Yuugi-ou: A Paper Sword

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Welcome to my pages reflecting on Yuugi-ou, known as Yu-Gi-Oh! in it’s US incarnation. Step right in, watch your head.

Advisories: These pages are based exclusively on the Japanese anime and manga (bar the first series) NOT THE GAME. If you want info on the English version, head for the links at the bottom of the page. Likewise, if you want info on the card game. There are, of course, spoilers, so if you actually like cliff-hangers take a hike until you’ve finished reading/watching. All puns and double entendres are intended.

Note on Names

The dub has much to answer for. A number of names were vague or non-existent for a specific plot purpose before the US producers got to them. Since my nomenclature differs from the standard dub-influenced set, I hereby provide this handy key.

Mutou Yuugi, Yuugi: the little, cute one with the funky hair.

Pharaoh: the still fairly short one with the funky, more spiky hair and rather more dangerous eyes. Given that no one ever uses his name all through the manga, I refer to him mostly by this title rather than by Atem.

Bakura Ryou, Bakura-kun: the pretty, gentle looking one with platinum hair and brown eyes.

Bakura, Touzoku-ou: the frequently crazed and occasionally sexy looking one with platinum hair and brown eyes. Not gentle at all.

Ishtar Malik, Malik: the pretty, if rather vicious, pale blond with the carvings on his back.

the Fury: the really disturbing pale blond one that tends to distort.

tenant: my term for an indwelling soul who is not part of the original (eg Pharaoh and Bakura are tenants, the Fury isn’t).

Rationale is as follows. Yuugi and Pharaoh are pretty self-explanatory, since a lot of the series involves the search for Pharaoh’s memory and identity. The fact that no one remembers his name is kind of central. Bakura-kun and Bakura are fuzzier. All Bakura Ryou’s friends call him Bakura-kun; in fact, his tenant calls him Bakura. In the world of memory Touzoku-ou introduces himself as Bakura. Again, it’s fairly clear that he and Bakura-kun are two separate souls, though just whose soul Bakura’s is seems to be in a bit of doubt, manga-wise. Anime-wise, Bakura also consistently denies that he is Bakura (whenever friends are a bit slow to catch the switch), though he does not provide any other name. If we have to rationalize, I suppose his repeated “Bakura ja nai” could simply be his denial that he is any part of his host. In Malik’s case, though, the really disturbing one is, in fact, himself–just a really insane part of himself who seems to have gained a high degree of separation. Personally, I speculate that the Fury gained such extreme definition through contact with the Rod, given that all the Items seem to encourage evil in their holders (manga-wise). And, yes, I know the Classical Furies were women, but it’s an appropriate handle. No character ever calls him anything but Malik, which is well enough since he is… but, analytically, some distinguishing referent is called for once he and primary Malik start working at cross purposes. Which is almost immediately, now I think about it.

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Bushido for the new millennium

I named this page for the striking similarities between the traditions of the feudal warrior class and the concept of the “true duelist”.

A true duelist relies on her/his own strength. Mai and Jounouchi make this point most strongly. In the anime, when Yuugi is practically comatose with fear of his other self and the corollary fear that he will not be able to duel without his other self’s strength, Mai snaps him out of it. Anzu does her part, of course, but Mai’s insistence that the only thing a duelist brings to a duel, the only thing she relies on there, is her own strength–that is what drives Yuugi to accept the star chips and turn back to the fight. Both anime and manga feature Jounouchi’s awakening to this part of the code after Pharaoh wins back the Red Eyes at the start of Battle City. Jounouchi insists that he can’t accept the card back that easily, that he has to be worthy of it in his own eyes and those of the card itself (which is more or less the same thing). Distinct shades of swordsmanship, here, especially the idea that the sword has a soul. (Possibly one’s own soul, depending on the philosophy.) I would say that Bakura’s rejection of Malik’s ploy to prevent Yuugi from unleashing Osiris during their Battle Ship duel is another expression of this idea. Bakura knows perfectly well that he’ll lose, and insists on losing on his own terms rather than win on another’s.

A true duelist fights for those things precious to her/him. The anime, in particular, emphasizes Kaiba’s conclusion that the reason Yuugi could defeat him in their first duel was not that his technique surpassed Kaiba’s but that his motive was stronger. Yuugi fought to preserve something of huge importance to him, not simply for his pride. Similarly, both manga and anime make Yuugi, not Pharaoh, the one who can recall Jounouchi from Malik’s mind control. The heart of a duelist, the pride of a duelist, these can recall Jounouchi for a moment or two, but what breaks him loose for good is the sight of Yuugi about to deliberately lose and sacrifice his life for his friend. This takes the idea of fighting for an end beyond oneself to a level that transcends the actual duel. Yuugi makes the last move against himself in order to win.

*momentary pause while the author chases away the shade of Obi-wan Kenobi with a broom*

This, I think, is why Pharaoh muses that the day is coming when Yuugi will surpass him. The game is everything to Pharaoh, much as it is to Kaiba; it would not have occurred to him to do what Yuugi did. Huge motif in every popular anime I have ever analyzed: the loving heart can accomplish things that the strongest warrior’s spirit cannot. This is not, of course, to say that pride isn’t hugely important to the code, here.

A true duelist fights for the purity of the game itself. Otogi Ryuuji and the dice game in the manga are a good example of this. Similarly, Jounouchi’s duel with Pharaoh in the Duelist Kingdom finals. And, of course, Kaiba during the entire Battle City arc. Manga Otogi, while willing to fight Yuugi for his father’s revenge, draws the line at breaking the sanctity of the game. When his father smashes the Puzzle Otogi helps Yuugi gather the pieces and orders his father rather sharply not to interfere. When Jounouchi and Pharaoh duel in Duelist Kingdom (anime) Anzu is afraid they have left their friendship behind to attack each other all out. It’s Honda and Bakura-kun (maybe) who insist that they would not be true friends if they held back. That would indicate contempt for the opponent’s ability, therefore a true duelist would not wish an opponent to hold back, so a true friend wouldn’t.

At that point in the manga, a different theme appears. We see, later on, examples of the winner carrying responsibility for the loser’s honor–that is, you don’t want the one you lost to to lose to anyone else. This scene in the manga shows that this responsibility can also be given and recieved without a fight. Pegasus notes that Jounouchi entrusts his stake in the final duel to Pharaoh.

It’s Seto I think embodies the warrior ideal most purely, which is not unusual for the Primary Rival in shounen anime these days. He gets all bright-eyed and smiley (for him) at the prospect of a good fight. His obsession with Pharaoh during Battle City reflects an intense desire to find someone who can truly test his limits. And, while he’s a bit shocked that he actually loses in the end, as they’re all leaving an exploding Alcatraz and he brings his jet alongside the Battle Ship, he offers Pharaoh a remarkably un-bitter smile and salute in parting (manga).

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Further Reading

So, there we go. For my speculations on how aware of their others Yuugi and Bakura are, follow the Awareness link; for a bunch of linguistic details, check under Language; for the fruits of my research into actual Egyptian mythology/history, look under Egypt. There are three “hidden links”, as well, should you feel like looking around for them. Not very hidden, to be sure, but not as obvious as the one’s I just listed. They go to random ramblings that didn’t fit elsewhere.

If you want to bail, links are below. If you want to respond, my email link is below that. I enjoy feedback. I enjoy discussion and debate. I do not enjoy pissiness from people who wouldn’t recognize an analytical hypothesis if it bit them in the ass.

Links

Yami no Kokoro is a good general site for the series. It has a bit of just about everything, except the card game.

If you want the card game, one of the best sites is Pojo’s Yu-Gi-Oh! Site, which will tell you all about the cards. Very useful reference site, with a nice lot of writers working on columns and essays.

Edo’s Yu-Gi-Oh! Page focuses on the cards, but also has very good summaries of the manga.

If you want actual translations, check either Jenniyah’s page or Yu-Gi-Oh! Animation by Janime. A very few high quality translations can be found at Theria.net.

Alternatively, of course, you could just go to the Shonen Jump site in English and buy legally. Viz actually does a pretty good job with text translations, so it’s probably worth it.

Kokoro no Naka has all sorts of media, as well as excerpts from the manga.

Checkmate focuses on Kaiba Seto, but has superb and well-researched tidbits about everyone else too. Definitely the best discursive site out there.

Papyrus-A Yugioh Fansite has some neat tidbits, good art and fic, and hosts Tuulikki’s name meanings list.

Kyokou Geemu, slowly rebuilding itself after a move and major refit, is a good place to start looking for fanworks. Their forums are also worth a look through, and I don’t say that often.