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Volume 13

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Chapters Originally Published in:
Shonen Sunday 1999 Vol. 22-23 - 32

Chapter 119: 桔梗の矢
Kikyo no ya
(Kikyo's Arrow)
Kagome wonders why Kikyo has appeared and rushes into the cave to see what is going on. She finds Miroku, who wonders why she is not affected by the miasma. Below she can see Inuyasha fighting the Poison Imp. The Imp tries to absorb Kikyo, which enrages Inuyasha. Miroku tells Inuyasha not to defeat the Imp, because if he does, their bodies will merge. Inuyasha notices Kagome has entered the cave and decides he has no other choice but to fight. Kagome enters the battle arena to rescue Kikyo so that Inuyasha will stop fighting long enough to try and escape. Kikyo awakens and uses an arrow to break the seal on the cave, causing everyone to be sucked up into the sky.

Published In:
  • Shonen Sunday 1999 Vol. 22-23
  • Inuyasha Tankobon Vol. 13 ch. 1
  • Inuyasha Wideban Vol. 7 ch. 9
Publication Date: April 28, 1999
Pages: 18 (black and white)
Anime Adaptation: Episode 32: Kikyo and Inuyasha are in Trouble
Notes:
  • The English translation refers to the creature created via the process of kodoku as the "poison imp". In truth kodoku (蠱毒) is a process, and the original Japanese uses the name of this process to reference the creature that is made via that process (though "kodoku" is not a formal name for the creature, more of a descriptor).

  • Table of Contents
    • Q: If you could change your pen name, what would you change it to?
    • A: I wouldn't change it, because then I'd lose my good luck.

Chapter 120: 蠱毒の行方
Kodoku no yukue
(Where is the Imp?)
Inuyasha, Kagome, and Kikyo ride the Imp's body toward a nearby mountain, where they notice a figure waiting for them. Once they approach they realize its Naraku, who quickly absorbs the Imp's body as his own, increasing his power. Before he leaves, he takes Kikyo with him, leaving Inuyasha and Kagome behind.

Published In:
  • Shonen Sunday 1999 Vol. 24
  • Inuyasha Tankobon Vol. 13 ch. 2
  • Inuyasha Wideban Vol. 7 ch. 10
Publication Date: May 12, 1999
Pages: 18 (black and white)
Anime Adaptation: Episode 32: Kikyo and Inuyasha are in Trouble
Notes:
  • The English title of this chapter is a little obscure. A literal translation would be "Kodoku's Whereabouts" but even that requires some explanation. The characters are trapped within a kodoku (蠱毒), however Rumic World 35: All Star treats the demon's name as "Kodoku". In the actual manga the characters talk about the kodoku (the mountain entrapment and merger of the demons) but do not refer to the creature that was conjured from this as "Kodoku". However this chapter title seems to indicate that is how the creature should be refered to and the All Star book follows along with this manner of thinking.
  • Viz translated "kodoku" as "imp" which it is not, but perhaps they felt a need to clarify the title was referring to the creature. Because they do not include translation notes, clarifying what "kodoku" is as we have done here would have been difficult to convey.

  • Table of Contents
    • Q: Have you seen any interesting films advertised lately?
    • A: Nomura Sacchi no Odori (The Dance of Sacchi Nomura) on Sky PerfecTV.
    • Webmasters' Note: Sacchi got in trouble around this time due to lying about the fact that she attended Columbia University in the United States. Because of this, she no longer appears on television.

Chapter 121: 囚われた桔梗
Torawareta Kikyo
(Kikyo Captured)
Kikyo finds herself in Naraku's lair. He tells her that he's raised a shield so that her Soul Skimmers can't help her. She recounts their past when he was nothing more than a dying theif named Onigumo. Naraku can't help but laugh and tells her that he'll make use of her incredible powers. As the group launches their strike to rescue Kikyo, Kagome feels saddened and jealous of Inuyasha's feelings for Kikyo. As Inuyasha approaches their destination, he finds himself in Kikyo and Kaede's village, 50 years ago on the day he was framed for stealing the Shikon Jewel. Kikyo appears and fires her arrow into his heart.

Published In:
  • Shonen Sunday 1999 Vol. 25
  • Inuyasha Tankobon Vol. 13 ch. 3
  • Inuyasha Wideban Vol. 7 ch. 11
Publication Date: May 19, 1999
Pages: 18 (black and white)
Anime Adaptation: Episode 33: Captured Kikyo and Naraku
Notes:
  • Hiroyuki Nishimori's Cheeky Angel debuted in this week's Shonen Sunday.
  • The English translation variously calls Kikyo's creatures, the shinidamachu, "soul collectors" but the kanji in their name translates as "dead soul insects".

  • Table of Contents
    • Q: Did you ever have a part-time job?
    • A: Yes, I handed out fliers for a department store.

Chapter 122: 幻影殺
Gen ei satsu
(Death by Illusion)
Inuyasha relives his death at the hands of Kikyo, unable to change anything, he listens to Kikyo's last words and understands how much she loved him, then accepts his fate to die with her again, understanding that she followed him in death. Miroku is alone too, and hears the sound of wind emanating from his hand, his Air Rip begins widening, pulilng him inside himself, killing him. Sango is wandering through a mist and finds the bodies of her companions, all dead. Before she can react Kohaku's scythe drives its way into her and counting Sango among the fallen. Naraku watches on and notices that only Kagome is immune to his "Death by Illusion" attack. As Kagome nears him and fires an arrow, the ground opens up, swallowing her whole.

Published In:
  • Shonen Sunday 1999 Vol. 26
  • Inuyasha Tankobon Vol. 13 ch. 4
  • Inuyasha Wideban Vol. 7 ch. 12
Publication Date: May 26, 1999
Pages: 18 (black and white)
Anime Adaptation: Episode 33: Captured Kikyo and Naraku
Notes:


  • Table of Contents
    • Q: Do you have a favorite English phrase?
    • A: I can't speak English. (In English)

Chapter 123: 殺意
Satsui
(Death Wish)
Kikyo comes to save Kagome who is on the verge of falling down a deep chasm. She destroys the golem Naraku was using and then uses her demons to lift Kagome up to safety. Meanwhile Inuyasha begins to think of Kagome which breaks him free from his trance and allows him to escape. He finds Miroku who believes his arm has been devoured by his wind tunnel. Miroku goes off to find Sango while Inuyasha searches for Kagome. Kikyo takes the Shikon shard from Kagome and then attempts to drop her down the chasm, just as Inuyasha arrives.

Published In:
  • Shonen Sunday 1999 Vol. 27
  • Inuyasha Tankobon Vol. 13 ch. 5
  • Inuyasha Wideban Vol. 7 ch. 13
Publication Date: June 2, 1999
Pages: 18 (black and white)
Anime Adaptation: Episode 33: Captured Kikyo and Naraku
Notes:
  • Once more we see Naraku using a wooden effigy to create his golem. This wooden doll that is a Juso no Hitogata (呪詛の人形) literally a "curse doll". This is a technique that originated during the Heian period and likely made its way from China. This is similar to a "wara ningyo" (藁人形). Frequently these dolls have a strand of hair stuffed inside.

  • Table of Contents
    • Q: Who are some famous people that you like?
    • A: Singers.

Chapter 124: 奈落の正体
Naraku no shotai
(The True Naraku)
Inuyasha arrives in time to save Kagome from falling. When he asks what happened, Kagome can not bring herself to tell him that Kikyo tried to kill her. Kikyo flies away and Kagome asks if Inuyasha still loves Kikyo. He quickly changes the subject and tells Kagome that the only reason he is there right now was because he was thinking of her. Kikyo travels back to Naraku's castle and gives him the Shikon shard. She tells him he needs it more than anyone else. Kikyo calls him a half-breed and explains there is still a lot of Onigumo, the human left in him. She tells him that since her death she has never felt more free or alive and then leaves. Naraku removes his robes and examines his back, which has a hideous spider scar burned into it. As Kikyo leaves she thinks to herself that she will allow Naraku to gain all the shards and then send him to hell. Meanwhile a strange old man riding an demon-oxen is searching for Inuyasha. Myoga is with him and the old man reveals that he is the swordsmith that crafted Tessaiga.

Published In:
  • Shonen Sunday 1999 Vol. 28
  • Inuyasha Tankobon Vol. 13 ch. 6
  • Inuyasha Wideban Vol. 7 ch. 14
Publication Date: June 9, 1999
Pages:4 (full color) 14 (black and white)
Anime Adaptation: Episode 33: Captured Kikyo and Naraku
Notes:
  • This week's issue of Shonen Sunday promotes the 1999 "Thanks Summer! Japan National Sunday Festival!!" (おかげサマー! 日本全国サンデー祭り!!) This was the descendant of the Sunday "Genki Matsuri" festivals that took place during the early 1990s. Tominaga Diary has a great write up of a number of Genki Matsuri festivals from the 1990s. This festival ran through a number of sites:
    • Nagoya, Tuesday, July 27th
    • Osaka, Monday, August 2nd
    • Niigata, Wednesday, August 4th
    • Sendai, Sunday, August 8th
    • Sapporo, Tuesday, August 10th
    • Hiroshima, Friday, August 13th
    • Fukuoka, Monday, August 16th
    • Tokyo, Saturday, August 21st
    • Tokyo, Sunday, August 22nd
  • Rumiko Takahashi (along with Gosho Aoyama and Ryoji Minagawa) appeared at both of the Tokyo events. The artists recorded video messages that were played at each leg of the festival. Anime shown includes:
    • Karakuri no Kimi (OVA)
    • Making of Detective Conan
    • Tantei Joji's Mini Mini Daisakusen
    • Firefighter Daigo (OVA)
  • A number of items were sold as well (including items for Inuyasha).
  • In Naraku's castle we see some of the screens of his room are decorated with spider lilies (曼珠沙華/manjushage). These flowers are symbolic of death in Japan. Long ago, because the flower is poisonous they were planted over graves as a deterent to prevent animals from digging up corpses.
  • Totosai and Momo make their debut in this chapter.

  • Table of Contents
    • Q: What is your favorite joke?
    • A: Who's asking?

Chapter 125: 刀々斎
Totosai

(Totosai, the Swordsmith)
Jaken and Sesshomaru arrive at the swordsmith Totosai's home to find that he has abandoned it. Meanwhile Sango, Miroku, Shippo and Kagome are all surprised at how understand Inuyasha is being about Kikyo stealing the Shikon shard. They are all convinced that he is being so nice in an effort to cover for Kikyo so they won't think badly of her. Suddenly Totosai arrives and attacks Inuyasha. When Inuyasha counters with the Tessaiga, Totosai is able to hold it it back using a piece of hide. As he holds back the blade, he examines the scratches and nicks that Inuyasha has put on it from constant use and gets very upset. Myoga interrupts their fight and explains that Totosai is the forger of the Tessaiga. Totosai says he is going to challenge Inuyasha to see if he is worthy of using the blade and that if he is not, he will destroy the weapon. Totosai says he is being hunted by a man that wants him to make a weapon better than the Tessaiga, and that Inuyasha must protect him, suddenly the man appears, and is revealed to be Sesshomaru. The cowardly Totosai tells Sesshomaru if he defeats Inuyasha he will make him a new blade. The two brothers waste no time in beginning their battle.

Published In:
  • Shonen Sunday 1999 Vol. 29
  • Inuyasha Tankobon Vol. 13 ch. 7
  • Inuyasha Wideban Vol. 7 ch. 15
Publication Date: June 16, 1999
Pages: 18 (black and white)
Anime Adaptation: Episode 33: Captured Kikyo and Naraku & Episode 34: Tessaiga and Tensaiga
Notes:
  • This chapter's title is a good example of why translation is an art, and literal translations are not always ideal. The literal Japanese title of this chapter is simply "Totosai", however the English translation elected to call it "Totosai, the Swordsmith". This is because Totosai (刀々斎) in Japanese has the kanji for "sword" (刀) in his name. Japanese readers would pick up on this and immediately know he must have something to do with blades and swords without having to be told. There would be no easy way to convey that in a literal English translation.
  • This chapter is also a good place to note that Sesshomaru frequently refers to himself in the first person.
  • In this chapter we still see Tessaiga seemingly written "Tetsusaiga". However, it mostly seems to be a font issue rather than an intentional change. Other words that use a double consonate (called a sokon (促音) in Japanese and represented by a small tsu (っ). For instance we see Totosai use the word 匹敵/ひってき/hitteki/to rival, to equal to. Though it is written ひってき the font choice makes it look like ひつてき. That small change would change the pronunciation of this word from "hitteki" to "hitsuteki". Similarly it would alter "Tessaiga" to "Tetsusaiga".
  • This is the first appearance of Aun (阿吽) Sesshomaru's two-headed dragon. The name of the creature comes from Angyo and Ungyo, two famous nio (仁王). The nio are Buddhist guardian deities, almost akin to western gargoyles. They are monstrous in appearance but helpful and protective of the faith. The names of Angyo and Ungyo come form which has their mouth open (Angyo making an "ah" sound) and which has a closed mouth (Ungyo making an "un" grunting sound). Sometimes this sound is transliterated as "Om" in Western religious texts.

  • Table of Contents
    • Q: Have you set any bad records?
    • A: I've talked on the phone for ten hours before.

Chapter 126: 天生牙
Tenseiga

(Tenseiga)
Inuyasha gets off to a bad start against his brother, with Sesshomaru easily dodging his attacks. Totosai says that Inuyasha has not been able to master the Tessaiga. Sesshomaru shows his power by gripping Inuyasha's hand and demanding Totosai make him a new sword. Totosai refuses, and then spits a mouthful of flames at Sesshomaru, telling him that he already made him a wonderful sword, the Tenseiga. Totosai splits the ground open with his hammer and allows the group to escape from Sesshomaru. Later Jaken asks Sesshomaru about the Tenseiga, and Sesshomaru demonstrates it by splitting Jaken with it, suprisingly Jaken is unharmed and Sesshomaru explains that the Tenseiga is a sword that cannot cut. Totosai explains to the group that the Tenseiga is a blade of healing. It is used to binde souls and if one was able to master it, they would be able to bring the dead back to life. That night a group of bandits meet their fate at the hands of an angry Sesshomaru.

Published In:
  • Shonen Sunday 1999 Vol. 30
  • Inuyasha Tankobon Vol. 13 ch. 8
  • Inuyasha Wideban Vol. 7 ch. 16
Publication Date: June 23, 1999
Pages: 18 (black and white)
Anime Adaptation: Episode 34: Tessaiga and Tensaiga
Notes:
  • Momo (猛々)'s name means "fierceness" however the the sound of the cow's name is a reference to the onomatopoeia of a the sound a cow mooing.
  • This chapter marks the first time that Tenseiga (天生牙), Sesshomaru's sword, is discussed. The kanji in the name means "heaven", "life/born", and "fang".
  • After murdering the group of humans Sesshomaru sits in thought while a leaning Buddhist statue propped against the wall is shown behind him. The hand gesture (mudra) made by the statue is called "Abhayamudra" (the gesture of fearlessness). This is typically the iconography used to identify which Buddha is being depicted. Unfortunately the Abhayamudra is used by a number of different Buddha and is not particularly helpful in this situation. Likely candidates for the statue are Miroku Buddha (Maitreya), Kannon (Avalokiteshvara), or even the historical Shaka Nyorai (Shakyamuni).

  • Table of Contents
    • Q: What sort of presents have you been given that have surprised you?
    • A: Expensive things.

Chapter 127: 風の傷
Kaze no kizu

(Scar of the Wind)
Totosai leaves the group because he cannot count on Inuyasha to protect him. Inuyasha could care less and encourages him to leave, so Totosai asks for the Tessaiga back and gets pummeled by Inuyasha. No sooner does he leave than he comes running back at high speed with Sesshomaru right behind him. When Totosai refuses to make a new sword for Sesshomaru, Inuyasha pulls the Tessaiga and leaps into battle against his half-brother. As Inuyasha strikes, Sesshomaru unveals his new replacement arm, a horribly long, scaly, dragon arm. Because the arm isn't from a demon, it can withstand the Tessaiga's attacks. Inuyasha is shocked and lowers his guard, allowing Sesshomaru to scar his face. Sesshomaru brags about the Wind Scar which Inuyasha knows nothing about. Sesshomaru is no longer worried about Inuyasha's attacks because he knows he hasn't mastered the attack. Sesshomaru lands another blow, and Inuyasha is knocked back. Totosai asks if Sesshomaru can sense the Wind Scar, to which he replies that he can. Totosai tells Kagome that the Wind Scar is the secret to mastering the Tessaiga. Inuyasha stands, ready to attack again.

Published In:
  • Shonen Sunday 1999 Vol. 31
  • Inuyasha Tankobon Vol. 13 ch. 9
  • Inuyasha Wideban Vol. 7 ch. 17
Publication Date: June 30, 1999
Pages: 18 (black and white)
Anime Adaptation: Episode 34: Tessaiga and Tensaiga
Notes:
  • In this chapter we see the "Kaze no Kizu" (風の傷) referenced by name for the first time. In the English translation of the manga it was often called "Scar of the Wind" but eventually the English anime nomenclature, "Wind Scar," took hold as the more popular translation.

  • Table of Contents
    • Q: What do you shout at the setting sun?
    • A: Rise!

Chapter 128: 見えない軌道
Mienai kido

(The Invisible Path)
Inuyasha wonders what the Wind Scar is, and why Sesshomaru can see it when he cannot. Totosai tells Kagome that he cannot teach the technique, that Inuyasha must master it on his own. Suddenly Inuyasha remembers that the last time he saw Sesshomaru, he used the Tessaiga to slaughter a hundred demons with one strike, and that that might be the Scar of the Wind. Inuyasha begins to feel weak, and Sesshomaru tells him that he has poisoned him with the venom from his claws. Sango tries to save Inuyasha, but he stops her boomerang from interfering, saying that he will defeat Sesshomaru alone. Inuyasha makes a swift attack and holds his half-brother in place long enough to cut off his dragon arm. This only angers Sesshomaru, who cuts Inuyasha's eyes, injecting them with his venom and blinding him. An enraged Sesshomaru begins to reveal his true power as he reverts to his true demonic form, but as he approaches Inuyasha senses something in the air and even though he is blinded, prepares to attempt the Wind Scar.

Published In:
  • Shonen Sunday 1999 Vol. 32
  • Inuyasha Tankobon Vol. 13 ch. 10
  • Inuyasha Wideban Vol. 7 ch. 18
Publication Date: July 7, 1999
Pages: 18 (black and white)
Anime Adaptation: Episode 35: The True Master Chosen by the Noted Sword
Notes:
  • Inuyasha recalls Sesshomaru demonstrating what he now realizes was the Wind Scar technique in chapter 105. Inuyasha has also inadvertently used the Wind Scar without knowing it in chapter 105.

  • Table of Contents
    • Q: What is your favorite theme park?
    • A: Nikko Edo Mura
    • Webmasters' Note: Nikko Edo Mura is a theme park in Nikko featuring actors dressed up as samurai who give a tour of a traditional ancient Japanese town.


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