the manga was originally published in shueisha's "weekly shōnen jump" from december 1990 to july 1994. the series has 175 chapters collected in 19 "tankōbon" volumes. in north america, the manga ran completely in viz's "shonen jump" from january 2003 to january 2010. there is an anime based on this manga with 112 television episodes. it was directed by noriyuki abe and co-produced by fuji television, yomiko advertising, and studio pierrot. at first, the television series aired on japan's fuji tv network from october 10, 1992 to december 17, 1994. it was later licensed in north america by funimation in 2001. there it aired on popular cartoon network blocks including adult swim and later toonami. the television series has also been broadcast in various other countries around the world. the "yu yu hakusho" franchise has produced two animated films. it also has produced a series of original video animations (ovas), audio albums, video games and other merchandise. the manga sold over fifty million copies in japan. it won the shogakukan manga award for "shōnen" manga in 1993. the animated series won the "animage" anime grand prix prize for best anime in 1994 and 1995. "yu yu hakusho" has been watched by a large number of television viewers in japan.