Episode 47

Legendary Bandit: Yoko Kurama
Kanji	伝説の盗賊! 妖狐·蔵馬
Rōmaji	Densetsu no Tōsoku! Yōko Kurama (The Legendary Thief! Yoko Kurama!)
Japan Air Date	September 11, 1993
English Air Date	May 7, 2003
Episode	47
Manga	Chapters 82-83 (first half)
Saga	Dark Tournament Saga
Opening Song	Smile Bomb
Ending Song	Sayonara Bye Bye
Previous Episode	←Many Faces, Many Forms
Next Episode	The Cape of No Return→

Legendary Bandit: Yoko Kurama is the twenty-second episode of season 2 of YuYu Hakusho. It aired on September 11, 1993 in Japan and May 7, 2003 in the United States.

Short Summary

Ura Urashima has confined the ring with a peripheral space made of his fishing line; he unleashes smoke that makes everyone's age reverse, thereby making them grow younger. However, this only transforms Kurama into his original and far stronger form, which is the fox demon, Yoko Kurama. Ura Urashima finds himself in big trouble as Kurama calls forth a Death Tree and tries to find the real motivations for Team Uraotogi's participation in the tournament. Meanwhile, Yusuke continues to struggle with the absorption of the Spirit Wave Orb. Will he survive?

Detailed Summary

With both Ura Urashima and the newly transformed Yoko Kurama trapped in the ring, the true battle begins. Yoko finally shows himself, and unleashes an attack known as the Death Tree, a very powerful plant with several mouths all with acidic saliva. The pain of this plant is so intense that every second of agony feels like its own eternity.

Yoko Kurama demands that Ura Urashima tell him the secret of the Idunn Box. Ura says he doesn't know, and that he only joined Team Uratogi because Shishiwakamaru promised him riches. Yoko knows he is lying, and threatens to kill him. Ura finally starts telling the truth. He says that he is not even Ura Urashima, and both Kuro Momotaro and Makintaro weren't who they seemed to be either. That they were together when Shishi and Onji showed up, and he was about to say something else when a sword flies into the ring, and hits Ura, changing him into a wolf-like creature.

As the smoke clears, we see that it was Shishi who threw the sword. Juri then declares Kurama the winner. Shortly after the smoke clears, Kurama turns back into his regular form. The teams both roll their dice, and for Team Uraotogi, it is none other than the captain Shishiwakamaru. For Team Urameshi, it is a free space.

Kurama, Hiei, and Kuwabara then start fighting over who should go. They decide to settle it with a game of rock-paper-scissors. Kuwabara wins, but Hiei says he unfolded his hand later than he and Kurama. Kuwabara complains and says how could he know, and Hiei's Jagan Eye glows. They play another game, and Kuwabara wins again. Meanwhile, Yusuke is still tortured by Genkai's Spirit Wave Orb absorption test, but after Pu becomes endangered, Yusuke finally absorbs the orb, and saves him.

Anime Notes

• The English dub text has Koto crushing on Kurama in his full demon form only to lose interest when he changes back to normal.
• Shishiwakamaru's fangirls have been redubbed for the Blu-ray release as the original casting had voice actresses already providing the pivotal female characters in the series:
  • The fangirl who says "We're your loyal fans, Shishi!" is redubbed by Kate Bristol, replacing Linda Young from the original version.
  • The fangirl who yells "Make a kill for me, babe!" goes from Laura Bailey to Amber Barnes.
  • The blonde girl who admits to liking Kurama more than Shishiwakamaru; "I hope he doesn't kill Kurama, though. He's a cutie." was originally voiced by Amber Cotton, whereas the Blu-ray version has her voiced by Alexis Tipton.
  • The redheaded fangirl who was originally dubbed by Jamie Marchi, previously said "You're so fickle, blondie!" when the aforementioned demon admitted to liking Kurama more than Shishiwakamaru. The Blu-ray dub has her voiced by Cherami Leigh and the line is changed to "Oooh! Touch me, touch me, touch me!!"
  • A fangirl from offscreen (as Kuwabara is boasting how he'll defeat Shishiwakamaru) is redubbed by Cherami Leigh in place of Kasey Buckley. The other one, voiced by Jessica Dismuke, has her dialogue mostly expunged so as not to make the resemblance to her main role too obvious.

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