Botan (YuYu Hakusho)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Botan (ぼたん) is a fictional character in the anime series YuYu Hakusho. Her Japanese seiyū is Sanae Miyuki. Her English voice actresses are Cynthia Cranz in the FUNimation dub, Lia Sargent in the first movie, and Veronica Taylor in the second movie.

The guide for the dead across the Sanzu River (the River Styx), Botan is hardly typical of what one would expect from the shinigami, or death god; clad in a bright pink kimono, with her blue hair in a ponytail. Botan is cheerful, sometimes sarcastic, and a completely atypical version of Death (something the main character Yusuke Urameshi points out almost immediately after meeting her). Although her initial purpose is to help Yusuke cross over to the Spirit World, or Reikai, Botan eventually becomes a sort of guardian angel to Yusuke, helping him in his efforts to return to his body, and when Yusuke becomes a Spirit Detective, being the liason between Yusuke and friends, and Koenma in Reikai.

[edit] Weapons, items and attacks

Botan is not a fighter like those around her, but she has fought several times, often to help Keiko Yukimura to get her out of trouble. She has no spirit powers like Yusuke's Spirit Gun or Kuwabara's Spirit Sword, but she possesses heightened spirit awareness.

Typically, when Botan fights, she tends to favor blunt instruments like her oar, a metal bat, or, if all else fails, her fists. In her human form, Botan can use any of Yusuke's detective items. In one scene during the episode "Setting the Trap", Botan was planning to use the Concentration Ring to blow up walls, which suggests she might have spirit powers like Yusuke, but they are undisclosed.

Botan is a quick thinker and improvises well. She once used a fire extingusher to remove demonic bugs that were attacking.

Botan, like Genkai, also possesses healing powers. On Yusuke's first case, Botan was his active partner in fighting Hiei, and she could stem off Keiko's transformation from human to demon with her own powers. She has often been asked in other cases to treat the injured.

[edit] Trivia

• Botan's name in the Philippines' dub of the series was changed to "Charlene".

• On the Yu Yu Hakusho soundtrack, Botan has a duet with Koenma in "MOONLIGHT PARTY" and sings with Keiko and Yukina in "HOLD OUT!!".

• Botan translates as peony or button. The creator, Yoshihiro Togashi probably meant her name to be translated as peony, because it is implied that ferry girls are named after flowers (such as Koenma's assistant, Ayame, which translates as an iris). Botan's pink kimono also might imply that she is associated with peonies, because peonies are often pink.

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 | Manga chapters | Makai | Episodes | Trading Card Game