Yu Yu Hakusho Shinto Case Study
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This document provides a summary of characters and themes in the anime series Yu Yu Hakusho through a Shinto lens. Key points include: 1) Main characters like Yusuke and Kuwabara undergo trials of rebirth, initiation and austerities as they develop their spiritual powers. 2) Recurring motifs involve parasites and bugs, with characters sometimes taking the form of or battling insect-like demons. 3) Spirit worlds are depicted as ambiguous realms connected to the human world, with borders that can be crossed through astral travel or possession.
![Imperial Regalia-Sword, mirror and jewel as the Artifacts of Darkness-Mirror = Forlorn Hope: grants the heart’s strongest desire at the cost of the user’s life-Sword = Shadow Sword: any human cut with it turns into a demon; the antidote is in the hilt-Jewel = Orb of Baast: removes the souls of humans; only children in the series [making its wielder a tengu]](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/yyhcasestudy-101215180110-phpapp02/85/Yu-Yu-Hakusho-Shinto-Case-Study-10-320.jpg)
Yu Yu Hakusho Shinto Case Study
- 1. Yu YuHakushoA Shinto Case Study
- 2. Yusuke Urameshi-Impurity: the series begins with his death-Norinaga: “bad people will do a good deed”-As a ghost: possession, invading dreams-As a shaman: trials include rebirth, initiation and austerities-Bugs: Puu as a parasite, leeching energy-Spirit energy as a bird = after death, souls become birds
- 3. KazumaKuwabara-As a shaman: is possessed, faces onryo, knows animal spirits-Purification through austerities: seeks Genkai’s training, thinks he must inhale a defeated opponent’s fumes to regain balance-Bugs: caterpillar and the elder Toguro (a parasite or leech)-“A mulberry is a tree, Kuwabara is a man”
- 4. Kurama + Yoko-Kurama as a plague deity: red; name translates to “kept horse” (connection to horses); parasite-Bugs: is a parasite to a human fetus, family plagued by parasite demons- step-brother host to a parasite demon-Yoko as Inari: spirit fox, mischievous/tricky thief of artifacts and knowledge, clothed in white (rice, sake), dominion over plants (agriculture)
- 5. Hiei-As the Leech Child: monstrous birth; cast off and vowed to return to take revenge; never actually appeased-His mother as Izanami: dies after giving birth to a being of fire-Snakes: Dragon of the Darkness Flame-Imperial Regalia: wields the Shadow Sword; tail of the dragon/IS the dragon
- 6. Genkai-As a sanjin: lives in a mountaintop temple, reverts to a younger self when fighting, dies but is brought back (immortality), trains others through austerities-As a shamaness: able to communicate with other worlds and nature, is able to transfer her spirit to/possess Puu
- 7. Yomi-Blindness, suggests darkness-His aides are old = hags-Punishment chambers full of decay-Shura the test tube baby: creates a child without a woman
- 8. UraUrashima + KuromomotaroAs UrashimataroAs Momotaro-Carries fishing pole, box of aging smoke-Companions as beast armor: of the ape, the phoenix and the wolf-Smoke makes those who inhale it younger, not older as in the tale(versus monkey/parrot/dog)
- 9. Other Worlds-Heavenly realm, Worldly realm, Underworld versus Spirit world, Human world, Demon world-Afterlife shown as ambiguous; either in the sky or underwater-Netherworld of the movie-Connected by the River Styx and pseudo space-Separated by the kekkai
- 10. Imperial Regalia-Sword, mirror and jewel as the Artifacts of Darkness-Mirror = Forlorn Hope: grants the heart’s strongest desire at the cost of the user’s life-Sword = Shadow Sword: any human cut with it turns into a demon; the antidote is in the hilt-Jewel = Orb of Baast: removes the souls of humans; only children in the series [making its wielder a tengu]
- 11. Bugs-Makai insects controlled by a flute; a parasite to humans, turning them into zombies-Cousins of the makai invade Mushiyori city-The Doctor’s psychic insects that inject humans with a disease fatal within minutes-Mukuro’s mobile fortress Mukada shaped like a beetle-Personal experience: Near Hirakatashi station: licked by a butterfly; attacked by mosquitoes only until using the purification fountain
- 12. Yokai-Tournament spectators human-form with animal/grotesque traits, leave a carnival feeling-Koenma’s helpers: multi-colored, loincloth-clad ogres/oni-Yusuke as a yokai: suggesting a balance between human and demon in the world