Yu Yu Hakusho through a Libertarian Lens: A Short Character Analysis of Antagonist, Sensui Shinobu
Yoshihiro Togashi's manga turned anime series ,Yu Yu hakusho, has alot libertarian themes throughout it, especially during the the Chapter Black Arc. For example, during the Chapter Black Arc, the antagonist and former spirit detective, Sensui Shinobu attempts to create a portal between the human realm and the demon realm. In doing so, he would allow the demons to travel freely between the two realms.
For centuries, the spirit world government has protected the humans from demons. Sensui wanted to break that trend. According to him, the spirit world government tells us plainly that the humans are good and the demons were bad. Whenever you see a demon, you kill it. However, during his time as a spirit detective, he witnessed a horrible event that had shown him the true nature of the humans. An event that proved humans were true enemy.
The audience watch him witness torture, murder, and the eating of demons. "Are humans worth protecting," he asks himself. This event caused him to quit being a spirit detective and in doing so become a radical libertarian. That is to say, he was then purely against the spirit world government. Creating a portal between the realms would restore the natural balance of the universe that existed during the era of Medival Japan and cease the spirit world government's protection of the humans.
The son of King Koema (the spirit world's king), Prince Koema Jr explains in episode 71 in the anime that the spirit world government controlled only a small portion of demon world territory and intended to expand its influence over time. This behavior can be said to be an act of imperialism. It reminded me of when the United States government occupied the Philipines in 1898. And just as Sensui created an opportunity for the demons to free themselves, so did anti-imperialist and industrialist Andrew Carnigie, by offering to purchase the independence of the Philipines with a check of 20 million dollars.
To me, Sensui Shinobu is not a villian. He is someone who wanted zero regulation of the human realm and the demon realm. He wanted a place where, according to evolutionary biologist and libertarian, Herbert Spencer, only the fittest will survive, whether human or demon.
Sensui's story arc is just one of the several examples that displays Libertarian themes. Understanding how the state works and how it creates poverty is very important, especially for the new generation of fans who enjoy anime series like Yu Yu hakusho. There is a series of educational books created by Connor Boyack called "the Tuttle Twins." It is based on Frederic Bastiat's book called the "The Law." This great series of books has alot of great illustrations for storytelling and for teaching libertarian principles to the new younger generation. It is the only one of its kind. Here is a link to the Tuttle Twins Website if you are interested:
http://tuttletwins.com?ap_id=modia1234