Current Events > All these years and I still don't know what Yu Yu Hakusho means

(+) Yeah! (+)

Smh if the dub is in English then translate the title

I don't think the first Google result is gonna give you the most correct, properly nuanced answer

They literally did translate the title in the logo as Ghost Files

Also Ghost Files sounds fine lol. Yusuke is literally supposed to be a Spirit Detective who fights things like ghosts so it fights. Ghost Fighter like in the Filipino dub also would have worked

When you translate a series to a specific language you're supposed to call it something that people would actually understand in said language. Yuyu Hakusho makes no sense in English, imagine if Dragon Ball was called Ryu Tama

Raikuro posted...

They literally did translate the title in the logo as Ghost Files

Only as the subtitle underneath the Japanese title

Including the Japanese title at all is redundant

Yo, Yusuke Yurameshi, he was just 14...

Verdekal posted...

Yo, Yusuke Yurameshi, he was just 14...

Yu Yu Hakusho is my favorite anime of all time, but gotta be real, it's always irked me just a little that these guys are supposed to be 14.

Like, even 16 would be pushing it, but fucking junior high/middle school? You're really trying to tell me Yusuke is 15 during the Dark Tournament? Fuck that.

JKwaffle posted...

Yu Yu Hakusho is my favorite anime of all time, but gotta be real, it's always irked me just a little that these guys are supposed to be 14.

Like, even 16 would be pushing it, but fucking junior high/middle school? You're really trying to tell me Yusuke is 15 during the Dark Tournament? Fuck that.

Aang was 12 (sort of)

Verdekal posted...

Aang was 12 (sort of)

I can buy that Aang is 12 more than I can buy that Yusuke is 14.

Aang at least talks and acts like a kid, he's just entrusted with a huge fate/burden and is relatively mature for his age. Being raised by monks also helps with the maturity aspect.

Yusuke talks like a sassy middle aged man half the time. I love it and his (and everyone's) personality is a major part of why I love the show so much, but I just don't but that he's supposed to be 14.

Also it does make it weirder that they lose their shirts practically every fight.

JKwaffle posted...

Yu Yu Hakusho is my favorite anime of all time, but gotta be real, it's always irked me just a little that these guys are supposed to be 14.

Like, even 16 would be pushing it, but fucking junior high/middle school? You're really trying to tell me Yusuke is 15 during the Dark Tournament? Fuck that.

Ichigo is 15 at the start of Bleach
Naruto is 15 at the start of Shippuden
Deku is 15 at the start of My Hero Academia
Giorno is 15 in Jojo Golden Wind
Jodio is 15 in Jojolands

It's really not hard to believe. Yusuke is pretty clearly written like a Japanese middle schooler at the start of the series.

But yeah it'd be easier to take the series seriously if he were older than 14 and at least in high school instead of middle school at the start of the story lol

JKwaffle posted...

Yusuke talks like a sassy middle aged man half the time. I love it and his (and everyone's) personality is a major part of why I love the show so much, but I just don't but that he's supposed to be 14.

That's just in the dub. He sounds more boyish in the Japanese version

Scotty_Rogers posted...

That's just in the dub. He sounds more boyish in the Japanese version

The dub is so fucking good tho. >_>

I'll be honest, it's the only anime that I refuse to watch the sub of and always watch the dub.

Alright I will break it down for you. And yeah that Google answer is pretty bad.

Hakusho is the easy part. It's literally white book, but it's the Japanese word for white paper ( https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_paper )

Now the Yuu star Yuu star is a little more complex. is like dark or hidden, but also the first part of Yuurei meaning ghost. is like travel or roam, but also the first part of Yuugi meaning game. So to figure out what exactly it means is open to some interpretations.

The Japanese Wikipedia page gives us the best explanation:
[13]

Basically the was indeed meant to be for ghost. And the was chosen for it's use in Saiyuuki, commonly called Journey to the West in English. So something like Ghost Journey White Paper would probably cover it.

Hakusho pretty clearly means report, file, log, document, record, etc in this context. It's what they call government papers in Japan. And Yusuke is supposed to be a detective so that's pretty obviously what it means. "White paper" and "white book" make zero sense to say in English.

The first is probably rei, but it's unclear what the second is. I don't think it's gi, though. Maybe it's ryou; Yuuryou/ means means "recreational hunting" or simply "hunting".

Yuurei = Ghost
Yuuryou = Hunting
Hakusho = Report(s), file(s), document(s), log(s), record(s), etc

Still it's never been confirmed what the stars mean so this is ultimately guesswork. The first yuu means dark, hidden, gloomy, underworld, netherworld, etc. The second yuu normally means play in Japanese but since Saiyuki (Journey to the West) was the original inspiration, it's probably the Chinese meaning, which is traveling, wandering, visiting, moving, going somewhere, coming from somewhere, etc. This is also backed by the fact Yusuke becomes a wandering ghost at the start of the series and/or the fact he faces other wandering ghosts.

The basic meaning is "report on things coming from the underworld" or "report on things going to the underworld" and there are really so many things that you could come up with to convey those meaning. I'd just go with Ghost Hunting Files, honestly. Or Ghost Hunter Files. Or just Ghost Hunter. Or Wandering Ghost Files. Or maybe Ghost/Spirit Detective (what Yusuke is called in the series)?

Ghost Files and Ghost Fighter were totally fine titles, honestly.

The stars aren't blanks. They're just for style. Like in YuGiOh, . You don't need to fill them in with a character.

ssjevot posted...

The stars aren't blanks. They're just for style. Like in YuGiOh, .

Touche. I guess stars are basically hyphens in Japanese?

But if the stars don't mean anything, then there's no indication that the Yu's are short for anything, is there? Obviously there are ghost connotations but that doesn't mean the term ghost itself is supposed in the title. So is the title supposed to be something like Hidden Travel Files? Underworld Travel Files? Kek

Scotty_Rogers posted...

Touche. I guess stars are basically hyphens in Japanese?

But if the stars don't mean anything, then there's no indication that the Yu's are short for anything, is there? Obviously there are ghost connotations but that doesn't mean the term ghost itself is supposed in the title. So is the title supposed to be something like Hidden Travel Files? Underworld Travel Files?

Yeah, I'll just go with Ghost Files lol

But I posted the Japanese Wikipedia excerpt explaining what it means and a brief summary in English...

I mean you can call it whatever you like, I was just trying to explain the title as per your original post.

Also, I don't get what your objection to white paper is since that's what it is.

I know it's the literal translation. My point is that it doesn't actually make sense to say "white paper" in English, because it doesn't have the same connotation as it does in Japanese. It contextually means report, file, record, log, document, etc so it's better to just use that to get the message and nuance across. And even the article you posted says this

Strictly speaking, they are collectively known as "white documents."

It's like how the Chinese term Qi ( Ki in Japanese) literally means "air" but it's come to refer to the vital force or energy in our bodies. If you just went with the literal translation of air, most people wouldn't understand

ssjevot posted...

But I posted the Japanese Wikipedia excerpt explaining what it means and a brief summary in English...

[13]

Translation: At the time of the serialization meeting, the title "Introduction to Yurei (tentative)" was submitted. Later, when the serialization was decided, the title was officially considered. However, the title conflicted with "Chin Yuuki" by ManGataro, which began serialization at the same time, and he had to rethink the title. The first word that came to mind after "Yu-Yu" was "Hakusho," so the title was changed to "Yu-Yu Hakusho. It could have been "Yu Yu Den" or "Yu Yu Monogatari"[13].

Yurei (ghost) was originally going to be in the title, but that doesn't necessarily mean the Yu is short for ghosts. The connotation is there but without the rei, it simply means "dark", "gloomy", "underworld", "netherworld", "hidden", etc. It refers to things that associated with ghosts, but it doesn't specifically mean ghosts. For all we know, Togashi could have changed his mind and decided to make the title about the paranormal in general.

I don't think the stars have a set meaning, similar to when titles use X in them. Project X Zone pronounces it as "cross", while Spy x Family and Hunter x Hunter is silent.

Scotty_Rogers posted...

I know it's the literal translation. My point is that it doesn't make sense to say "white paper" in English. It contextually means report, file, record, log, document, etc so it's better to just use that to get the message and nuance across. And even the article you posted says this

Strictly speaking, they are collectively known as "white documents."

It's like how the Chinese term Qi ( Ki in Japanese) literally means "air" but it's come to refer to the vital force or energy in our bodies. If you just went with the literal translation of air, most people wouldn't understand

I still don't really get what you mean here.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_paper

A white paper is a report or guide that informs readers concisely about a complex issue and presents the issuing body's philosophy on the matter. It is meant to help readers understand an issue, solve a problem, or make a decision. A white paper is the first document researchers should read to better understand a core concept or idea. Since the 1990s, this type of document has proliferated in business. Today, a business-to-business (B2B) white paper is closer to a marketing presentation, a form of content meant to persuade customers and partners and promote a certain product or viewpoint.[1][2][3] That makes B2B white papers a type of grey literature.

The term originated in the 1920s to mean a type of position paper or industry report published by a department of the UK government.

The Japanese word is just translated from English. I couldn't find that quote you posted either.

Scotty_Rogers posted...

Ichigo is 15 at the start of Bleach
Naruto is 15 at the start of Shippuden
Deku is 15 at the start of My Hero Academia
Giorno is 15 in Jojo Golden Wind
Jodio is 15 in Jojolands

It's really not hard to believe. Yusuke is pretty clearly written like a Japanese middle schooler at the start of the series.

But yeah it'd be easier to take the series seriously if he were older than 14 and at least in high school instead of middle school at the start of the story lol

Naruto and Deku actually look their age though.

It's just a weird anime thing to make a lot of the teenagers look older than they are, especially if they're "delinquents." Like a ton of the characters in Tokyo Revengers just look like grown men, even though they're supposed to be 15. It's always so weird.

And there's, Takeo Gouda from My Love Story, the poster boy for "how is this a teenager" who's supposed to be a 15 year old:

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/c/c62c8bfd.jpg

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/8/8ae471ba.jpg

ssjevot posted...

The Japanese word is just translated from English.

Still think report gets the message across better but mmkay

Scotty_Rogers posted...

Smh if the dub is in English then translate the title

Kind of like Red Lagann

NoxObscuras posted...

Naruto and Deku actually look their age though.

I don't get why y'all think there's a set age for a 14 year old to look lol. I remember when I was in 8th grade, there were plenty of kids who were 6 feet or even taller. The "teenager looking older than than they really are" trope is old and has basis in real life. It's not even significant with Yusuke.
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/6/6094ee22.jpg
He's only 5'7'' lol this can definitely pass as 14.

Scotty_Rogers posted...

I don't get why y'all think there's a set age for a 14 year old to look lol. I remember when I was in 8th grade, there were plenty of kids who were 6 feet or even taller. The "teenager looking older than than they really are" trope is old and has basis in real life. It's not even significant with Yusuke.
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/6/6094ee22.jpg
He's only 5'7'' lol this can definitely pass as 14.

It's not about their height. It's about how their faces are drawn that makes them look older.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/7/7e767fd6.jpg
He just has the face of a cartoon character lol. You can't apply any age to the face itself other than that it lookw older than a small child

Nah, it's less how he looks and more about how he acts and talks.

He just acts like a typical teenage delinquent. And you can just watch the sub if the voice throws you off lol

Scotty_Rogers posted...

He just acts like a typical teenage delinquent. And you can just watch the sub if the voice throws you off lol

Nah, fuck the sub. The dub is better.

It's just silly that he's supposed to be 14.

JKwaffle posted...

I can buy that Aang is 12 more than I can buy that Yusuke is 14.

Aang at least talks and acts like a kid, he's just entrusted with a huge fate/burden and is relatively mature for his age. Being raised by monks also helps with the maturity aspect.

Yusuke talks like a sassy middle aged man half the time. I love it and his (and everyone's) personality is a major part of why I love the show so much, but I just don't but that he's supposed to be 14.

Also it does make it weirder that they lose their shirts practically every fight.

Don't forget yusuke was smoking like a chimney in the manga, and continued to do so right up to the end. Kuwabara's older sister was a chain smoker and she was all but 17 if I remember right. If was the style at the time, lol.
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/8/868ca1c2.jpg

*If I remember my yu yu hakusho manga right, the cig that yusuke used during his one fight during genkai's tournament was his, but the anime toned it down a bit and switch it to her's*

JKwaffle posted...

Nah, fuck the sub. The dub is better.

then why you complaining

It's just silly that he's supposed to be 14.

it wouldn't be as silly if you were watching the sub

Yusuke's older sister was a chain smoker and she was all but 17 if I remember right. If was the style at the time, lol.

kuwabara's sister you mean. yusuke didn't have any siblings, but his mother was an alcoholic (a prostitute too iirc she's still picking up clients at the end of the manga)

Yeah I meant to type kuwabara there.

Scotty_Rogers posted...

(a prostitute too iirc she's still picking up clients at the end of the manga)

The last time we see Yusuke's mom she's talking to an ex, implied to be his dad I think, and they agree to hookup. She wasn't a prostitute.

hop918 posted...

The last time we see Yusuke's mom she's talking to an ex, implied to be his dad I think, and they agree to hookup. She wasn't a prostitute.

We are see her with a client shortly before that . At Yusuke's ramen shop, she says that she's with a "client" and he looks like a sleazeball. Just because she banged her old baby daddy doesn't mean she wasn't still in the business.

She gets her pimps to scare the school into letting Yusuke back in and pay for the damages from one incident

Scotty_Rogers posted...

We are see her with a client shortly before that . At Yusuke's ramen shop, she says that she's with a "client" and he looks like a sleazeball.

She's bringing Yusuke a client for his detective buisness in that scene, guy literally asks for an autograph from Ruka as his requesthttps://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/4/4a69743b.jpg
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/9/9220f9bc.jpg

She gets her pimps to scare the school into letting Yusuke back in and pay for the damages from one incident

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/e/e1ddd70f.jpg

Those guys are implied to be Yakuza members, you're just adding random headcanon to claim his mom was a prostitute, what prostitute yells at pimps to give them the money?

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/e/e1bd48c3.jpg

Guy guy earth mystery? Lol

hop918 posted...

Those guys are implied to be Yakuza members

And why would some random 29-year-old single alcoholic mother with no real job who had her kid at 15 have connections to Yakuza?

hop918 posted...

what prostitute yells at pimps to give them the money?

What, you think every prostitute is docile and subservient?
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/8/896b3637.jpg
Why else would she be doing business with pimps given what we know about her (29-year-old single mother, got pregnant at 14, unemployed, alcoholic, constantly out with random guys, ties to Yakuza, etc)? In what other scenario would she be demanding money from pimps? How else would she be making ends meet?

And I'm far from the only one who got the same vibe:

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/2000121-anime-and-manga-other-titles/68494340
https://atsuko-urameshi-blog.tumblr.com/atsuko

It's not explicitly said but it's clearly implied.

Scotty_Rogers posted...

And why would some random 29-year-old single alcoholic mother with no real job who had her kid at 15 have connections to Yakuza?

She got yakuza connections, if it was just her pimps why would it be a group of black cars coming to the school?

Why else would she be doing business with pimps given what we know about her (29-year-old single mother, got pregnant at 14, unemployed, alcoholic, constantly out with random guys, ties to Yakuza, etc)? In what other scenario would she be demanding money from pimps? How else would she be making ends meet?

Yeah prostitutes aren't shaking pimps down for money by themselves, you're not too familiar with how prostitutes work are you? The version I pulled of that scene has Yusuke claiming she shook down cops not pimps.

There's a few things those connections are implying, sure prostitute is one of them but the pimp line isn't enough to connect it.

hop918 posted...

Yeah prostitutes aren't shaking pimps down for money by themselves

as if prostitutes don't ever argue with pimps.

it's shonen anyway, women scare men because gag

you're not too familiar with how prostitutes work are you?

there's no other reason why some random unemployed single alcoholic mother linked to yakuza would be involved with pimps

Scotty_Rogers posted...

there's no other reason why some random unemployed single alcoholic mother linked to yakuza would be involved with pimps

Unless she was a part of the Yakuza herself, some rando prostitute isn't going to be able to call in a whole group of Yakuza to strong arm a school principal.

maybe i'm wrong then lol. it's true prostitutes normally get money for pimps, not from them but the vibe i got was that she gets money from other pimps for her own pimps

I'm guessing she was involved in gangs when she was younger and somehow got to a respected position even though she lives like she's on food stamps