Yu Yu Hakusho, a very successful Manga written by Yoshihiro Togashi ran in Weekly Shonen Jump from 1990 to 1994. After a while, in 1992, it was turned into a hugely successful anime. Last year, Netflix announced a live-action remake of the adored anime series — whether this is good news or a considerably bad one is for the fans of this series to decide. What can be said is that the casting choices for this live-action adaptation are quite interesting.
Recently, Netflix unveiled the star of the series. Takumi Kitamura, a Japanese actor, musician, and model, can be seen playing Yusuke Urameshi, the beloved protagonist of the 90’s series.
You may also like: Greatest Anime Voice Actors Hollywood Could Learn A Lot From
Who is Takumi Kitamura?
The only cast member that has been publicly revealed thus far is Kitamura. His reveal poster as the main spirit detective of the popular series has gone viral online. However, besides being an actor, Takumi Kitamura is also known for being a member of a Japanese pop/rock band called “DISH.” He made his acting debut in 2008. Despite set photographs from the filming of Kitamura’s portrayal of Yusuke Urameshi which have been floating around social media for some time, the actor’s acceptance of the part has now been formally and officially confirmed by Netflix.
He is also known for having starred in the film Let Me Eat Your Pancreas, based on the 2015 novel of the same name. In the film, which has been termed a “tear-jerker”, he played the role of Haruki Shiga. The young actor was also seen playing the role of Hanagaki Takemichi in the 2021 live-action adaptation of Tokyo Revengers, another anime that has had a great reception from fans worldwide.
What Takumi Kitamura had to say about Yu Yu Hakusho
In an interview with IGN, Takamura expressed his love and respect for the series, calling it a “universal masterpiece”. Furthermore, he expressed his excitement in regards to being a part of the live-action adaptation and he hopes the fans can share and be part of the same experience. This is what the Yu Yu Hakusho actor had to say:
“The original work is a universal and unique masterpiece and a reason why Japan is so proud of its strong manga and anime culture.”
Read also: Anime Movies That Are Literal Works Of Art Worthy Of The Smithsonian
What fans can expect From Yu Yu Hakusho
Netflix has been particular about terming the live-action adaptation of Yu Yu Hakusho as a “manga adaptation”, which may be a significant nod at how they’re trying to not stray away from the source material.
According to an official synopsis, the main character of the manga is junior high school student Yusuke Urameshi, who is a delinquent. Unfortunately, he perishes in an accident while attempting to save a little child. A woman named Botan, who describes herself as a guide to the spirit world, tells him the startling truth as he struggles to comprehend the fact that he is staring down at his dead body.
The series portrays Yoshihiro Togashi’s brilliance as a manga author. Besides having worked on this, Togashi has also written Hunter x Hunter, which is coming back to serialization after a few years of on-and-off hiatus.
Netflix’s Yu Yu Hakusho is set for a December 2023 release. It has been directed by Sho Tsukikawa and produced by Akira Morii.
Source: IGN
