Yusuke & Kuwabara Fashion Variation

Source: “Yu Yu Hakusho Official Character Book Reikai Shinshiroku”, pp.15;38 (2005).

Starting out with our bad boys from the Sarayashiki Junior High, Yusuke and Kuwabara, I’ll begin to translate the “Fashion” section from the Official Character Book.

Translator Notes:

Here follows a little bit of the Japanese uniform terminology used in the databook. Those uniforms were very popular in the 70s and 80s and were worn by bad boys like Kuwabara and Yusuke:

Tanran (短ラン): “uniform with short lower hem” is a school uniform in which the blazer is cut extra short around the waist line. This was popular among ruffians and delinquents guys in the 80s. Yusuke wears this type of school uniform in the series.
Chouran (長ラン): “uniform with long lower hem” is a type of school uniform that has a special shape with the length from below the knee to around the shin. Kuwabara wore it in an opening chapter.
Tokko-fuku (特攻服): also translated as “combat uniform”, it’s a type of long jacket worn by the bousouzoku, biker gang members. They are often worn open in the front with bandage wrappings around the waist. Kuwabara wore it in the Dark Tournament with the saying “Health First” on its back.
Sarashi (サラシ): long strip of cloth wrapped tightly around the midriff up to the chest. Kuwabara wears it a lot.

The databook brings the volumes and pages of the kanzenban edition as reference. I converted them to tanko ref. as most of the people are more familiar with the 19-volume edition.

Yusuke Urameshi - Fashion Variation

Do the fighting outfits suit him best after all?

Although it feels like Yusuke only wears ‘tanran’ school uniforms or delinquent looks, he surprisingly wears a variety of clothes. However, most of his stuff are still simple which is appropriate for his age, we could say.

▲ With his hair down, a rare sight. An ordinary boy? (v.1, p.188)

▲ Wearing a ‘tanran’ uniform with baggy pants and swept back hair. A psyched up appearance. (v.2, p.94)

▲ His appearance at the Genkai’s Tournament. Roll up the sleeves and get ready to fight. (v.4, p.40)

▲ A pure white shirt with wide open chest. A refreshing style. (v.8, 127)

▲ Clothes from a Dark Tournament’s match. Was it something arranged by Genkai? (v.8, p.132)

▲ There is a pattern all over his body, it’s the Great Atavism of the Mazoku. He was asked by Botan: “Who is that?” (v.17, p.86)

▲ At the Makai Tournament. A figure brimming with fighting spirit. (v.19, p.33)

Kazuma Kuwabara - Fashion Variation

He’s all excited about clothes!!

Although Kuwabara has a strong image of wearing school uniform or tokko-fuku combat outfits, he actually wears plain clothes in many scenes. He wears a lot of bad boy clothes, but on rare occasions he also wears something very out of character…This is also characteristic of Kuwabara!?

▲ Baseball uniform style. The words “Morter-head” are written on the chest. (v.4, p.49)

▲ Clothes during the Dark Tournament. He’s wearing the school uniform’s pants. (v.11, p.40)

▲ Appearance when he was attacked by Mitarai after the Megallica’s concert. (v.14, p.136)

▲ Dressed in a very spirited manner: the bokken (wooden sword), chou-ran (long school uniform) and sarashi (cloth wrapped around the chest). (v.14, p.146)