Yu Yu Hakusho live-action adaptation: Cast & characters

Netflix’s highly anticipated live-action adaptation of Yu Yu Hakusho has finally arrived, bringing to life the beloved characters from the manga. In this article, we will discuss the main characters and the talented cast involved in the new series.

Yu Yu Hakusho is a renowned Shonen series that has paved the way for many of the current anime and manga. Despite the series concluding decades ago, it continues to be celebrated as a masterpiece. Therefore, it’s no wonder that the announcement of Netflix’s live-action adaptation was met with great excitement from fans.

Just as One Piece's live-action series pleasantly surprised fans, so too did Yu Yu Hakusho. Although the story was condensed into five episodes, the impressive martial arts sequences captivated viewers. However, it was the talented cast that truly contributed to the success of the Netflix series, showcasing their excellence in bringing the beloved characters to life.

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Yu Yu Hakusho Netflix cast and characters

Find below the complete live-action cast of Yu Yu Hakusho on Netflix.

The official summary states: "Adapted from the iconic manga by Yoshihiro Togashi, which was serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump for four years starting in 1990 and published by Shueisha, the plot centers on Yusuke Urameshi. He spends his days engaging in fights and eventually dies in an accident while attempting to save a young child.

Yusuke Urameshi: Takumi Kitamura

Upon realizing that he is observing his own lifeless body, he is approached by a woman named Botan, who identifies herself as a guide to the spirit world. She delivers the startling revelation that no one anticipated a troublemaker like Yusuke to perish while performing a selfless deed, and as a result, there was no place for him in either heaven or hell. Consequently, Yusuke is presented with the opportunity to be resurrected, and after successfully completing his trial, he is reborn as an Underworld Detective. This sets off a chain of events in which Yusuke becomes intricately involved in a mystery that spans across the human, demon, and spirit realms.

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Yusuke Urameshi is the central character in Yu Yu Hakusho. He is a troublemaker who frequently finds himself in fights. His life takes a dramatic turn when he sacrifices himself to save a child and is killed by a truck. Urameshi is brought back to life by Koenma, the ruler of the afterlife, but this time as a spirit detective with a range of new powers and abilities that make him much stronger than before.

Initially portrayed as a loner with a bold and impulsive attitude, Urameshi undergoes a positive transformation as the series progresses, showing newfound compassion toward others.

In the live-action adaptation of Yu Yu Hakusho, Takumi Kitamura effortlessly steps into the role of Yusuke Urameshi, embodying the character with an authenticity that is hard to match. Known for his role in the live-action adaptation of Tokyo Revengers, the 26-year-old actor and singer has proven his versatility in bringing beloved anime characters to life on screen.

Kazuma Kuwabara: Shuhei Uesugi

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From the moment Kazuma Kuwabara first appeared in Yu Yu Hakusho, he didn't make a good impression on the fandom due to his constant calls for a fight with Yusuke. Initially seen as Yusuke's rival, he later became one of Yusuke's closest allies as the story progressed. Despite appearing as a bully at first, it became evident over time that Kuwabara had a kind heart and couldn't stand to see anyone in trouble.

In addition to his compassionate nature, Kuwabara also possessed an inner spirituality that allowed him to perceive things that others couldn't. For example, when Botan appeared to meet Yusuke after resurrecting him, Kuwabara was the only one who could see her.

Kuwabara’s role is played by Shuhei Uesugi, who is recognized for his portrayals in One Night Morning, You Made My Dawn, and more.

Kurama: Jun Shison

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Kurama, a fox demon, once led a band of bandits in his previous life. When he was on the brink of death in a duel, he took over the body of a human fetus, assuming a new identity. Initially distrusted due to his past actions, Kurama ultimately became the first Yokai to show compassion towards humans. Despite possessing the Mirror of Darkness, which could grant him any desire, he chose to use its power to save his mother.

Kurama is portrayed by Jun Shion, who is known for his appearance in Ressha Sentai ToQger.

Hiei: Kanata Hongo

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When Hiei first appeared in Yu Yu Hakusho, it seemed like he would be a villain that Yusuke would defeat. However, the truth was quite different. Despite being a Yokai from the spirit world, Hiei ends up teaming up with the main characters to battle against his own kind.

Hiei's right hand has been consistently bandaged since the beginning, as a result of holding the Dragon of the Darkness Flame during a battle with Bui. The dragon tattoo caused lasting burns on his hand. In the live-action adaptation of Yu Yu Hakusho, Hiei is portrayed by Kanata Hongo, an actor with previous experience in films, music videos, and TV shows.

Koenma: Keita Machida

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Koenma serves as the authority figure in the Spirit world. After Yusuke's death in a car accident, Koenma chooses to return his soul to the human world as a spirit investigator. In the manga and anime, Koenma first appears as a toddler, but the live-action adaptation shows him in his adult form from the beginning. Notably, Keita Machida, who portrayed Karube in Alice in Borderland, also plays Koenma in the Netflix series Yu Yu Hakusho.

Botan: Kotone Furukawa

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Botan serves as Koenma’s assistant, responsible for guiding souls. She first appears in front of Yusuke when he is grappling with accepting his own death. Botan provides Yusuke with valuable insight into Yokai’s origins and teaches him how to use the spirit gun against them. She also intervenes to save Keiko’s life when Hiei tries to turn her into a demon. However, the first season of the live-action adaptation of Yu Yu Hakusho did not cover this part of the story.

In the screen adaptation, the role of Botan is portrayed by Kotone Furukawa, known for her work on NHK’s TV show Yell.

Keiko: Sei Shiraishi

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Keiko is Yusuke’s childhood friend and is often seen arguing with him whenever he gets into unnecessary fights. She was deeply affected by his death, much like his mother. In the anime and manga, Yusuke tries to communicate with Keiko several times, even possessing Kuwabara’s body temporarily to ask for her help in stopping his mother from burying his body. However, in the live-action series, these events were skipped, and the story jumped right to the part where Keiko was willing to sacrifice herself to save Yusuke's body from a burning house.

Keiko is played by Sei Shirashi, who appeared in I’s and Prince of Legend previously.

Genkai: Meiko Kaji

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Yusuke received his powers from Koenma, but they were only useful after Botan brought him to Genkai for training. Kuwabara joined them for the training. After completing the training, Genkai passed on her Orb to Yusuke to help him combat Yokai more effectively. In the live-action adaptation, the character's fate was unjustly different, being killed by Toguro prematurely. In the anime and manga, however, Genkai made a significant appearance and actively participated in the Dark Tournament.

Genkai’s role has been played by Meiko Kaji, who has been in the industry since 1960 and has blessed the community with more than 100 films/TV series to date.

Younger Toguro: Go Ayano

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The main antagonist in Yu Yu Hakusho is Younger Toguro, a mercenary who serves Sakyo, a powerful member of a criminal organization. Originally a human with aspirations of becoming a formidable martial artist, Toguro's mind became corrupted, leading him to choose to become a Yokai. His older brother supported his decision and also became a Yokai.

The first confrontation between Younger Toguro and Yusuke in the anime and manga did not result in Younger Toguro's death. It was during the Dark Tournament that Yusuke killed Younger Toguro. However, in the live-action adaptation, Yusuke forces the antagonist to use all his strength at once, ultimately leading to his demise.

Go Ayano, known for his work in various movies and TV shows, portrayed Younger Toguro in the Netflix adaptation of Yu Yu Hakusho.

Yukina: Ai Mikami

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Yukina is Hiei’s sister who has been separated from him for a long time and does not recognize her brother. Hiei keeps his identity hidden from her in order to keep her safe from his enemies. Yukina, who is also a Yokai, has the ability to turn her tears into pearls, making her a target for those seeking wealth. The character of Yukina is portrayed by Ai Mikami, known for her supporting roles in various productions since her debut.

That’s everyone in Netflix’s Yu Yu Hakusho cast. Check out our breakdown of the show’s ending here.

Editor's P/S

As an enthusiastic fan of the Yu Yu Hakusho manga and anime, I was thrilled to hear about the live-action adaptation on Netflix. The series holds a special place in my heart, and I was eager to see how the beloved characters would be brought to life on screen.

The casting choices for the main characters were spot-on, and the actors did an incredible job of capturing the essence of each character. Takumi Kitamura's portrayal of Yusuke Urameshi was particularly impressive, as he perfectly embodied the character's rebellious nature and inner strength. The fight scenes were also well-executed, showcasing the characters' unique abilities and powers.