Hello! This is a sideblog for tumblr user kittylurks to ramble all her hunter x hunter thoughts. This blog will probably only be used when a new chapter comes out/an episode airs, or I am feeling unusually chatty. All spoilers will be tagged with #hxh spoilers, but i might forget to distinguish between anime and manga spoilers. Best not to follow unless you're completely caught up.
now that hxh is officially coming back here's my attempt to count how many plots are going on at once right now
a plot: the kakin royal family, joined by beyond netero, has chartered an expedition to the forbidden dark continent on a huge whale ship with thousands of civilians. the hunter association signed on to join with the plan of actually sending the ship to a fake “new continent”, dropping off the family and civilians there, and then continuing to the real continent. the problem is the king of kakin is also using this expedition to force his fourteen (legitimate) children into a death match, with the survivor as heir
b plot: kurapika has discovered that kakin’s fourth prince tserriednich is in possession of the remaining scarlet eyes and, in order to get close to him, has signed on as a bodyguard to the fourteenth prince, baby woble, and her mom queen oito. as it turns out all the princes have autonomous nen beasts so this is a more complicated job than it looks. by which i mean at one point he gave up a substantial part of his life to possess a cockroach
c plot: to get more specific, kurapika has been trying to keep the peace by inviting the servants and bodyguards of the other princes to come to nen classes taught by him (read: he and fellow bodyguard bill are just forcibly opening their nen abilities), but a mysterious nen construct called “silent majority” killed most of woble’s other servants and now keeps killing people in the classes. there are apparently multiple people who can use nen in the classes already and who are mostly not telling him.
d plot: the three big mafia families of kakin (the hei-ly, xi-yu and cha-r) have been invited onto the ship mostly because their leaders are all illegitimately related to the king and been told to not cause any trouble…but the king’s illegitimate daughter morena, the new leader of the hei-ly and certified #gamergirl, actively wants to the destroy the world and is breaking the peace by spreading nen to her followers using her ability and letting them gain “levels” by killing people on the ship.
e plot: the phantom troupe has shown up knowing that hisoka will have followed them here and are trying to track him down and kill him. they’ve split into groups and the only group we’ve followed- phinks, feitan and nobunaga- have teamed up with the xi-yu and cha-r to deal with both hisoka and morena. during this we get an extended flashback about how the phantom troupe used to be tween anime dubbers and originally became criminals to track down those who killed their friend.
f plot: unbeknownst to the phantom troupe, the xi-yu’s underboss hinrigh has already met with hisoka (or at least someone who looks a lot like him) and given him a passage to the top level, where the royal family is, because the mafia knows a fight against hisoka will be more trouble than it’s worth while also trying to stop morena. in other words: hisoka is going to where kurapika is
g plot: tserriednich, the previously mentioned guy with the eyes, is also a misogynist serial killer and has gotten interested in nen, so his bodyguard theta has decided to teach him nen herself in order to slow him down and potentially stop him. unfortunately he’s a nen genius and has already developed an ability that lets him see into the future and overwrite reality by reacting accordingly, which he used to get out of theta shooting him. his nen beast has now marked theta for lying to him twice and will make her “no longer human” if she lies a third time.
h plot: melody, hired to be here by kurapika, attempted to sneak the teenage twin tenth and eleven princes off the ship only for the tenth prince (and the other hunter she was working with) to be killed, revealing the princes cannot leave the ship. thankfully the tenth prince kacho’s nen beast is basically her ghost. melody is now likely going to have to deal with an investigation into her actions and has also noticed that eleventh prince fugetsu is rapidly having her nen depleted. kaiser, a member of the justice bureau, claims to have fallen in love with melody after she performed her music for the ship and intends to help her, but melody doesn’t trust him and thinks he’s using manipulation nen on himself. oh and a large amount of the princes have invited her to perform for them, including tserriednich.
i plot: first prince benjamin, a nen user, has control of the military and has used his customary status as firstborn to send one of his guards to each of his younger siblings, which in at least one case led to a successful kill (the eighth prince). he’s in lockdown currently however because second prince camilla, also a nen user with an extremely powerful ability that seems to prevent her from being killed, attempted to kill him herself, and the justice bureau on the ship is trying to figure out who started what.
j plot: camilla has a group of ultra-loyal guards from the lower caste who have developed nen curses to kill her siblings in exchange for their own deaths. their captain, sarahell, has been developing a curse on woble and intends to attend kurapika’s class to deploy it.
k plot: ninth prince halkenburg, a baby marxist who progressive civilians and the younger princes both see as a potential savior, tried to kill his father and then himself after the first death in the succession battle and got stopped by nen beasts both times. he has responded to this by going apeshit and developing an ability that appears to allow him to put the souls of his guards into other people. his testing of this involved having one of his men shoot himself while in the body of one of benjamin’s men, so benjamin has him arrested now too.
l plot: third prince zhang-li’s nen beast is dispensing mysterious coins and zhang-li is dispensing said coins amongst his guards as well as to melody, whose performance he liked. zhang-li also appears to be hiding that he’s actually the son of the king’s illegitimate half-brother onior, the head of the xi-yu, who he’s asked to look into the last succession battle.
m plot: hanzo and bisky, also hired to be here by kurapika, were working as bodyguards for the twelfth and thirteenth princes until the twelfth prince was the first death of the war. the kindergarten-aged thirteenth prince’s stress in response to his sister dying now appears to have led his nen beast to trap their group in some sort of reality bubble. bisky had to reveal her battle form to head servant vergei to explain nen and what was happening, which has mostly just led to vergei getting a mad crush on her.
n plot: izunavi and basho are also here on kurapika’s behest guarding the sixth and seventh princes, who both have not done much yet; sixth prince tyson has a mysterious religious creed that izunavi has convinced her to pass onto her father and seventh prince luzurus mostly likes to smoke weed everyday but seems surprisingly perceptive and, more importantly, apparently funds the cha-r.
o plot: despite being a deranged maniac, tserriednich has a group of childhood friends working fairly standard military guard positions on the lower floors; they’re trying to find out more about nen after picking up that the hei-ly, which tserriednich was allied with before morena took over, are using it.
p plot: fifth prince tubeppa, aware she has few allies and little knowledge of nen, has been trying to meet with kurapika for a while. the literal last thing teased before this hiatus was her bodyguard longhi revealing to kurapika that she knows nen and kurapika agreeing to meet with tubeppa.
q plot: the rest of the phantom troupe has split off: machi and franklin are both on their own (but nobunaga wants to go get franklin), chrollo is making a plan with shizuku and bonolenov that appears to involve a disguise ability bono has, and illumi joined the troupe on hisoka’s request so they could have a yaoi death battle and is with kalluto. speaking of which:
r plot: mizai ran into illumi and kalluto and has them staying in a room in the quarters the zodiacs are using. he’s currently trying to figure out whether he should be telling kurapika the troupe is on the ship or not, knowing it could risk the well-being of both woble and kurapika himself. (he also secretly gave melody clearance to try to save the twins.)
s plot: beyond netero is still in lock up and being watched by members of the zodiacs. he hasn’t done anything yet, but it has been implied he’ll try to escape at the fake “dark continent.”
t plot: ging and pariston have a group allied with beyond who are going to the dark continent themselves; ging joined because he knows pariston must be up to something. it remains ambiguous whether they have their own boat or are on the whale somewhere.
u plot: leorio and cheadle are working at an understaffed clinic near the zodiac headquarters, meaning that once again Leorio Is Just Offscreen
v plot: a random member of the cha-r is trying to get the autographs of the phantom troupe members. this has been used to dispense plot info about how far we are from being out of contact with land. pray for his success
The bonus story published in the last volume of YYH bunkoban edition in 2011. Apparently, Togashi is done with the series!
Scans by: 旅行的纸片
“Thank you for reading!” from Prof. Yoshihiro Togashi. A newly-written transcendent manga.
The bunko edition of “Yu Yu Hakusho” is finally completed. From enthusiastic old fans and also new fans, there are hot letters one after another!!
—————————————————————————————————-
“I purchased volume 11 of "Yu Yu Hakusho” bunko edition. I saw the 4-koma at the end of it for the first time. It was very interesting! I was excited to know that it was a request from the readers. I’m glad that an interview with Mari Kitayama (anime’s character designer) was also published. What extras will be added to this final volume? Now, I’m looking forward to it. It may be greedy, but I’d like to see more of Prof. Togashi’s manga. (Omitted) Thank you, from an enthusiastic fan for 17 years.“ - (the first email of a 25-year-old woman that arrived immediately after the release)
—————————————————————————————————-
So, in response to your wishes…from Yoshihiro Togashi-sensei, a “newly-drawn manga” was received to express the gratitude to all the fans!
Yusuke, Kurama, Hiei, (little bit of Kuwabara) enlightening message!!
PLEASE, ENJOY IT CAREFULLY.
Yusuke finds a bloody Keiko lying on the floor. Someone starts to introduce himself politely:
- I’m Togashi.
- For your honorable purchase and reading…
Panda (Togashi): - THANK YOU VERY MUCH INDEED.
The kanji on his belly 凶 (kyou) means villain, evil.
Panda/Togashi: - This work is like a painting of youth’s foolishness. For that reason, I’m very attached to it. Don’t forget the feelings of those heated days.
Panda/Togashi: - From now on, I will continue to draw. Please, read if you feel like it.
Kuwabara: - Well…
END (完)
Note: “I’ll continue to draw” and “read if you feel like it” are allusions to Hunter x Hunter as it has been serialized since 1998 and this bonus was published in 2011 during the final events of the Chimera Ants Arc. The forgotten Kuwabara is probably a joke, because he was left aside from the Three Kings Arc.
Togashi’s panda disguise may be a reference to Man Gataro’s series, "Chin'yuki 2” (珍遊記2), released in 2010. The protagonist, Taro Yamada, is a fan of the fictional manga “Panda Panda”, serialized in “Shounen Chimp” whose author is a popular mangaka with an A-class manga artist license. It’s a joke with HxH, Shounen JUMP, the hunter license and the fact Togashi is an A-list mangaka. A panda can also be seen in HxH seated in Ging’s place whenever he skips a meeting.
I went to the Togashi Exhibition in Tokyo last Friday and it was absolutely incredible! It was much more extensive than I expected and it had so, so many original pages of iconic moments. It was stunning to see them right in front of me!! I'm incredibly grateful I was able to go.
It truly drove home what a masterful artist and storyteller Togashi is, seeing so many of his works side by side. We ended up having to rush a bit towards the end because there was so much more than either of us expected and it was easy to spend ages staring at each page in awe!
Pictures weren't allowed at the majority of the Exhibition, hence why there are so few, but I took a bunch of pictures at the Pieces Café to share.
I'm happy we got the Gon/Killua AND Kurama/Hiei tables at the cafe! I spent a slightly silly amount on food and drinks, but no regrets.
Looking at the originals of the pages was just incredible, it deepened my already intense love of Togashi's works and storytelling. I also loved the little info blurbs, which confirmed a lot of Togashi's storytelling quirks and preferences that I had already noticed by examining his series carefully. And the new info about nen was super interesting! (This info was also included in the Exhibition guidebook, scans have been floating around Twitter but I'll try to share that here as well when I have time.)
I'm so glad I was able to come when the Exhibition was running, it was a joy and an honor to see. I only wish I could go again!!!
The HxH music video I posted about the other day is officially up!
It has a Killua focus, particularly his journey in the last few arcs. It's shorter and more bittersweet than I expected, but I love it! The animation effects are cool and I love how it ends (it shows the quotes from the Greed Island "Gon, I should thank you. I'm the one who is glad to have met you…" scene) 😭 I keep watching it over and over…
As I said in the other post, Togashi is a huge fan of the group who did the music, so I'm really happy for him that his work got an official crossover with them (the original music video for the song is also pretty cool IMHO!).
Yoshihiro Togashi Exhibition Osaka Venue x CAFE Lab.
A collaboration between "Yoshihiro Togashi Exhibition -PUZZLE-" with "CAFE Lab." has been announced. A total of 9 dishes and drinks from Togashi's 3 works, "Yu Yu Hakusho", "Level E" and "HUNTER x HUNTER", will be served at the cafe adjacent to the exhibition hall. Customers who order from the collaboration menu will also receive an original coaster at random for each item ordered.
I thought they would keep the same menu from the Tokyo Venue "Pieces Cafe", but it is a brand new one. Let's check the Yu Yu Hakusho food (dish, dessert and drink):
Kurama VS Karasu Beautiful Pasta (comes with "treatment" oil)
Price: 1,650 yen
A pasta that will allow you to enjoy two flavors in one dish. Kurama's side is made of beet cream, and Karasu's side is squid ink (ikasumi). You can also drizzle olive oil to complete the dish.
This dish is inspired by Karasu's line to Kurama, when he asked him if he was treating his hair. It comes with a card of that scene. The optional "treatment" oil is also a joke, it's actually olive oil :P
Yusuke and Keiko's "And So..." Cheesecake
Price: 1,650 yen including tax
Inspired by Yu Yu Hakusho's last chapter, Act 175. "And So…" (Sore kara…), the final scene on the beach was made into a dessert. The orange sauce is like the beach at sunset, with two kinds of cheesecake (Matcha Basque & NY Style), and ice cream of Keiko's "favorite color".
If you guys remember the last chapter of the manga, Yusuke pressed the blue button, because it was Keiko's favorite color.
Hiei and Yukina's Hiruseki Stone Bond Lychee Soda
Price: 1,100 yen (1,080 yen take-out)
A lychee-flavored soda inspired by the siblings, Hiei and Yukina, who were born in the Glacier Country. The icon is a shiratama dango that resembles the ice tears (hiruseki), and lemon-flavored jelly is added for an icy and refreshing finish.
I love the card that comes with the drink. It's the scene when Hiei saved Yukina at the end of the Dark Tournament. In the back, Kuwabara is pissed XD.
Original Coaster
Customers who order from the collaboration menu will also receive one of the 3 original coasters at random for each item ordered.
Source: Q&A from V-JUMP magazine (October issue, 1993).
I've already posted this question about Kurama using other plants as weapons, but it's always great to remember how scary Kurama is. I also like that it was Togashi himself who answered that question, and how he acknowledged Kurama might be the strongest.
Kurama is too cute denying he would be capricious and kill everyone with cedar pollen. He would never do such a thing ♡
I would like to make a summary of Togashi's Exhibition that is currently taking place at the Mori Arts Center Gallery located on the 52nd floor of Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, in Tokyo, from October 28, 2022 to January 9, 2023. After that, it will head to Osaka in Summer 2023 and to Fukuoka from Autumn 2023 to Winter 2024.
Since photos are not allowed in the venue, I will be using photos from the press and from the official catalog to illustrate my review. I focused more on the Yu Yu Hakusho Area.
The press had access to the exhibition one day before the official opening to the public. Even though photos are forbidden, you can buy the exhibition catalog at the official store. It contains the manuscripts, storyboards, original illustrations, and other exclusive materials displayed at Puzzle.
If you type "富樫義博展" (Yoshihiro Togashi Exhibition) on YouTube, you will also find good coverage from the media that will provide you with a general view of the place.
Before entering the exhibition, you can rent for 700 yen a 30-min audio guide voiced by the comedian Bakarhythm and voice actor Daisuke Namikawa (Hisoka and Prince Baka VA).
Bakarhythm is the navigator, and Daisuke is the commentary narrator. The guide includes a quiz, if you solve it correctly, you will hear a message from Hisoka.
The Exhibition consists of more than 350 original drawings distributed in 6 different spaces, plus an official shop.
Prologue
Area 01. Yu Yu Hakusho
Area 02. Level E
Area 03. HunterxHunter
Area 04. World of Strange Creatures
Area 05. Yoshihiro Togashi
Shop
This little map that comes with the audio guide may help you visualize the exhibition layout. The numbers 1 to 14 are also the spots where you can hear Bakarhythm or Daisuke Namikawa talk.
The areas have information panels with explanatory text and english translation. As english is not available in the official catalog, I tried to take notes and copy some of the explanations.
"Prologue"
This space is basically a hallway to welcome the visitors. It introduces the author and the concept of the exhibition: "Puzzle". Several characters from all his works are displayed as puzzle pieces in the walls and hanging from the ceiling, inviting everyone to join the wonderful world of Yoshihiro Togashi.
As soon as you enter the Prologue area, there is a black panel with a greeting from the organizers and Togashi's basic profile:
Profile
Yoshihiro Togashi was born in Shinjo, Yamagata in 1966. In 1987, his one-shot story Tonda Birthday Present was published in the Weekly Shounen Jump Special Edition Winter Special. In 1989, he made his debut as a serial manga artist with Ten de Showaru Cupid, which was published in Weekly Shounen Jump. Following the huge success of his second series, Yu Yu Hakusho (1990-1994), he became one of Weekly Shounen Jump's leading manga artists and went on to publish Level E (1995-1996) and HunterxHunter (1998-present) in Weekly Shounen Jump. Fans of all ages praises his captivating, skillful artwork.
There's also a handwritten greeting from the author himself. Photos are not allowed, but luckily, his greeting is included in the official catalog (scan by: @Vishkujo)
Greeting
Expression of Gratitude
I would like to sincerely thank you for visiting the Yoshihiro Togashi Exhibition -PUZZLE-.
I hope everyone enjoys the various displays and information that are only available here.
My progress is slow due to health reasons, but I intend to continue leaving new footprints.
Next to his dog avatar, there's a haiku poetry. I tried to follow the haiku syllable rule of 5-7-5 for each line.
Tip of my dip pen
When it severs the sound is like
That of my lower back
- Yoshihiro Togashi
And next to Togashi's hips, there's the onomatopoeia "guki" (グキッ), which is the cracking sound of the joints. *crack*
Still in the "Prologue", right before reaching the YYH area, there's an explanation about the "Exhibition Concept".
Togashi's works stand out in terms of "character," "setting," "depiction," and "story," all important elements in the creation of a manga. So, in order to gain a deeper understand of the charm of his series (YYH, Level E and HxH), the exhibition is focused on these 4 points:
Character
Story
Setting
Depiction
Each series also has a fifth point called "special piece", a singularity that is particular to each one. I'll talk more about them later, but they are called:
Yu Yu Hakusho: Punch Line
Level E: An Unexpected Development
Hunter x Hunter: Nen
The handwritten manuscripts are undoubtedly a piece of the puzzle that Togashi-sensei continues to create. The idea is that you appreciate all the precious original drawings, while having in mind the five points and the thought process that goes into the completion of each piece.
After you leave the "Prologue", you will arrive at Area 01 dedicated to "Yu Yu Hakusho".
The 3 main areas "Yu Yu Hakusho", "Level E" and "HxH" begin with general information, including: serialization period in the Weekly Shounen Jump, number of chapters, copies sold, and Togashi's first comment in the Table of Contents.
Area 01. "Yu Yu Hakusho"
Serialization Period: November 20, 1990 (Weekly Shounen Jump 51, 1990) to July 12, 1994 (Weekly Shounen Jump32, 1994). 175 chapters in total.
Series cumulative circulation (including digital editions): more than 50 million (as of September 2022)
Comment at the start of the series: "I went back to the basics and started drawing. I aim to create a story that I myself am satisfied with. I'm hoping for you support." (Yoshihiro)
If you are interested in Togashi's comments from all the 175 chapters, please have a look on my translations: Togashi’s Comments from the Table of Contents (1990-1994)
As introduced in the Prologue, Yu Yu Hakusho is explained and detailed in four topics: Character, Setting, Story and Depiction.
There is also an Introduction section that shows a synopsis of YYH, some colored manuscripts, the cover of the WSJ#51 1990, and an explanation about the production background and how Togashi came up with the name "Yu Yu Hakusho". Actually, it's the same explanation found in the volume 6 of HxH, end of chapter 46.
Synopsis
"One day, a delinquent junior high school student called Yusuke Urameshi dies saving a child in a traffic accident. It was an unplanned event in the Spirit World. The Spirit World gives Yusuke a trial and after he passes it, they bring him back to life as a special exception. Thus, after becoming a Spirit Detective by order of Great King Emma's son, Koenma, Yusuke joins powerful companions and begins a life of fierce battles against demons."
An interesting panel also talks about his influences.
Influenced Works
"When interviewed in 2003, he said that he was influenced by H. R. Giger, who designed the alien in the 1979 movie Alien (directed by Ridley Scott). He has also stated in the first volume of Ten de Shouwaru Cupid that if he were to choose just one manga work as his favorite, he would pick The Drifting Classroom by Umezu Kazuo."
Then, we learn more about the characters, setting, story and depiction.
An informative panel introduces the characters:
Character
"There's the delinquent but hot-blooded Yusuke, the chivalrous Kuwabara, the clever Kurama, and the always cool-headed Hiei. With these four at the center, even the enemies have attracted zealous fans, and their popularity has spread to readers of all walks of life around the world. The characters' ranges are broadened by the dissonance between facial expressions that are drawn with a dramatic touch despite their caricature-like look, as well as the dissonance created by words and actions that occasionally provide comic relief in the midst of serious developments, which have heightened the appeal of the work."
There's a colored manuscript of Yusuke facing Toguro after Kuwabara's "death", and an explanatory text:
Yusuke Urameshi
"Until this point, Yusuke had been enjoying fighting to some degree. That's when Younger Toguro takes Kuwabara's life (his death is actually temporary) in order to draw out Yusuke's power at the Dark Tournament. Unable to forgive himself, the soft, clear eyes of Yusuke as he stands up are enough to convey to the reader a change in his Spirit Energy and a sudden strengthening of his power."
Then, following this "Character" wall, we learn more about the other main characters of YYH. Kuwabara's highlight is the storyboard of chapter 36 (Byakko's Battle Roar!!) when he fights Byakko's beasts.
The Storyboard for Chapter 36
"The storyboard of an early work that was specially provided for this exhibition as a valuable material of the time. Chapter 36 depicts Kuwabara's battle strategy of using his Spirit Sword to skewer the beasts unleashed by Byakko, which is shocking even for Hiei."
I like that the explanatory texts also include some Togashi's comments taken from interviews and the "Yu Yu Hakusho Official Characters Book".
For example, they mentioned that Hiei wasn't supposed to become an ally, like Kurama, but it was Togashi's editor at the time who suggested it (Togashi mentioned that in a interview with Kishimoto to JUMP GIGA, 2016). A colored manuscript of the second popularity poll is also displayed with a note saying that Hiei won first place twice during the serialization. It's not mentioned, but after the serialization, there was a third poll in WSJ, and Hiei got first place again.
Other interesting comments taken from the official databook (2005) and "Yoshirin de Pon!" (1994) also appear. Kurama and Hiei weren't named after the mountains in Kyoto, but Togashi came up with their names by himself. Shuuichi's family name "Minamino" comes from celebrity Youko Minamino, and Hiei's model is Skunky from "Patalliro!". If you're interested, I made a post once of Togashi's comments about Hiei and Kurama.
Another example is the text about Toguro in the "Story" section:
Younger Toguro
"In the series, Koenma speculates that Younger Toguro's relentless pursuit of strength was based on his anger at his former powerlessness and his need to redeem himself for his friends. However, Mr. Togashi tell us that Younger Toguro has no remorse for his actions and all his decisions were his own to make."
The last part about Togashi's commentary on Toguro is actually an excerpt from the databook.
I like that on the "Setting" wall, they included a panel of Kurama VS Kaito. It is said that Togashi has been inspired by many works, and the "territory" from this chapter was based off a Yasutaka Tsutsui's novel. He actually mentioned that information in an interview with Kishimoto, from Naruto's fanbook.
Yu Yu Hakusho gradually develops to a typical battle shounen, but in the Sensui Saga, it turns into a battle of wits. The explanation about the "Setting":
Setting
"Yu Yu Hakusho features a variety of battle styles, including one-to-ones, battle royales, and tournaments. Yusuke and his companions are often involved in some kind of disturbance or test, whether it is against humans or demons. On the other hand, the battle settings themselves are also wide-ranging from strength battles to brain battles to videos games, such as the Knife Edge Death Match, a head to head battle; Taboo, a battle of words without physical attacks; and Game Master, a gaming match. Each battle has a betrayal in a good sense, and the satisfying betrayal makes the reader feel even more expectations for the story."
After going through the introduction, and the explanations and manuscripts dedicated to the four points - Character, Setting, Story and Depiction - of the Yu Yu Hakusho series, we reach the fifth point.
When it comes to the "special piece" mentioned in the Prologue, the Yu Yu Hakusho Area has a special section called "Punch Line". The walls are decorated with the characters famous quotes, and there are also many selected manuscripts with famous lines.
Punch Line
"Words are powerful in Yu Yu Hakusho. The work captivates the readers with monologues and explanatory text that are sometimes even more convincing than the illustrations. Famous lines includes, "I'm going to kill you with a double-page spread," "Don't underestimate the power of the evil eye," and "You don't even deserve the death." Togashi says his favorite part of the creative process is by far the making of storyboards. He says the peak of enjoyment is when he is thinking of what to draw just before starting the storyboard. Many of his hard-hitting punchlines are likely to have been created during the storyboard creative process."
I really like this special segment. Yu Yu Hakusho's lines and words have marked a whole generation and continue to attract new fans. I guess we all use some of the characters quotes in our daily lives.
One of my favorite quotes is Kurama's "You don't even deserve death" to Elder Toguro.
After gaining a better understanding of Yu Yu Hakusho, we arrive at a bigger hall, it's finally time to appreciate the original drawings and color illustrations. They are displayed in chronological order, following the arcs of the "Spirit Detective", "Dark Tournament", "Black Chapter" (Door to Makai) and "Three Kings" (Makai Tournament). The walls are also painted and decorated with many scenes from the manga.
The cool thing about the manuscripts is that some words are actually different from the ones published, and we can even see some fine details such as Mukuro's nipples, that were erased afterwards in the comics. You can also buy copies of the manuscripts of the last two chapters in the shop.
In the center of the Yu Yu Hakusho Area, there are those big panels of Yusuke, Kuwabara, Hiei and Kurama. Behind them, there are original manuscripts called "Battle Scene Selection".
I thought we could take photos of this central area, but they are forbidden. It's understandable, otherwise the fans would form a huge queue and obstruct the flow of people. Be aware to not step on those white/black lines. The staff called me out many times (lol).
This is an example of the carefully selected battle scenes that are behind the central panels. The double spreads of Hiei VS Seiryuu and VS Shigure are my favorite.
The battle scenes of the quartet include manuscripts of:
Yusuke: VS Suzaku; VS Jin; VS Younger Toguro; the famous scene of Yusuke knocking every one of his opponents off of the platform, in the preliminary matches of the Makai Tournament.
Kuwabara: VS Rinku; VS Rishou; VS Elder Toguro; VS Mitarai (seaman).
Kurama: VS Touya; VS Karasu; VS Kaito; VS Elder Toguro.
Hiei: VS Seiryuu; VS Zeru; VS Shigure.
The Yu Yu Hakusho Area ends with the last chapter Act 175. "And so...". Notice the big illustration of the guys, drawn exclusive for the the Yu Yu Hakusho Artbook (2005), decorating the wall.
Now, we head to Area 02 - Level E.
Area 02. "Level E"
Serialization Period: September 19, 1995 (Weekly Shounen Jump 42, 1995) to December 21, 1996 (Weekly Shounen Jump Double Issue 3/4, 1997). 16 chapters in total.
Cumulative circulation (including digital editions): 2,6 million (as of September 2022)
Comment at the start of the series: "I wanted to do everything myself, so I decided to make a monthly series. Each successive chapter will appear when you've already forgotten the last one. Please feel free to read it." (Yoshihiro)
To get a better understanding of the Level E series, there is an introductory panel with a synopsis:
Synopsis
"Hundreds of alien species come and go, living their lives on Earth. The only people unaware of this fact are the earthlings living on the planet. One day, Yukitaka Tsuisui, an ordinary high school student, meets a young man who calls himself an alien, and his daily life is disrupted without warning. This science fiction story depicts the strange lives of various aliens through Prince Baka, the first prince of the planet Dogra, who has both the brain of a genius and a devilish personality, and gets everyone else involved in his mischievous escapades with irreversible results."
Production Background
"The production of Level E began with the unthinkable idea of creating a work that would not receive votes in a reader survey. As if to say he had drawn enough orthodox manga for his preview work, Yu Yu Hakusho, Mr. Togashi made the most of all the tools in his drawers and wrote it in an omnibus style, drawing what he liked in a monthly serialization."
Then, another panel that merges the 4 themes (Character, Setting, Story and Depiction) into a single explanation called "An Unexpected Development" (想定の斜め上).
The japanese expression "斜め上" literally means "diagonally above", and it means going up at a 45-degree angle (diagonally above) from one's imagination; to describe things that are unexpected or in a way different from what was expected. Because of its relatively widespread use since the 90s, this expression recently got into the japanese dictionary. It is said to be first used by Togashi in the Level E manga, a quote from Captain Kraft. Togashi-sensei is really a genius!
An Unexpected Development
"In a sense, the lines of malicious dialogue by Kraft, a character in the work, most accurately express the essence of the work Level E.
The series provides fresh surprise and excitement by always taking the least expect turns. As the fifth special piece to showcase the appeal, we have chosen some of these unexpected developments."
Initially, Level E was planned to be a self-contained series that does not need prior viewing of any other chapter to understand. However, Prince Baka was so well received by the readers, that he became the main character of Level E. It was really an unexpected development.
In this area, selected manuscripts from all 16 chapters are distributed in an 8-episode exhibition.
In Japan, Level E is known for its 8 small episodes or arcs:
Episode 1. バカ王子・地球襲来編
Prince Baka: Invasion of Earth Arc (Chapters 01 to 03)
Episode 2. 食人鬼編
Cannibal Demon Arc (Chapters 04 to 05)
Episode 3. 原色戦隊カラーレンジャー編
Genshoku Sentai Color Rangers Arc (Chapters 06 to 09)
Episode 4. マクバク族サキ王女・ムコ探し編
Princess Saki of the Macbac Kingdom: Searching for a Husband Arc (Chapters 10 to 11)
Episode 5. 高校野球地区予選編
High School Baseball District Qualifiers Arc (Chapters 12 to 13)
On their way to the regional preliminary site for Koshien, the entire bus containing the Kisaragi High School baseball team members gets lost in a mysterious space. The baseball team tries to solve the mystery of supernatural phenomena caused by the subconscious mind, and the readers have as much fun guessing the "culprit" as the characters do.
Episode 6. 原色戦隊カラーレンジャー・人魚編
Genshoku Sentai Color Rangers: Mermaid Arc (Chapter 14)
Episode 7. バカ王子・結婚編
Prince Baka: Marriage Arc (Chapter 15)
In this chapter, Prince Baka proposes to Princess Luna. It's said that Togashi got the idea from Goku and Chichi's sudden marriage, from Dragon Ball.
Episode 8. バカ王・ハネムーン編
Prince Baka: Honeymoon Arc (Chapter 16)
This area is the smallest of the 3 series, but it feels like you're in a science fiction movie. Prince Baka's decoration is also too cute.
Area 03. "Hunter x Hunter"
Serialization Period: March 3, 1998 (Weekly Shounen Jump 14, 1998) to present.
Series cumulative circulation (including digital editions): more than 84 million (as of September 2022)
Comment at the start of the series: "Nice to meet you! My name is Togashi Yoshihiro, and I am excited to be able to create my dream Jump series. Please address your letters to "Toga P." (Yoshihiro)
It begins with an Introduction section:
Synopsis
Gon Freecss, who aspires to become a hunter in order to find his father, Ging, passes the Hunter Exam, which is said to be extremely difficult, with the help of the friends he meets, and obtain a Hunter License. He then train as a hunter during his journey to find Ging, maturing as he overcomes various challenges. The storyline is unpredictable, and the novel Nen battles, which features both physical and intellectual combat, are just one of the elements that keep readers engaged in the adventurous action.
As explained in the Prologue, and similar to the "Yu Yu Hakusho" Area, the HxH work is also detailed in four points - Character, Setting, Story and Depiction.
I copied the english explanations about Hisoka and Meruem from the "Character" section:
Hyskoa
"Hyskoa is a magician that Gon meets in the Hunter Exam. He is a combat enthusiast who takes great pleasure in fighting and winning against strong opponents. Mr. Togashi also describes him as a popular character whose next action is always unexpected. He is a master trickster who acts only to satisfy his own desires and becomes both an enemy and ally of Gon and his companions."
Meeleem
"Meeleem is born as the king of the Chimera Ants. He is portrayed as the strongest enemy of mankind, who believes violence to be true virtue. However, his encounter with a human girl named Komugi gradually changed his mind, and he appears to grow as a statesman. The conclusion of the emotional exchange between a tyrant and a weak girl becomes a shocking scene that remains one of the most famous in manga history."
When it comes to the 5th point, instead of a punch line section, there is a special section called "NEN".
This special exhibition also shows some Togashi's unpublished notes about "nen". It is called Togashi Memo's "Nen Ability Setting Material" (冨樫メモの「念能力の設定資料」). If you're interested, you can see scans of this material and translations on reddit.
My personal opinion: this is probably early notes from when Togashi was still creating and developing the nen system. It doesn't mean you have to follow those memos to the letter. I believe Togashi is still improving his ideas, and making changes over the years.
After immersing yourself in the world of HxH, we arrive at the main exhibition room. The original manuscripts follow a chronological order, beginning with Gon meeting his friends to the current arc. They are divided in 7 parts:
Hunter Exam Arc (ハンター試験編)
Heavens Arena Arc (天空闘技場編)
Yorkshin Arc (ヨークシン編)
Greed Island Arc (グリードアイランド編)
Chimera Ant Arc (キメラ＝アント編)
Election Arc (選挙編)
Succession to the Throne Arc (王位継承編)
In the last arc, there is like this huge chart with all the characters that appear in the succession war. It is explained that Togashi challenged himself by asking, "How many characters can one have in one chapter of the manga?". His goal for the Succession Arc is to surpass the number of characters in Captain Tsubasa's Jr. Youth Arc (excerpt from Jump Ryu interview, 2016). They also added that counting from chapter 340, when the Kakin Kingdom was introduced, over 200 characters have already appeared in 50 chapters.
In the exhibition, the manuscripts are displayed in frames, but when you buy the official catalog or copies of Hunter x Hunter manuscripts, you realize that many of them don't use the standard HxH manuscript paper with the "Yoshihiro Togashi POT" logo, but instead, it's Naoko Takeuchi's manuscript paper. What a cute couple!
In the center of the HxH area, there's the mizumi-shiki glass (water divination glass).
Unfortunately, we can't neither take pictures nor do the test :P
Adjacent to the HxH Area, there's a weird area with manuscripts of bizarre creatures, it's Area 04.
Area 04. "World of Strange Creatures"
This small area is a special exhibition dedicated to the bizarre creatures that appear in Togashi's works. I was happy to see Helen from Yu Yu Hakusho.
World of Strange Creatures
"The creatures (?) with bizarre designs that occasionally appear in Togashi's works leave a powerful impression. This special exhibition area features a collection of all the strange and lovable beings depicted in each work. They are an interesting bunch of designs that offer a glimpse into the creativity and tastes of the artist."
Finally, we reach the last area.
Area 05. Yoshihiro Togashi
As the name suggests, this area is dedicated to the author.
It begins with a timeline of his life, from his birth in 1966, the first submission to the Weekly Shounen Jump in 1986, manuscripts from his early works (one-shots and his first series "Ten de wa Showaru Cupid"), to the present day.
"Sensee wa Toshishita" was a finalist of the 20th H☆S Award in 1986. Togashi won a cash prize and got a call from Toshimasa Takahashi who became his first editor, the same who proposed to Togashi that Hiei should become a main character.
Togashi's first submission is displayed in his timeline and printed in the catalog. He used a pen name at the time, Toritome Yomoya.
It was hard to tell the correct reading of his pen name (鳥留 夜母屋), because the furigana (reading of the chinese character) was not printed in the WSJ magazine. But, now, thanks to the exhibition, we know it reads as Toritome Yomoya.
In Yuusuke Murata's book, Hetappi Manga Laboratory Returns, Togashi mentioned that in his first submission he asked for sharp criticism that would kill his enthusiasm of a beginner. The late editor Mr. Takahashi had also mentioned that this particular line caught his attention.
It's funny that Togashi thought that someone else was in charge of creating the titles for the covers. That also crossed my mind. Yu Yu Hakusho, for example, has such a beautiful logo with stars (幽☆遊☆白書).
In the back wall of this area, there are color illustrations of all his works, and in the opposite wall from his timeline, a corner called "Creators Messages".
Creators Messages
To congratulate Togashi for his exhibition, there are a total of 9 messages and illustrations from other manga artists and celebrities.
Messages and illustrations from other mangaka
(to see HD scans, follow @Vishkujo thread on Twitter)
Yusuke Urameshi by Hirohiko Araki (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure)
Gon Freecss, Monkey D. Luffy, and Tony Tony Chopper by Eiichiro Oda (One Piece)
Pakunoda and Hisoka Morow by Gege Akutami (Jujutsu Kaisen)
Machi Komacine and Shizuku Murasaki by Koyoharu Gotouge (Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba)
Yusuke Urameshi, Kazuma Kuwabara, Hiei, Kurama, Gon Freecss, Killua Zoldyck, Hisoka Morow, Chrollo Lucilfer, Prince Baka, and Kraft by Sui Ishida (Tokyo Ghoul)
Translated messages by #hxhsource:
Messages from celebrities
(check original scans on @Vishku)
I translated the messages from:
Film director Chloé Zhao
Togashi-sensei, congratulations on your exhibition! "Yu Yu Hakusho" had a great artistic influence on me when I was young, and it continues to inspire my work to this day. I can't forget the emotion I felt when I first read the scene where Toguro bids farewell to Genkai on the bridge of the Spirit World. When he took off his glasses, smiled at her and uttered his last words, I was 14 years old, and cried my eyes out in a crowded bus! Toguro's last words still bring me to tears. I re-read all the volumes every year, but when I see the photo of Yusuke, Kuwabara, Kurama, and Hiei on the last page, it always brings a lump to my throat. The beautiful and complex human nature of the heroes and villains depicted by Togashi-sensei has set the standard for me to tell amazing stories.
Thank you, Togashi-sensei!
Actor Kento Kaku
Yoshihiro Togashi-sensei, nice to meet you. My name is Kento Kaku, and I am an actor. I am fully aware that it is very rude for someone like me to have the privilege to comment on sensei's great day. However, allow me to inform you.
When I saw sensei's work for the first time, was deeply impressed. By the story, the characters, the development, the structure, everything. Once I came across it, my criteria for "amusing" became sensei's work. I was at a loss. I was no longer excited by other stories. How many times did I practice the Black Dragon Wave (kokuryuuha), in my youthful days? (I also tried to feel like Bui). Why can't become a demon fox (Youko)? Why can't I put out 120% of my power? Sometimes, I spent half a day practicing "ten" (纏) (I also practiced "ten" (点) like I'm supposed to). I also imagined the flow of "gyo". In my Water Divination, the leaf do not move at all.
There must be people throughout the world who have had the same experiences. That's how much we're obsessed with sensei's work. Sensei, thank you very much for giving us such exciting emotions. I would like to continue enjoying sensei's work.
T/N:
纏 (Ten): "Envelop"/"Shroud", the first of the Four Major Principles of Nen.
点 (Ten): "Point", the first exercise of the "Nen of the Flame".
TV Producer Nobuyuki Sakuma
Togashi-sensei has been in a different league, since I was a teenager 30 years ago.
"This manga is so interesting to me now, but will I find it even more interesting when I'm older? I still don't understand it at all, do I?". With this thought in mind, I put it back on the bookshelf and read it again from time to time. It's entertainment, it's art, a guide, but in the end it's an extremely interesting manga.
I'm glad I was born in the world line where Togashi-sensei was born and is drawing manga. Thank you very much.
Writer Yumeaki Hirayama
Despite the position Togashi-sensei holds in the current manga industry, isn't his writing style itself unusual? And yet, even though he sticks to it, there is no sign the reader's enthusiasm will drop at all. This is surely rare, and I have never heard of such a thing. According to his passionate believers, one of the charms of Togashi's work is the basso continuo (severe realism) that lies in his shounen manga style. Sometimes it looks splendidly cruel, sometimes even grotesque. However, I guess it is the outstanding grasp of reality that makes his work so appealing. I believe this is the reason why it has become a bible for modern youth. For me personally, it is as if you're being challenged to play a long, long tens of thousands-moves "tsume shogi". It is always a frightening work where there is no correct answer other than the checkmate. When I think about how much trial and error goes into producing the next frame, I can only shudder and gaze at his work in wonderment. I'm praying from the lowest seat that you may continue to wield a powerful pen for many years to come.
Togashi Yoshihiro Amusement Land
In the center of Togashi Area there's the only spot where photos are allowed, the "Togashi Yoshihiro Amusement Land".
There are big covers of the first volumes of "Yu Yu Hakusho", "Hunter x Hunter" and "Level E". Hanging from the ceiling: Botan & Puu (Yu Yu Hakusho); Color Ranger's Golden Hammer crushing Prince Baka (Level E); and Knuckle's Potclean (HxH).
New illustrations
Behind the big covers of the photo area, the beautiful frame "ALL☆STAR in the PUZZLE", with the exhibition visual key, is strategically placed. So, it's impossible to take any photo. I'm glad the media shared this one. This frame is absolutely amazing, I want it in my living room.
Finally, when you are leaving area 5, there's a message from Togashi, "Thank you very much for visiting us", and one more big surprise:
A totally new illustration of Gon and Yusuke (check HD scan on @Vishkujo)!
Some people have been complaining that Yusuke is red, but Togashi color-coded him red many times during the YYH serialization in the 90s. I guess we all have this strong green image of him from the anime.
Official Shop
Of course, before you exit, don't forget to visit the Official Shop. Depending on the day or time you visit it, you may face a queue to get in. I recommend purchasing the Exhibition Official Catalog. It's just a pity that they didn't include the english text displayed at the exhibition in there.
Moreover, check the official site to see the current status of the merchandise. Many products are out of stock or being back-ordered. They have also changed the limit purchase of some items. And, if you're buying from resellers, take a look at the original price on the site first. Some products are being sold on sites like Mericari for three times more the retail price.
The goods will also be sold after the exhibition ends. So, probably only in 2024, after the Fukuoka tour. Details will be announced on the official site.
Pieces Cafe
On the 52rd floor, next to the venue, there's also the Pieces Cafe. Contrary to the shop, you don't need to have bought a ticket and visited the exhibition to enter the cafe.
I only had time for the Quartet Eternal Bond Tapioca milk/tea drink. The photo of the quartet is precious, I could hardly eat it.
Next time, I want to try the Kurama x Hiei "TWO SHOTS" curry and the Toguro Brothers dessert.
I didn't have much time in Tokyo, so I hope I can spend more time and take down more notes when the exhibition comes to Osaka. I could only stay a few hours, but I would recommend at least four to five hours if you wanna check all the details and properly enjoy the shop and the cafe.
That's all. I want to write more, but this post is already too long and Tumblr only allows 30 photos per post. Maybe, I'll do a second post, talking more about the manuscripts and catalog. It's hard to explain everything without showing photos or videos of the place, so if there's any confusing information, let me know.
After the goods (Part I, Part II, Part III & Part IV), the collaboration menu is available on the Official Site.
The collaboration cafe "Pieces Cafe" will be held at "THE SUN & THE MOON (Cafe)" on the 52nd floor of Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, adjacent to the exhibition venue. The café will offer a total of 10 types of food and drink items, inspired by the three works "Yu Yu Hakusho", "Level E," and "HUNTER x HUNTER".
Yu Yu Hakusho Menu
Dishes
Offer period: October 28th to January 9th
Hiei and Kurama's TWO SHOTS Curry
Price: 1,650 yen
Dessert
Puu's Parfait ～Chestnut (marron) and Roasted Green Tea～
Offer period: October 28th to January 9th
Price: 1,580 yen
The Toguro Brothers' "One per two" Dessert
Offer period: October 28th to November 30th. For the rest of the period, a Hunter x Hunter Parfait will be available.
Price: 1,520 yen
Younger Toguro's quote in the dessert (腕がなるねェ...) is from Rescue Yukina Arc, chapter 48. "Next Up: The Ogre Triad!!". It means "to be itching to put one's skills to use". In other words, Toguro can't wait to fight against Yusuke and Kuwabara.
Drinks
Offer period: October 28th to January 9th
The Four Eternal Bond Tapioca Milk Tea
Price: 1,200 yen
Bonus
One coaster from a total of three types will be given at random per menu item.
Official Picture Book
An official 176-page picture book, containing original drawings and new illustrations exhibited at the exhibition, will also be sold for 2,500 yen. The cover is designed from the key visual of the exhibition, a total of 15 characters from the three major works.
Audio Guide
The "Yoshihiro Togashi Exhibition -PUZZLE-" will be held at Mori Arts Center Gallery in Tokyo from October 28th, 2022. Audio guides, which also include a quiz related to Togashi's works, are going to be available for rent for a fee of 700 yen.
Daisuke Namikawa and Bakarhythm are in charge of the audio guide.
The Japanese comedian Bakarhythm, who is also a big fan of Togashi, will be the audio guide navigator.
Daisuke Namikawa, who voices Prince Baka in the anime "Level E" and Hisoka in "HUNTER x HUNTER", will serve as the commentary narrator.
A page dedicated to the exhibition, summarizing some information about the goods, café menu, audio guide and official picture book, was also printed in the Weekly Shounen Jump Nº44 (October 3rd, 2022).
The first part of this “Yu Yu Hakusho 100% Maji Battle” quest event was released from March 15th to March 31st 2022. The second part came out on April 15th and will last until April 30th 2022. It is translated here. I want to thank @vermilionyouko for sharing this event.
Summary: The “tenkan” (divine crown), is a treasure that has been missing from the Spirit World, and it is now being traded in the Human World by none other than Youko Kurama!? Let’s join Yusuke in this investigation and find out the truth!
