Yu Yu Hakusho Ending Explained: Are Sakyo and Toguro Dead? How Did Yusuke Save the Human World?
The live-action of Yu Yu Hakusho from Netflix has been a pleasant surprise for anime fans. Despite initial doubts, it is a decent adaptation of Yoshihiro Togashi’s manga. Has it been the One Piece effect? The truth is that, from now on, expectations with this type of version have improved significantly, despite the disasters in previous franchises. Netflix, bringing one of the most iconic manga series of the 1990s to life in a live-action adaptation. This Japanese classic takes us on a journey through the world of spirits and the human world, with the central character being troubled teenager Yusuke Urameshi. In this article, we will explore the ending of Yu Yu Hakusho and provide a summary of the Netflix series, answering the question everyone is asking: are Sakyo and Toguro really dead?
This is the Japanese TV series developed by Akira Morii and Kazutaka Sakamoto. To be precise, it is the live-action adaptation of the manga series of the same name by Yoshihiro Togashi. The plot of the episodes revolves around its protagonist, Yusuke Urameshi. The latter is a middle school student, who lives like a delinquent. Yusuke dies after saving a child during a car accident. But his life doesn’t end here. He is resurrected to play the role of spirit detective.
Yu Yu Hakusho: Summary Recap
Yusuke Urameshi (Takumi Kitamura) is the typical tough guy with a heart of gold: he has no respect for authorities and never follows the rules, he does poorly in school (when he deigns to go) and loves to fight, but he also has a very strong sense of justice. He can’t stand bullies and, even if he isn’t recognized, he is always ready to defend the weakest. The moment to demonstrate his true value comes when he sacrifices himself to save a child from a crazy vehicle: Botan (Kotone Furukawa), a soul ferryman with the appearance of a beautiful blue-haired girl, will take him to the presence of little Enma, the son of the Spirit King, who wants to bring him back to life, entrusting him with the task of detective of the spirit world. The strange deity explains to him that the balance between the human world and the demonic world is in danger, and more and more evil creatures are crossing the barrier that divides them: Yusuke’s task will be to find – and defeat – the demons that have escaped control.
Yusuke, who initially did not want to accept the task, decides to undertake the task after seeing how upset his mother, best friend Keiko (Sei Shiraishi), and friend/rival Kuwabara (Shuhei Uesugi) are by his death. The boy, right from the start, will have to face attacks from demons, even if some of them seem not to be entirely evil, capable of feelings such as love and compassion. However, someone is plotting in the shadows to definitively break the boundaries between the worlds, and Yusuke, now capable of focusing spiritual energy into very powerful rays, will have to overcome increasingly difficult and deadly tests…
These first five episodes of Yu Yu Hakusho move from Yusuke’s resurrection to the meeting with Kurama (Jun Shison) and Hiei (Kanata Hong) up to the Black Martial Arts Tournament, essentially covering the first and second part of the manga. The series brings together several events and eliminates others, such as the Saga of the Four Venerable Beasts, working mainly by subtraction, contraction, and rereading. It almost completely avoids the bland and scholastic rhythms of the beginning to throw itself headlong into the most well-known and interesting plot, with the transition between the first and the second episode which, for example, knows no solution of continuity between the incipit of the story and the introduction of Kurama, Hiei, and Gouki with the mini-saga of the three demonic objects.
Meanwhile, the live-action anticipates antagonists and secondary characters to create a serial-style narrative fabric capable of following a well-defined path in the medium even if different from that of the manga. In its generality, the choice works discreetly, but for fans of the comic it will be impossible to effortlessly digest certain accelerations of the story and an emotional writing that does not allow the relationships between protagonists to flourish as they should, rapid in their unfolding. In essence, introspection and psychological content are lost, even if they are there. But Yu Yu Hakusho gives the best of him where it was most requested.
Yu Yu Hakusho Ending Explained: Are Sakyo and Toguro Dead?
There are a total of 5 episodes that make up the Yu Yu Hakusho TV series on Netflix, which have already won over many subscribers. With the fifth episode, we conclude this first season which tells the adventures of Yusuku, Kuwabara Kurama, and Hiei. The last two episodes focus on the clash between Yusuke and Younger Toguro, who proves to have great strength. Now the fate of the world hangs in the balance and Yusuke must do everything he can to bring about a happy ending. Together with Kuwabara, Kurama, and Hiei, the protagonist goes to the island of Kubikuri to save Keiko and Yukina from Sakyo’s clutches.
The latter aims to use the money to build a machine capable of opening a door between the human realm and the demon realm. Kurami and Hiei go through hell during their battle against Yokai, while the rich watch and bet on them. Finally, at the end of episode 4, the penultimate one, Yusuke meets Toguro. The last episode begins with Yusuke trying to do everything he can to get the upper hand. Meanwhile, Sakyo watches as his machine opens a wormhole to release Yokai into the human world.
How does Yu Yu Hakusho: Kuwabara Die End? Yusuke Defeats Toguro?
Towards the end of Yu Yu Hakusho, Keonma manages to create a barrier before allowing the Yokai to fully enter the human realm. If Yusuke and his group destroy Toguro, he will lock the car and kill himself. In contrast, Koenma promises to remove the barrier. The battle becomes difficult, as everyone is now tired and in a serious condition. Yusuke manages to awaken the power of the Spirit Wave Orb and pushes Toguro to the limit. But then Yokai awakens his full power, and our heroes are overwhelmed. forces Sakyo to make a deal.
The only one left standing is Kuwabara, who then dies. Yusuke eventually uses the Spirit Gun’s full power, which is taken by Toguro, whose body cannot hold and begins to crumble into dust. Yosuke wins the battle and Sakyo is forced to turn off the machine and kill himself by shooting himself. Luckily it turns out that Kuwabara survived and together with his friends he leaves the island. In the end, Hiei decides not to tell Yukina that he is her brother, even though he went through hell to save her. Yu Yu Hakusho ends with Toguro and Genkai meeting in the afterlife. The first says he asked to be sent to the worst corner of hell to atone for his actions, like Yokai. Instead, Gankai is headed to heaven.
Why Does Toguro Go to Hell?
In reality, young Toguro wanted to become stronger after seeing his students slaughtered and eaten by a powerful Yokai. He viewed being a Yokai as a punishment because he felt a failure for not protecting his students in the past. His goal was to live as a monster until someone strong enough defeated him, which he finds with Yusuke in the finale. To atone for what he has done badly, he prefers to condemn himself to an eternity of torment.
Why Does Yusuke Agree to be Reincarnated?
In the spirit world, Yusuke discovers that the human world and the demon world were originally a single realm but were separated to reduce conflict. However, a demonic insect from the demon world invaded the human world, posing a threat. Koenma, the ruler of the spirit world, offers Yusuke a second chance at life to investigate this anomaly. Despite his tough appearance, Yusuke is moved by the grief of those he left behind, including his mother, Keiko, and Kirino. Witnessing their suffering leads him to accept Koenma’s offer.
How Does Yusuke Join Kurama and Hiei?
As Yusuke begins his journey as a Spirit Detective, he discovers that he must face three formidable yokai thieves who have stolen artifacts vital to maintaining separation between the two worlds. With limited training, he takes on this mission. The first demonic thief, Goki, possesses supernatural strength and a magical sphere that steals children’s spirits. After a fierce battle, Yusuke defeats Goki, securing the sphere. However, his mission takes an unexpected turn when he encounters Kurama, the second Yokai thief. Kurama, who had stolen a magic mirror, shares his intention to use it to save someone dear to him. This revelation leads to a decision that will change the lives of both Yusuke and Kurama. Yusuke’s selflessness shines through when he sacrifices half his own life to save Kurama and the woman he loves. Now with Kurama as a friend, Yusuke’s group expands to include Kuwabara, who can see and communicate with Yokai. Together, they train under Master Genkai before facing the last thief.
What Was Sakyo’s Evil Plan?
The main antagonist of Yu Yu Hakusho is Sakyo, a ruthless human with a sinister plan to unite the human world and the demon world. His objective is to observe the consequences of his coexistence. Sakyo opens a passage between worlds, allowing demons to infiltrate the human world. To finance his plan, Sakyo collaborates with a corrupt jewelry businessman named Tarakune. Capturing Yukina, a captive demon, Sakyo allows Tarakune to harvest valuable gems from her magical tears. Additionally, Sakyo runs an underground gambling den on Kubikukuri Island, where rigged fights between Yokai generate funds for his scheme.
How Did Yusuke Save the Human World?
As the final confrontation unfolds, Yusuke faces Younger Toguro, one of Sakyo’s powerful allies. The battle intensifies as Younger Toguro’s personal history is revealed. Toguro was originally a human, but after a tragic incident involving a yokai attack on his students, he turned into a yokai out of guilt. His only desire is to find someone strong enough to take his life. Yusuke finally defeats Toguro, using powers inherited from Genkai. Past lovers Toguro and Genkai share a touching moment in the spirit world, where Genkai tries to persuade Toguro to free himself from his self-torment.
However, Toguro remains firm in his decision to continue his path of punishment. The outcome of the battle foils Sakyo’s evil plan, and the passage between the worlds is sealed once again. According to his bet, Sakyo takes his own life. Meanwhile, Keiko and Yukina are rescued from their kidnappers. Yusuke, Kuwabara, Kurama, and Hiei form a united group, prepared to defend themselves against future yokai threats. In the final moments of Yu Yu Hakusho, an unexpected comical scene shows Elder Toguro’s head being pecked at by seagulls, signaling the once-powerful demon’s inevitable fate.
