Netflix's live-action "Yu Yu Hakusho" series is directed by Shô Tsukikawa, who knows the show's leading man, Takumi Kitamura, from their time working together on 2017's "Let Me Eat Your Pancreas," a live-action adaptation of Yoru Sumino's web novel of the same name. It's about a girl with pancreatic cancer. "Although the title may sound a bit horrible, it in fact tells a very moving story of romance between a high-school boy and girl," Tsukikawa said at the Busan International Film Festival (via Yonhap News Agency).
A box office hit in Japan, "Let Me Eat Your Pancreas" was a calling card for Tsukikawa, and he's been busy since. He's helmed several movies in the past few years, including "My Little Monster," "My Teacher, My Love," and "You Shine in the Moonlight." And, while he's known more for movies, Tsukikawa has also worked in TV on several occasions — he most recently took charge of six episodes of the romantic drama series "And Live" in 2019.
While Tsukikawa was skeptical about the idea of a live-action "Yu Yu Hakusho" series to begin with, he soon came around to the idea. "After being presented with the producer's vision and possibilities with Netflix, my expectations grew and I found myself burning with passion to make this project come to life," Tsukikawa told IGN. "More than anything, I think the appeal of 'Yu Yu Hakusho' comes from its characters, which is why I wanted to highlight the appealing relationships and battles in 'Yu Yu Hakusho.'"
