Inu-yasha

Warning: Spoilers follow

InuYasha (犬夜叉, Inu dog + Yasha demon), is a manga and anime series by Rumiko Takahashi (creator of Urusei Yatsura, Maison Ikkoku, Ranma 1/2, and others)

This is a shonen (action-oriented), romantic comedy. The story is about a girl, Kagome, who falls into a well and is transported back in time to feudal Japan (sengoku jidai), where magic is real, and even common. Kagome turns out to be the reincarnation of a very powerful young priestess who sealed the dangerous hanyou (half demon) Inuyasha to a tree with a magical arrow. Kagome loses the Shikon no Tama (Jewel of Four Souls), a powerful magical artifact which was hidden inside her body, and frees Inuyasha to help her recover it.

Soon after they recover the Shikon, it is lost again, and Kagome shatters it as she tries to recover it. The pieces scatter far and wide, and the series tells of Kagome and Inuyasha's exploits as they search for the shards of the Jewel. As they search, they meet new people who join them on their quest for various personal reasons. Throughout the story Kagome and Inuyasha come closer to having deep feelings for each other. The romance remains as a side plot for most of the story, and for the rest of the time, focuses on the action-oriented plot.

The manga was simultaneously released in Japan and the United States, which is very unusual.

InuYasha was first broadcast in America on Cartoon Network. In Japan, the series is up to episode 118.

The series has also inspired two movies to date, InuYasha: Love that Transcends Time (Toki wo Koeru Omoi) and InuYasha: The Dream Castle in the Mirror (Kagami no Naka Mugenjou). A third movie is currently in production.

Characters

• Kagome - The female protagonist, from modern times.
• Inuyasha - The male protagonist, a dog half-demon.
• Naraku[?] - An evil hanyou (half-demon) who despises Inuyasha.
• Sesshomaru - Inuyasha's brother, a full youkai, who also despises him.
• Kikyou - The dead priestess (miko) who loved Inuyasha. She was brought back by the witch Urasue.
• Shippo - A young fox (kitsune) whose parents were killed by youkai.
• Miroku - A Buddhist monk (houshi) who joins Kagome and Inuyasha.
• Sango - A 'youkai exterminator (taijiya)' whose brother Kohaku is controlled by Naraku.

Special Items

• Tetsusaiga[?] - Inuyasha's sword, made from one of his father's fangs.
  • Wind Scar (Kaze no Kizu[?]): Special attack that can kill 100 youkai with one strike.
  • Bakuryuuha: Tetsusaiga's ultimate attack, caused by the convergence of multiple Kaze no Kizu against an opponent with a great youki (spirit energy).
• Tenseiga[?] - Sesshomaru's Sword, instead of killing 100 people, it can ressurect them.
• Toukijin[?] - Sword forged from Goshinki's fang. It possesses a strong youki and the sword was forged from the very teeth that broke Tetsusaiga.
• Shikon no Tama - The Jewel that started the whole adventure.
• Miasma - Naraku's special poison gas.

Theme Songs

• Opening
  1. "Change the World" by V6[?] (eps. 1-34)
  2. "I Am" by hitomi[?] (eps. 35-64)
  3. "Owarinai Yume" ("Unending Dream") by Nanase Aikawa[?] (eps. 65-95)
  4. "Grip!" by Every Little Thing[?] (eps. 96-)
• Ending
  1. "My Will" by dream[?] (eps. 1-20)
  2. "Fukai Mori" ("Deep Forest") by Do As Infinity[?] (eps. 20-41)
  3. "Dearest" by Ayumi Hamasaki (eps. 42-60)
  4. "Every Heart ("Minna no Kimochi") by BoA (eps. 61-85)
  5. "Shinjitsu no Uta" ("Song of Truth") by Do As Infinity (eps 86-108)
  6. "Itazurana Kiss" ("Vain Kiss") by day after tomorrow[?] (eps 109-)
• Movies
  1. Toki o koeru omoi (Love that Transcends Time)
     • Ending: "No More Words" by Ayumi Hamasaki
  2. Kagami no Naka Mugenjou (The Dream Castle in the Mirror)
     • Opening: "Yura Yura" ("Rock") by Every Little Thing
     • Ending: "Ai No Uta" ("Love's Song") by Every Little Thing

External Links

• Inuyasha - Sengoku o-Togi Zoushi (http://www.wot-club.org.uk/Inuyasha/)
• Sengoku Jidai (http://web.utk.edu/~bborchar/)
• Inuyasha Online - time slip (http://trabia-garden.net/inuyasha/)