As the manga and anime continue to evolve, so does the nuanced representation of LGBTQIA+ characters. Yoshihiro Togashithe celebrated creator behind YuYu Hakusho, Level Eand Hunter X Hunterstands out for his long-standing attempt to incorporate queer representation in his works. While Togashi’s early depictions of trans and non-binary characters often reflected his era – sometimes falling into stereotypes – his later works show a more refined approach, highlighting his journey towards authentic and respectful representation of queer identities.
Yoshihiro Togashi is a celebrated manga artist known for creating innovative shōnen series, praised for their complex characters and unique storytelling. Your wife, Naoko Takeuchi, creator of Sailor Moonhas been an influential figure in her own right, especially known for her progressive portrayal of queer relationships, such as the iconic couple Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune. His approach to LGBTQIA+ themes may have influenced Togashi’s evolving views on queer identities, inspiring him to portray gender and sexuality thoughtfully in his later works.
YuYu Hakusho’s Representation of Queer Characters Is Outdated
Trans visibility is key to dispelling prejudice, when done right
In YuYu HakushoTogashi introduced Itsuki, a demon with a deep romantic interest in another male character, Sensui. However, while this portrayal of queer love was groundbreaking for a 1990s shōnen series, the treatment of queer characters and themes fell short of modern standards. Togashi’s representation often relied on clichésas overtly effeminate male villains, who, while nuanced in parts, generally fall in line with outdated tropes. These decisions were the result of Shōnen JumpThe magazine’s editors mandate that queer representation not be portrayed in a positive, supportive light for fear of alienating its young male audience.
Itsuki’s storyline, however, signaled Togashi’s intention to go beyond simple characterization. Its representation of Itsuki’s love for Sensui was sincere and complexalthough it is not known whether this love was reciprocated. The character Miyuki, a trans woman who fights Yusuke, was another early attempt, but was largely stereotyped, showing Togashi’s unfamiliarity with the experiences of trans individuals. Yusuke dismisses Miyuki, criticizes her transition journey, and makes disrespectful assumptions about her experience. Miyuki’s presence in the story feels more like an ill-conceived attempt at humor at the expense of a queer person rather than sincere inclusion.
Level E’s Mikihisa is a step in the right direction
The story’s recurring theme of alienation resonates with queer audiences
In Level EA science fiction series known for its dark humor and unconventional storytelling, Togashi takes its exploration of queer identity further. The character Mikihisa, a trans man, presents a complex mix of Togashi’s evolving perspectives on gender and identity, approaching the concept with respect and curiosity, not authority. The audience spends more time with Mikihisa than with Miyuki, and experience some casual homophobia and transphobia that queer people browse daily. Mikihisa feels lonely and isolated when the women he desires reject him, claiming they can only see him as a woman.
When Princess Saki, an alien who causes the eventual extinction of her companions’ species, arrives on Earth in search of a new lover, she and Mikihisa fall in love. Initially, the heroes conclude that the threat is moot when they discover that Mikihisa was assigned female at birth, but they panic when alien technology allows him to fully transition. However, they develop a solution that allows Mikihisa to live in the body he feels most comfortable in, while also preventing the end of the human race. This recognizes that it is not the end of the world to allow other human bodily autonomy.
Hunter x Hunter Handles Queer Identities More Tactfully
Miyuki and Mikihisa walked so Alluka could run
When Hunter x Hunter went into serialization in 1998, Togashi’s approach to LGBTQ+ representation has evolved significantly. Characters like Kurapika and Kalluto follow the tradition of Yu Yu Hakushos Kurama, a boy with a hyper-feminine presentation, while others like Pitou remain gender ambiguous. Alluka Zoldyck is widely recognized by fans as one of the most respectful depictions of a transgender character in manga, although it is not explicitly stated that she is trans. Her family does not consider her well-being and sees her as a tool through which they can fulfill their desires, while at the same time keeping her locked in her room, alone.
Killua is the only member of the family who treats Alluka with dignity and is an excellent example of respect and understanding. Alluka’s arrest is representative of how some trans people are at the mercy of their family or caregivers who demand compliance in exchange for safe living conditions. Killua, however, rejects this inhumane treatment and risks his life to free his sister, whatever the cost. When he attempts to banish the creature from the Dark Continent that inhabits Alluka, he finally realizes that rejecting a part of his loved one would be manipulation through conditional love. Togashi shows tremendous growth with this character arc.
Togashi’s Unreleased Gay Baseball Romance
The author struggled to find an audience for the unconventional manga
Interestingly, Togashi’s commitment to queer representation goes beyond his published work. There is an unpublished story that Togashi once considered but never fully realized—a gay and cross-dressing baseball romance, Problem Quartet. Although details remain scarce, YuYu Hakusho Vol. 1 confirm Quartetexistence and reveals the main character in supplementary sections. The main character, Gen Otoda, is more of a male with feminine presentation, who looks like a prototype of Kurapika’s design. Togashi admits that it was written with his personal interests in mind and that he couldn’t find a way to make it commercially viable considering the cultural climate in Japan in the early 1990s.
Problem Quartet is emblematic of Togashi’s willingness to take creative risks, as well as his desire to be part of the evolving conversations surrounding queer representation. It suggests that, for Togashi, LGBTQIA+ inclusion is not just an experimental motif, but a facet of the narrative that allows him to provide queer visibility and challenges negative stereotypes surrounding atypical gender expression. Today’s sensitive portrayal of LGBTQIA+ characters can easily be traced back to visionaries such as Yoshihiro Togashiwho are not afraid to speak up on behalf of a vulnerable population, even if they don’t quite understand the message at first.