Kurama (YuYu Hakusho)

{{Infobox character

| name = Kurama

| series = YuYu Hakusho

| image = KuramaYuYuHakusho.png

| alt =

| caption = Kurama as illustrated by Yoshihiro Togashi

| first = YuYu Hakusho manga chapter 20: "The Deadly Trio!!"

| creator = Yoshihiro Togashi

| portrayer = Jun Shison

| voice = {{Plainlist|{{Collapsible list|title=Japanese|Megumi Ogata (human)|Shigeru Nakahara (demon)}}{{Collapsible list|title=English|John Burgmeier (Funimation dub) |Candice Moore (Animax Asia dub)|Chris Orbach (Central Park Media dub)|David Hayter (Anime Works dub)}}}}

| alias = Shuichi Minamino (human name)

| family = {{Plainlist|{{Collapsible list|Unnamed father (deceased)|Shiori Hatanaka (mother)|Kazuya Hatanaka (stepfather)|Shuichi Hatanaka (stepbrother)}}}}

}}

{{nihongo|Kurama|{{Ruby-ja|蔵|くら}}{{Ruby-ja|馬|ま}}|lead=yes|extra={{IPAc-en|'|k|uː|r|ɑː|m|ɑː}} {{respell|KOO|rah|mah}}}} is a fictional character from the manga YuYu Hakusho by Yoshihiro Togashi. A {{nihongo|Fox Demon|妖狐|Yōko}} reborn as the human {{nihongo|Shuichi Minamino|南野秀一|Minamino Shūichi}} in modern life,{{gnr|ch|21}} he is introduced as a thief who stole a supernatural mirror to save his dying mother from death. Although Kurama is initially portrayed as a villain, he becomes a supporting character to aid the protagonist Yusuke Urameshi in the next arc. Across his fights are revealed events from his past life as a demon, into which he becomes able to transform for a limited time. The character has also appeared in the anime adaptation, the two movies, and other related works.

Kurama was modeled after a friend that Togashi found interesting. Already during his introduction Togashi planned to have him become an ally to the main characters despite being a villain. As the next arcs, which primarily relieve on action, Kurama became a prominent fighter much to Togashi's pressure since he was not used to writing fighting series. He was voiced by Megumi Ogata in Japanese and Shigeru Nakahara in his demon persona. Several voice actors have voiced Kurama in English. The character was well received by the media often due to his sex appeal and prominent role in the series as a supporting character. Ogata's performance was also the subject of positive response despite early negative backlash by viewers of the anime.

Creation

Kurama was modeled after a friend that manga author Yoshihiro Togashi has. Togashi was impressed by such a person for claiming to be a French aristocrat even though he was Japanese. His name was rumored to be from Mount Kurama.{{cite magazine|magazine=Weekly Shounen Jump|year=1991|issue=35|publisher=Shueisha|title=Kurama's model is a real person!}} However, Togashi denied it, claiming he applied the kanji to the sounds he chose "based on my senses". In his characterization, Togashi labeled him as "the typical "{{nihongo|desu ne|ですね|lit. "It's right"}}" archetype who is usually polite, but scary when he gets angry. The surname, Minamino, comes from the singer Yoko Minamino. There were other surname candidates such as the Japanese celebrities whose first names are also Yōko.{{cite book|title=Yu Yu Hakusho Official Characters Book Reikai Shinshiroku|publisher=Shueisha|last=Togashi|first=Yoshihiro|year=2005|isbn=978-4088737324|chapter=Main Characters Comment Section from Yoshihiro Togashi}} Meanwhile, the name Kurama's name came to Togashi on the spur of the moment.{{cite book|publisher=Viz Media|first=Yoshihiro|last=Togashi|author-link=Yoshihiro Togashi|pages=1|title=YuYu Hakusho|volume=6|isbn=1-59116-812-0|date=February 2005}} Although Kurama and Hiei were introduced as enemies that the protagonist Yusuke Urameshi had to fight, Togashi planned from the beginning to turn Kurama into a supporting character afterward.{{cite journal|title=Interview: Yoshihiro Togashi|journal=Shonen Jump|date=May 2003|publisher=Viz Media|location=San Francisco, CA|volume=1|issue=5}} According to editors from the magazine, Kurama went on to become one of the most popular characters in the series, which Togashi intended due to the way he drew him.{{cite journal|title=Shonen Jump Exhibition Vol. 2|journal=Shonen Jump|date=2017|publisher=Viz Media|location=San Francisco, CA}}

As the YuYu Hakusho transitioned from a comedy to a fighting series, Togashi expressed pressure when incorporating Kurama and Hiei as main characters. For the Four Holy Beasts story arc, Togashi made four enemies on impulse, but the only humans were Yusuke and Kuwabara. When it became clear that they were not strong enough to take on two demons each, Hiei and Kurama appeared on the scene, making their introductions as protagonists.{{cite magazine|magazine=V-Jump|year=1992|issue=December|publisher=Shueisha|title=Togashi-sensei talks about YuYu}} There were also many instances where Togashi would create nearly entire manuscripts by himself, such as the battle between Kurama and Karasu.{{cite book|title=Yoshihiro Togashi Speaks|series=ヨシりんでポン！[Yoshirin de Pon!]|first=Yoshihiro|last=Togashi|page=17|year=1994|language=ja}} Mari Kitayama finds Kurama to be the easiest of the main characters to design due to his well-proportioned features.{{cite video|people=Kitayama, Mari|date=December 9, 2003|title=Yu Yu Hakusho Volume 19: Tournament's End Mari Kitayama Interview|medium=DVD|publisher=Funimation|ASIN=B0000C7PSO}}

In the Tagalog anime dub (titled Ghost Fighter), released in the Philippines, the character is initially named Denise because the people creating the dub believed the character was female.{{cite news|last=Savillo|first=Dianne Zarina G. |url=https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/318388/some-iconic-moments-from-90s-anime-ghost-fighter|title=Some iconic moments from 90s anime, Ghost Fighter|newspaper=Cebu Daily News|date=2020-07-15|access-date=2025-04-19}} When later episodes revealed to the crew that the character was male, the crew introduced an explanation. The dub explains that the character's real name is Dennis, and that Denise is a cover name. The dub establishes that the character is actually male, and pretends to be female.{{cite news|last=Esposo|first=Jazzwin Joy|url=https://pop.inquirer.net/356393/fb-post-sheds-light-on-tagalized-ghost-fighters-mistake-of-confusing-dennis-for-denise|title=FB post sheds light on ‘Tagalized’ Ghost Fighter’s mistake of confusing ‘Dennis’ for ‘Denise’|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|place=Makati, Metro Manila|date=2024-01-30|access-date=2025-04-19}}

=Casting=

Kurama was Megumi Ogata's first voice-acting role. She stated that while auditioning it was a requirement by the anime's production company that the character's voice sound like a 17-year-old male but also like that of a member of Takarazuka Revue, an all-female musical theatre group that portrays both men and women.{{cite web|author=Tokyo Otaku Mode staff|date=June 26, 2017|title=Exclusive Interview with Voice Actress Megumi Ogata (Part 2)|url=https://otakumode.com/news/5950c8ca67696d4020c7bb30/Exclusive-Interview-with-Voice-Actress-Megumi-Ogata-Part-2|publisher=Tokyo Otaku Mode Inc.|access-date=November 4, 2018}} Shigeru Nakahara takes over the role of Kurama for his demon form.{{cite web|url=http://pierrot.jp/title/yuyu/staff/|publisher=Studio Pierrot|language=ja|script-title=ja:幽遊白書(スタッフ&キャスト)|trans-title=YuYu Hakusho (Staff & Cast)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091101063114/http://pierrot.jp/title/yuyu/staff/|archive-date=November 1, 2009|access-date=December 22, 2009|url-status=dead}}

For the English adaptations, John Burgmeier voices Kurama in the TV series and first film from the Funimation dubs, Candice Moore in the TV Series from the Animax Asia dub, Chris Orbach for the second film in Central Park Media dub, and David Hayter in the first film from the Anime Works dub.{{cite web|url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/Yu-Yu-Hakusho/|title=Yu Yu Hakusho (2002)|website=Behind the Voice Actors|accessdate=December 17, 2022}}

Kurama was also portrayed by Hiroki Suzuki in the stage play{{cite news|first=Rafael Antonio|last=Pineda|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-07-24/yu-yu-hakusho-stage-play-reveals-cast-visuals/.149286|title=Yu Yu Hakusho Stage Play Reveals Cast Visuals|work=Anime News Network|date=July 24, 2019|access-date=January 13, 2020}} and Jun Shison in the TV drama.{{cite web|last=Hodgkins|first=Crystalyn|title=Jun Shison Joins Cast of Live-Action Yu Yu Hakusho Series as Kurama|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-07-17/jun-shison-joins-cast-of-live-action-yu-yu-hakusho-series-as-kurama/.187736|website=Anime News Network|access-date=July 17, 2022|date=July 17, 2022}}

Appearances

=In ''YuYu Hakusho''=

Fifteen years before the series began, Yoko Kurama was a fox youkai and notorious thief; cool-headed, clever, and ruthless. A resident of the Makai (Demon World), he was among the highest classes of demons in terms of power and led a gang of other youkai thieves. Despite his cunning and strength, in time Kurama was mortally wounded by a pursuer, potentially one of his victims. To avoid death, his spirit managed to enter the Human World and implanted his essence within the embryo of a pregnant human woman, Shiori Minamino before the embryo gained a soul of its own; this allowed him to be reborn as the human {{nihongo|Shuichi Minamino|南野秀一|Minamino Shūichi}}.{{gnr|ch|21}} It was his intention to remain in the Human World for ten years until he had sufficiently recovered enough of his demonic powers, by which time he would return to the Demon World. However, when Kurama was still very young, an incident occurred, during which his mother saved him from serious harm, hurting herself in the process. When she later became gravely ill from an unknown malady, Kurama realized that he had come to love his mother as her own son would have, and he could not bear to leave her all alone.{{gnr|ch|21}} Having teamed up with two other demons, Hiei (a former acquaintance) and Goki (a soul-devouring demon), to steal three treasures of the Reikai (Spirit World), Kurama became a target of the series protagonist, Reikai detective Yusuke Urameshi. However, he abandoned his partners and departed with one of the treasures: the {{nihongo|Mirror of Darkness|暗黒鏡|Ankoku-Kyō|known as the "Forlorn Hope" in the English anime dub}}. This mirror was capable, under a full moon, of granting the user's desire at the cost of the user's life. Kurama intended to use it to cure his mother of her illness, having felt that the trade of life was worth it, as his mother would have her then-boyfriend to care for her, ignorant of the fact that she would mourn Kurama, her son's, death. After learning of the fox youkai's past and reasons, Yusuke agreed to help Kurama, with both of them giving half of their life forces to pay the mirror's cost, allowing both to survive and Kurama's mother to be saved.{{gnr|ch|21}}

Kurama, alongside Hiei, would then begin assisting Yusuke, helping to defeat the Makai entities known as The Four Beasts in exchange for a reduced sentence for his crime.{{gnr|ch|33}} It is revealed in this story arc that Kurama's youkai abilities lie in manipulating his energy to craft weapons from plants and plant parts; these plants are implied to be tucked up into Kurama's hair until needed. This includes his signature weapon, the {{nihongo|Rose Whip|{{ruby-ja|薔薇棘鞭刃|ローズ・ウィップ}}}}, a thorned, fragrant weapon capable of cutting through steel.{{gnr|ch|34}} For associating with humans, Kurama and Hiei were invited to take part in the Dark Tournament on Yusuke and Kuwabara's team.{{gnr|ch|51}} It is shown in one match that Kurama does not rely on physical touch to alter plants; so long as Kurama can access his youkai energy, any type of verdure in Kurama's vicinity becomes dangerous to an adversary. In one case, when his energy was sealed off, Kurama implanted seeds within his own bloodstream in order to weaponize them and save himself. During this story arc, initially (and accidentally) through the machinations of an opponent, Kurama was able to temporarily revert to his original form: Youko Kurama. As a full-fledged youkai once more, Kurama's powers were greater than those of his Shuichi guise, capable of creating much deadlier and larger variants of his plant arsenal.{{gnr|ch|83|,|97}} Kurama was later gifted the source of the opponent's time-reversing abilities, which allowed him to change back into his youkai self, though for a duration of ten minutes at most. As the series progressed, Kurama became strong enough to change from his human form to Yoko Kurama and back on his own.

Following their victory against Toguro's team at the end of the Dark Tournament, Kurama and the others went to rescue him and learned that the source of the humans' new abilities was a portal to the Makai. This portal was being crafted by Sensui, Yusuke's predecessor as an agent of the Reikai, who became disillusioned with humanity and sought their destruction by unleashing youkai into the world. While infiltrating Sensui's lair, Kurama finally subdued the Elder Toguro (who had survived the Dark Tournament and joined forces with Sensui, only to be devoured by Sensui's ally, Gourmet). He was also forced to face Amanuma/Game Master, a child able to bring video games to life. Kurama, aware that winning the game would literally kill Amanuma, proceeded nonetheless but showed great remorse and anger at taking the child's life. After watching Yusuke's death at Sensui's hands, Kurama reverted to Youko Kurama without the aid of any weapon or other stimulant. With Hiei and Kuwabara, he traveled through the portal to the Makai, witnessing Yusuke's rebirth as a demon and Sensui's death at the revived detective's hands.{{gnr|ch|147}}

Soon after the return from the Makai, Shiori, Kurama's mother, remarried, and Kurama gained a human stepfather and stepbrother. Due to his shifts to his demon form, Kurama became torn about whether to remain with his family or finally leave the Human World. However, he was invited to the Demon Plane to join his old partner Yomi, now one of the three most powerful demon rulers of the Makai. Kurama was reluctant at first but was forced to join Yomi when, after revealing that he had known Youko Kurama had blinded him and once tried to kill him, Yomi threatened the lives of Shuichi's family. With no other choice, Kurama became Yomi's second-in-command and proceeded to recruit former allies from the Dark Tournament to join as well.{{gnr|ch|158|,|163}} However, due to Yusuke's tactics, Kurama and the others become free to take part in the Demon Plane Unification Tournament as individuals, not as underlings for any overlords. However, Kurama ultimately loses the tournament in the third round, though this allows him to return to the Human World and start a new life. At the end of the series, he is shown working at his stepfather's company.{{gnr|ch|176}}

=In other media=

Kurama appears as a supporting character in Yu Yu Hakusho: The Movie on a mission to rescue Koenma who was taken by the demons Koashura and Garuga.{{cite video |date = 1993 |title =Yu Yu Hakusho: The Movie|format =VHS |publisher =Anime Works, Animaze|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=607}} The second film, Yu Yu Hakusho the Movie: Poltergeist Report, Kurama battles the Netherworld's forces. Kurama faces one of Yakumo's servants, who impersonates one of his deceased friends, Kuronue. On finding out about the impersonation and that the henchman had tried to pervert the friendship between him and Kuronue, an enraged Kurama summons a whole forest of sharp-edged bamboo, which pierces the imposter and kills him. Kurama later assists Yusuke in his final battle against Yakumo; Kurama's energy grants Yusuke's Spirit Gun blast versatility, causing it to bend like his Rose Whip.{{cite video |date =1998|title =Yu Yu Hakusho the Movie: Poltergeist Report|format = DVD |publisher = Central Park Media|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=713}}

A spin-off was also written which shows the first meeting of Kurama and Hiei, and how they become allies before the series' start. The character is also playable in multiple video games, including Yu Yu Hakusho Makyō Tōitsusen, Yu Yu Hakusho: Dark Tournament and Yu Yu Hakusho: Tournament Tactics.{{cite web|url=https://www.mobygames.com/game/genesis/y-y-hakusho-maky-titsusen|website=Moby Games|title=Yū Yū Hakusho: Makyō Tōitsusen (Genesis)|accessdate=December 23, 2022}}{{cite book|author=Mylonas, Eric|year=2004|title=Yu Yu Hakusho: Dark Tournament Prima Official Game Guide|publisher=Prima Games|page=13|isbn=0-7615-4513-1}}{{cite web|url=https://www.mobygames.com/game/gameboy-advance/yu-yu-hakusho-ghost-files-tournament-tactics|website=Moby Games|title=Yu Yu Hakusho: Ghost Files - Tournament Tactics (Game Boy Advance)|accessdate=December 23, 2022}}

Reception

File:Megumi Ogata.jpg

Kurama is a popular character with fans, coming in third and second place in the series' first two popularity polls.{{cite book|last=Togashi|first=Yoshihiro|title=Yu Yu Hakusho, Volume 7|year=2005|publisher=Viz Media|pages=90–91|isbn=978-1-5911-6812-6}}{{cite book|last=Togashi|first=Yoshihiro|title=Yu Yu Hakusho, Volume 12|year=2007|publisher=Viz Media|pages=148–149|isbn=978-1-4215-1118-4}} He came in second in the American Shonen Jump poll. In Animage{{'}}s Anime Grand Prix, he was ranked as the third most popular male anime character of 1993 and the most popular male character in both 1994 and 1995. His alternate demon form was ranked sixteenth in 1994.{{cite magazine|script-title=ja:第15回アニメグランプリ [1993年5月号]|trans-title=15th Anime Grand Prix since (1993 May issue)|url=http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1993.html|magazine=Animage|language=ja|access-date=November 15, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101019174225/http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1993.html|archive-date=October 19, 2010 }}{{cite magazine|script-title=ja:第16回アニメグランプリ [1994年5月号]|trans-title=16th Anime Grand Prix since (1994 May issue)|url=http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1994.html|magazine=Animage|language=ja|access-date=November 15, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101019174535/http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1994.html|archive-date=October 19, 2010 }}{{cite magazine|script-title=ja:第17回アニメグランプリ [1995年5月号]|trans-title=17th Anime Grand Prix since (1995 May issue)|url=http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1995.html|magazine=Animage|language=ja|access-date=December 7, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101019174215/http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1995.html|archive-date=October 19, 2010 }} Demon Kurama additionally won About.com's "Best Supporting Character" in its 2005 Anime Award Show.{{cite web|author=Luther, Katherine|date=March 2, 2005|title=And the Winner Is... 2005 Anime Award Show|url=http://anime.about.com/od/funstuff/a/aa030205.htm|publisher=About.com|access-date=October 17, 2010|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924020700/http://anime.about.com/od/funstuff/a/aa030205.htm|url-status=dead}} Kurama was also ranked the third best male anime character of the 1990s by Newtype.{{cite magazine|magazine=Newtype|publisher=Kadokawa Shoten|title=Newtype's Top 30 Male and Female Characters of Each Decade|date=March 2010|language=ja|page=24}} In an "Anime! Anime!" poll, Kurama was rated as the most popular character voiced by Megumi Ogata.{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2019-06-06/fans-rank-megumi-ogata-anime-roles-for-her-birthday/.147569|title=Fans Rank Megumi Ogata's Anime Roles for Her Birthday|website=Anime News Network|access-date=January 2, 2020|archive-date=September 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190916123721/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2019-06-06/fans-rank-megumi-ogata-anime-roles-for-her-birthday/.147569|url-status=live}} In Japanese website goo poll, Kurama was voted as the fourth most sexually appealing character in Shonen Jump.{{cite web|url=https://otakuusamagazine.com/top-10-hottest-dudes-shonen-jump-might-surprise/|title=Top 10 Hottest Dudes in Shonen Jump Might Surprise You|website=Otaku USA|date=January 21, 2020 }} In another poll from Goo, Kurama was voted as the most beautiful of men with long hair.{{cite web|url=https://otakuusamagazine.com/japanese-fans-rank-animes-beautiful-long-haired-men/|title=Japanese Fans Rank Anime's Most Beautiful Long-Haired Men|website=Otaku USA|date=June 21, 2018 }} Manga author Masashi Kishimoto was mainly inspired to create the Naruto character with the same name, Kurama, based on Togashi's character.{{cite book|last=Kishimoto|first=Masashi|author-link=Masashi Kishimoto|title=Naruto ― ナルト―[秘伝·皆の書]オフィシャルプレミアムファン Book|date=December 4, 2009|publisher=Shueisha|location=Japan|language=ja|isbn=978-4-08-874834-4|pages=74–81}}

Kurama and Hiei's popularity in the series led to demand to introduce their characters earlier in the anime. However, the fact that Kurama was voiced by woman rather than a man generated controversy in Japan when the series first aired. Director Noriyuki Abe said it must have been a lot of pressure on Ogata. However, as the anime went on, the actor's charms were brought out and more fans were born rather those who disliked it.{{cite book|title=Yu Yu Hakusho 2009 Blu-Ray Booklet |year=2009|publisher=Pierrot}} Animerica's Justin Kovalsky found Kurama and the others as suitable supporting characters for a fighting anime.{{cite journal|author=Kovalsky, Justin|date=November 2001|title=Animerica Feature: Yû Yû Hakusho|journal=Animerica|volume=9|issue=10/11|pages=38–43|publisher=Viz Media|url=http://www.animerica-mag.com/features/09.10.11/yuyuhakusho.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040407182737/http://www.animerica-mag.com/features/09.10.11/yuyuhakusho.html|archive-date=April 7, 2004|issn=1067-0831|url-status=dead}} THEM Anime Reviews found Kurama appealing especially when interacting with Hiei.{{cite web|url=https://www.themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=374|title=Yu Yu Hakusho|website=THEM Anime|accessdate=December 16, 2022}}

Comic Book Resources also enjoyed Kurama's characterization most notably when fighting in the Dark Tournament due to his darker side being exposed when becoming his past demon persona as well as his several styles of fighting.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/yu-yu-hakusho-kurama-dark-tournament-battles/|title=Yu Yu Hakusho: Kurama's Darker Side Richly Enhances His Dark Tournament Battles|website=Comic Book Resources|date=November 8, 2022 |accessdate=December 16, 2022}} Anime News Network favorited Kurama's tactics in the early episodes of the Black Chapter arc for standing out as one of the most intelligent characters.{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/yu-yu-hakusho/dvd|title=Yu Yu Hakusho DVD: Terrible Truths|website=Anime News Network|accessdate=December 16, 2022}} Despite the Three Kings arc being panned for being the series' worst story arc, Anime News Network praised it for exploring more of Kurama's dark characterization.{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/watch/2021-10-15/yu-yu-hakusho-does-it-hold-up/.178487|title=Yu Yu Hakusho: Does it Hold Up?|website=Anime News Network|accessdate=December 16, 2022}} DVD Talk agreed for the bigger focus on Kurama's character that was briefly explored in previous arcs.{{cite web|author=Douglass Jr., Todd|date=May 9, 2006|title=Yu Yu Hakusho - The Saga of the Three Kings|url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/21592/yu-yu-hakusho-the-saga-of-the-three-kings/|publisher=DVD Talk|access-date=December 4, 2009}} Fandom Post liked the balance that both Kurama and Hiei's sidestories bring to Yusuke's in the final arc but felt they were overshadowed by Hiei's side as the series had not properly explored his backstory before.{{cite web|url=https://www.fandompost.com/2011/12/05/yu-yu-hakusho-season-4-complete-collection-blu-ray-anime-review/|title=Yu Yu Hakusho Season 4 Complete Collection Blu-ray Anime Review|website=FandomPost|date=December 5, 2011 |accessdate=December 16, 2022}}

References

=General=

Entire manga

Togashi, Yoshihiro. {{lang|ja|幽☆遊☆白書}} [YuYu Hakusho] (in Japanese). 19 vols. Tokyo: Shueisha, 1991–1994.
Togashi, Yoshihiro. YuYu Hakusho. 19 vols. San Francisco: Viz Media, 2003–2010.

Individual volumes

{{gnn|ref=Goodbye, Material World!. May 2003. {{ISBN|1-56931-904-9}}. and {{lang|ja|さよなら現世！！}} (in Japanese). April 1991. {{ISBN|4-08-871273-0}}.|vol=1|1|2|3|4|5|6|7|8}}
{{gnn|ref=Lonesome Ghosts. November 2003. {{ISBN|1-59116-082-0}}. and {{lang|ja|黄金色のめざめ!!}} (in Japanese). June 1991. {{ISBN|4-08-871274-9}}.|vol=2|9|10|11|12|13|14|15|16|17}}
{{gnn|ref=Spirit Detective. February 2004. {{ISBN|1-59116-183-5}}. and {{lang|ja|魔性の森!!}} (in Japanese). September 1991. {{ISBN|4-08-871275-7}}.|vol=3|18|19|20|21|22|23|24|25|26}}
{{gnn|ref=Training Day. June 2004. {{ISBN|1-59116-325-0}}. and {{lang|ja|妖魔街からの兆戦状!!}} (in Japanese). November 1991. {{ISBN|4-08-871276-5}}.|vol=4|27|28|29|30|31|32|33|34|35}}
{{gnn|ref=Focus Your Mind As One!. October 2004. {{ISBN|978-1-59116-521-7}}. and {{lang|ja|心をひとつに！！}} (in Japanese). March 1992. {{ISBN|4-08-871277-3}}.|vol=5|36|37|38|39|40|41|42|43|44|45}}
{{gnn|ref=The Dark Tournament. February 2005. {{ISBN|1-59116-668-3}}. and {{lang|ja|暗黒武術会開幕！！}} (in Japanese). June 1992. {{ISBN|4-08-871278-1}}.|vol=6|46|47|48|49|50|51|52|53|54|55}}
{{gnn|ref=Knife-Edge Death Match. June 2005. {{ISBN|1-59116-812-0}}. and {{lang|ja|ナイフエッジ・デスマッチ}} (in Japanese). June 1992. {{ISBN|4-08-871279-X}}.|vol=7|56|57|58|59|60|61|62|63|Two Shot}}
{{gnn|ref=Open Your Eyes!!. October 2005. {{ISBN|978-1-4215-0026-3}}. and {{lang|ja|霊丸を越えろ！！}} (in Japanese). October 1992. {{ISBN|4-08-871280-3}}.|vol=8|64|65|66|67|68|69|70|71|72}}
{{gnn|ref=The Huge Ordeal!!. April 2006. {{ISBN|978-1-4215-0278-6}}. and {{lang|ja|最大の試練！！}} (in Japanese). December 1992. {{ISBN|4-08-871515-2}}.|vol=9|73|74|75|76|77|78|79|80|81}}
{{gnn|ref=Unforgivable!!. August 2006. {{ISBN|978-1-4215-0695-1}}. and {{lang|ja|許せない！！}} (in Japanese). February 1993. {{ISBN|4-08-871516-0}}.|vol=10|82|83|84|85|86|87|88|89|90|91}}
{{gnn|ref=Eat or Be Eaten!!. December 2006. {{ISBN|978-1-4215-0696-8}}. and {{lang|ja|喰うか喰われるか！！}} (in Japanese). April 1993. {{ISBN|4-08-871517-9}}.|vol=11|92|93|94|95|96|97|98|99|100}}
{{gnn|ref=The Championship Match Begins!!. May 2007. {{ISBN|1-4215-1118-5}}. and {{lang|ja|決定戦開始!!}} (in Japanese). June 1993. {{ISBN|4-08-871518-7}}.|vol=12|101|102|103|104|105|106|107|108|109}}
{{gnn|ref=The Executors of a Dying Wish!. October 2007. {{ISBN|1-4215-1119-3}}. and {{lang|ja|遺志を継ぐ奴等！！}} (in Japanese). August 1993. {{ISBN|4-08-871519-5}}.|vol=13|110|111|112|113|114|115|116|117|118}}
{{gnn|ref=A Bloody Past!!. February 2008. {{ISBN|1-4215-1120-7}}. and {{lang|ja|血塗られた過去！！}} (in Japanese). October 1993. {{ISBN|4-08-871520-9}}.|vol=14|119|120|121|122|123|124|125|126|127|128}}
{{gnn|ref=Standoff at the Eleventh Hour!!. July 2008. {{ISBN|1-4215-1516-4}}. and {{lang|ja|瀬戸際の対峙！！}} (in Japanese). December 1993. {{ISBN|4-08-871521-7}}.|vol=15|129|130|131|132|133|134|135|136|137|138}}
{{gnn|ref=Breaking Into Makai. December 2008. {{ISBN|978-1-4215-1517-5}}. and {{lang|ja|魔界への突入！！}} (in Japanese). March 1994. {{ISBN|4-08-871522-5}}.|vol=16|139|140|141|142|143|144|145|146|147|148}}
{{gnn|ref=Separate Choices. May 2009. {{ISBN|978-1-4215-2448-1}}. and {{lang|ja|それぞれの決心！！}} (in Japanese). June 1994. {{ISBN|4-08-871523-3}}.|vol=17|149|150|151|152|153|154|155|156|157|158}}
{{gnn|ref=The Makai Tournament. October 2009. {{ISBN|978-1-4215-2449-8}}. and {{lang|ja|魔界統一トーナメント}} (in Japanese). September 1994. {{ISBN|4-08-871524-1}}.|vol=18|159|160|161|162|163|164|165|166|167}}
{{gnn|ref=And So.... March 2010. {{ISBN|978-1-4215-2450-4}}. and {{lang|ja|それから・・・}} (in Japanese). December 1994. {{ISBN|4-08-871525-X}}.|vol=19|168|169|170|171|172|173|174|175}}