Kurama (YuYu Hakusho)

For the Australian Aboriginal tribe see Kurrama people

Kurama (蔵馬), also known as Shuichi Minamino (南野秀一 Minamino Shūichi) is one of the main four characters of the popular anime and manga series YuYu Hakusho created by Yoshihiro Togashi. His Japanese seiyū are Megumi Ogata (Kurama), Shigeru Nakahara (Yoko Kurama) and his English Voice Actors are John Burgmeier (FUNimation), Sean Barker (Media Blasters), and Hideo Seaver (U.S. Manga Corps).

Kurama in his Human Form

Kurama was originally the ruthless kitsune thief, Yoko Kurama (妖狐蔵馬 Yōko Kurama). He was a Spirit Fox whose abilities included shape-shifting, casting illusions, and breaking seals and codes. But one day, he was trapped and almost killed by a member of the Spirit Defense Force. He just barely escaped, in the form of his soul, fleeing to the world of humans and hiding in the embryo of a human baby. He was born and grew up as Shuichi Minamino.

In Junior High, he met Hiei. Hiei had mistaken Kurama for one of Yatsude's servants (a demon who'd been terrorizing the town). The two battled, but when Kurama realized Hiei's mistake, he stopped the fight. However, Hiei was injured. Kurama took Hiei back to his home and treated him. Hiei was grateful, although he didn't want to admit it. When Yatsude kidnapped Maya, a friend of Kurama's who professed her love to him, Kurama goes with Hiei and the two defeat Yatsude. Kurama erases Maya's memory so that she will forget her love for him. Hiei develops respect for Kurama, and the two become partners for one year before teaming up with Gouki and stealing the three Spirit World artifacts.

He then becomes one of the three members in Hiei's Underworld crime ring, and therefore one of the three criminals Yusuke Urameshi faced on his first case. But Kurama did not fight Yusuke, for he was trying to use The Mirror of Forlon Hope to save his human mother, Shiori Minamino, from dying. When Kurama tried to use the artifact, Yusuke interfered and told the mirror to take some of his life too, so that Kurama would not die. But it turned out that both of them survived and Shiori got better. After that, Kurama alongside Hiei joined Yusuke and Kuwabara on Yusuke's third case and Team Urameshi was formed.

Originally, his plan was to leave his mother and return to Demon World after he got strong enough. However, an event occured that made him change his plans. One day, Kurama was reaching up on a high shelf when he slipped. He knocked some plates off the shelf, and they crashed to the floor and broke. He fell off the stool he was standing on and would have injured himself on the broken plates had it not been for his mother. She put her arm under his head just in time to save him. However, her arms were badly cut. From then on, Kurama felt very guilty about all the pain he had caused her and vowed to protect her and stay with her.

Kurama (Shuichi) is extremely noble,kind and gentle, though he can turn into a ruthless fearsome warrior at times during battle especially if his loved ones are threatened. Since he is seductively attractive and good looking and also the top student in the private school he attends, he is the daydream of every girl in there. His classmates beg him to join their clubs so the girls follow him and join. He has an affinity for plants and his favorite subject is biology. He is very intelligent, both in schoolwork and out of it, and out of the entire Reikai Tantei (Spirit Detectives) he uses his wits the most.

During the Dark Tournament saga, Kurama first faced Roto who threatened the life of his human mother (Shiori Minamino) if Kurama attacked him, which Kurama planted a Death Seed on Roto's body without him noticing and killing him afterwards. Kurama then faced Gama who magically chained his arms and legs, making him unable to move and then attacked him. But at the last moment Kurama was able to use his Rose Whip to finish Gama. Before dying, Gama sealed Kurama's yoki within his body. Then came Toya and because Gama's spells were still in effect, Kurama was forced to plant a Death Seed into his own body and use it to defeat Toya. After that Kurama became completely unconscious but since he couldn't leave the arena, he had to face the third opponent named Bakken. He inflicted heavy blows on Kurama and was about to kill him but luckily his boss ordered him to stop. So he knocked Kurama out of arena and then faced Yusuke.

Later in the tournament, Kurama was turned into his fox form when fighting Ura Urashima with The Reverse Treasure Box (Idun Box in the English Dub). Originally it was supposed to turn Kurama into a baby, but instead transformed him into Yoko Kurama.

Then came Karasu, who has a strange crush on Kurama, and because of that, he wants to kill Kurama. (He says that taking away the things he likes gives him a thrill like pondering unanswerable questions.) Kurama then becomes desperate to know what caused his transformation into Yoko Kurama during his fight with Ura Urashima because he knows that he cannot defeat Karasu while in his human form.

Suzuki then gives Kurama a potion that will make him transform into Yoko, but only for fifteen minutes. Kurama takes some of the potion before his battle with Karasu, but its effect does not take place right away, and Kurama is badly injured. Finally, just before Karasu inflicts a lethal blow on Kurama, the transformation happens. Yoko is able to trap Karasu in his Ojigi Plant, and believes to have defeated him. But Karasu is still alive. Unfortunately for Kurama, the effects of the potion wear off before the fifteen minutes are up. After being almost blown to bits, Kurama decides to sacrifice himself to kill Karasu. As he releases a blood sucking plant on Karasu, he gives the last of his life energy and therefore intended to die. However, Kurama does not die, much to his own surprise. He realizes that each time he takes the potion, the effect does not last as long, but he gains some of his demon strength from Yoko Kurama, enabling him to survive. After this fight Kurama only needs extreme emotions such as hatred or anger to revert back to Yoko Kurama.

During the Chapter Black saga, after Yusuke was kidnapped, Kurama fought against Kaito Yuu, a fellow student from the same private school that he attended in a word game. After Kurama's suspicions confirmed that Genkai was behind the kidnapping, Kaito revealed that although he agreed to Genkai's plan, he went after Kurama seriously to prove that just once he could beat Kurama at his own game. Kurama then fought against Shinobu Sensui "Dark Angel" and his six companions alongside Yusuke, Hiei, Kazuma Kuwabara, Genkai, and his other friends. First he encountered Tsukihito Amanuma "Game Master" and was forced to kill him during a video game competition, which left him angry afterwards. After that, he fought Sadao Makihara "Gourmet", cut his head off and confirmed that Elder Toguro was controlling his body.

Shiori Minamino is later re-married to Hatanaka (He's the president at a company where Shiori works) after the events of the Chapter Black Saga. Kurama also gains a new stepbrother, coincidentally named Shuichi (whose name was changed to Kokota in the English Dub).

During the Three Kings saga, Kurama is forced to re-live his past as he's called to Yomi's side. Yomi is Yoko Kurama's old partner-in-crime. A thousand years ago, Yomi was sent on a raid, but it was a set-up. Yoko had arranged for an assassian to blind Yomi. "Life is greater than the reward." was what the assassain said before slashing Yomi across the eyes, taking away his vision. After a thousand years, Yomi and Kurama face each other again. Kurama is forced to become a member of Yomi's advisory when Yomi threatens to kill Kurama's human mother and stepfather, who are on their honeymoon.

Kurama's internal struggles become more apparent during the latter part of the series. He holds three personalities: Kurama (with Yusuke and the others), Yoko Kurama, and Shuuichi Minamino. He is now forced to choose which one he will remain as. After his fight with Shigure, he decides to give up his Yoko side and live as Shuuichi Minamino from now on.

The wit and wisdom from his past 1,000+ years life (His actual age is unknown) as Yoko Kurama is what got him through life. Although Kurama is a brilliant strategist he has a bad habit of playing around during a fight while devising a strategy to use against his opponent after studying their nature, and has also on a few occasions underestimated his opponent as well. With loyalty to his human mother and the support of his friends, he is able to make the choice to stop living a lie.

In Yu Yu Hakusho: Poltergeist Report, it is revealed that during Kurama's previous life as Yoko Kurama, he had an old friend and partner named Kuronue. Kuronue had sacrificed his life during a robbery when he attempted to recover a pendant that was precious to him and then ordered Yoko to flee. One of the Netherworld Gods impersonated Kuronue and accused Kurama that he had betrayed him. During their second encounter Kurama knowing that this Kuronue was a fake because the fake did some things that the real Kuronue never did was able to use the weed of the same Bamboo plant that had killed the real Kuronue to kill the fake.

Attacks

Kurama's special ability is that he can turn plants into a deadly weapon by manipulating his yōki into that plant. Kurama has complete control over any Human Realm plant and has some control over Demon Realm plants although Yoko Kurama has complete control over Demon Realm Plants and has more power than regular Kurama. The strength of Kurama's moves depend on how much yōki Kurama uses. These types moves that Kurama has used.

• Rose Whip (Rose Thorn Whip Blade): This is Kurama's most commonly used technique where he can manipulate his yōki into a rose and turn it into a deadly weapon. With Kurama's skill the Rose Whip is truly a deadly weapon and the Rose Whip is so deadly it can cut even through solid stone. This technique was first introduced during Kurama's battle against Genbu of the Four Holy Beasts. During his fight against Sensui, Kurama was able to use this technique in his Yoko form. Here are two different types of attacks that Kurama has used with his whip.
  • Kagon Retsuzanshi (Elegant, Harsh Limb-Severing Attack) or Rose Whiplash in the English Dub: Used against Genbu of the Four Holy Beasts where he severely slashes in multiple directions with his whip to break apart Genbu's body. What didn't come into account for Kurama was that Genbu could reform his body.
  • Fukaenbu-jin (Wind Petal Waltz Configuration) or Rose Whip Thorn Wheel in the English Dub: During the journey on the ship to the Dark Tournament when Team Urameshi was under attack from multiple yōkai, Kurama used this technique to strike in a circle formation to kill all the yōkai that were around him.

• Shimaneki (Death Plant) or Seed of the Death Plant in the English Dub: This is a small seed which once planted on his opponent's body, Kurama can manipulate his yōki and after it had enough time to take root the Shimaneki can kill the victim. This attack was only used in the Dark Tournament Saga and was first used against Roto of the Team Rokuyukai who threatened to kill Kurama's Human mother Shiori with a messenger yōkai if he attacked him. Kurama was skillfully able to plant the Shimaneki on Roto and fought Roto long enough for the seed to take root. During his match against Toya of the Team Mashotsukai with his yōki sealed away from a curse brought on from his previous match Kurama was forced to place the seed in his body to use the yōki in his body and was able to use the Shimaneki as a sword-like weapon to render Toya uncounsious.

• Shokuyo Shokubutsu (Apparition-Eating Plant) or Death Tree in the English Dub: Used by Yoko Kurama during his match against Ura Urashima of Team Uratogi in the Dark Tournment. This is a giant redwood carnivorous tree with a acidic saliva that strikes anything that moves. Yoko Kurama used this to force Ura to tell him the secret of the Reverse Treasure Box. This would have worked if Ura hadn't been killed by his teammate Shishi Wakamaru for trying to give away their secrets.

• Fuka Enbu-Jin (Wind Petal Waltz Configuration) or Petal and Thorns in the English Dub: This is a defensive technique where Kurama uses Rose Petals that can slice up his opponent. Used against Karasu of Team Toguro, Kurama hoped to use this technique to hold off Karasu long enough to turn back into Yoko Kurama thinking that Karasu only needs to touch him to kill him. But Kurama underestimated Karasu when Kurasu was able to destroy the petals without touching them as his real ability is to create bombs.

• Ojigi Weed or Ojigi Plant in the English Dub: Used during his match against Karasu this is where Yoko Kurama was able to use this plant to counter Karasu's bombs. This deadly plant is from South America where it responds to movements or flamables by closing it's leaves around it's prey and crushes it to death. Although this plant managed to bind Karasu, he was able to create an explosion from within destroying this plant.

• Kyuuketsu Shokubutsu (Blood Sucking Plant): A Demon Realm plant that also was used against Karasu in the Team Toguro Match. When Yoko Kurama reverted back to Kurama and with his yōki running low, Kurama deliberately placed a Shimaneki seed on Karasu's chest knowing that he would find it so it would expose his blood. Kurama intented to sacrifice himself in this kamikaze attack to kill Karasu who thought that Kurama could only control Human Realm plants. Kurama was narrowly able to survive by using this technique.

• Janenju (Tree of Depravity) or Sinning Tree in the English Dub: This plant was used by Kurama in the Chapter Black Saga in the fight against Gourmet aka Sadao Makihara. Knowing that Elder Toguro was now in control of Gourmet's body Kurama placed this seed on his Rose Whip which was planted on Gourmet's body when Kurama Decapitated him. The tree would send it's victim their worst fears until they die but since Elder Toguro was incapable of dying then it would prey on him forever.

• Juryo Yozan-Ken (Wood Spirit Spectral Beheading Technique) or The Binding Fist of the Demonic Vine in the English Dub: Used by Yoko Kurama during his battle against Shinobu Sensui. This is where by growing the Rose Whip around his arm, Yoko Kurama can use the vines as a sword-based weapon.

• Okunenju Tree or Okunenju Root in the English Dub: Used during Kurama's battle against Shigure in the Three Kings Saga to show that using Yoko Kurama was not his ace card. Kurama is able to grow this tree in order to surround the fighting arena and the roots were able to render Shigure's ring sword useless.

• Bamboo Plant: Not officially named, this plant was used in Yu Yu Hakusho: Poltergeist Report to kill a Netherworld God that had impersonated Kuronue an old friend of Yoko Kurama.

Other Plants

Other than the plants he uses for his attacks Kurama also has other Plants that he has for other uses as well:

• Akaru Weed or Lamp Weed in the English Dub: These weeds were used as markers by Kurama to help identify their way for traveling the maze-like Irma Cave (Demon Door's Cave in the English Dub) in the Chapter Black Saga. Kurama planted a few of these just before their encounter with Game master aka Tsukihito Amanuma. Koenma was later able to use these to help him move in the cave for the part of the way when he was one his way to join up with the others to see Sensui.

• Butterfly Wings Plant: Not officially named, this plant is where Yoko Kurama placed this on his back to sprout Butterfly Wings to help him, Hiei and Kuwabara, level their descent after falling in Midair from the Portal to Demon Realm during their pursuit of Sensui to avenge Yusuke Urameshi's death.

Cutural Reference

• Like Hiei, Kurama's name comes from the Kurama Mountain, in Kyoto, Japan. It is the location of a famous Buddhist temple. Mt. Hiei stands right beside it.
• Kurama's human name translates in two parts: the given (Shuuichi) means "excellence first", while the surname (Minamino) means "southern field" and is also the name of a famous Japanese warrior. To this day, the surname is only allowed to families of nobility or higher social standing.
• Kurama is the name of a rural town in the northern mountains of Kyoto City, less than one hour from the city center. Kurama town is best known for its temple Kurama-dera and its hot spring, one of the most easily accessible hot springs from Kyoto.