Yu Yu Hakusho

Yoshihiro Togashi launched Yu Yu Hakusho in December 1990, filling the pages of Weekly Shōnen Jump with a story that blended delinquent drama with supernatural horror. The narrative centers on Yusuke Urameshi, a troubled teen who dies saving a child from an oncoming car. Instead of moving on, Yusuke faces Koenma, the prince of the afterlife, and earns a second chance as an Underworld Detective. This role forces him to hunt demons in the human realm while navigating high-stakes martial arts tournaments that define the series later on. The original run concluded in July 1994 after 175 chapters collected into 19 volumes. Togashi drew inspiration from Buddhist mythology and classic horror films to build this world. Viz Media brought the English version to North America between 2003 and 2010, introducing millions of new readers to the saga. The franchise expanded quickly with a 112-episode anime series produced by Studio Pierrot, two theatrical films, and various video games. By the time the manga ended, it had already secured a spot among the best-selling series ever, moving over 50 million copies globally. The work also earned the 39th Shogakukan Manga Award for the shōnen category in 1993.[edit]