Line #59 ShoutOut/YuYuHakusho


1	Here are the shout-outs present in ''[=YuYu=] Hakusho''.
2
3	!!Media References
4
5	[[AC:Anime & Manga]]
6	* One of the biggest is how Yusuke dies in the beginning. He saves a child who ran out into the street with a soccer ball, only to later be told that the soccer ball would have cushioned the child, saving the boy's life without leaving a scratch on him. This is a situation that would have, without Yusuke's unfortunate intervention, been exactly the same as what happened to Tsubasa in ''Manga/CaptainTsubasa''.
7	* The sequence of Yusuke shooting Hiei with the Rei-Gan, Hiei dodging, and then having said Rei-Gan reflect through the mirror relic and back towards Hiei is reminiscent of ''Anime/DragonBallZ'', when Krillin missed hurling the [[CombinedEnergyAttack Genki Dama]] at Vegeta, only for Gohan to deflect the blast back towards the original target.
8	** The Dark Tournament is highly possibly based on the many tournaments present in the ''Dragon Ball'' manga and its anime adaptations or sequels.
9	** Yomi is possibly based on the demon [[https://dragonball.fandom.com/wiki/Shula Shula]] from ''Manga/DragonBall'', as both have similar appearances. Ironically, Yomi's [[ArtificialFamilyMember artificial clone]] "son" got the "Shula" or "Shura" name instead.
10	* In the [[UsefulNotes/{{Philippines}} Tagalog]] version of ''[=YuYu=] Hakusho'' (''[[MarketBasedTitle Ghost Fighter]]''), after defeating the demon Rando, Yusuke mentions to Botan that since he completed his mission, he finally has free time to watch some ''[[https://myanimelist.net/anime/3433/Go-Q-Choji_Ikkiman Battle Ball]]''[[note]](another anime dubbed by [=TeleSuccess=] Productions--the same dubbing company that did the ''YYH'' Filipino dub--at the time)[[/note]].
11	* Younger Toguro echoes Onimaru from ''Manga/PeacockKing'', another manga about young fighters battling demons. Like Onimaru, Toguro is a musclebound, foreign-looking man with perpetual sunglasses that is both a human and a demon at once and who has a WorthyOpponent relationship with the main character.
12	* The white-haired, long-haired, and tattooed look of the [[OurDemonsAreDifferent Mazoku]] like Yusuke and Raizen is highly reminiscent of [[https://imgur.com/a/wqwiRWZ Dark Schneider]] of ''Manga/Bastard1988'' fame.[[note]]In particular, how Yusuke transforms from a young teen to a muscular tattooed war god demon is just like when [[GodzillaThreshold Lucien summons Dark Schneider]] from within himself.[[/note]]
13	* There are three shout-outs to ''Franchise/SailorMoon.''[[note]]Creator/YoshihiroTogashi is the husband of Sailor Moon creator Creator/NaokoTakeuchi.[[/note]]
14	** In a manga-exclusive story, Kurama throws a rose in front of two rival gangs a la Tuxedo Mask. (He actually tells them "Just call me Tuxedo Mask," while throwing it in the Viz dub.)
15	** Juri's transformation sequence when she recovers from the Idunn Box is based off of Sailor Moon's transformation sequence.
16	** Koenma's disguise in the Demon World Tournament is him wearing the Tuxedo Mask garb.
17
18	[[AC:Literature]]
19	* There is a momentary shout-out to ''Literature/TheStarsMyDestination'' during the Dark Tournament when an audience member is shown with the N♂MAD tattoo.
20	* Yomi's territory in the Demon World, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gandhara "Gandhara"]], is a reference to the place where Tripitaka, the Monkey King, and their party were headed for in ''Literature/JourneyToTheWest''.[[note]]In real-life, it's an ancient Indo-Aryan civilization centered in the present-day north-west Pakistan and north-east Afghanistan.[[/note]]
21	** Yomi's six ears is possibly based off the [[ManiacMonkeys Six-Eared Macaque]] from ''Journey to the West'' as well, whose six ears allowed him to [[SuperHearing listen to everything]], which made him [[ExactEavesdropping nigh-omniscient]].
22
23	[[AC:Movies & Television]]
24	* Toguro is also reminiscent of TheAhnold himself, Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger. In particular, he looks like the Expy of ''Film/TheTerminator''.
25	** It certainly helps that Toguro's voice actor Creator/TesshoGenda is ''the'' go-to Japanese dub voice for characters played by Arnold Schwarzenegger[[note]](and Arnie's best [[FriendlyRivalry friend/rival]] Creator/SylvesterStallone)[[/note]].
26	* The ''Ankoku Bujutsukai'' (Dark Tournament), an underground tournament occurring on a remote island, is possibly based on the tournament Bruce Lee enters in ''Film/EnterTheDragon''.
27	** It's also possibly based on the Kumite tournament [[BasedOnAGreatBigLie creatively]] [[MediaNotes/{{Plagiarism}} invented]] by [[FakeUltimateHero Frank Dux]] for the film ''Film/{{Bloodsport}}''.
28	* During the Dark Tournament, there was a shout-out to Franchise/SuperSentai of all things (it's one of the teams ruthlessly offed by the Toguro team; they even use the ''Series/HimitsuSentaiGoranger'' codenames).
29	* In the ''Demon World Arc'', Yomi's advisor is a short, old guy with pointy ears named [[Franchise/StarWars Yoda]].
30
31	[[AC:Music]]
32	* In Episode 21, there's a glimpse of a poster of Music/OingoBoingo's "Good For Your Soul" album on the wall in Kuwabara's room. No name changes either, unlike with "Megallica", the album's cover is mimicked in full, complete with artist and name.
33	* Kuwabara goes to the "[[Music/{{Megadeth}} Mega]][[Music/{{Metallica}} llica]]" concert in episode 75.
34
35	[[AC:Video Games]]
36	* Gouki shares the name with a [[Characters/StreetFighterIIUpdatedVersions character]] from ''Franchise/StreetFighter''. The pronunciation and meaning are the same but the kanji are slightly different though.
37	** They're both formidable foes, but in the case of ''YYH'' Gouki, he's a demon disguised as a human who eats human souls in the Human World.
38	** With ''Street Fighter'' Gouki/Akuma, he's a martial artist who turned into a being as strong as a demon or ogre, just like the Toguro Brothers.
39	* Yusuke can fire his Rei-Gan/Spirit Gun multiple times using weaker shots or a huge fireball or beam if he charges it long enough, just like the [[ChargedAttack Charge Shot]] from ''Franchise/MegaMan''.[[note]]Before appearing as a function of the Mega Buster, a Special Weapon from ''VideoGame/MegaMan2'' in 1988, Atomic Fire, had the unique capacity to be charged up to release a stronger attack. This is possibly a progenitor of the Charge Shot. The Charge Shot made its debut in ''VideoGame/MegaMan4'' in 1991. For the first time, Mega Man could charge the New Mega Buster up to two additional levels for more powerful shots, at the cost of a lower firing rate.[[/note]]
40	** The charging sound of Megaman's Charge Shot sounds the same as when Yusuke charges up his Rei-Gan.
41	* In Japanese, Genkai's fighting style is referred to as the [[SupernaturalMartialArts "Reikou Hadouken"]]. Thusly, the [[EnergyBall "Hadouken"]] part of her discipline's name is a shout-out to both ''VideoGame/StreetFighterII'' and ''Anime/SpaceBattleshipYamato''[[note]](the origin of the name for the "Hadouken" technique comes from the Yamato's WaveMotionGun or the "Hadouho")[[/note]].
42	* When Yusuke and Kuwabara are arguing after their first arrival at Genkai's house, several ''Street Fighter'' characters can be seen, including Dhalsim, E. Honda, Zangief (with a scar on his chest instead of all the hair), and a middle-aged Ryu.
43	* Also during the Dark Tournament, the gang uses [[Creator/{{Nintendo}} Nintendo-branded playing cards]] (which is actually how the company started its business).
44
45	!!Myth and Folklore References
46
47	[[AC:Chinese Mythology]]
48	* [[DivineBirds Suzaku]] is the Crimson Vermillion Bird, [[GreatWhiteFeline Byakko]] is the White Tiger, [[WiseOldTurtle Genbu]] is the Black Turtle, and [[DragonsAreDivine Seiryu]] is the Blue Dragon. These are the [[EliteFour "Four Saint Beasts"]][[note]]also known as "TheFourGods", [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Heavenly_Kings "Four Heavenly Kings"]], [[FourIsDeath "Four Devas of Destruction"]], "Four Warring Cardinal Gods", "Four Buddhist Gods", "Four Chinese Gods", or "Shitennou"[[/note]] of mythology.
49	** The Vermillion Bird was a Phoenix in older times, and the White Tiger was originally a Qilin (just like the summon "Kirin" from ''Franchise/FinalFantasy''). The Black Turtle was originally called "The Black Warrior". No one knows why any of them were changed.
50	** For some reason, Togashi decided to switch up the elements associated with each of the Four Saint Beasts.[[note]]Instead of phoenix fire, Suzaku has [[ShockAndAwe lightning powers]] and instead of storms and lightning, Seiryu has [[AnIcePerson ice powers]]. Ditto with Byakko having [[PlayingWithFire fire powers]] instead of earth powers and Genbu having [[DishingOutDirt earth powers]] instead of winter ice or water powers.[[/note]]
51
52	[[AC:Japanese Folklore]]
53	* Most of Shishiwakamaru's team have names based on characters of Japanese folklore. [[UsefulNotes/MinamotoNoYoshitsune Shishiwakamaru]] himself is based on [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minamoto_no_Yoshitsune Minamoto no Yoshitsune]], whose childhood name is Ushiwakamaru (牛若丸).[[note]]Shishiwakamaru's Cape of No Return is a reference to Yoshitsune disguising as a woman with a cape. Koto also indirectly refers to this shout-out.[[/note]]
54	* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urashima_Taro Ura Urashima]] or "Reverse Urashima" is named after Urashima Taro, a mythical fisherman that married the daughter of a Sea Kami. He uses a fishing pole as a weapon in reference to this.[[note]]The first "Ura" ins his name uses the kanji for "flip side", meaning he's the exact opposite of the mythical fisherman. That is to say: weak, cowardly, and boisterous. His special item involves [[TimeTravel/{{Literature}} reversing time]], like in the original Urashima story.[[/note]]
55	* [[Literature/{{Momotaro}} Kuro Momotaro]] is "Black Peach Boy". The name "Momotaro" means "Peach Boy". The titular character of the myth (Momotaro) befriends various animals in his quest.[[note]]Kuro Momotaro turns into those animals using his steaming spheres (not all of them though, he dies before he could). The spheres have black peaches on them (his name references this). Kuro can also symbolize evil because black equals death in Shintoism.[[/note]]
56	* [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kintaro Makintaro]] is the "Magic Golden Boy". Named after "Kintaro", Japan's Hercules or "Golden Boy". Kintaro was a very strong yet amoral figure that followed orders without question.[[note]]He exemplified the [[MartyrdomCulture samurai spirit]] of fearlessness, obedience, and strength. Kintaro ripped his lazy older brother into pieces for disobeying their father. When he was a baby, Kintaro's bib had the kanji for "Gold" written on it. Makintaro's bib has a fused kanji for "Gold" and "Magic" on it.[[/note]]
57	* [[SomeCallMeTim Suzuka/Suzuki]] is just a common given name in Japan. It's Suzuki's disguise [[UsefulNotes/{{Onmyodo}} "Onji"]] that has meaning. The old man is likely named after [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onmyoji Onmyouji]].[[note]]Onmyouji are humans that have the powers/souls of demons; they are the Japanese equivalent of sorcerers. They often summon demons and create magic items. This explains how Suzuki got his team together and equipped them. Kurama is technically an onmyouji too, due to being a demon soul in a human body. Yusuke is not one of these as he is youkai by blood.[[/note]]
58
59	[[AC:Japanese Mythology]]
60	* The name "Gōki" or "Gouki" means "Strong Ogre". Yes, like ''that'' ''[[Characters/StreetFighterIIUpdatedVersions Gouki]]''. Like Japanese ogres, Gouki used a tree in his fight with Yusuke. He's also one of the few to have ever beaten the young Urameshi fair and square.
61	* Kurama is a reference to another mountain that stands alongside Mt, Hiei, and is (hilariously) barely more than half as tall.
62	** Mt. Kurama is also the birthplace of [[KiManipulation Reiki]] medicine, the real-world equivalent of Spirit Energy. It is the Japanese equivalent to Vitalism, and has many followers.
63	** Kurama is also closely connected to the myth of the kitsune or AsianFoxSpirit. They're particularly known in taking in [[ChangelingTale newborns as their avatars]].
64	* "Hiei" is also the name of a mountain that is the home of demons (the same Mt. Hiei where [[Manga/RurouniKenshin Shishio's]] [[EvilLair stronghold]] is located). Traditionally, women were not allowed on this mountain for fear that demons might abduct them (pretty much sums up Hiei's first meeting with Keiko).
65	* "Yukina" means "Snow Child/Girl". A reference to the ''YukiOnna'' (Snow Women) or ''Koorime'' (Ice Maidens), Yukina's species. These youkai appeared in blizzards to seduce the stupid off the beaten path, hence why [[DontExplainTheJoke Kuwabara has a crush on her]].
66	* Raizen, a [[OurDemonsAreDifferent Mazoku]], has a name that means "Lightning Meditation" or "Lightning Buddhism", and thusly has powers related to lightning like Suzaku of the Four Saint Beasts.
67	* Yomi's name literally translates to [[TheUnderworld "Underworld"]]. It's appropriate, since it refers to him being one of Three Kings of the Underworld.
68	* Mukuro is Chinese for "Body", a reference to her scarred body.
69	** Her name is also a pun on the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mokumokuren Mokumokuren]], a youkai that takes the form of eyes peering through holes in a rundown house.
70	** The reason for this is her connection to Hiei, another eye-based demon. Like Hiei, the number of eyes Mukuro has is an odd number.
71
72	[[AC:Name Origins]]
73	* Yusuke Urameshi:
74	** The first name "Yusuke" possibly means "Ghastly Assistant", which is a reference to his helpful actions while dead. His last name, "Urameshi", is something chanted by the dead (phonetically speaking, anyway).
75	** When you combine the first character for "Yusuke" ("Yu" meaning "Faint" or "Ghost-like") with the first character for "Rei-Gan" ("Rei" meaning "Soul" or "Spirit"), you get the word "Yurei", the closest thing Shintoism has to the western idea of normal ghosts or spirits who can't move on. He was one of these for a short time at the beginning of the story.
76	* Kazuma Kuwabara:
77	** By WordOfGod, Kazuma Kuwabara's full name was simply taken from two of Togashi's favorite Japanese baseball players--'''Kazu'''hiro Kiyo'''hara''' (清'''原和'''博) and '''Ma'''sumi '''Kuwa'''ta ('''桑'''田'''真'''澄).
78	** The name "Kuwabara" is actually a prayer/spell that wards away lightning (as seen in ''[[VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater Metal Gear Solid 3]]'').[[note]]The whole thing with the mulberry trees is because the angry spirit that threw lighting at people was a man, whose land was (probably) full of these trees. By chanting "Kuwabara", one tricked the spirit into thinking they were his people, whom he wouldn't attack.[[/note]] As time went on, it was expanded to also ward away ghosts, demons, and bad luck. This is name is hilarious because of three things:
79	*** Kuwabara has horrible luck.
80	*** Kuwabara can feel the presence of ghosts.
81	*** Seaman fights Kuwabara during a storm and Kuwabara wins.
82	* In Japanese, the Spirit Gun is named the "Rei-Gan". It roughly means the same thing (Spiritual Energy Bullet), but it's also a PunnyName referring to the English term "RayGun". Appropriately enough, Yusuke's "rei(ki)" is shot out like an energy ball or beam of light of your typical KamehameHadoken when using his "''Spiritual'' Ray Gun".
83	* Rando's name means "Child of Confusion", a reference to his disguise. His disguise is a boy or monk named "Shorin" which is the Japanese word for [[AllMonksKnowKungFu Shaolin]]. Shorin is also dressed as a practitioner of Shorin-Ryu, which is the Japanese school of [[EverybodyWasKungFuFighting Shaolin Kung Fu]].
84	* Kurama's mother once overheard Yusuke calling Kurama his demon name. She said it meant something along the lines of "Demon Thief". It's probably a pun.
85	* Hiei's name means "Swift Shadow", which pretty much describes the character. The character "Hi" is also phonetically similar to "Ho" which means fire. So if you didn't know the first kanji, you might think it means "Burning Shadow", which is another pun.
86	* [[DrunkenMaster "Chu"]] either means either "Sake" or "Strong Wine", depending on whether you are using Japanese or Chinese.

Context ShoutOut / YuYuHakusho