Season
overview:
The Inuyasha anime ended in 2004 and later Inuyasha: The Final Act wrapped up the remainder of the unadapted manga stories Takahashi had continued to write after marking what all fans presumed was the end in 2010. Now, ten years later a new sequel of non-Takahashi material has been created focusing on the children of Sesshomaru, Inuyasha and Kagome and the rest of the original cast. Sadly in the years since the original anime series ended Koji Tsujitani (the voice of Miroku) passed away in 2018 and he was replaced by Makoto Yasumura. In a sad irony Kirby Morrow, the English voice of Miroku also passed away after recording the first episode of Yashahime.
Episode 1: あれからの犬夜叉
Are kara no Inuyasha (Inuyasha: Since Then)
Towa Higurashi is captured by the Deputy Lord of the Kanto region, Ogigayatsu Hiiragi Danjo and interrogated about the "Reiwa" village she hails from. He continues to ask her if she is the girl known as "Princess Half-Demon" which she says she is not.. The lord's tea master, Sokyu continues to question Towa about items from the future that have been found in the area, including a textbook and the rusted seat of Kagome's old bicycle. The pair tell of rumors of a mysterious girl who used to be seen over a decade ago, travelling with a half-demon who slayed other demons they encountered. The lord demands to know what Setsuna knows of them and of the future as well, as the lord wishes to know how long his empire will last. In the past, six months after Kagome has returned to the Sengoku Era, she and Inuyasha are living peacefully as she takes up Kikyo's duties as a priestess. Miroku and Sango have had three children, twin girls Kin'u and Gyokuto and baby boy Hisui, and Kohaku has taken up full-time demon hunting with Kirara. Kagome and Sango fail to notice Yotsume, a four-eyed owl sitting in a tree watching them. Miroku and Inuyasha are summoned to a nearby village to deal with a dangerous demon, Root Head, who was entombed by Kikyo in the days before she and Inuyasha met. Root Head attacks locals and decapitates them, feeding off their heads. Miroku and Inuyasha battle the demon and seemingly kill it, but Miroku isn't so sure. The pair investigate the location where Kikyo originally entombed it, finding her arrow there. Realizing that the demon's roots allow its main body to exist underground and spread outward, Miroku and Sango rush back to the village, knowing that Root Head thinks Kikyo is still alive and in possession of the Shikon Jewel. Root Head indeed attacks the village, but Sango manages to protect Kagome, her children, Rin and Shippo. Inuyasha and Miroku quickly arrive and they leave with Kagome to pursue Root Head. Sango realizes that she and Rin were being watched over by Sesshomaru, and leaves her children in the care of Kohaku before rushing off to join the others. Miroku laments the loss of his Wind Tunnel before Sango's Hiraikotsu flies in to save him from Root Head's tendrils. Kaede arrives and fires Kikyo's old arrow to draw the Root Head's main body to the surface which enables Kagome and Inuyasha to combine their attacks to seemingly make fast work of the demon. Inuyasha unleashes Meido Zangetsuha to suck up Root Head's body, little do they know, one small piece of the demon remains and immediately spreads, reaching the Goshinboku Tree that Inuyasha was once pinned to by Kikyo. Flashing forward again, the lord and his minion continue to question Towa, who warns the lord before her sister Setsuna and their cousin Moroha arrive to rescue her. Moroha quickly sniffs out that the lord's retainer Sokyu is actually a demon she's been searching for; Yotsume, the same four eyed owl that watched Kagome over a decade ago. Yotsume escapes with Moroha and Setsuna in pursuit, while Towa goes to follow them, but not before taking the book and bicycle seat so as not to alter the future.
The original story that served as the source material for this episode does not appear in tankoban 56 as it was published five years after the manga ended. It was collected in the Heroes Come Back charity manga compilation to help raise funds after the devastating 2011 Tohoku earthquake/Fukushima nuclear power plant meltdown. This chapter marked the only time that Rumiko Takahashi had ever revisited one of her concluded series.
Ogigayatsu Hiiragi Danjo (扇谷柊弾正) - The Ogigayatsu (扇谷) clan are one of the three main branches of the Uesugi samurai clan (along with the Inukake and Yamanouchi). By the time of the Sengoku period when Inuyasha and later Yashahime take place the Ogigayatsu had come into conflict with Hojo Soun of the Hojo clan that was making in-roads into the Kanto region. The Ogigayatsu branch is ended with the death of Uesugi Tomosada. Other branches of the Uesugi clan would take up arms against the Hojo clan at this time, the most notable being Uesugi Kenshin.
Danjo's title, "kanrei" (管領) literally translates as "person-in-control" though "deputy shogun" would be an apt description of the position at the time. A history of those who held this particular position can be found here.
"Sokyu" is written (宋久). These kanji are "dwell" and "long time". Of course this is actually Yotsume (四目/four eyes).
"You hail from a place called Reiwa, why don't you tell us about this land?" - The Reiwa period is the present day that Towa left behind. It began on May 1, 2019. It replaced the Heisei period which lasted from 1989 until 2019.
"There used to be rumors in the Musashi Province..." - The Musashi Province (武蔵国) was the Sengoku period name for the geographic region that now comprises Tokyo, as well as parts of modern Saitama Prefecture and Kanagawa Prefecture.
The original manga chapter did not include the names of Miroku and Sango's children, Kin'u and Gyokuto nor Hisui.
Kudzu roots - Kudzu is a leafy, green vine native to Japan. It is now an invasive species in the American southeast. It has been used in Asian folk medicine for centuries.
Kikyo root - Kikyo is a type of flower (which the character is named after). It is often translated into English as the "Chinese bellflower".
The Man'yoshu - The Man'yoshu (万葉集) is the oldest collection of surviving Japanese waka poetry. It was written in 759 CE during the Nara period by Otomo no Yakamochi (大伴 家持).
"It was written by someone name Yamanoue..." - However the specific part of the Man'yoshu that Kagome is discussing is "Seven Autumn Flowers" which was written by Yamanoue no Okami (山上憶良).
Root head is "ne no kubi" (根の首). "Kubi" can mean both "head" or "neck".
"What is the fate of the shogunate? What will happen to our clan?" - The Battle of Sekigahara in Ocotober of 1600 will mark the end of the Sengoku era and the beginning of the Tokugawa Shogunate after the instability left following the collapse of the Ashikaga Shogunate in the 1570s. Ogigayatsu Hiiragi Danjo, as part of the Uesugi clan, would become outsiders (外様大名/tozama daimyo) because they did not side with Tokugawa at Sekigahara and only agreed to become his vassals after this decisive battle.
Episode 2: 三匹の姫
Sanbiki no hime (The Three Princesses)
Towa thinks back on her earliest memories. She recalls her dark-haired sister Setsuna. They loved living freely in the forest until a forest fire caused them to flee in panic. In a moment of confusion Towa let go of her little sister and when she raced back to find her, a burning tree nearly crushed them both. Setsuna shoved Towa back from the falling, flaming tree when a portal opened and pulled Towa away. In modern times Towa found herself on the grounds of the Higurashi shrine where Sota, Kagome's brother, discovered her crying and calling out to her sister, Setsuna. Sota agreed to help the lost girl look for her sister, but they never found her. Sota agreed to adopt the young girl and raised her as his daughter, knowing that her vivid hair-color indicated that she likely had some connection to the other time in which his sister Kagome often traveled. Years passed and Sota eventually had a family of his own- his wife Moe and their daughter Mei along with Towa who lives with them in an apartment in the city. Towa frequently had to change schools due to her tendency to fight and consequently she dressed in male school uniforms to make her brawls easier. On her way to school she encounters five boys who have continued to scuffle with her. She easily defeats them and continues on her way to her new school- St. Gabriel's Academy. In the past Setsuna, now grown, works alongside her fellow demon-slayer Hisui under Kohaku's tutelage to fight a demon terrorizing a local village. Setsuna wields the powerful naginata- Kanemitsu no Tomoe. They come upon rowdy and boisterous Moroha and her blade, Kurikarama. Moroha claims she is also there to slay the demon but is happy to also fight the demon slayers for fun as well; she then reveals her red pearl and the rouge that rests in it. With this, Moroha claims she becomes "Beniyasha - Destroyer of Lands". However the demon, Mistress Three-Eyes, appears and gobbles down her Red Pearl, increasing her own power. Mistress Three-Eyes soon senses that Setsuna also has the Golden Pearl hidden in her eye and chases after her in pursuit. In the present day Towa arrives at school late and is lightly scolded by her new teacher Osamu Kirin. Leaving school she leaps onto the roof of a building to clean her katana, Kikujumonji, a famous blade that was said to have once belonged to Yoshiteru Ashikaga. Suddenly she smells the tears of her little sister Mei and begins to hunt for her sister. She finds Mei tied up to the Goshinboku God Tree at the Higurashi Shrine along with the boys who she beat up earlier. Now they have another in tow who carries a wooden boken. When they pull a knife on Mei, Towa has no choice but to reveal her half-demon abilities and make short work of the gang. However in the past at this moment, Mistress Three-Eyes steals the Golden Pearl from Setsuna and a portal opens pulling the demon along with Setsuna and Moroha through into the present day. Mistress Three-Eyes immediately senses Towa's Silver Pearl and Towa's smells the long-remembered scent of her sister.
"I had a younger twin sister..." - Towa says that she is older, however there is a difference in "older" with twins in Japanese culture. The twin that is physically born first would be the eldest in the West. In Japan however, the first born is the "youngest" because the "elder" twin offered to let them leave the womb first which indicates their maturity and care. It is difficult to say if Towa is saying she was physically born first (and would be older by Western reckoning) or if she is older because she allowed Setsuna to be physically born first and would be the elder sister by traditional Japanese twin standards.
Further clouding this is the way that Towa and Setsuna address one another as children. Towa calls Setsuna, "Setsuna", while Setsuna calls Towa "Nee-chan" (姉ちゃん/sister). This is the typical way that older and younger siblings address one another. However with twins this is determined by who is "older" and who is "younger" which, again, can be complicated in Japanese twin birthing ideas.
Buyo the cat actually says "buyo" as he wanders away after licking Towa. Buyo's name likely comes from the onomotopea "buyo buyo" (ブヨブヨ) which means "soft and flabby".
This is the first time we see adult Sota Higurashi. Previously Sota was played by Akiko Nakagawa & Saffron Henderson/Rebecca Shoicet. Now that he is adult he is played by male actors Junya Enoki & Robbie Daymond.
This episode features many references to Rumiko Takahashi's previous series. The gang who attacks Towa look suspiciously like Ataru, Megane, Kakugari, Chibi, and Perm from Urusei Yatsura.
Saint Gabriel Academy - Saint Gabriel could refer to a number of Catholic saints, however the most well known Gabriel is the archangel Gabriel. Gabriel is a major figure in Judaisim, Christianity and Islam appearing in the holy books of all three religions. His name means "God is my strength" in Hebrew.
Moroha calls herself with two titles - "Beniyasha" (朱夜叉/Crimson/Scarlet Demon) and "Moroha the Demon-Killer" (化け殺しのもろは/Bakegoroshi no Moroha).
Kurikaramaru (倶利伽羅丸) is the name of Moroha's sword. In Mikkyo, a type of esoteric Buddhism, the Kurikara dragon symbolizes the energy developed through sword practice. This is why Moroha has a dragon inset on the blade of her sword. The story is that the god Fudo battled against a god of another religion and turned himself into a sword. His opponent did the same, and the two gods-turned-swords fought to a standstill. Fudo then turned himself into the dragon Kurikara which wrapped itself around the opponent/sword. Consequently Kurikara is typically shown curled around a blade and has a strong association with swords.
Much like Sota, because Kohaku was a child in the earlier Inuyasha series he was voiced by Akiko Yajima. Now that he is an adult he is voiced by Ryohei Kimura.
"When in Rome, do as the Romans do." - Though Mr. Kirin says this is a British proverb, it has its origins from the Latin phrase, "sī fuerīs Rōmae, Rōmānō vīvitō mōre". Saint Monica and her son Saint Augustine discovered that Saturday was the day of fasting in Rome, unlike Milan where they lived. They learned that they should follow the local custom when visiting a place that is not their own.
Kikujumonji (菊十文字) - the name is written "chrysanthemum" and "10th letter". The Kikujumonji sword allegedly belonged to Ashikaga Yoshiteru (足利義輝) who would have died a few decades before the story of Inuyasha is set. He was the 13th shogun of the Ashikaga shogunate. Yoshiteru was a master swordsman, which is why owning a sword said to have been his would be an incredible honor (Towa's sword however is an imitation). In real historical terms Ashikaga Yoshiteru's sword was not Kikujumonji, instead it was named "Mikazuki Munechika". This sword is currently in the Tokyo National Museum. The blade was made by the blacksmith Munechika. The "mikazuki" means "crescent moon" due to marks on the blade that were made during its tempering.
While Kikujumonji is a fictional sword said to be owned by an actual historical individual, the name of the sword is based the actual blade Kikuichimonji (菊一文字). While the fictional sword has the kanji for "ten" (十/ju) the real life blade has the kanji for "one" (一/ichi). Popular culture often states that one of the legendary Shinsengumi, Soji Okita, wielded a Kikuichimonji blade, but this is not the case. The sword has shown up in other popular fiction such as Rurouni Kenshin and Final Fantasy IV.
The gang from earlier are later joined by their leader who looks like a roughed up version of Tatewaki Kuno from Ranma 1/2.
The kanji on the back of the Kuno-like thug's coat is "苦". It means "suffering". Though it is pronounced "ku" it is not the "ku" in "Kuno".
Walking around with a butterfly knife (or a katana) is highly illegal in Japan.
Sota's wife and daughter, Moe and Mei are named for Shun Mitaka and Asuna Kujo's twins from Maison Ikkoku.
Regarding the items affixed to the Tree of Ages, these are Shimenawa (標縄), "enclosing ropes". They are made to ward off evil spirits. They are typically placed around yorishiro (依り代) which are objects capable of attracting spirits such as trees.
Hanging from the shimenawa are zig-zag pieces of paper called shide (紙垂). They are often hung from shimenawa or are attached to the wands of shinto priests for purification ceremonies.
Episode 3: 夢の胡蝶
Yume no kochou (The Dream Butterfly)
Towa and Setsuna's reunion is short lived as Mistress Three-Eyes attacks, breaking Setsuna's Kikujumonji. But when the demon turns to attack Grandpa, Mama and Mei, Towa is able to channel her demonic energy into the broken hilt of her sword, creating a huge blade of energy in that she stabs through Mistress Three-Eyes. Setsuna makes short work of the demon, stabbing her through the head. When Towa calls out to her long lost sister she is rebuffed, with Setsuna saying she has no sister. Even Moroha is surprised as she sniffs the pair and says that they smell very similar, and that she believes them to be the offspring of the great demon lord Sesshomaru. Suddenly, out of nowhere Hitokon, the root demon emerges from the ground and implants itself into Towa, taking over her body and causing her to attack Setsuna. Setsuna fights back and seems to have no qualms about taking Towa's life. As though the Hitokon can sense this it quickly leaves her body and attaches to Mei. Now that Towa is back to herself, she immediately moves to protect Mei from Setsuna, hugging her adopted little sister tightly while she is struck repeatedly on the head with a rock from the Hitokon's feeble attacks. Towa says that she has brought enough grief to the Higurashi family. Taking pity on them, Setsuna uses her Kanemitsu no Tomoe to use a technique summoning moths to put all of the Higurashi family, and Towa to sleep. With Mei unconscious, Setsuna easily removes and poisons the Hitokon. In the past, Kaede disucsses the disappearance of Setsuna and Moroha through the Goshinboku tree, explaining that the Bone-Eater's's Well was made from wood of the tree, and so they likely possess the same properties. She also discusses that Towa and Setsuna are in fact the daughters of Sesshomaru, who she only saw once as newborns, when Sesshomaru abandoned them to make them grow up stronger on their own. Many years later, all alone, Setsuna arrived in the village and told Kaede that she would be staying with her for a time. In Sota's apartment, Mei excitedly tells him and her mother Moe about her adventures with her three "sisters" as Moroha emerges from the bathroom almost totally naked, raving about how good taking her first ever hot bath felt. Sota and his wife agree to let the girls stay with them for the time being. In Towa's room, Setsuna and Moroha discuss things, Setsuna mentions in passing that she does not waste time with sleeping, while Moroha guesses that she had her dreams devoured by the Dream Butterfly, which is why it is impossible for her to sleep or remember her childhood with Towa. Towa, overhearing this, hops out of bed and vows to help her sister get her dreams back.
"Did you say Kikujumonji? This is obviously a fake. The blade's pattern is completely different." - Moroha is talking about the "hamon" (刃文). Hamon is created during the hardening process of the sword and is a wavy pattern that appears along the cutting edge. While Kikujumonji is a fictional sword, it was said to have been own by Ashikaga Yoshiteru (a true historical individual). In real historical terms Ashikaga Yoshiteru's sword was not Kikujumonji, instead it was named "Mikazuki Munechika". The "mikazuki" means "crescent moon" due to marks on the blade that were made during its tempering, so perhaps Kikujumonji is supposed to have distinctive hamon patterning similar to its real life counterpart.
Setsuna's weapon is a type of Japanese spear called a "naginata". Her spear, Kanemitsu no Tomoe (兼光の巴), is written with the kanji for "advancing light" (kanemitsu) while "tomoe" is a comma-shaped design motif that is often seen on banners and drums in Japan, typically with three of the comma shapes interlocked around one another. In this case the comma-shape is a reference to the shape of Setsuna's naginata blade.
Hitokon (飛頭根) the root demon originally appeared in chapter 359 of the manga.
Setsuna uses her Cyclone Burst (旋風陣/Senpujin) and Scourge of Swallows (群発の燕/Muretachi no tsubame) attacks along with Moon of the Resting Moth (宿蛾の月/Yadori ga no tsuki) in this episode. Moroha also uses her Crimson Dragon Wave (紅龍破/Koryuha).
To clarify, there are different terms being used to describe the tree that allows for time traveling, which is the same tree Inuyasha was once pinned two with Kikyo's arrow. This is likely to try to establish it as an alternative to the Bone-Eater's Well which is no longer functional. Traditionally, the tree has been called the Goshinboku (ご神木/Sacred Tree), though in Yashahime it is called Jidaiju (時代樹/Tree of Ages). This is not a mistake or continuity error. In this episode Kohaku states he has only heard it called "Goshinboku" when Kaede explains it is also known as the "Judaiju".
Episode 4: 過去への玄関口
Kako he no genkan kuchi (The Gateway to the Past)
At the Higurashi Shrine, Moroha practices Tai chi with the neighborhood elderly group. They compliment her on how quickly she learns it and she jokes around about how much older she is than all of them. Soon, Grandpa Higurashi gives her a gift, a kappa hand like he gave Kagome so many decades ago. She proudly accepts it, loving it, unlike her mother, and gives him a big hug. She also notices something burrowing underground and realizes that Root Head is at work, and its almost time to go back to the Feudal Era. Meanwhile, Towa returns to school at St. Gabriel's and practies her English lessons, while Towa stays home and has taken up the violen, being tutored by Mei. Mei hugs her lovingly and tells her that she's a prodigy the likes of which only comes about once every 500 years. Moroha arrives with Towa and a massive backpack of goodies from the modern era that she plans on taking back to the past with her. She tells the girls of her plan and Moroha sadly tells Sota goodbye, before referring to him as "papa". That night, the girls along with everyone in the Higurashi family meet in front of the Goshinboku tree to say their goodbyes. Moroha calls out to Root Head and offers up the three Rainbow Jewel's to him if he'll open the portal to the past. He agrees and they are all pulled through. However as they are travelling they are stopped by the spirit of the Goshinboku tree itself, which has taken the form of Kikyo. The spirit of the tree tells them that she will not let them pass unless they agree to take a mission from it. The tree points out that the daughter's of Sesshomaru must slay the great demon Kirinmaru who is the ruler of the Eastern lands, as Inuyasha and Sesshomaru's father was the ruler of the Western lands. Sesshomaru has inherited his father's lands but forsaken his role as ruler to follow another path. Moroha is happy to fight a demon, but Setsuna flatly refuses, saying she has never known Sesshomaru and has no desire to fight his battles for him, while Towa seems willing to, but wants to focus on finding the Dream Butterfly first. With the girl's refusal, the spirit sends them to battle Root Head, who Moroha is able to overcome by tossing the Kappa's hand at giving the girls enough of a distraction to deal a lethal blow, sending them back to the Feudal Era. Upon their arrival Towa quickly realizes that with Root Head dead, the path to the modern era is sealed. Within the tree, the spirit of Goshinboku gazes on a girl who is in stasis, Rin, while speaking to Sesshomaru about his decisions and the path he now walks.
The elderly people are performing "tai chi" a Chinese martial art that is encouraged for health benefits rather than combat readiness. Tai chi is a sort of shadowboxing that involves stretching and breathing exercises.
Grandpa Higurashi gives Moroha a kappa's foot as a gift mirroring the same item he once gave Kagome in the first episode of the series.
In this episode it is made quite clear that Mr. Kirin, Towa's teacher, teaches English. In the manga version he recites poetry and seems to instead be a literature teacher.
This is the first time we see Towa playing the violin which she learns during her trip to the Reiwa era. The song she plays will eventually be revealed to be one Rin used to hum to when she was pregnant with the twins.
The giant bag that Moroha takes back with her to the past is a duplicate of the rucksack Kagome also took with her on her journeys to the past.
"Moroha, the Elder's Association would like to give you a parting gift." - The Elder's Assocaiation (老人会/Roujinkai) organize events to keep senior citizens engaged such as tai chi groups, visiting with elderly people that live alone, and helping to celebrate Respect for the Aged Day.
When Kagome's mother asks Moroha to speak to Kagome for her Moroha mumbles that she does not really know Kagome. It is unclear if Mrs. Higurashi hears Moroha say this. In chapter 2 of the manga adaptation it is made very clear that Moroha discusses what little she knows about Kagome's situation with the Higurashis.
Episode 5: 赤骨御殿の若骨丸
Aka kotsu goten no Jakotsumaru (Jakotsumaru of the Red Bone Palace)
Moroha, Towa and Setsuna all arrive back in the past and are met by Kohaku and Kaede. As they catch up on events, a young boy attacks travelers on a bridge, yanking their skeletons out of their bodies and swearing revenge on Moroha for killing his father, Tokotsu. Yotsume, the demonic owl reports to Kyuki, one of the Four Perils that the girls have arrived in the past. The next day, Moroha rushes off to deliver the skull of Mistress Three Eyes to the corpse dealer, who provides her with bounty hunting missions. While she's gone, Towa and Kohaku pour over manuals trying to learn more about the Dream Butterfly's location. Setsuna seems uninterested, but when the locals bring forward the boneless skin of victims of Jakotsumaru, she decides to volunteer to hunt him down. Towa is happy to join her sister and Kirara takes them to the bridge that has been the demon's hunting grounds. As Moroha meets with Jyubei the Corpse Dealer he tells her that she previously killed and brought forward the body of Tokotsu, Jakotsumaru's father but without the head to go with the body, he'll reclaim the bounty he gave her. And so Moroha vows to track down Jakotsumaru and get the skull of Tokotsu in order to earn her full payment. Myoga emerges and catches up with Moroha, accompanying her on her next bounty as does Takechiyo, a small racoon demon who transforms to help her fly to the bridge where she meets with Towa and Setsuna. After arriving Moroha admits she does not remember killing Tokotsu, as she woke up next to his corpse, but stole it and claimed credit for it all the same. Myoga tells the girls that Jakotsumaru is one of the Four Perils, the followers of Kirinmaru. Setsuna realizes that killing Jakotsumaru will set them on the path to awakening Kirinmaru and forcing them to battle Sesshomaru. While Towa is hesitant about killing, Setsuna has no such hesitation, and they enter the Red Bone Castle to do battle. There they meet with Jakotsumaru who has resurrected his father. Moroha reveals why she has no memory of fighting Tokotsu, as she removes her clamshell compact and rubs magical rouge on her lips, rouge given to Inuyasha's father by his mother, Izayoi. The rouge enhances Moroha's demonic powers, transforming her into Beniyasha, enabling her to perform many of Inuyasha's techniques, however after only two attacks, her demonic energy runs out and she immediately falls asleep. Before passing out she kills Jakotsumaru, leaving Towa and Setsuna to finish off Tokotsu. When they do, his corpse and the Red Bone Palace itself vanish. Takechiyo flies overhead, reporting back to Jyubei, that without a corpse, no bounty will need to be paid out.
Though phonetically similar Jakotsumaru (若骨丸) and Jakotsu (蛇骨) of the Band of Seven do not use the same kanji in their name. Jakotsumaru is "youth + skeleton/bone" whereas Jakotsu is "snake + skeleton/bone".
"This ain't the Gojo Bridge, you know?" - The Gojo bridge is where the historical figure, Benkei, hid in the shadows in order to attack passing samurai to steal their swords. He attacked the young Minamoto no Yoshitsune who he believed would be an easy victim. However it was Benkei who was easily defeated and he became Yoshitsune's follower.
"The Dream Butterfly? It doesn't sound like an apparation." - Kohaku, Towa and Setsuna speak of a number of different oddities at this point. What is translated as "apparition" is "ayakashi" (アヤカシ). Technically the term refers to a water-based yokai (demon), however in the context here (and also in Rumiko Takahashi's series MAO) the term is infered to mean a supernatural animal-like creature.
"Could it be like a shikigami or a puppet?" - Shikigami are objects (historically the most common example are folded paper cranes) that can have spiritual energy placed into them. A puppet (傀儡子/kugutsu) in this context would be a similar concept of something having spiritual energy placed in it to animate it.
"It could be inhabiting Mount Musubi..." - Kohaku suggests a possible location for the Dream Butterfly. This plot point will be a primary focus in season 2.
"I heard the demon looks like a beautiful boy." - The term for beautiful boy is "bishonen" (美少年). In anime and manga concepts this is primarily associated with pretty boys that appear in shojo manga. Björn Andrésen from the 1971 film Death in Venice is said to be the modern embodiment of bishonen beauty.
Kohaku references bone demons being able to devour the Hiraikotsu as a reason for Hisui to stay away. This is a reference to what happened in Inuyasha: The Final Actepisode 12.
"Six mon!? That's the toll to cross the Sanzu River!" - The Sanzu River, or River of Three Crossings (三途の川), is a Japanese Buddhist tradition and religious belief similar to the River Styx.
When Myoga is explaining the identity of the Four Perils it shows four mythological Chinese animals. These are the Hundun (the faceless furry, six-legged creature), Zhuhuai (the four-horned oxen like creature), Pixiu (the winged lion) and a boar that is likely based on Zhu Bajie from Journey to the West. Lastly it shows Qulin (the horned dragon/horse-like creature).
In Chinese mythology the Four Perils (四凶/shikyou) are the evil counterparts to the Four Benevolent Animals.
"On meeting an arhat, slay the arhat. On meeting your parents, slay your parents." - This is a paraphrase of a Zen koan. Miroku also makes this same comment in episode 13. We explain it a bit more in this video.
Episode 6: 古寺の猫寿庵
Koji no Nekojuan (The Cat Juan of the Old Temple)
Moroha, Setsuna and Towa get a lead on a mountain pass in which no one who passes through ever comes back. With the promise of a significant payment if a demon is involved Moroha agrees that the girls will check it out. As they arrive at the foot of the mountain, they discover a village filled with people attentively doting on cats. Towa tries to play with one, much to Moroha and Setsuna's shock, as they can easily tell that it is a demon. When the cats attack, the girls kill them and free the villagers from their demonic spell. Moroha and Setsuna chastise Towa for not having a better developed nose to sense demons with. They travel further up the mountain until the night comes, and find a small temple to spend the night in. The temple is run by a sole monk named Juan, who Towa excitedly points out looks exactly like Julian, Mei's favorite idol in the modern age. The others are confused by this but ultimately decide that the temple may be the source of the cat demon infestation and decide to stay the night in an attempt to lure the demons out. That night, numerous cats attack and are easily killed. Juan rushes to the girls room and tells them that many years ago, another monk killed a cat demon and buried its bones under the temple; with that the girls decide to investigate. Towa stays with Juan inside the temple to protect him, while Moroha and Setsuna crawl under the temple to find the cat demon's remains. When they find the bones, they immediately reform and begin to attack. No matter how much they attack it though, it reforms. Inside, Towa can hear the battle and worries for her sister and cousin. Juan approaches her from behind, revealing that he is in fact a demon as well. Setsuna is hesitant to hurt him though, as she realizes Juan is only possessed by the spirit of the cat demon after attempting to soothe its soul. Setsuna bursts into the room and confronts Juan, ready to strike him down but Towa pleads with her not to. Setsuna continues to tell Towa that she has to abandon her ideals in order to survive in the Sengoku Era, or else her compassion will cost her her life. Myoga explains outside to Moroha that Tessaiga was able to absorb demonic energy, which gives Towa the idea to use her sword in a similar way. She is able to bind the demon within Juan as Setsuna strikes, freeing Juan without killing him. Outside, the demonic skeleton of the cat demon collapses. Moroha happily takes the remains to Jyubei, hoping to get some money, but he says it is only a weak demon that they took too much care in slaying, and only offers them 15 mon.
"The Feudal Era has cat villages, just like cat islands, huh?" - There are roughly a dozen "cat islands" in Japan. The most famous is Aoshima Island in the Inland Sea. It is estimated that there are 6 cats to every person on Aoshima Island. As of 2021 only about 20 people lived on the island. Tashiro-jima Island and Enoshima and Manabeshima are other notable cat islands.
A "bakeneko" (化け猫) is a type of yokai that has the appearance of a cat. Because of cats' wild nature, eyes that seemed to change shape in different lighting and static electricity that occasionally comes when their fur is stroked, Japanese sometimes associated them as being yokai. One of their powers is said to be shapeshifting into a human form. Maomolin from Ranma 1/2 and perhaps Byoki from MAO (though he is more likely a nekomata (猫又) a similar creature) are other significant bakeneko in Rumiko Takahashi's oeuvre.
The monk Juan (寿庵) writes his name with kanji meaning "longevity" and "hermitage".
The statue on the altar of Juan's temple is Kannon ("Avalokitesvara" in the original Indian Buddhist terminology). This particular incarnation is the Senju Kannon (千手観音/Thousand-Armed Kannon).
Inuyasha: The Final Act had a great deal of material to cover and scant episodes to do it in, consequently some manga chapters had to be omitted. Some of those were then used as a basis for episodes of Yashahime. In the case of this episode it borrows elements from chapter 393, chapter 394 and chapter 395.
The paper talismen or charms that Juan uses are called "ofuda" (お札). Ofuda were introduced to Japan via onmyodo before eventually becoming appropriated by Buddhism and Shintoism.
Episode 7: 林檎の出会い
Ringo no deai (Meeting Through an Apple)
Setsuna and Towa return to Kaede's house after battling a demon with Kohaku, Hisui and the other demon-slayers. Towa gets read for bed and asks Setsuna to pay her violin for her. As Setsuna does, Towa dreams of being back in the modern era, having burgers after shopping with Setsuna while Moe serenades them with her violin in the restaurant. Elsewhere on the ocean Kyuki arrives on a large ship belonging to a masked man. As she enters she reports to Kirinmaru, her master and tells him that the Half-Demon Princesses have killed Tokotsu. As he eats grapes, Kirinmaru asks who Tokotsu is, seemingly unaware or uninteresed that he was one of the Four Perils. Kyuki offers to kill the princesses herself, and Kirinmaru agrees. Towa awakens the next day to find that Setsuna has left her behind to go out hunting demons. Determined not to be seen as a burden, Towa embarks on her own to find the Dream Butterfly to return Setsuna's ability to sleep to her. As she wanders, she gets lost, but meets a stranded pirate named Riku. The two travel together until they find a river, and Riku seems to be in possession of a blue Rainbow Pearl, which he uses to control water. As thanks for helping him find the river so he can return to his pirate ship, he gifts Towa with a sword, the true, original Kikujumonji, of which Towa was carrying an apparent replica. As soon as he leaves though, guards spring out to arrest Towa for theft, as Riku apparently stole the Kikujumonji from Ogigayatsu Hiiragi Danjo, the local feudal lord. Returning to Kaede's house, Setsuna learns of that Towa left and goes in search of her, coming across a travelling Moroha, who has been quested with killing Kyuki by Jyubei. Moroha asks Takechiyo who is requesting such high level demons be killed, but Takechiyo says that there are some things she's best kept in the dark about. As Setsuna and Moroha travel to team up to find Towa they are attacked by Fubuki, a large polar bear, an underling of Kyuki from the north. They learn that the giant demon is only an illusion and his body is hidden somewhere else. Takechiyo is frozen by the bear's arctic blast and crashes. Imprisoned before Ogigayatsu Hiiragi Danjo, Towa is forced to answer questions about where she comes from, closing the loop from the first episode. She senses Fubuki's essence and attacks it, killing it easily with her own demonic power. Setsuna senses Towa and she and Moroha rush to save her, discovering that Sokyu, the lord's tea master is really Yotsume the owl demon who escapes with all three girls in pursuit.
The stuffed cat doll that Towa buys resembles the Higurashi family pet, Buyo.
Mount Musubi - this is a fictional mountain in Japan. "Musubi" (産霊) itself is a Shinto term for the divine spirit of creation. The idea of a mountain with this name likely comes from Ryo Hanmura's 1973 science fiction novel The Secret History of Mount Musubi (産霊山秘録/Musubi Yama Hiroku).
Riku makes his initial appearance. We see him eating grapes and commenting on his displeasure with the taste, just as Kirinmaru did earlier in the episode. This foreshadows their connection to one another.
Ogigayatsu Hiiragi Danjo (扇谷柊弾正) - The Ogigayatsu (扇谷) clan are one of the three main branches of the Uesugi samurai clan (along with the Inukake and Yamanouchi). By the time of the Sengoku period when Inuyasha and later Yashahime take place the Ogigayatsu had come into conflict with the Hojo Soun of the Hojo clan that was making in-roads into the Kanto region. The Ogigayatsu branch is ended with the death of Uesugi Tomosada. Other branches of the Uesugi clan would take up arms against the Hojo clan at this time, the most notable being Uesugi Kenshin.
Danjo's title, "kanrei" (管領) literally translates as "person-in-control" though "deputy shogun" would be an apt description of the position at the time. A history of those who held this particular position can be found here.
"Sokyu" is written (宋久). These kanji are "dwell" and "long time". Of course this is actually Yotsume (四目/four eyes).
Episode 8: 夢ひらきの罠
Yume hikari no wana (The Dream Gazing Trap)
As Setsuna and Moroha pursue Yotsume, Towa struggles to catch up. She finally meets up with the just unfrozen Takechiyo and hitches a ride by bribing him with candy from the present. Meanwhile, Riku arrives on shore to meet with Jyubei and it is revealed that Riku is the one paying Jyubei to have the Princesses to hunt down the Four Perils. Riku uses his earring, which is actually a Rainbow Pearl, to fill a bag with gold for Jyubei to reward the girls if they successfully slay Kyuki. As Setsuna and Moroha catch up to Yotsume, the owl demon begs his mistress, Kyuki for help. She loans him her own Rainbow Pearl, which empowers him to use his ability to put the Moroha to sleep. Takechiyo and Towa arrive soon after and are put under his spell as well. Only Setsuna is immune, as she cannot sleep. As they pass out, Kyuki uses the abilities of her pearl to look into the dreams of the three sleeping heroes attempting to discover their weaknesses. Takechiyo dreams of being left by a monk who greatly resembles Miroku with Jyubei as a child. Moroha dreams of her infancy, as Inuyasha and Kagome prepare for a battle, Kagome entrusts the child with Izayoi's lip rouge before Hatchiemon flies her away to safety, just as Sesshomaru and Kirinmaru arrive to seemingly threaten the couple. Towa meanwhile, dreams that she transforms into a butterfly, the same butterfly that has taken her sister's ability to dream away. She flies to the Goshinboku Tree, where she sees an image of Rin floating inside it. As Setsuna battles and easily kills Yotsume, the girls awaken, and rush to fight Kyuki. They soon find that she has used Yotsume's attack on their dreams to drain their demon powers, and Setsuna is left to fight alone. Moroha convinces Towa that she is going to have to absorb the attacks of Kyuki in order to power up her strike using Kikujumonji. Setsuna holds off Kyuki long enough for Towa to strike, but as she sees her sister get injured, she flies into a rage, and manages to defeat Kyuki just in time for Takechiyo to arrive with Riku in tow. Riku is formally introduced as the paymaster who has been funding the hunts for the Four Perils as he drifts away to kill off Kyuki before she can reveal what she may know of him. As she dies he secretly takes her Rainbow Pearl as well.
Towa has "Rock, Paper, Scissors Candy" that she shares with Takechiyo. In Japan this game is known as Janken (じゃん拳), though the rules are the same as the version played elsewhere around the world.
Yotsume (四目) means "four eyes".
Reiwa - Reiwa is the current era which began on May 1, 2019.
"Did I become a butterfly?" - When Moroha, Takechiyo and Towa see one another's dreams, Towa sees the dream butterfly and asks herself if she has become a butterfly. This is a reference to the Chinese philosopher Chang Tzu who dreamt he was a butterfly, and when he awoke was no longer sure if he he was a man who dreamt he was a butterfly or a butterfly dreaming that he was a man.
When Kyuki reveals her true form she resembles a creature from Chinese mythology called "Baize" (白泽) or "Hakutaku" in Japanese. Baize means "white marsh" in Chinese and is a creature known for its wisdom. It was said to have taught the Yellow Emperor about all of the magical creatures in the world.
"I'm the one being saved, even though I'm the older sister." - Towa says that she is older, however there is a difference in "older" with twins in Japanese culture. The twin that is physically born first would be the eldest in the West. In Japan however, the first born is the "youngest" because the "elder" twin offered to let them leave the womb first which indicates their maturity and care.
Episode 9: 冥王獣の冥福
Meioju no Meifuku (Meifuku the Meioju)
A dragon-like demon attacks a nearby fortress, using his magic to make the entire complex vanish to improve the view for himself. Word gets back to the nearby villages of the attack. The Half-Demon Princesses consult with Jyubei about bounties. When he tells the girls of the attack on the fortress Moroha happily agrees to go collect in exchange for 1000 mon. Setsuna and Towa seem uninterested, much to Moroha's surprise. They tell her that hunting demons is very different from bounty hunting, leaving Moroha and take Takechiyo and head out on her own. Once she's gone the sister's consult with Jyubei about the Dream Butterfly, but he has heard nothing of it, and instead recommends them offering a bounty on it to get others to help search for word of it. Towa happily agrees to this, but when Jyubei tells them that it would be worth 1000 mon, she realizes that she and Setsuna will have to go on the bounty hunt with Moroha in order to get enough money to pay for the bounty on the butterfly. Flying on Takechiyo, Moroha is glum, as she thought she had made a connection with her cousins and that they would begin to do more things together, she laments how lonely she has been in her life, when suddenly, from the ground below Setsuna and Towa call out to her, peddling after her on Towa's bicycle. The girls make up and head to the location of the vanished fortress to find the dragon demon, Konton awaiting them with a small demon named Meifuku hiding nearby and watching. It seems that Konton is one of the Four Perils, which gives the girls even more reason to defeat him, but they quickly learn that his armor is made of the indestructible shell of a Meioju, a turtle like demon, likes of which Inuyasha and Moryomaru once did battle over. Unable to damage his shell, the girls are in serious danger when Meifuku rescues them and pulls them out of battle. Near the river, he tells them his sad tale, explaining that Konton's armor came from his father, and he has sought revenge for the past fifty years. Moroha teases him about it taking so long to avenge his father, but Meifuku is still too young and inexperienced to battle Konton on his own, so the Half Demon Princesses agree to help. Meifuku hides in his shell as Konton arrives, leaping onto Towa's stomach to act as a shield for her. Konton's attacks quickly take down Moroha and Setsuna, but Towa is able to get in close enough that Meifuku can communicate with the spirit of his late father, who encourages him to unleash an attack, allowing Towa to embue Konton's armor with demonic energy and then make him vulnerable to her attack. After removing the armor, Konton immediately flees, and the girls are left having helped Meifuku avenge his father but not having defeated Konton or earning the bounty they sought.
In the original manga and anime adaptation Meioju is treated as a the name of a specific demon rather than a classification. His name is written 冥王獣 (dark king beast).
"A simian commander?" - "Saru" (さる) can mean "a certain person" or "monkey". So misunderstanding "a certain commander" for "a simian commander" is a good adaptation of this joke.
"They're prepared to pay 1,000 mon." - A mon (文) was the currency of Japan from the Muromachi period (1336 CE) until the early Meiji period (1870 CE). It was replaced by the "sen".
The wind and lightning lions resemble Shisa (シーサー), guardian lions that have their origins in China. The items they are carrying match the bag of wind carried by the Shinto god Fujin (風神) and the drums carried by the thunder god Raijin (雷神).
Tao and Fang Magic - Because Konton is from China (the mainland as Myoga indicates) he specializes in magic that is unfamiliar to the half-demon princesses. Myoga explains that he uses Fang Magic (fangshi/方士) which is often translated as an alchemist, a geomancer or an astrologer. Much of their magic deals with the "eight angles" (the four sides and four corners). Much of these rituals would eventually enter Japan during the Heian period and become known as onmyodo which is a major aspect of Takahashi's later series MAO.
Episode 10: 金と銀の虹色真珠
Kin to gin no nijiiro shinju (The Gold and Silver Rainbow Pearls)
Moroha, Towa and Setsuna are joined by Takechiyo as they hunt another demon for Jyubei. It turns out that the demon is actually a pair of conjoined siblings, Kinka and Ginka, just like Inuyasha and the others fought oh so many years ago. The two conjoined brothers of the Ka Tribe are rampaging and damaging livestock below due to their never-ending battle for supremacy. When the girls meet them, the brothers quickly realize that Setsuna and Towa are in possession of two rainbow pearls and plot to take them. The brothers possess the sisters and cause them to fight, until Setsuna is able to use a demon repelling powder by sheer strength of will to drive them out. Towa and Setsuna are saved but their pearls are taken as they head off with Takechiyo in pursuit. The brothers return to Joka the ruler of their tribe to report back that they have acquired the pearls. Instead of praising them, she attacks and manages to instantly capture Ginka, attempting to gain the pearl he has. Kinka stops feuding with his brother and attempts to save him, as Setsuna and Towa arrive to join in the fight. The sisters witness Kinka and Ginka being ripped apart as Ginka agrees to turn over the pearls if they will help him save his brother. The sight of the brothers being separated reminds both Towa and Setsuna of the night they were separated in the forest fire, and Setsuna rushes to aid Ginka in saving his brother. Setuna manages to slay Joka, but now that both brothers are separated they are mortally wounded, and turn to ash, dying. Moroha arrives just in time to see this and laments the lose of yet another bounty.
Like many of the demons that appear in Yashahime, they borrow creatures that appeared in Inuyasha. In the original series Kinka and Ginka were killed and no indication was given that their names were non-unique. In this episode the new Kinka and Ginka look identical but are suggested to be new yet similar characters to the ones that appeared in Inuyasha: The Final Act - Episode 5.
Kinka (金禍) and Ginka's (銀禍) names mean "gold calamity" and "silver calamity". Their names tie into the color of the Rainbow Pearls referenced in the episode's title.
The weapons wielded by Ginka and Kinka seem to be connected to Hinduism. The fire-blowing conch shell of Kinka's could be a mystical "shanka" while Ginka's unique bladed weapon may be a small "trishula" (त्रिशूल) or trident. The design on their shields is called "tomoe" (巴) (often translated as "comma shaped").
Kinka and Ginka say they are of the "Ka Demon Tribe" which is the last kanji in their names (禍).
Joka, the head of the Ka Demon Tribe writes her name as 女禍 (female + calamity).
Episode 11: 人喰い沼の呪い
Hito kui numa no noroi (Curse of the Maneating Pond)
Moroha cooks and gobbles down some pancakes but when she gets choked she rushes to a nearby pond to get a drink of water. Towa stops her in time, telling her the water looks dirty and will make her sick. Suddenly Moroha noticed the pond itself snatch a duck from the sky and pull it down into its murky depths. As Towa and Setsuna head back to the Demon Slayer Village, they learn from Kohaku and Hisui that the pond is in fact a man-eating pond, that has devoured many local villagers. The duo head back to pond only to spy a pair of children, Chiyo and her brother Hikomaru, at the waters edge. Hikomaru swears vengeance for his murdered father, who was devoured by the pond. Setsuna and Towa stop them and return them to their home where they all spend the night together. That night, Setsuna plays her violin and the children cry, remembering their father, who played the biwa near the lake. The sisters sleep near the pond and watch, waiting for morning to come when they will prepare their attack. The next day, Moroha finds her cousins as they are preparing, and she rushes in to help. They soon realize that the man eating pond is actually a pair of demons. The serpent Dokumizuchi and the water itself, Numawatari. They both attack with different kinds of poisons. Setsuna is taken down by the Dokumizuki who uses venom, while the Numawatari uses poison mist and injures Towa. As it turns out, both Towa and Setsuna have inherited different poison resistances from Sesshomaru, the sisters quickly realize their weaknesses and immunities and change opponents. While Moroha looks on, Towa uses some medicinal herbs within her cyclone attack to purify the Numawatari, while Towa slashes through the now vulnerable Dokumizuchi. The pond is completely safe now and Chiyo and Hikomaru rush down in time to thank the Half Demon Princesses, as Setsuna plays a song on her violin to honor their late father.
The two children are named Chiyo (千代) voiced by Aya Komazuru (胡麻鶴彩) and Hikomaru (彦丸) voiced by Chihiro Kawakami (川上千尋). Chiyo is not connected to the child with the same name from Inuyasha episode 107.
Brianna Knickerbocker and Laura Stahl voiced Chiyo and Hikomaru in English respectively.
“Our pa was good at playing the biwa too.” - A biwa (琵琶) is a Japanese lute consisting of four to five strings used in narrative storytelling. It originated in China and arrived in Japan sometime in the Nara Period (710 - 794 CE). If is played with a plectrum called a "bachi" (撥) rather than fingers.
What is translated as "venom serpent" is Mizuchi. Along with "drifting pond", Numawatari, both of these characters appeared in the original manga but were not featured in the anime adaptation until this episode.
Mizuchi (大虬) is a historical yokai that is typically depicted as a water-based dragon. According to the ancient tale Nihongi it was able to spew venom and was ultimately slain by Agatamori (県守).
Episode 12: 朔の夜、黒髪のとわ
Saku no yoru, kurokami no Towa (Night of the New Moon and the Black-Haired Towa)
Konton summons the former holy man Nikosen to help enact his latest plot against the Half-Demon Princesses. He hopes that being a half-demon himself, Nikosen will have insight into battling the girls. At the demon slaying village Kohaku sends Setsuna to hunt Nikosen, and Towa agrees to go with her on Kirara. They've heard that he has attacked a nearby village and drained a mountain of its nutrients. On their way to battle him, they find Moroha investigating as well, hoping to claim the bounty on his head to pay down her debts. As they climb the mountain, they are surrounded by miasma, but Setsuna notices that Towa seems even weaker than usual. Putting on their poison resisting masks, the girls face off against Nikosen, who immediately overcomes them. Setsuna gives Moroha her mask while she takes the weakened Towa to safety, and Moroha is able to seemingly decapitate Nikosen, although his head flies off. Setsuna puts Moroha in charge of protecting Towa as she and Kirara pursue Nikosen's head. As Moroha gets Towa to safety, she realizes that her white hair has changed color as is now black. Just then Nikosen's body reappears and reveals his ruse. His head was only an illusion to separate the girls and he rocks destroys the suspension bridge that Towa and Moroha are standing on, sending them plummeting into the gorge below. Moroha recovers and drags Towa through the poison, pulling her into a cave to try and hide her from Nikosen. Setsuna battles his head, and realizing she's been tricked by Nikosen's illusion, rushes back to find her sister and cousin. Meanwhile, Myoga tells Moroha of the weaknesses of half-demons during the New Moon, and discuss that she, Moroha, must not suffer from it because she is only a quarter-demon, and Setsuna is seemingly affected by the Dream Butterfly. Nikosen and Setsuna both search for the pair, but Moroha has erected a barrier to protect them. Meeting up with her fellow demon slayers, Setsuna and Kohaku attack Nikosen with catapults, but this damages the barrier on the cave that Moroha and Towa are hiding in and Nikosen quickly sniffs them out. Setsuna arrives but he attacks her as well, and the girls are only saved by the sun rising at dawn, allowing Towa to transform back into a half-demon and easily obliterate Nikosen. Having watched all of this, Konton remarks on the weaknesses of half-demons with interest.
This is the anime debut of Nikosen as his original storyline from the Inuyasha manga was not adapted for the anime series.
When Towa and Setsuna go to meet with Kohaku, we see homes with stones placed on the roofs in the background. The stones are used to hold the wood shingles in place so they do not blow away in a strong wind.
Nikosen refers to having been a "sennin" (仙人) in his human life. Literally this translates as "mountain man" or "hermit" but it carries with it the connotation of someone with magical powers as well.
This episode, while original, is based on Nikosen's storyline in the manga in chapter 412. In that storyline Inuyasha's half-demon powers wane just as Towa's do in this episode.
The paper seals that Moroha and Myoga place on the cave wall to protect Towa are called "ofuda" (お札).
Kohaku uses a telescope to locate Nikosen on the mountain. While this may seem anachronism it is spot on for this time period. Inuyasha and Yashahime take place during the Sengoku era (1467-1615). The first recorded telescope to arrive in Japan was given as a gift in 1613 to shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu by a captain from the British East India Company.
Episode 13: 戦国おいしい法師
Sengoku oishii houshi (The Delicious Feudal Monks)
Totetsu, the fourth peril, attacks a travelling monk and devours him whole then complains about his lack of flavor compared to Sanzo (from Journey to the West). Totetsu consults with his own Rainbow Pearl to ask where a tasty monk might be hiding. Kohaku tells Hisui, Setsuna and Towa about the attack on monks, and say the Demon Slayer Tribe is going around to all the local shrines to protect monks and priests. Kohaku sends the three to watch over Hisui's father, much to Hisui's disappointment. As they travel, Hisui reveals to Towa and Setsuna that Miroku has been undergoing special training for 1,000 days in order to become stronger. As they travel on Kirara, deep into the forests to find him, Gyokuto, asks her mother Sango if she has anything she would like her to take to Miroku while she goes to visit him. Gyokuto arrives and discusses the 800 days that Miroku has endured so far, Hisui, Towa and Setsuna soon arrive as well. While Hisui introduces the sisters, Miroku realizes that Setsuna, who he saved as a child has forgotten him. Meanwhile, Kohaku and his fellow slayers find Moroha waiting at another temple, protecting a monk there in hopes of earning some money. She sends them on her way so she can keep all the reward for herself, but instead of stopping Totetsu simply flies on to his destination: Miroku's location. Gyokuto snacks with Towa and Setsuna and explains that Hisui and Miroku had a falling out, as Hisui thinks that Miroku has undergone this long training as a way of escaping his responsibility to his family. Suddenly Setsuna realizes who Miroku was and remembers the help he provided her as a child. Just after Gyokuto borrows Kirara and leaves, Totetsu attacks. He uses his powerful breath to inhale parts of the shrine, causing massive damage as he tries to eat Miroku. Towa manages to toss a bottle of hot sauce at him to stun him as he gulps it down, while Miroku tells Hisui to use the Demon Slayer's poison on him. Hisui does as he's told, seemingly impressed by his father's ingenuity, but the attack backfires and injures Hisui. Setsuna asks Miroku to undo a seal he put on her when she was a child, and hesitantly he does so. Suddenly Setsuna attacks Totetsu, ramming her arm down his throat, using her poison claws and showing that she is a full demon. Totetsu escapes immediately, and Setsuna tells Towa that Miroku sealed her demonic blood when she was a child, as it was too poisonous for her body to handle. Miroku re-seals her, and decides to finish the last 200 days of his training, Takechiyo tells Moroha that the demon is gone, much to her shock and dismay, Gyokuto returns to Sango, and Towa and Setsuna share a slightly heartfelt sisterly moment.
For the English dub of the show, this is the first episode that has Ian Corlett replacing the deceased Kirby Morrow. Ian Corlett had played Dr. Tofu in the Ranma 1/2 anime and Kirby Morrow had replaced him in later episodes of the series so it seems fitting that Ian Corlett would return the favor and fill the role of Miroku after Kirby's passing.
The ringed staff that Miroku carries is a "shakujou" (錫杖) or in the original Sanskrit a "khakkhara". The rings are intended to make sounds to chase away small insects and animals that might get beneath the feet of the monk and accidently be hurt or killed.
Totetsu (饕餮) is named after a mythological Chinese creature, but the name has also become assoicated with someone that is brutal or covets wealth.
The small item the monk has in his hand is called a "vajra" in Sanskrit. In Japanese it is known as a kongosho (金剛杵). It is a symbolic lightning bolt and is thought to be spirtually indestructible.
Kin'u (金烏) is an archaic Japanese word for "sun". Perhaps unsurprisingly Gyokuto (玉兎) is the archaic word for "moon".
Miroku discusses engaging in a long term training regime that will take him 1,000 days. In Japan Buddhist monks of the Tendai sect engage in kaihōgyō (回峰行) which means "circling the mountain". The practice involves following a route to Mount Hiei. In modern times there is a more commonly followed 100 day version. Since 1885 only 46 men have completed the training which takes place in 100 day increments spread out over seven years. The white garments Miroku wears are typical of those attempting kaihogyo.
"You mean Sanzo from Journey to the West?" - In the original Chinese story the monk they refer to as "Sanzo" is "Tang Sanzang". He is the monk ally of Sun Wukong, the monkey king. The character Tang Sanzang is based on the historical monk Xuanzang who travled on foot from China to India to retrieve Buddhist sutras. In the story Tang could punish Sun Wokong by chanting "headache spell" to make the monkey's circlet tighten on his head. This is likely an inspiration for Kagome's "sit" command that could make Inuyasha's Beads of Subjugation send him crashing to the ground.
After introducing himself and preparing to battle against the Half-Demon Princesses, Totetsu makes a gesture akin to a Kabuki actor, his arms outstreched. These theatrical gestures are known as "kata" of which their are a variety of types. Stylized fighting moves are "tate", entrances are "tanzen", exits are "roppo", and "mie" is known as "striking an attitude".
The weapon that demon exterminator Nanasuke uses is called a "monk's spade" in Chinese. It originated as a type of spade or shovel carried by Chinese Buddhist monks so that they could bury the dead they found alongside the roads during their travels with the cresecent side being used to catch under the throats of attacking animals and push them away.
Episode 14: 森を焼いた黒幕
Mori wo yaita kuromaru (The One Behind the Forest Fire)
A beautiful girl collapses in the snow and is found by Riku. The princesses, Towa, Setsuna and Moroha return to the Jyubei's house. Moroha complains of not having any bounties to turn in, as Towa drops her smart phone and explains to her sister and cousin what it does and how everyone in the present is addicted to their phone even if it doesn't work in the past. Inside Jyubei's hut, Tamano, the girl from the snowfield stands before them, Riku has brought here there and encouraged her to tell her story. It seems that she was considered one of the most beautiful girls for miles and many suitors came to ask her to marry them. Eventually a demon named Homura comes one night to steal her away from her grandparents, keeping her at his mansion atop a snowy mountain range. At first her time there is peaceful, but soon Homura becomes jealous and kills any man who looks at Tamano. He blames her for encouraging men to lust after her, and imprisons her, but she breaks out and collapses in the snow, where she meets Riku, who brought her to Jyubei. He encourages Moroha, Setsuna and Towa to hunt down and kill Homura, and they agree. When they arrive at his mansion, he immediately attacks, blaming them for Tamano's disappearance. He also recognizes the jewels in their eyes and admits he was the one who started the fire all those years ago that separated them. He had been told to kill the girls by a female demon named Zero while Sesshomaru watched on coldly, making no effort to stop the fires from raging. Towa is enraged that Homura is the one responsible for separating her from Setsuna and lashes out with her sister alongside her. Meanwhile, overcome with guilt at having sent the three girls to confront Homura, Tamano arrives on Takechiyo with Riku. Homura is distracted by the sight of his true love returning, but Riku continually goads Tamano into saying she does not want to be with Homura, enraging the demon more and more until he suddenly immolates himself, turning to ash. With no one left to fight, everyone returns to Jyubei. Unfortunately for Moroha there is no bounty to claim without proof of Homura's death. As the girl's discuss things, Riku watches on, saying to himself that no demon should ever love a human, even Sesshomaru.
Tamano's name is written 玉之 which means "this jewel", an appropriate name given her attractiveness.
Homura's name (炎) literally means flame, appropriate based on his firey powers.
Zero makes her first shadowy appearance in this episode.
Episode 15: 月蝕、運命の惜別
Gesshoku, unmei no sekibetsu (Farewell Under the Lunar Eclipse)
Eighteen years ago Hosenki II finished remaking the black pearl that belonged to Inuyasha and opened a portal to his father's burial grounds. As the demon delivers it to Inuyasha and Kagome, he requests to see Inuyasha's Kongosoha, which Inuyasha learned from his Hosenki's father. Kagome chastizes him when he destroys half their house with the sharp fragments. Sango comes to get Kagome as they prepare for Rin to give birth, as Kagome leaves to join the others, she is stopped by Riku. Riku tells Kagome that he knows of her by reputation for banishing the Shikon Jewel forever. He goes on to tell her of the Grim Comet, a comet that comes near Earth once every 500 years and sends fragments down to the planet which can mean utter destruction. The last time it came near, only the combined might of Inuyasha and Sesshomaru's Father and Kirinmaru, the Great Demons of the West and East respectively, to repel the danger. Now, 500 years later Kirinmaru sleeps and Inuyasha's Father is dead. Kagome asks if Inuyasha and Sesshomaru can work with Kirinmaru in place of their father, but Riku says it is not possible, as Kirinmaru despises half-demons, and to learn that Inuyasha's father had a child with a human would mean he would try to kill not only Inuyasha, but Sesshomaru and Rin's newborn children, and even Kagome's soon-to-be-born child. Kagome recoils at this idea, but leaves Riku to go attend to Rin. When she arrives, Rin has just given birth, and Sesshomaru immediately arrives with Jaken, taking both Setsuna and Towa with him saying they must pass a trial of bravery. Jaken and Kagome explain the situation with the Grim Comet to Rin, Kaede and Sango, before Jaken tells Rin not to worry, that he will take care of the newborns himself. He and Sesshomaru take the twins to the Goshinboku Tree an Jaken erects a barrier, protecting them from the watchful eyes of Zero and Joka. Before Sesshomaru leaves, Jaken promises to bring Rin to the tree as well. Joka goes in search of them but finds Sesshomaru instead, who immediately cuts her arms off, stealing two Rainbow Pearls from her that he leaves with his newborn daughters. Inuyasha and Sesshomaru then go to destroy the Grim Comet's meteor and save the planet for another 500 years. Meanwhile, Kirinmaru is awoken by Zero, who tells him that Inuyasha's Father had in fact given birth to a half-demon, as well as Sesshomaru recently giving birth to two twin half-demon daughters, and Inuyasha and Kagome recently delivering their own quarter-demon daughter. All of this horrifies Kirinmaru due to a prophecy that says he will one day be slain by a half demon. Refusing to allow this to happen, he swears to kill them all. Just as he does, Sesshomaru arrives and seems to strike a deal with him. The pair go to hunt down Inuyasha, Kagome and Moroha. Kagome entrusts Moroha with Hatchiemon who takes the baby away to Koga and Ayumi's Wolf Demon Tribe, while Sesshomaru rushes in, ripping the Black Pearl from Inuyasha's eye and sending both he and Kagome to their father's grave, sparing them from Kirinmaru. At the same time the forest fire that will separate Setsuna and Towa is ignited by Zero and Homura. Sesshomaru tells Kirinmaru that they will need Inuyasha's Meido Zangetsuha one day, and it is best that he remain alive for now.
Hosenki II, like his predecessor, writes his name 宝仙鬼 (treasure, hermit, oni).
"Five hundred years ago, when nobles were still governing this land..." - Riku is telling Kagome how often the Grim Comet passes the Earth. The era he is describing is Heian period which lasted from 794-1185 CE. The nobles that ruled the land would be the Fujiwara clan who held the real power while the Emperor was a figurehead.
Riku mentions this because during the time he is speaking with Kagome the Emerpor nor the noble class held power any longer- Japan was ruled by the shogun.
Inuyasha took place during the Sengoku period (1467-1615 CE). Some clues (such as the spy glass seen in episode 12) suggest the series was towards the end of this range of dates. This suggests Yashahime takes place near the end of the Sengoku period or perhaps in the early Edo period.
When Sesshomaru slices towards Zero a paper cut-out of a person is left behind. This is a shikigami.
"A trial of courage and cowardice..." - The trial of courage and cowardice (剛臆の試し) becomes an important decision that shapes the lives of Towa and Setsuna. There is an interesting parallel in Sesshomaru's decision to test his daughters and Itto Ogami's decision to "walk the demon's path through hell" (meifumado/冥府魔道) with his son Daigoro in the 1970 manga and film series Lone Wolf and Cub (子連れ狼) by Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima. Koike would go on to become Rumiko Takahashi's mentor at Gekiga Sonjuku, the manga school she attended during college.
Episode 16: もろはの刃
Moroha no yaiba (Double-Edged Moroha)
Moroha prepares to battle against a face from her past, as she tells her story to Towa and Setsuna. After being left with the Wolf Demon Tribe as a newborn she was entrusted by Koga to Yawaragi, who became Moroha's new master and was charged with training her. As the years went by Yawaragi finally took Moroha to a mountain where demons were battling one another to create a kodoku, where the stronger demon would absorb and merge with the defeated demons. Yawaragi tells Moroha to enter the mountain battleground and face the winner of the kodoku without using her rouge to transform into Beniyasha, but rather use her imagination and wits to win. Moroha does so and manages to escape the mountain, winning without transforming, but when she goes to look for Yawaragi, she finds her master is gone. Meanwhile Yawaragi has arrived at Jyubei's hut and is gambling with him. Yawaragi reveals that she needs money to buy a key to remove the Armor of the Iron Rat that she wears, as it shrinks as time passes, eventually killing its owner. It seems that she had entered Moroha into the demon kodoku battle not just to train Moroha but to win money as well. Moroha is disgusted by this and demands Kurikaramaru, Yawaragi's sword. Upon hearing this, Jyubei agrees to buy Moroha from Yawaragi, giving her the money she needs to buy the key to her cursed armor, but he insists that Yawaragi give Moroha Kurikaramaru as well, which she does. This is how Moroha becomes indebted to slaying demons for Jyubei. Now Yawaragi learns that Konton has killed the entire Village of Iron Rats and possesses the sole key to her armor, and orders her to battle Moroha if she wants to get the key that will save her life. Now Moroha and Yawaragi face off, and once again Yawaragi chastises Moroha for attempting to use her rouge to transform into Beniyasha, saying that she will become a heartless monster if she continues to rely on it. In that moment, Moroha remembers that as a child, she was training with Yawaragi, against the Birds of Paradise, and used the rouge, scarring Yawaragi's face and forcing her to don the armor of the Iron Rat in the first place in order to withstand the onslaught of the Birds of Paradise. Remembering that, Moroha prepares for Yawaragi's assault, and uses Kurikaramaru to create her own version of the Bakuryuha, sending Yawaragi's attack back at her. Yawaragi grabs Konton, hoping to kill him with the attack, but he teleports away, allowing Yawaragi to die instead. Moroha mourns her former master and swears to avenge her.
This episode borrows some elements from Inuyashaepisode 32.
"Deep within this cave, the crucible of Kodoku will soon fulfill its vow." - Kodoku (蠱毒), literally is a cursed poison, however the way the poison is derived is what is unique. Poisonous insects and animals are placed in a jar or pit where creatures fight one another with the survivor supposedly possessing the most powerful, concentrated poison which is then used in casting a curse. In the context of Inuyasha and Yashahime in order to transform into a strong demonic creature creatures are trapped within a pit or vessel and made to battle, merging and combining as they are defeated. As previously mentioned in Inuyasha Onigumo is something of a physical crucible for a kodoku that then became Naraku. This was later repeated during the Mount Hakurei chapters as Naraku tried to enhance himself. Rumiko Takahashi's series MAO often uses the kodoku concept to craft Mao's medicine through the gathering of various poison insects and other plot points.
Yawaragi mentions "the spell of fuko (巫蠱) in onmyodo (陰陽道)" as being part of the kodoku ritual. Fuko is essentially a magical version of kodoku and onmyodo is the esoteric philosophy that fuko is a part of. Once more Rumiko Takahashi's series MAO heavily involves the concepts of onmyodo.
Yawaragi states she will give her blade, Kurikaramaru, to Moroha if she survives within the kodoku battle. Yawaragi states that she was given Kurikaramaru three years ago by the chief of the wolf demon tribe. This likely means Koga, but it is not stated with certainty.
The game Yawaragi and Jyubei are playing is sugoroku (雙六). There are two versions, one is similar to backgammon and the other to snakes and ladders.
"However, just like the meaning of her name, she's a double-edged sword." - Moroha, like Towa and Setsuna's names, is written in hiragana rather than kanji. Consequently it is difficult to derive any specific meaning from. However Yawaragi specifically says that Moroha is a "double-edged blade, like her namesake." This is referring to 諸刃 (moroha) which means "double-edged".
The fire rat (the crafter's of Inuyasha and Moroha's robes) are based on actual mythological references. The fire rat (火鼠/hinezumi) is a creature that originated in China and supposedly lived in volcanoes. The fire rat is referenced in the Illustrated Sino-Japanese Encyclopedia (和漢三才図会/Wakan Sansui Zue) written in 1712 by Terashima Ryoan (寺島良安).
The iron rats (鉄鼠/tesso) are likely taken from the mythological tale from the Heian period about a monk and the grudge that was visited on Emperor Shirakawa for breaking a promise to him.
The Birds of Paradise make a fleeting appearance in this episode. The Birds of Paradise originally appeared fighting the Wolf Demon Tribe in episode 36.
Yawaragi's attack is "Gaifuu Kaisei" (凱風快晴), translated as "Scattering Winds". "Gaifuu Kaisei" is the name of a famous ukiyo-e print by Hokusai that is often translated as "Fine Wind, Clear Morning". The more literal translation would be "South Wind, Clear Sky". Appropriately Yawaragi's name is written the same way as "south wind" (凱風).
Episode 17: 二凶の罠
Nikyou no wana (Trap of the Two Perils)
Towa and Setsuna continue their search for the Dream Butterfly but with no luck. Konton creates a spell and meets with Riku, who suggests that as Konton and Totetsu are the only two remaining Perils they should work together to get the Rainbow Pearls from the Half-Demon Princesses. Riku agrees to find Totetsu and fill him in on the plan as well as lure the Princesses into Konton's trap spell. Meanwhile, Zero questions Kirinmaru about his promise to slay the daughters of Sesshomaru for her. Back at Jyubei's hut he and Takeychio put Moroha to work cleaning until Riku arrives and mentions an appearance by Totetsu. Moroha gathers her cousins and with Riku and Takechiyo they fly to a monastery and find Totetsu about to eat a particularly virtuous monk. Moroha almost manages to sneak up on Totetsu, but Towa's expression signals the attack and he is able to counter it, fleeing and causing the group to give chase. Ultimately they enter the area of Konton's spell and are separated as reality warps around them. Moroha pursues Totetsu into an endless canyon, while Towa and Setsuna find themselves in an ever expanding field. Setsuna chastises her sister once more, saying how she has to become stronger in order to survive in the Sengoku Era. The pair separate and Towa realizes that she can smell Towa's blood from an injury in order to navigate the area. Setsuna remembers that their clan can use their powerful sense of smell to find areas of demonic energy confluence and they are able to slash their way toward revealing Konton's location.
When Jyubei returns the green rainbow pearl to Riku it is mounted on a necklace alongside some other white stones. These stones are "magatama" (勾玉). They are curved, comma shaped stones that were first made during the Jomon through the Kofun period (1000 BCE - 500 CE). They are often called jewels but in truth they are typically made from jade.
The "fang magic" that Konton is practicing is a Chinese magic known as "Fangshi".
"This isn't Mount Musubi, this is Omusubi. See? Doesn't that mountain look tasty?" - Omusubi (おむすび) means "rice ball".
The statue on the altar at the temple that Totetsu is attacking is Kannon ("Avalokitesvara" in the original Indian Buddhist terminology). This particular incarnation is the Senju Kannon (千手観音/Thousand-Armed Kannon).
The Gate of Opening, The Gate of Surprise - these are concepts known as "bagua" a part of Taoist cosmology. They are often translated into English as the "eight trigrams".
In mathematics a möbius strip is a surface with only one side.
Episode 18: 殺生丸と麒麟丸
Sesshomaru to Kirinmaru (Sesshomaru and Kirinmaru)
Towa and Setsuna attack Konton and engage him in battle, he summons shikigami lions and then an ogre to protect him while he prepares another spell to keep his illusions in check. Meanwhile, Totetsu falls from his hiding place and Moroha attacks him until he manages to injest the orange Rainbow Pearl and power himself up. Eventually Setsuna and Towa defeat the shikigami and Konton is decapitated by one of his own beasts, destroying his illusions for good and allowing Moroha to reunite with her cousins. Riku leaves Takechiyo behind and goes into the valley to find out what's going on. He finds Konton's corpse and takes his blue Rainbow Pearl for himself, increasing his personal collection to three. Totetsu escapes while the girls use Takechiyo to pursue him. Eventually he leads them to the seashore, as he tries to reunite with Kirinmaru, however Kirinmaru knocks him out of the sky and curses him for leading the half-demon princesses to him. Kirinmaru easily engages Moroha, who wastes no time in transforming to Beniyasha, although all her attacks are in vain. He then makes quick work of Setsuna then Towa, when suddenly the Bakusaiga falls from the sky, preventing him from hurting the girls any further. Sesshomaru arrives with Jaken, and both Towa and Setsuna can do nothing but stare at the father they barely know. Sesshomaru and Kirinmaru cross blades, causing waves to rise and lightning to crash around them. One stray bolt strikes Towa, Setsuna and Jaken, which brings the battle to an end. Kirinmaru says that he still has use for Sesshomaru, who turns to leave, yet Jaken tries to stop him, asking if he should leave his daughters behind injured as they are. Sesshomaru only pauses before leaving, taking Jaken with him. Moroha awakens and helps Towa and Setsuna, the three are more confused than ever with Kirinmaru escaping and Sesshomaru disappearing with no answers. They go back to the Goshinboku tree, but even it does not speak to them.
"I'll turn you into namasu." - Namasu (膾) is a dish of diced vegetables and seafood lightly pickled in vinegar.
The wind lion (風の獅子/kaze no shishi) and thunder lion (雷の獅子/kaminari no shishi) are adorned with wind sack carried by Fujin (風神), the god of wind, and the drums emblazoned with the tomoe symbol carried by Raijin (雷神), the thunder god.
The subtitle states that the lions are Konton's shikigami.
Konton summons a "blue ogre" (青鬼/Ao oni). Oni are historical creatures, but this particular blue one is likely a reference to the 2014 horror film of the same name.
Higher-up versus boss - Towa says that Totesu is running back to his "higher-up" (上司/jyoushi). Moroha finds this to be a strange comment and says she must mean his "boss" (親分/oyabun). Towa's term has the connotation of a superior at work, while Moroha's term implies the boss of a criminal gang, a kingpin.
Kirinmaru implies that he must kill the half-demon princesses because of a prophecy that a half-demon will kill him. This is a self-fulfilling prophecy (meaning the actions Kirinmaru takes to prevent it from happening may in fact be the cause of his a half-demon seeking to kill him). In mythology the battle between Cronus and his son, Zeus, is the result of a similar situation.
Episode 19: 愛矢姫の紅夜叉退治
Aiya hime no Beniyasha taiji (Princess Aiya's Beniyasha Hunting)
A team of Demon Slayers consisting of Hisui, Nanasuke, Rokuta, and Setsuna accept a job from Lord Ogigayatsu Hiiragi Danjo's daughter Princess Aiya to do battle against a hired force of bounty hunters, which will include Moroha. Everyone agrees not to tell Towa so that she will not be involved. The next morning Towa awakens to find Moroha digging through her bags and then taking off only vaguely mentioning a "big battle" she's involved in. Concerned for her cousin, Towa tries to find Setsuna, but she is missing. Following after Moroha and Takechiyo, Towa sets off on Kirara. At the battlefield, the Demon Slayers are shocked to find that Moroha's team of bounty hunters are a comical lot of misfits protecting a makeshift castle. After a sentai style pose down, the Demon Slayers begin to bombard their fake castle with flame pots, setting it ablaze and sending everyone but Moroha running in fear. Towa manages to swoop in and save her cousin from the fiery onslaught, much to Setsuna's chagrin. Setsuna demands that Towa stay out of the battle, but Towa is only confused as to why Moroha is being attacked. Princess Aiya watches from a distance until Moroha and Setsuna fight one another, then she becomes intrigued at the girls power, however she admits to a just arrived Kohaku that she has no intention of hiring the Demon Slayers. The battle wraps up with Hisui tossing Hiraikotsu at Moroha, who trades places with a transformed Takechiyo to feign injury. Kohaku breaks the bad news to the group, saying that they will not be hired on to protect the Lord and his daughter, and that the job of the Demon Slayers is to help anyone in need, not to worry about money. The Lord chastises his daughter, who reveals the entire job was to get back at the girls for staining her kimono when they broke Towa out of his castle. As the sun sets, Towa hugs Setsuna and Moroha, admitting she's just happy everything is back to normal.
Aiya (愛矢) is written with kanji meaning "love arrow".
Aiya is referred to as "princess" (姫/hime), however this should not be thought of in the same sense as the term is used in the West. In Japan, "princess" can be used to refer to any lady of high birth, not exclusively the daughter of an emperor or shogun. Those individuals would typically be referred to as "ojo" (王女), which is typically translated as "princess" as well leading to some confusion.
For the demon exterminators to join Hiiragi Danjo's forces would be seen as a great boon as it would ensure a regular salary and a great deal more prestige as they would be serving a local lord.
The bounty hunters are all actors as indicated by the onnagata (女形) in their midst. An onnagata is a man that plays female roles in kabuki theater.
The poses that the bounty hunters adopt as they introduce themselves on the battlefield has a long tradition in Japan. It originated with Super Sentai (known as Power Rangers in the West) and has been immitated in shows such as Sailor Moon and Dragonball Z.
Aiya's mannerisms, laughter and generally haughty behavior mirrors those of Ranma 1/2's Kodachi Kuno and Kyokai no RINNE's Anju.
Episode 20: 半妖の隠れ里
Hanyo no kakurezato (The Hidden Village for Half-Demons)
Setsuna and Towa travel on Kirara into a lush forest deep in the mountains. Towa asks where they're going, but Setsuna keeps things vague until they land and find everything quiet. Setsuna reveals that this is near a village of half demons where she grew up. As a child, she wandered the burned down forest that she and Setsuna were separated in. Soon Aun, Sesshomaru's mount arrives and seemingly speaks to Setuna, but in actuality it is Jaken hiding. He arranges for to take her to the Village of Half Demons, where she is raised with other children, specifically a pair of boys named Futa and Raita, by Shiori, the half-demon who was saved many years ago by Inuyasha and Kagome. Setsuna grows up with the other children hunting and foraging for food by day, then hiding at night from any humans or demons that may threaten them. As Setsuna ages she consistently receives messages instructing her to train to defend herself using a small blade. She grows stronger until one day a message comes telling her to return the village where she was born. She arrives under the care of Kaede, but attacks and almost kills a pair of bandits before she is stopped. She immediately leaves to return to the Village of Half Demons where she felt more comfortable. The years passed and one day a powerful demon waited until a solar eclipse would cause Shiori's demon blood to weaken and her to transform into a human. As the barrier falls a powerful moth demon named Gaga Gozen attacks with his men. Setsuna, Futa and Raita defend the village, killing his underlings, but Gaga Gozen proves to be too strong for them to handle. Nearby, Miroku and Hatchiemon look on. As Setsuna is bound by silk from Gaga Gozen, she erupts in anger, transforming and ripping him to shreds, attacking Miroku as well as Shiori. Miroku is able to knock her unconscious and binds her demonic blood within her, using the naginata that Gaga Gozen carried, Kanemitsu no Tomoe, as a medium. Setsuna realizes her strength and is sent away now that she is strong enough to survive in the outside world, this time going to train with the Demon Slayers. Before she leaves, she promises Shiori that she will always guide any half demon children she finds to the village for their safety.
This episode marks the return of Shiori who last appeared in Inuyashaepisode 73.
Towa describes the half-demon village as a "hidden village". In Japanese a hidden village is a "kakurezato" (隠れ里). These are remote villages that were traditionally thought to be hideouts for ninja clans that could be easily defended against invading outsiders. Sasuke Inari Shrine (佐助稲荷神社) is a real life example of such a place located in Kamakura.
In the Japanese fan community there was a great deal of debate about whether Jaken or Sesshomaru's handwritting was shown on the slate that said "たのむ" (entrust) when Towa was left at the entrace to the hidden village.
Futa (風太) and Raita (雷太) write their names with the kanji for "thick wind" and "thick lightning". Futa's weapon resembles a Tengu's fan (天狗の団扇) while Raita's fork resembles a kongosho (金剛杵) or vajra which is symbolic of the thunderbolt.
Gaga Gozen (蛾ヶ御前) is written with the kanji for "moth lord". He calls to mind Gatenmaru from the original series.
Episode 21: 虹色真珠の秘密
Nijiiro shinju no himitsu (The Secret of the Rainbow Pearls)
In a flashback to many years ago, Kirinmaru meets with Kyuki and Konton as Riku looks on. They reveal that they have heard the Great Demon Dog is wounded from his battles with Shishinki and Ryukotsusei and nearby, and that Kirinmaru could easily attack him now. Kirinmaru curses them and says that a victory won in that way would be ridiculous. He orders Riku to take healing medicine to him in hopes of helping him recover. As Riku does, he arrives at the palace of the Great Demon Dog only to find it engulfed in flames as he has died, with Izayoi, Inuyasha's mother, dying in the fire as well. Riku returns and delivers the news to Zero, who weeps over the Shikon Jewel which was in her possession at this time. Hearing the death of such a great demon moves her to wish her own demonic powers away, and as she sheds a tear she wishes on the Shikon Jewel. Her tear falls and splits into the seven Rainbow Pearls, which she gives to Riku. All these years later the pearls have been separated, and Riku wants to reunite them to return to Zero, who he considers his matron and caretaker after he had been cast off by Kirinmaru. In Kaede's village, Setsuna orders Towa not to leave, and be cautious, as the new moon has risen and she has lost her demonic powers. Towa protests but stays in Kaede's care. Kaede reveals that Towa reminds her a lot of her mother, and tells them about Rin and how she lived with Kaede for many years until one night she suddenly disappeared. Kaede admits she does not know if she simply left or perhaps died. Meanwhile, Totetsu flies overhead, deciding to use his Orange Pearl in conjunction with the new moon to get revenge on Towa. Towa leaves the safety of Kaede's hut when she spies what she thinks is the Dream Butterfly, that leads her to the Goshinboku Tree and an awaiting Riku. She and Riku sit down and have tea together and talk. He frankly reveals that Kirinmaru is his master and that he is amassing the Rainbow Pearls for his mistress, Zero. While taken aback by this, he and Towa continue to talk, until Totetsu attacks. Riku curses him and protects Towa from his assault, even fighting back to keep her safe. Towa overhears a stray comment that Totetsu makes about eating Riku and wondering if he would taste like Kirinmaru. Riku uses his Blue Rainbow Pearl to summon poison bees that Totetsu injests, but spits out, wounding and poisoning Riku as a result. Thankfully Setsuna and Moroha arrive in time as dawn breaks and Towa regains her powers. As Totetsu prepares to battle the trio, Riku summons a sword from the sky to crash down and decapitate Totetsu, allowing Riku to gain his orange pearl. As he hugs Towa, Setsuna draws her blade on him, remarking that his scent is identical to Kirinmaru. Riku escapes, but to everyone's shock, Towa decides to hand over her silver pearl to him willingly. As Moroha bundles up Totetsu's head for the bounty, Setsuna chastises her sister's decision to give up her pearl, and after pointing out that Riku could use it to amass power for evil purposes or to simply help Kirinmaru, Towa seems to immediately regret her rash decision and chases after Riku to see if she can get her silver pearl back.
Takuro Shinbo, one of the animation directors on this episode, not only served in that role on a number of episodes for Yashahime but also served as animation director on many episodes of Rumiko Takahashi's Kyokai no RINNE as well.
The beginning of the episode interweves with aspects of the Great Dog Demon's history which is told quite fragmentedly in Inuyasha. References are made to Shishinki, Ryukotsusei and some hints of things that were shown during the third film.
Towa has a dream that shows Setsuna being visited by the Dream Butterfly who then travels into the Goshinboku tree and deposits its dust onto Rin who is slumbering. It will not be until the next season in episode 27 that the significance of this sequence is made clear.
"It's cold... I should have some hand warmers." - Hand warmers (カイロ /kairo) are a product that was invented in 1975. It is a packet filled with a chemical that, when the plastic layer is peeled off and exposed to air, causes a chemical reaction that generates heat.
Darjeeling and Earl Grey are two types of tea that would not have been available in Japan during the Sengoku period. Darjeeling comes from West Bengal, India. Earl Grey tea is a British blend using Chinese keemun flavored with oil of bergamot.
Episode 22: 奪われた封印
Ubawareta fuin (The Stolen Seal)
On the night the Grim Comet arrived Inuyasha and Sesshomaru's father teamed up with Kirinmaru to destroy it. As the pair went into battle Zero and Sesshomaru's mother looked on from their palace. The duo made short work of it, and both couples seemed friendly as The Great Dog Demon watched Kirinmaru promptly fall asleep on a grassy hill after they finished off the comet. Zero arrives and remarks how easily Kirinmaru can sleep. The Great Dog Demon responds that he can sleep so well because of her, and he hopes she will always remain just as she is before he flies off. Now, under the guise of Otsuyu, Zero travels into the mountains and confronts Miroku during his training. Catching him off guard, she is able to subdue him and absorb some of his power, hoping to use it to release his seal on Setsuna's demon powers. Returning to Kirinmaru it is revealed that the pair are siblings. They discuss the half-demon princesses, before Zero leaves to enact her plan. Meanwhile, Setsuna is lamenting that her naginata, Kanemitsu no Tomoe has begun to dull. Moroha insists that she is the best bladesmith in the village and can sharpen it, but when she is allowed to inspect it, she reveals it has more to do with Setsuna than the blade itself. Not trusting her cousin's judgement, Setsuna insists on taking it elsewhere, and so the girls set off together. Towa finds herself thinking of Riku and their embrace, when suddenly, Zero, once again as Otsuyu, meets the girls. She is able to hypnotize and take control of Towa, whom she uses to subdue Setsuna as her seal is released. Setsuna's demonic powers overtake her as she attempts to battle both Zero and Moroha and Towa. At the Goshinboku Tree, Sesshomaru can smell Setsuna's power awaken and knows she still cannot control it. Soon, her power is magnified even more when the wings of the Dream Butterfly emerge from her back and she takes flight. Miroku is found by his daughter Kin'u, who along with Hisui arrive to help contain Setsuna. As Moroha transforms into Beniyasha, Towa is able to calm Setsuna enough for Kin'u to re-seal her demonic powers, but some damage seems to be permanent, as a mark of blood trails under the skin of Setsuna's right arm. Back at the ruins of The Great Dog Demon's palace, Zero and Riku scoop up some soil and prepare to enact the next part of her plan.
Kirinmaru uses the "bakusoha" (爆砕槍破) technique against the Grim Comet. This roughly translates as "blasting spear rip", though the English translation gives it the tidier "blasting barrage". The "baku/blast" part is the same as Ranma 1/2's Ryoga Hibiki's technique the "bakusai tenketsu" (爆砕点穴/breaking point).
One-Thousand Day Training - Miroku discusses engaging in a long term training regime that will take him 1,000 days. In Japan Buddhist monks of the Tendai sect engage in kaihōgyō (回峰行) which means "circling the mountain". The practice involves following a route to Mount Hiei. In modern times there is a more commonly followed 100 day version. Since 1885 only 46 men have completed the training which takes place in 100 day increments spread out over seven years. The white garments Miroku wears are typical of those attempting kaihogyo.
Zero introduces herself as "Otsuyu". This name is immediately recognizable as it is the main character from a famous kaidan (ghost story/怪談), Tale of the Peony Lantern (怪談牡丹灯籠 /Kaidan Botan Doro). The story is about a widowed samurai named Shinnojo Ogiwara (or a young student named Saburo in some versions). Ogiwara watches a beautiful young woman and a young girl walking past his home each evening holding a lantern and soon he falls in love with her. Each evening the woman visits him and spends the night together with him before leaving before dawn each morning. A neighbor grows suspicious and when he sneaks over to Ogiwara's home he sees the samurai in bed with a skeleton. He soon realizes that the woman and child are ghosts and warns Ogiwara to take precautions against them. A Buddhist priest places wards around Ogiwara's home preventing the lovely ghost from entering but the next night Ogiwara is lured from his home and follows her back to her home- a grave. When he is found the next day his corpse is embracing her skeleton. Zero will once again use this alias in episode 27.
"On meeting an arhat, slay the arhat. On meeting your parents, slay your parents." - This is a paraphrase of a Zen koan and is mentioned a number of times in Yashahime. Miroku also makes this same comment in episode 13 and episode 46. We explain it a bit more in this video.
Azusa no Yumihari - Zero's spider web attack references a kabuki play entitled Kumo no Ito Azusa no Yumihari (蜘蛛糸梓弦). The play deals with Minamoto no Yorimitsu's battle against a demonic spider.
"This is tsuchigumo silk." - The spider in the above mentioned kabuki play is a "tsuchigumo," an "earth spider" which is a type of yokai/demon.
"Whatever choices we find ourselves making in life, we will never know if we end up in Heaven or Hell." - Zero's quote in the original Japanese is "いずれの行もおよびがたき身なれば、とても地獄は一定すみかぞかし。" This is a quote from Shinran (1173-1262 CE), the founder of the Jodo Shinshu sect of Buddhism.
"Rin, Pyo, To, Sha, Kai, Jin, Retsu, Zai, Zen" - This is the "kuji-kiri" (九字切り) the "nine symbolic cuts" also known as "kuji no in" (九字の印) the "nine hand seals". It is also taught to Nanoka in MAOchapter 101.
This marks the return of Totosai to the series. Totosai had been performed by Joji Yanami in Inuyasha and Inuyasha: The Final Act however Yanami had retired from voice acting in 2015 when he was 84 years old. He was still living when Yashahime began, however he had not worked since his retirement. He was replaced by Naoki Tatsuta who voiced the kindergarten principal in Maison Ikkoku.
Episode 23: 三姫の逆襲
San hime no gyakushuu (The Three Princesses Strike Back)
In the present, Sota and Mei meet Moe who is returning to town after a concert. As they wait for her to arrive Osamu Kirin, Towa's teacher approaches and introduces himself. He discussed the arrival of the Grim Comet. While Kirin can sense it, Sota says it is not yet visible but he had heard reports on the news about it. In the past, Kirinmaru seems to have a link to Osamu Kirin, knowing that the comet will show up in the future era as well. Meanwhile, in the village, Towa and Setsuna discuss the mark on Setsuna's arm with Jyubei, who says that it is a mark of Sesshomaru's blood that flows through Setsuna. As Moroha awakens, the sisters say they want to hire her to help them hunt down Zero in revenge for her earlier attack. Meanwhile, Kirinmaru visits Sesshomaru's mother at her palace and inquires about a wooden structure called the Windmill of Time. Sesshomaru's mother says that it has not moved and mentions someone named Akuru who has not been seen. Meanwhile, at the ruined palace of the Great Dog Demon, Zero and Riku are attacked by Towa and Setsuna, and quickly joined by Moroha, who attempts the Bakryuuha using her Crimson Dragon, but it is repelled when Riku uses the soil that is infused with the power of the Great Dog Demon's remains, cancelling out the Bakryuuha, a technique he himself created. Towa is shocked to learn that Riku is truly in league with Zero, and possibly Kirinmaru as well. Riku points out that he has gathered all of the Rainbow Pearls together, much to Zero's shock and irritation. He wants to return them to her, but she uses them to empower herself, before Setsuna attacks, delivering a killing blow with her "blade of blood". As she dies, Sesshomaru and Jaken stand at the Goshinboku tree and witness a small child pass by with a pinwheel. Jaken points out that it is Akuru, but Sesshomaru seems not to care as he enters the tree and Jaken quickly follows. Inside they find Rin, still suspended and motionless, but she begins to stir as Zero dies, revealing a link between the two. As Zero's spirit passes into the afterlife, Sesshomaru's mother calls out to her, mocking her for falling in battle to Sesshomaru's daughters. Zero reveals that she was in love with The Great Dog Demon, but he chose Sesshomaru's Mother over her, eventually leaving her for Izayoi, Inuyasha's mother. None of this seems to bother Sesshomaru's Mother at all, and she says she does not care for the fate of Rin, who will die as Zero dies. At the Great Dog Demon's Palace, Riku huddles over the corpse of Zero as Sesshomaru suddenly appears, using Tenseiga to resurrect her. Zero is appalled that a fang of the Great Dog Demon would be used on her in that way, and lashes out, destroying the blade. Everyone is shocked at this show of power, as the sky opens up and Kirinmaru suddenly descends.
Sota tells Mr. Kirin that Towa has "nuralgia" and "rheumatism". Nuralgia is nerve pain, rheumatism is rheumatoid arthritis.
As mentioned in the previous episode, Azusa no Yumihari, Zero's spider web attack references a kabuki play entitled Kumo no Ito Azusa no Yumihari (蜘蛛糸梓弦). The play deals with Minamoto no Yorimitsu's battle against a demonic spider, a "tsuchigumo," an "earth spider" which is a type of yokai/demon.
"And do please stop calling me by that name. That era has long since passed." - Kirinmaru is addressing Sesshomaru's mother as "okugata-dono" (奥方) which means "the wife of a nobleman". She says he no longer needs to address her as such because that era has ended, meaning she is no longer the wife of the Great Dog Demon given his death centuries ago.
We see Akuru (阿久留) mentioned for the first time. Akuru's name is written with the kanji for "nook/recess", "long ago", and "detain".
Sesshomaru asks Setsuna why she did not cut down Zero with her own blade, which puzzles Setsuna because she used the blood blade on her arm. Sesshomaru asks this because, though Setsuna does not know it until the next season, her Kanemitsu no Tomoe has the power to sever the red thread that connects Zero and Rin.
The creatures that Sesshomaru has to slash in order to bring Zero back to life has a resemblance to Jaken. While in the story these creatures may or may not be the same sort of demons, in mythology Jaken (and these creatures) are based on gaki (餓鬼). These are creatures that are often called "hungry ghosts" and are the reincarnated spirits of people who lived abysmal lives. They feed on earwax, flakes of dead skin and other undesirable things. Takahashi specifically describes Jaken as a "hell demon" (地獄の餓/jigoku no gaki) which seems to aptly describe these creatures from the afterlife.
"How could you have used his fang to bring me back to life?" - Tenseiga (and Inuyasha's sword, Tessaiga) are both made from the fangs of the Great Dog-Demon (Sesshomaru and Inuyasha's father, someone Zero had great affinity for).
Episode 24: 殺生丸の娘であるということ
Sesshomaru no musume de aru to iu koto (Sesshomaru's Daughters)
Setsuna, Moroha and Towa watch alongside Sesshomaru, Zero and Riku as Kirinmaru descends from the sky. He apologizes to Sesshomaru for Zero breaking Tenseiga, but Sesshomaru says he has no attachment to the blade and puts it away, drawing Bakusaiga instead. Zero asks if he will kill her, knowing that killing her will also kill Rin. Sesshomaru says that she is already sad, and that it is pointless to leave her this way. Zero calls out, preparing to merge with the Rainbow Pearls. Instead Kirinmaru binds her in place and scatters the pearls. Zero curses him for this and says she is no longer his sister and ascends into the sky to follow the pearls. Sesshomaru leaves to follow her, leaving his daughters and Moroha to battle Kirinmaru, saying it is a matter of their own survival. As they are about to begin their fight Riku runs Kirinmaru through the back with his sword casting his lot with Zero before teleporting away. Kirinmaru removes the blade and begins his battle with the Half-Demon Princesses. The battle erupts and Towa manages to hold her own against him, with Setsuna following up with a double team. Kirinmaru cuts Towa's sheath away and knocks Moroha into the sky where she is saved by Kirara. In the distance Jaken has arrived, begging Tototsai to go to where the battle is taking place. He says he is already headed there but fears they will be too late to witness the birth of a new blade, the Yukari no Tachikiri. With Towa and Moroha down, Setsuna is left to attack, but even with her newly emerging demonic powers she is cut down by Kirinmaru, killing her. Towa rushes to her and Setsuna says she is only going to sleep. As the dream butterfly returns to her, she closes her eyes and dies. Towa is enraged and unleashes her full power, the crescent moon symbol of her father appearing on her forehead as her fangs and hair grow long. Moroha also jumps from Kirara, having transformed into Beniyasha, with a new sense of calm. Kirinmaru points out that the Rainbow Pearls had in fact only held them back and made them dependent on the pearls for power instead of truly learning how to master their own abilities. With that the battle to avenge Setsuna begins again, only now Moroha has the aura of the Great Demon Dog around her, and Setsuna has the aura of Sesshomaru. The fight is a fever pitch with Kirinmaru barely able to hold off the girls onslaught, but finally he does, sending them crashing down to the ground alongside Setsuna's corpse. He tells them they fought well and he will always remember Setsuna's name for her own strength and bravery before he leaves. As Towa cries over her sister Sesshomaru suddenly reappears, handing her the broken Tenseiga and telling her to try using it, before he too vanishes.
Zero's tall, chunky sandles are called "okobo" (おこぼ), though they are also known as pokkuri (ぽっくり) because of the sound they make when they are walked in. They are made from made from a solid block of paulownia wood. In modern times they are typically worn by young girls on Shichi-Go-San, Coming of Age Day or by appretice geisha.
Kirinmaru uses the "bakusoha" (爆砕槍破). This roughly translates as "blasting spear rip", though the English translation gives it the tidier "blasting barrage". The "baku/blast" part is the same as Ranma 1/2's Ryoga Hibiki's technique the "bakusai tenketsu" (爆砕点穴/breaking point).
Yukari no Tachikiri (所縁の断切きり) - is a name that roughly translates to "connection cutter". The meaning of this name will become clear in episode 25.
Kirinmaru comments on the the inferiority of the blade edge on Kanemitsu no Tomoe. In episode 22 Setsuna tried to have Moroha sharped the blade, though it was not successful.
This is the first time since their childhood in the forest that Setsuna has addressed Towa as "Towa nee-chan". In previous flashbacks we see that Setsuna used to always call her sister "nee-chan" (姉ちゃん). See a href="#2" style="color:red">episode 2 notes for more on this.
The horns Kirinmaru grows resemble those of his namesake, the kirin (or as it is known in China, Qulin).
