Koenma

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Koenma is a character in the YuYu Hakusho anime and manga series. He is the son of Yama, the ruler of the spirit realm, and the one responsible for appointing Yusuke Urameshi as spirit detective. His Japanese seiyū is Mayumi Tanaka and his English voice is Sean Teague in the Funimation dub. In the first movie, The Golden Seal, he is voiced by Brianne Siddall. In the second movie, Bonds of Fire, he is voiced by Eric Stuart. His Tagalog voice is Rowena Raganit

Koenma first appears in the YuYu Hakusho series as a toddler, which Yusuke often teases him about. He is, however, at least 750 years old (he states that he's 50 times older than Yusuke, who was 14 at the time) and has extensive knowledge of the universe.

Koenma is a very comical character, but is often cowardly. However, if Yusuke or any of the others are in immediate danger, he'll help all he can. He comes off as a good leader and a nice guy for the most part.

His job in Spirit World is to decide who goes to Heaven, and who goes to Hell. Some think this should be his father's job, but King Yama's too busy on business trips most of the time.

In the Dark Tournament Saga, Koenma can turn into his teenage form, after thinking that Yusuke and Kuwabara will make fun of him. Also, he had a Jr. sign on his forhead, and still has his pacifier.

Koenma has carried a pacifier in his mouth for most of his existence, storing up his spirit energy. When the power is unleashed, it creates the Mafukkan, Spirit World's most powerful defensive spell. Depending on how much energy Koenma places in the pacifier, he can seal demons of varying strength. At the time of the Chapter Black Saga, Koenma can seal an S class apparition with ease.

He is responsible for the Spirit Detectives, which is a job he requested. When Shinobu Sensui attempts to unite the human and demon worlds, he feels responsible for him. In fact, when he unleashes his Mafukkan on Sensui, he is prepared to suffer with him, unmoving for eternity, as atonement.

Koenma, more or less, betrays his father when he sides with Yusuke after the Spirit Defense Force wanted to kill Yusuke for being a Mazoku. So Koenma lives in the human world for a short while, afraid of what his dad might do to him. He does go back eventually, though.

[edit] Trivia

• Some suspect Botan of being his love interest. But in the manga, it is proven that he and another ferry girl, Ayame, have an interest in each other.

• Koenma's name in the Filipino dub of the series was changed to "Jericho".

• Koenma's image song on the soundtrack is "Tokoton". He also has a duet with Botan in "MOONLIGHT PARTY".

YuYu Hakusho
Characters
Yusuke Urameshi | Kazuma Kuwabara | Keiko Yukimura (Kayko Yukimura) | Koenma | Botan | Hiei | Kurama | Genkai | Yukina
Story Arcs
Spirit Detective Saga | Dark Tournament Saga | Chapter Black Saga | Saga of the Three Kings | The Movie | Poltergeist Report
Other
YuYu Hakusho characters | Ability list | Demon ranks | Manga chapters | Makai | Episodes | Trading Card Game