Juri (樹里 Juri?) is the referee of the Dark Tournament after Koto was forced to switch to commentary.
Quick Answers
What type of demon is Juri in Yu Yu Hakusho?
Who took over as the referee of the Dark Tournament after Koto?
What is the significance of Juri's webbed tail and ears in Yu Yu Hakusho?
How does Juri's appearance differ from other characters in Yu Yu Hakusho?
What is the role of Juri in the Dark Tournament of Yu Yu Hakusho?
Appearance[]
Juri is an unknown type of sea creature demon, given the webbed tail and ears as well as the fin-tipped tail. Juri has mint-green hair, like Yukina. Her skin is tan and she wears blue lipstick and eyeshadow. She wears a tight black bodysuit with a hole in the front and back which exposes her belly, navel and back. She also wears a small pink top, a matching pink skirt, red arm and leg warmers, a small purple bow tie, and a pink bandana. Juri is apparently something of an idol of the Human and Demon Worlds.
Personality[]
Juri doesn't seem to be as sadistic as Koto (though only in the English dub version was she a sadist), but she seems much more cowardly as she is seen constantly fleeing away from the fight when she gets scared, claiming she is not paid well enough or curled in a fetal position wondering where her "mamma" is. She is also a good deal more squeamish than her friend, often expressing disgust at the remains of dead contestants. Despite this, she is still somewhat professional, as she noticed that during the fight between Kurama and Karasu, Kurama had fallen and she began to count. Due to this, even though Kurama had killed Karasu, he lost the match as he had been down for just over ten seconds. Like Koto, she doesn't seem to hold any prejudice against Team Urameshi.
In the manga epilogue and in the All or Nothing special, it is shown that she had changed her line of work (in the anime, she's seen working as a waitress during the Demon World Tournament). Now, she has become a famous character in Demon World, enough to win a cult of supporters, along with Ruka and Koto where she develops a crush on Suzuki, which is also shown in an ad during the events of Eizou Hakusho.
History[]
She was raised on a farm and grew apples, and later worked as a waitress in a cocktail bar before leaving her old life to become a ring announcer, likely for fame, though she regrets this once she sees the true brutal nature of the Dark Tournament competition.
Synopsis[]
Dark Tournament Saga[]
During Ura Urashima and Kurama's match, Ura tricked Kurama and used the Idunn box, in a failed attempt to turn Kurama into his younger and weaker self and covered the entire ring with its purple fog. Unfortunately for him, Kurama ended up transforming into Yoko, his past self, and instead, it was Juri who became a defenseless demon child.
Juri's transformation sequence based on that of Sailor Moon.
When the fog dissipated after the Idunn Box's effects, Juri turned back to her teen form, in a Sailor Moon-esque transformation sequence.
Towards the end of the Dark Tournament competition, as the stadium was collapsing due to Sakyo's detonation, Juri pulls Koto out of the way of the falling debris after which she wails that she doesn't want to die as a virgin (in the original Japanese version, she doesn't want to die before getting married), despite her popularity in the cocktail lounge (according to Koto). The two then run to escape before the stadium fully collapses with Koto calling out, "Let's find you a man!"
Three Kings Saga[]
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A cameo of Juri watching the Demon World Tournament.
Later, in the Demon World Tournament, Koto implies that she got "what she wanted" which implies that she is no longer a virgin. There is a cameo in Episode 105, where Juri is watching the Tournament with a demon that has a moustache. She is apparently working as a waitress.
Epilogue[]
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Juri along with Ruka and Koto in an ad in Eizou Hakusho.
In the manga epilogue, she is seen with Ruka and Koto as part of a trio of cult favorites. In a Human World television interview, she admits to having a crush on Suzuki. She is also seen in a magazine along with Koto and Ruka, revealing they have become idols in the anime as well.
Relationships[]
- Koto: Both Koto and Juri seem to be friends based on Koto's seemingly personal commentary during the Dark Tournament competition. Koto mentions that she found Juri in a cocktail bar; implying that she played a role in Juri working at the Dark Tournament. Koto saved Juri's life from the side effects of Hiei's Dragon of the Darkness Flame, and it was Juri's heartfelt appeal that convinced Koto to finally abandon the crumbling stadium.
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Juri's crush on Suzuki, during the All or Nothing special (also shown on the manga).
- Suzuki: In an interview, Juri admits to having a crush on Suzuki due to his goofy personality.
Trivia[]
- Juri and Yukina have a similar hair color, but Yukina has a brighter tone.
- The first episode in which Juri appears is Yusuke's Final Test. She is the new referee in the new stadium. Juri comments that she is new to the job.
- Juri wears a swimsuit alongside Koto and Ruka as revealed in Eizou Hakusho: Episode 3, with their cameo epilogue in the manga.