Hi Anon 🙂

So, that’s actually a rumor. It has existed since the ‘ole livejournal days. Claims are made that an interview exists that confirms it, but no one has ever been able to produce it or say where it was said. So we can only speculate.

As for my own beliefs, I could see it as true. It was the 90s, after all, and at the time, making gay (especially male) characters was still largely taboo. Think about how Miyuki, a trans woman, was treated, even though Togashi was and still is considered relatively progressive for the times we was writing in. His only more or less confirmed same sex couple is Itsuki and Sensui, and in the English version, at least, it’s made clear Itsuki loves the female personality of Sensui. And of course, they are villains. Sailor Moon’s male gay characters, also mostly villains.

My point here being, at the time, writing good guys as gay was difficult. Togashi already skirted the line with Yusuke asking Kuwabara to kiss him, and the anime even animating the dream sequence where Kuwabara nearly does. But I don’t think he could have, if he wanted to, make an actual good gay couple. I think Shonen Jump would have shut that down quickly. So if he was leaning toward it, I would not be shocked that some higher up told him no, so instead he left hints (if you ship them, at least). 

Of course, he could have also simply written them as good friends, and we all know that male friendship in Togashi’s work can be a tad bit gay sometimes. Or maybe he had always meant for them to be a secret. Or maybe we’re all reading into it, and he never meant for Kurahi to be any sort of ship.

My personal opinion… He thought about it, left tiny hints, but knew from the start he wouldn’t be able to do it, so he didn’t.

Thanks for sending in the ask! Anyone else have opinions? Anything they’d like to add? Reblog or reply 🙂

– Mod Lola