8.0/10577 votes#1 - Surprised to be Dead
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 10/10/1992
Yusuke Urameshi is having a typical day. He's cutting class, arguing with teachers and getting into fights with his rival Kuwabara. But then Yusuke does something that betrays his killer rep. He dives in front of a speeding car to push a little boy out of harm's way! Yusuke has sacrificed his life for the sake of another, but is this really the end of this brash young man?
Director: Noriyuki Abe
Writer: Yukiyoshi Ôhashi
7.5/10456 votes#2 - Koenma Appears
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 10/17/1992
Pulled by the sprightly, pink-robed Botan, Yusuke enters a realm that is not quite normal -- the Spirit World. There, Yusuke meets Koenma, a 700 year-old ruler with the body of a toddler, pacifier and all! But there's no rom for laughs as Koenma gives Yusuke an ordeal to restore his life. Hatching a Spirit Beast!
Director: Shigeru Ueda
Writer: Yukiyoshi Ôhashi
7.7/10447 votes#3 - Kuwabara: A Promise Between Men
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 10/24/1992
Kuwabara was tormented by his rival's death. The loser in all 156 of his brawls against Yusuke , he's now lost any chance he ever had of evening the score! But with Yusuke out of the way, Kuwabara is the new kid to beat... which means he's making plenty of enemies. Yusuke isn't fond of this classmate, but if he wants to win back his life, he will need to give him a ghostly hand.
Director: Kazunori Mizuno
Writer: Yukiyoshi Ôhashi
7.3/10414 votes#4 - Requirements for Lovers
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 10/31/1992
The Spirit World forgot an important question -- does anyone want Yusuke back? Koenma sends an Investigator to find out, and Yusuke's friends answer quickly when a fire threatens to char his earthly body. But will Yusuke give up the Spirit Beast, his one chance for revival, to rescue his friends?
Director: Akiyuki Shinbo
Writer: Sukehiro Tomita
7.6/10403 votes#5 - Yusuke's Back
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 11/7/1992
Yusuke has reclaimed his life, but has only one day to be revived by someone's kiss -— And that someone might be Kuwabara! Back in the flesh, Yusuke finds he can see supernatural creatures hiding in the living world, and quickly hunts down a demon criminal. With this move, he learns his adventure is only beginning. Yusuke is a Spirit Detective.
Director: Junya Koshiba
Writer: Katsuyuki Sumisawa
7.3/10385 votes#6 - Three Monsters
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 11/14/1992
Yusuke receives his first real case as Spirit Detective. Three demon thieves have muscled their way into King Yama's sacred vault, stealing the three Artifacts of Darkness. Yusuke must recover the artifacts and bring the thieves to justice before they unleash dark and deadly powers on the people of Earth.
Director: Hitoyuki Matsui
Writer: Hiroshi Hashimoto
7.6/10375 votes#7 - Gouki and Kurama
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 11/21/1992
The oafish demon Gouki is using the stolen Orb of Baast to capture children's souls. If Yusuke doesn't track down and defeat this monster quickly, those souls will become the monster's next meal. But Gouki isn't the only one Yusuke has to worry about when the second thief suddenly appears. His name is Kurama, and to great surprise, he asks Yusuke for a favor...
Director: Akiyuki Shinbo
Writer: Shikichi Ohashi
7.7/10382 votes#8 - The Three Eyes of Hiei
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 11/28/1992
With two artifacts under his belt, Yusuke heads for his most dangerous challenge yet – the ruthless demon Hiei. But unbeknownst to Yusuke, Hiei is chasing him, and kidnaps his girlfriend Kayko! Unless Yusuke can retrieve the antidote inside Hiei's Shadow Sword, Keiko will become a brainless, monster slave! Can Yusuke close the case?
Director: Junya Koshiba
Writer: Sukehiro Tomita
7.5/10355 votes#9 - The Search Begins
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 12/5/1992
Yusuke's three-day weekend is cut short when Botan delivers his next big case. Genkai, an aging psychic, will hold a contest to find a worthy apprentice to her powerful technique: the Spirit Wave. But an evil demon, Rando, plans to steal the technique and use it for mass destruction! Yusuke must go undercover and infiltrate Genkai's compound!
Director: Shigeru Ueda
Writer: Katsuyuki Sumisawa
7.7/10352 votes#10 - Kuwabara's Spirit Sword
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 12/12/1992
The candidates for Genkai's apprenticeship have been narrowed to eight. Among them: Yusuke, Kuwabara, and the disguised demon Rando! Genkai announces the final test will be a tournament, fought in total darkness. And Kuwabara's first opponent is swinging a supernatural sword!
Director: Kazunori Mizuno
Writer: Hiroshi Hashimoto
7.6/10352 votes#11 - Hard Fights for Yusuke
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 12/19/1992
In his first match of the tournament, Yusuke faces an impossible disadvantage. He can't see a thing in the pitch-black arena, but a hi-tech helmet allows Kibano to follow Yusuke's every move. Even if the battle-worn detective can survive Kibano, he'll have to fight his second match immediately -— against a lethal ninja!
Director: Hitoyuki Matsui
Writer: Shikichi Ohashi
7.6/10348 votes#12 - Rando Rises, Kuwabara Falls
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 12/26/1992
Yusuke, Kuwabara, and young Shorin are the only fighters still standing in the Genkai Tournament. Yet Rando has not been found. Could this mean that Shorin is actually Rando? Or is the demon lurking somewhere in the shadows? The truth will soon be known, as Kuwabara faces Shorin on the haunted field of battle.
Director: Akiyuki Shinbo
Writer: Sukehiro Tomita
7.7/10346 votes#13 - Yusuke vs. Rando: 99 Attacks
Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 1/9/1993
Kuwabara's body lays broken. Shorin is nowhere to be found. And with Yusuke's energy dwindling every minute, the evil Rando reveals his true and monstrous form. Now, can the injured Yusuke battle the human-hunting demon and close the case? How can he, when Rando has ninety-nine deadly techniques in his arsenal.
Director: Junya Koshiba
Writer: Katsuyuki Sumisawa
7.3/10330 votes#14 - The Beasts of Maze Castle
Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 1/16/1993
Yusuke returns from training with the great psychic Genkai, and not a moment too soon! Dreadful Makai Insects are invading his own city, part of a sinister scheme to flood the earth with demons! With Kuwabara at his side, Yusuke dives into a forbidden demon city. His target: four deadly creatures known as the Saint Beasts!
Director: Shigeru Ueda
Writer: Hiroshi Hashimoto
7.5/10326 votes#15 - Genbu, the Stone Beast
Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 1/23/1993
Kurama and Hiei, two demons Yusuke beat in his first case, join Yusuke and Kuwabara to battle the Saint Beasts. This awkward alliance must learn to trust each other quickly, as they struggle through the Gate of Betrayal. And waiting just beyond this trap is the first Beast —- a giant made of solid stone!
Director: Kazunori Mizuno
Writer: Shikichi Ohashi
7.6/10319 votes#16 - Byakko, the White Tiger
Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 1/30/1993
One of Yusuke's teammates has been badly injured, and Kuwabara insists on fighting the next enemy all by himself -— revealing his amazingly improved Spirit Sword! Before the bickering group can disagree, a ferocious roar slices through the castle. Byakko, the second Saint Beast, is waiting!
Director: Akiyuki Shinbo
Writer: Sukehiro Tomita
7.7/10323 votes#17 - Byakko's Lair
Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 2/6/1993
After a harrowing fight on a collapsing bridge, Byakko is seemingly defeated. But as soon as the Spirit Detective team enters the castle's next wing, a fearsome tiger roar bids Kuwabara to round two -- in Byakko's secret lair. Can this Beast be beaten once and for all, in a room of molten lava?
Director: Junya Koshiba
Writer: Katsuyuki Sumisawa
7.3/10353 votes#18 - Seiryu, the Blue Dragon
Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 2/13/1993
Two of the four Saint Beasts are dead -- or so Yusuke and his team believe! But in the chamber of Seiryu, a Beast who can trap his enemies in ice, an unexpected guest arrives. How can two Beasts in one room be stopped? And why is Hiei, a cold-hearted rogue, suddenly beset with emotion?
Director: Hitoyuki Matsui
Writer: Katsuyuki Sumisawa
7.3/10319 votes#19 - Suzaku, Leader of the Beasts
Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 2/20/1993
Yusuke, Kuwabara, Kurama and Hiei rush into the next part of the castle as they reach the final chamber where Suzaku awaits. Unknown to them Suzaku's master plan is being made - to capture Keiko.
Director: Shigeru Ueda
Writer: Yukiyoshi Ôhashi
7.3/10313 votes#20 - Seven Ways to Die
Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 2/27/1993
Suzaku uses The Prism of Seven technique to create seven Suzakus. Not merely copies, each one has independent will and full powers - all aimed at the torture and annihilation of Yusuke.
Director: Kazunori Mizuno
Writer: Motohiro Tomita
7.5/10311 votes#21 - Yusuke's Sacrifice
Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 3/6/1993
Suzaku releases another lightning fist attack, but Yusuke was up to the task as he himself unleashes his full power and he blasts Suzaku with his devastating spirit shotgun!
Director: Akiyuki Shinbo
Writer: Katsuyuki Sumisawa
7.4/10299 votes#22 - Lamenting Beauty
Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 3/13/1993
Yukina is a beautiful ice apparition whose tears transform into priceless jewels. Now a filthy human crime lord named Tarukane has kidnapped Yukina, planning to extract her tears through torture and make a fortune! Yusuke, Kuwabara, and Botan must quickly mount a rescue mission. But why is Hiei not allowed to know?
Director: Haruo Nakayama
Writer: Hiroshi Hashimoto
7.4/10294 votes#23 - The Toguro Brothers Gang
Season 1 Episode 23 - Aired 3/20/1993
Yusuke's Spirit Detective team continues toward Tarukane's mountain stronghold, facing a small army of grotesque demon guards. It seems an alliance has formed between human criminals and demon mercenaries, with money as the bottom line. Yet Kuwabara plows fearlessly ahead declaring he's in love with Yukina!
Director: Noriyuki Abe
Writer: Yukiyoshi Ôhashi
7.5/10299 votes#24 - The Deadly Triad
Season 1 Episode 24 - Aired 3/27/1993
Struggling their way to the front gates of Tarukane's stronghold, Yusuke, Kuwabara, and Botan now face a much greater challenge: three notorious demon fighters known throughout Spirit World as the Triad! Can the Spirit Detective team fight three outlandish opponents on after another, and save the tortured Yukina?
Director: Akiyuki Shinbo
Writer: Sukehiro Tomita
8.0/10311 votes#25 - Kuwabara's Fight of Love
Season 1 Episode 25 - Aired 4/10/1993
One giant battle stands in the way of rescuing Yukina. Yusuke and Kuwabara versus the leaders of the demon mercenaries, the immensely powerful and bizarre - Toguro Brothers! What will it take to defeat the freakish duo in a fight where anything goes? Elsewhere, Kurama races to stop Hiei, who is entering Tarukane's stronghold with his own violent agenda!
Director: Hitoyuki Matsui
Writer: Katsuyuki Sumisawa
The Best Episodes of Yu Yu Hakusho Season 1
Every episode of Yu Yu Hakusho Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Yu Yu Hakusho Season 1!
One day, 14-year-old Yusuke Urameshi suddenly finds himself dead, having died pushing a child out of the way of oncoming traffic. Since he has such...
Genres:AnimationAction & AdventureSci-Fi & Fantasy
Network:Fuji TV
Season 1 Ratings Summary
"Surprised to be Dead" is the best rated episode of "Yu Yu Hakusho" season 1. It scored 8/10 based on 577 votes. Directed by Noriyuki Abe and written by Yukiyoshi Ôhashi, it aired on 10/10/1992. This episode is rated 0.5 points higher than the second-best, "Koenma Appears".