Yoshihiro Togashi is a Japanese manga artist born on April 27, 1966, in Shinjō, Yamagata. He began drawing manga at an early age and, while attending Yamagata University, submitted work to Shueisha. In 1986, at age 20, he received the prestigious Tezuka Award for his manga Buttobi Straight. After abandoning his original goal of becoming a teacher, he was invited by an editor from Weekly Shōnen Jump to move to Tokyo and begin a professional career.

Togashi’s earliest published works for Shueisha included short story collections such as Ōkami Nante Kowakunai!! and the four-volume romance manga Ten de Shōwaru Cupid, serialized from 1989 to 1990. He achieved his first major success with YuYu Hakusho, which was serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump from 1990 to 1994. The series, inspired by his interest in the occult and horror films, follows Yusuke Urameshi, a teenager who becomes an Underworld Detective. It spanned 175 chapters collected in 19 tankōbon volumes, earned Togashi the Shogakukan Manga Award in 1994, and received a hit anime adaptation. A live-action adaptation of YuYu Hakusho was released globally on Netflix in December 2023.

Following YuYu Hakusho, Togashi created Level E, a science fiction comedy manga serialized from 1995 to 1997 and compiled into three volumes. It was later adapted into an anime television series in 2011. In 1998, he launched his next major work, Hunter × Hunter, an action-adventure series about a boy named Gon Freecss searching for his father, a legendary Hunter. The manga has become one of the best-selling series of all time, with tens of millions of copies in circulation. It has been adapted into multiple anime series, including a 1999 version by Nippon Animation and a 2011 version by Madhouse, as well as several original video animations and animated films.

In his artistic approach, Togashi’s early style incorporated heavy use of screentone but gradually developed into a more minimalistic aesthetic. His work is noted for a blend of genres, often combining supernatural fighting with comedy and horror elements. Critics and fellow creators have noted his focus on detailed character development and unconventional storytelling. He cites visual effects designer H. R. Giger as a major influence and has a noted interest in horror films.

In his personal life, Togashi is married to Naoko Takeuchi, the creator of Sailor Moon. They were introduced at a party in 1997 and married on January 6, 1999, and have two children. The couple collaborated on a children’s book for which Takeuchi wrote the story and Togashi provided the illustrations.

Togashi’s career has been marked by significant industry impact and influence. His works have inspired numerous manga artists, including the creators of Naruto and Jujutsu Kaisen. Since the mid-2000s, Hunter × Hunter has been subject to numerous lengthy hiatuses, primarily due to chronic back and hip pain, which he has stated at times left him unable to sit in a chair or draw except while lying down. In May 2022, he created a verified Twitter account to provide updates on his work, gaining a substantial following very quickly.