Character Spotlight: “Yu Yu Hakusho’s” Kurama

A glimpse of all you ever needed to know about “Yu Yu Hakusho’s” Kurama

by Shernee Symonette

Kurama in the manga of YuYu Hakusho was actually said to be wearing a blue uniform with black hair instead of  his infamous red hair and pink outfit. For the adaption of the anime the color scheme was turned to red hair with a pink uniform.

Kurama’s new color scheme was meant to showcase his inner fox demon. It also is complementary towards his demon abilities of plant manipulation, which he seems to favor the red rose.

Most of Kurama’s attacks are rose-centric, a few are:
The infamous rose whip, rose whiplash, rose whip thorn wheel, petals and thorns and bloodsucking plant.

       Viewers have been introduced to three types of Kurama

Demon Fox version:

Yoko Kurama/Kitsune Form

Shuichi Minamino/Human Form

  In the Filipino dub version Kurama’s name was changed to Denise as he was mistaken as a female, it was later changed to Dennis.

       Creator Yoshihiro Toshiro had planned for Kurama and Hiei to be lovers in his first drafts. Kurama was actually supposed to be a girl which can be accounted by Kurama’s effeminate features. However he decided on the pair being just close friends instead. (this has not stopped several fans from shipping the two romantically) There is also a two shot extra which outlines the meeting between the two.

  Kurama is speculated to be named after Kurama Mountain while Hiei is named after Mount Hiei. The two mountains are adjacent to each other.

           Kurama makes an appearance in Toshiro’s Hunter x Hunter as an action figure.

     Kurapika is based off of Kurama. Notable similarities are both being misidentified as female, ‘Kura” at the beginning of their names and Kurapika’s chain attack being similar to Kurama’s rose vine, accessory weaponry.

           Masashi Kishimoto, the creator of Naruto was inspired by Kurama, hence naming the nine tailed fox, Kurama.

          Nobuhiro Watsuki, the creator of Rurouni Kenshin can also be speculated to take inspiration from Kurama as Kenshin has a few similarities, from mannerisms to appearance.