Rumic World Profile Timeline Articles Interviews Encyclopedia Contact Messageboard

Rumic Questions

Translated by: Laura Arias Moreno (Questions 1-20) & Harley Acres (Bonus Questions)



We have requested questions regarding Inuyasha and Yashahime from fans through our website, we have selected 20 out of the many received, and Takahashi-sensei will answer them!

Q1 The names in Inuyasha are so innovative and at the same time, they fit so well I couldn't imagine any other name for the characters, and their uniqueness is so cool! How did you decide the names for the characters?
A1 Once I've named a character I can't change it, so I give this a lot of thought. When I am doing the drafts, I use a temporary name, but I think about it up to the last minute, so it works out. I don't know how I could explain “a name that suits the character”. A name that is easy to call, a name easy to draw, and easy to remember. A name that suits the story.

For example, “Kikyo” means “unchangeable love” in flower language, and “Kagome” sounds cute because of the childhood song, etc. [1] For Sesshomaru, I have the feeling that I chose a different name, but I've forgotten it. Surprisingly, after I have decided the name then I decide their clothes so I can remember.
Q2 Is Buyo a female cat, or a male cat?
A2 When I started serializing it, I conceived it as a male, but as I was drawing it, I asked myself if this cat was not a female mature cat. Maybe it is a female. It is a little bit fat so you can pick the one you prefer.
Q3 In Inuyasha there are plenty of demons, but which one was the most difficult one to draw? And the easiest one?
A3 The most complicated one was Magatsuhi. Because he doesn't have a fixed appearance. And for the rest of demons, I drew them as they came out, so I don't remember any difficulty with them.
Q4 I would think that Inuyasha would know better than to treat Tessaiga so wrecklessly, but he seems to treats it in a careless way (even though he does seem to depend on it). If Tessaiga were able to speak, what would it say to Inuyasha? I have loved Inuyasha since I was a kid, and I am following both the anime and manga, but having a second look at it, Tessaiga really does get treated badly even though its such a good sword... I am curious about this, and I would like to ask you about it.
A4 Tessaiga is a sword made from Inuyasha's father's fang, and so while it is a friend and companion at the same time it is also a higher rank than Inuyasha. If it could speak, it would say something like “Get used to my abilities ASAP!”, don't you think?
Q5 If Kikyo was alive, would Kagome and she become good friends?
A5 If Inuyasha was around, I think it would be complicated to act as if nothing had happened. I imagine that they would have a difficult relationship with a lot of tension between them, since they would feel somewhat fearful and unable to accept one another. And maybe that would bring a lot of mental instability to Inuyasha.
Q6 I would like to know how Jaken and Sesshomaru met. Was Jaken already a middle-aged demon then?
A6 I think that it has been covered in an original anime episode of Inuyasha. But I don't remember which one. According to it, Jaken was a leader of some demons, he fought against Sesshomaru and he lost, taking Jaken with him. I think that was the plot of the episode. And yes, he was already middle-aged.
Q7 I love the small characters that appear in Rumic World, for example Kirara or Shippo. I would like to know what do you think about the most when drawing them?
A7 I want to them cute looking, and also since they are tiny, I take great care about them being able to jump onto the leading character's shoulder and share the panel.
Q8 Thank you for these events born from the supporting for the anime. We live in a beautiful era where we can ask questions of you (laughs). I have loved Inuyasha since I was a child, it is my bible. I would love to become as gentle and strong as Kagome. Well, about my question, it was said that Sesshomaru could not eat human food, but since he is not devouring humans, what is he feeding on so he can stay alive? Inuyasha and Shippo are always eating with Kagome, so can demons eat the same food as well? Was that a bluff? Lastly, I am really looking forward to seeing Yashahime and MAO! I am thankful for your wonderful works!
A8 Many thanks for your support. Regarding how Sesshomaru feeds himself, I can't really think of something. Maybe from the “energy” or the “spirit“ from the demons he has defeated. Alternatively, he may absorb something similar to fog. Maybe fruits, too.
Q9 Is there any chapter that you enjoyed the most while drawing it? Also, could you tell us which one is your favourite?
A9 There are so many chapters I like; it is complicated to choose just one. Drawing Inuyasha during the new moon with black hair was new and fun, and also the chapters where Inuyasha came to the contemporary age were relaxed and fun since I could rest from drawing battles, and show some fun and laughter. Alternatively, drawing the Band of Seven chapters was really exciting. Also, I enjoyed drawing Kagura's death and the last moments of Kikyo, putting a lot of effort in them so they could have a proper farewell. I enjoyed the process where the relationships between Inuyasha and Kagome, and Miroku and Sango change gradually. If I had to choose one chapter out of all of them, I would probably pick the final chapter. I felt satisfied by the fact I had reached the end.
Q10 I love the Band of Seven! I guess that the strongest member, Bankotsu, was the one who recruited and gathered them. Bankotsu and Jakotsu seem to really get along, could it be because they were the first members? I have always been curious about them. I am really excited since there'll be interesting characters as well in Yashahime.
A10 I think that for the rest of the members of the Band of Seven they were as strong as the amount of time they were able to stay alive. In order to gather these individuals, they needed a strong leader as the central core, and so that was Bankotsu, I guess. They would probably all fight together as a group if there was some advantage in it. I agree about the fact that both Bankotsu and Jakotsu really seem like the initial members.
Q11 I love Miroku and Sango, and I will always definitely support them. Regarding my questions, when Miroku proposed, he asked if Sango would bear his children, regardless of the fact their could be “10 or 20”, but how many did they eventually have? I would be very happy if you could tell us about this aspect. Thank you.
A11 I recall that the children that appeared at the last chapter of Inuyasha were the twin girls, and the new-born boy. I haven't thought further from that point, but since they are still a young couple, you may consider unlimited possibilities. [2] I am glad you still love them. Thank you.
Q12 My question is about what the readers could separate into “scents” vs “smells”. Everything that Sesshomaru sniffed, had a "scent" but the word “smell” was used for Rin. In their first meeting, he expressed it as “smell”. Does this refer to “smell” because he liked her smell, just like when Inuyasha said that Kagome had a nice smell?
A12 The idea was that Inuyasha and Sesshomaru both use scents to identify allies and enemies. I considered the impression that the readers would get from it, and I chose “smell” for the girls. I wanted them to be perceived as cute and clean.
Q13 Sesshomaru offered a kimono as a gift for Rin in the last chapter, but how did he arrange it? I'm curious about whether Jaken arranged it, or if Sesshomaru sent for it, or whether he went to purchase it himself.
A13 I was thinking a lot for this question. I'd rather think that he ordered Jaken to purchase it, probably he had to go back and forth until he found a fitting one. Maybe they couldn't get a clear idea at the beginning.
Q14 I would love to know if you ever had different thoughts on the developments of the story.
A14 At first, the only ideas I had were Inuyasha being sealed by Kikyo, and having his sword as a relic from his father. From there I started thinking about things on a weekly basis. After that, I started thinking about Naraku, and then when Shippo, Miroku, and Sango would debut in chapters. I also conceived the idea of Sesshomaru dying as he protected a human, but I thought it was a waste, so I discarded it. I could pinpoint the direction of the story after the character of Naraku was created. [3] I am prone to improvising, so I cannot draw if I know too much about the future events and cannot be surprised by them, so I had fun by asking myself “What I am going to do?” “What is going to happen?”
Q15 Inuyasha is my life-long bible! What did you think in the beginning when the project for Yashahime came up?
A15 For myself, Inuyasha had concluded, so when I heard about it, I thought: “Are you really doing it?”, but since the script was by Katsuyuki Sumisawa, who did Inuyasha, and since he's really capable and talented and it's impossible for him to make any mistakes, I realized I could leave it in his hands.
Q16 In Hanyou no Yashahime, Moroha wears a red ribbon, is this based on Inuyasha's ears? And why do Towa and Setsuna, who are equally half-demons just like Inuyasha, not have dog ears? I can understand about Moroha since she is a quarter-demon, but... Are there any rules about having dog ears? Tell me about that, please!
A16 As you correctly guessed, they are based on Inuyasha. Regarding Towa and Setsuna's, Sesshomaru has a human appearance, and in the opposite way, Inuyasha has a partially demonic appearance; there are many demons who show up in Inuyasha, and you should think of how each of them has their own unique traits.
Q17 In Hanyou no Yashahime, Moroha, Kagome and Inuyasha's child, appears. but since Inuyasha is a half-demon and Kagome is a human, and Moroha is the child of a half-demon of a human, a mixed-race, do they get older at a slower pace in the feudal era?
A17 The time span seems to be the same as in the story. Maybe it is only that an unexpected result comes out some years later...
Q18 In Hanyou no Yashahime I saw Kaede. When I saw her, I was really surprised: She hasn't aged at all from Inuyasha! Could it be that she is a demon?
A18 She's human. However, maybe because she has the role of advising the young, talking about the past or being asked, she maybe receives a lot of energy and doesn't age.
Q19 I first watched Inuyasha when I was five, and I have been a fan ever since. Every time I visited a shrine and I saw a sacred tree, I imagined that maybe it was the one where Inuyasha had been sealed when I was a child. The original story ended 12 years ago, and the anime, 10 years ago. I'm looking forward to the new anime next autumn! What did you think was the most important thing for the character designs for the half-demons Towa, Setsuna and Moroha?
A19 According to Mr. Sumizawa's script, there was a description of Towa as “Sesshomaru in white”, and for Setsuna's, a “Sesshomaru in black”. They are twins, but since they were raised in different worlds, I designed them as different people. Apart from that, Towa is wearing a masculine uniform, but I wanted to draw her with feminine lines. Moroha was intended to have a mixed look based on both Kagome and Inuyasha. She's a cheerful character and was the easiest to design.

Q20 Is there anything that we reader should be paying attention to?
A20 The beautiful style, the animation, as well as the interesting story by Sunrise. The previous generation appears from time to time, and each of the girls, Towa, Setsuna and Moroha have their own charming points. I think that first-time watchers as well as people who have watched Inuyasha can enjoy it in the same way. Also, the music is once again composed by Kaoru Wada, from Inuyasha. I am also looking forward to that too.

Bonus: Rumic Questions
These five questions were posted to Twitter the day the issue went on sale to help promote Shonen Sunday S.




Q1: What does Sango call Miroku after they got married? Is it still "Hoshi-sama" (Master Monk) even after they married one another? - Koba
Rumiko Takahashi: When they're at home, they say "hey" or "excuse me, dear". However I think the familiar term, "Hoshi-sama" is still the most suitable.


Q2: I was surprised that Lord Sesshomaru, who hated half-demons so much, would have half-demon children. What kind of change did Lord Sesshomaru go through? Did it change when he met the woman who became his wife? - Miishashoshan
Rumiko Takahashi: I think Sesshomaru grew and changed without knowing by interacting with various other people. Also by becoming a little more mature and accepting a new way of life unbound by his past self who despised "human beings". Of course it can also be said that the influence of the woman who became his wife is quite a big part of his development. [4]


Q3: Have you made any requests to the producers of Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon? - Mikan
Rumiko Takahashi: Although there is a world view of Inuyasha I think I told them that to approach it so that people that were not familiar with Inuyasha can still enjoy Yashahime if that is the only thing they have seen.


Q4: When it comes to choosing between Kagome's modern age and the Warring States period, it felt like it was Kagome's choice to remain in the past rather than a "choice planned by the author". Did you ask yourself, "what choice would Kagome make here?" and let her decide? - Chiaki
Rumiko Takahashi: I was always wondering about the choice that Kagome would make, and when I asked Kagome's voice actress, Satsuki Yukino, "which one would you choose?" she immediately answered, "I would like to be with Inuyasha." Thinking about it, Kagome never forgets Inuyasha and if she chooses the modern day she's likely to live with half of her soul gone which I thought was cruel. I think that remaining "with Inuyasha" rather than "staying in the Warring States period" was the best for Kagome. [5]


Q4: Please tell me how you came up with the name for Inuyasha. - Mon
Rumiko Takahashi: I talked it over with the editor in charge. [6] However, I remembered "Inuyasha" and decided to try it out because he was half-dog demon. I think it is a good name because of its momentum.


Footnotes
  • [1] Both in oriental and occidental cultures there is a "language of flowers" where certain flowers are prescribed special meanings. A kikyo (桔梗) flower is known as the Chinese Bellflower in English. Its meaning is "endless love". In her comments on Kagome's name Takahashi is referencing the Japanese folksong/game "Kagome Kagome" (籠目籠目).
  • [2] Though it had not been written yet when Takahashi answered these questions, it was announced in Takashi Shiina's manga adaptation of Yashahime that Sango was once again pregnant with her fourth child.
  • [3] Takahashi mentions on Twitter that until Naraku was introduced she did not know what direction the story would ultimately take. Naraku ties all of the various characters together due to the vengence they all seek.
  • [4] Rin is Sesshomaru's wife and the mother of his children, however at the time this interview was published in December 2021 episode 15 of Yashahime had not aired, but soon would on January 16, 2021. It is in this episode that Rin is confirmed to be the mother of Towa and Setsuna. Consequently, Takahashi is vague in her response as to who Sesshomaru's wife is because it would spoil the story.
  • [5] Takahashi had previously mentioned being unsure of what to do about Kagome in "All About Rumiko Takahashi" leading up to the ending of Inuyasha.
  • [6] This editor would have been Toshiyuki Seno (瀬尾俊之). You can read his comments about working with Rumiko Takahashi in the interview "My Page One".


Cover

少年サンデー S 2020年 12号
Shonen Sunday Super 2020 Vol. 12
Published: October 25, 2020
Interviewer: ---
Translated by: Laura Arias Moreno (Questions 1-20) & Harley Acres (Bonus Questions)
Translation date: December 15, 2020
ISBN/Web Address: ---
Page numbers: 67-70