaker form of the technique. Kawaki was able to perfect the Daikokuten, resulting in him being able to store humans in the other dimension. Isshiki’s usage of the technique largely revolved around raining down gigantic cubes onto his opponents, or simply stabbing them using rods stored in Daikokuten’s dimension.

Daikokuten, a shinjutsu that allows access to a dimension where time is frozen.

The Symbolism Behind the Kokugan

The Kokugan’s Techniques Are Inspired by Japanese Religions

Similar to many other techniques in the series, the Kokugan’s inspiration is drawn from eastern mythologies, more specifically Buddhism and Japan’s native religions. The Kokugan’s golden color and spoke-laden design is symbolic of the Wheel of Dharma, an emblem that is vehemently used in Hinduism and Buddhism to represent chakra symbols. However, the Kokugan’s symbolism runs much deeper, as both of its ocular techniques are named after prominent events in Japan’s own folklore.

Sukunahikona is named after the Shinto god Sukunabikona, a deity known for his dominion over agriculture, hot springs, and knowledge. The technique's power of shrinking objects refers to Sukunabikona’s dwarfed stature, as he has been described to be the size of a human thumb. Moreover, the name of the god itself translates to “the small lord of renown,” a fact that is reflected in Sukunahikona’s ability.

Daikokuten has similar roots, as the name refers to one of the seven gods of luck in Buddhism. The technique’s inspiration is drawn from Uchide no Kozuchi, a magic hammer wielded by Daikokuten that allowed him to conjure anything he wished for by simply tapping the hammer. The technique works in similar fashion, allowing Isshiki to manifest his stored items at will from the other dimension.

Boruto is available to stream on Prime Video.

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