Yu Yu Hakusho: Kurama (INFJ)

Back in 2019, we received a request for Yusuke Urameshi from Yu Yu Hakusho. At the time, we didn’t always bother to analyze other characters in a series beyond what was requested, so we literally only typed that one character. Recently though, we received a paid request for the rest of the series, so we’re attempting to analyze all the main characters. Kurama is probably the most well-developed side character in Yu Yu Hakusho, so we fairly quickly landed on INFJ for him. Popular consensus on Kurama seems to be INFJ, so we don’t imagine this post will be controversial. In the near future, we’re aiming to release articles for Kuwabara, Hiei, and Genkai, assuming we settle on personality types for them.

Ni:

“Have you learned anything? It’s Kurama’s obnoxious habit. He never creates his own strategy until he fully understands his opponent’s.” – Hiei

“They’re at the end of their line. I know how this will end.”

“There’s no way I would have shown up here without testing it first.”

“How dare you accuse me with some groundless hunch!” – Koenma

Kurama demonstrates the key signs of being an introverted perceiving dominant (Ni or Si). He’s cautious and careful, preferring to observe first and only act once he reaches a complete understanding. At one point, Hiei directly explains this tendency by saying that Kurama never creates his own strategy until he fully understands his opponent’s. Throughout the Dark Tournament, Kurama is constantly shown analyzing his opponents and even watching fights that don’t directly involve his teammates. He is often the only member of his team that bothers to do so. As a result, he usually has a good idea of how events might play out.

As for being a Ni dominant specifically, Kurama is often shown reading into those around him, seeming to understand what they’re thinking or their motivations. This is especially the case in regard to Hiei, who rarely speaks about himself, yet Kurama always seems to know what’s going on with him that he’s not saying. However, as another example, he is the first to realize that Koenma knows the identity of the tunnel builder. He confronts Koenma directly about this without any concrete evidence, and Koenma accuses it of being a groundless hunch.

Fe:

“Percentages are for poker, fool. You can factor strengths and stamina, doctor. I’ll give you that. But determining the true heart of a person is quite a different thing.”

“I could tell that you would trust me.”

“It most certainly isn’t pleasant being called a “traitor” by creatures you’ve never met.”

Upon first being introduced to Kurama, it’s immediately clear that he’s polite and soft-spoken. Of course, this doesn’t guarantee that one is a high Fe user. However, as the show progresses, he’s continually shown to act in a manner that is proper, as if adhering to social protocol. He’s concerned with how he’s viewed by complete strangers, rather than just with the opinions of those who matter. This is shown during the Dark Tournament when he’s referred to as a traitor.

In addition, Kurama often focuses his efforts on reading into and understanding other people. This is why he tells his whole life story to Yusuke when trying to save his mother. He appeals to Yusuke’s humanity, and gains his sympathy. Kindness is known to be Kurama’s weakness, which is periodically used against him. For instance, in the Dark Tournament, one of his opponents puts on an act to gain his sympathy and trick him into lowering his guard. Kurama is also loyal and caring toward those close to him, making him a valuable teammate. He offers the occasional advice to them, in an attempt to help, such as telling Hiei that his sister deserves to know that she has a brother.

Ti:

“Logic is panic’s prey.”

“Does that really make sense, Kuwabarra? Why would they bring us all the way here to poison us?”

Kurama is not one to typically be motivated, strengthened, or fueled by a internal sense of passion. Rather, when seriously fighting, he tends to be cold, quiet, and analytical. Typically, Kurama is kind and willing to help others. However, during dangerous situations, he’s also quite good at shutting off any emotion, becoming cold and merciless, willing to take out any foes without a second thought.

With his allies, Kurama tends to call out when things are logically inconsistent, and occasionally finds indirect ways to comment on the illogical nature of some of the things they say. This is especially in regard to Kuwabara and Boton, who are prone to getting caught in some illogical train of thought, usually due to panic or fear.

Se:

Kurama doesn’t put significant value on his physical senses. In fact, his fighting style allows him to not have to rely on his physical limbs. This works to his advantage during the Dark Tournament, when an opponent paralyzes him. He states that only a fool would think that he needs his arms and legs to fight, and then ends up utilizing his plant technique to defeat his foe.

As an inferior extraverted perceiver (Se or Ne), Kurama prefers to walk into every fight well-prepared, which why he spends so much time strategizing and analyzing. This is why, when told by Koenma that there’s no way to know what Sensui has picked up in the last ten years, Kurama’s immediate response is “then any initial contact is going to be a gamble.”