Inuyasha

Inuyasha

Company type	Manga series
Industry	Manga, Anime, Entertainment
Founded	November 13, 1996 (1996-11-13)
Founder	Rumiko Takahashi
Headquarters	Japan
Products	Manga, anime television series, films, video games, light novel
Owner	Shogakukan (publisher)

Inuyasha is a Japanese manga series created and illustrated by Rumiko Takahashi. It was published in Shogakukan's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Sunday from November 1996 until June 2008, compiled into 56 volumes. The narrative centers on Kagome Higurashi, a fifteen-year-old girl from contemporary Tokyo who is transported back to the Sengoku period. There, she encounters the half-demon Inuyasha. After the sacred Shikon Jewel is revealed through Kagome, she accidentally breaks it into fragments scattered across Japan. Inuyasha and Kagome set out on a mission to retrieve these pieces, joined by the monk Miroku, demon slayer Sango, and fox demon Shippō, striving to stop the malevolent half-demon Naraku from seizing the jewel.

Diverging from Takahashi’s usual comedic style, Inuyasha incorporates darker themes against the violent backdrop of the Sengoku era while maintaining elements of humor. The manga was adapted into two anime series by Sunrise. The initial series aired 167 episodes on Yomiuri Television and Nippon Television between October 2000 and September 2004. Its sequel, Inuyasha: The Final Act, which concluded the manga’s storyline, consisted of 26 episodes broadcast from October 2009 to March 2010. The franchise also includes four feature-length films and an original video animation (OVA), along with various video games and a light novel. A sequel spin-off anime titled Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon aired two seasons spanning October 2020 to March 2022.

For North American audiences, Viz Media secured licensing rights for the manga, anime series, and films. Both anime adaptations were broadcast on Adult Swim and subsequently on its relaunched Toonami programming block from 2002 through 2015.

By September 2020, Inuyasha had surpassed 50 million copies in circulation worldwide, positioning it among the top-selling manga series globally. In 2002, it earned the 47th Shogakukan Manga Award in the shōnen category.

Plot

Set in Japan during 1496, humans and demons () vie for control over the , a mystical jewel reputed to grant any wish. The priestess (miko) guarding this jewel, Kikyo, harbors love for the half-demon Inuyasha. Their relationship becomes entangled in deception and betrayal; Inuyasha ultimately steals the jewel. Mortally wounded, Kikyo immobilizes him with a sacred arrow pinned to a tree before being cremated alongside the jewel, which vanishes.

Half a millennium later, Kagome Higurashi, residing at her family’s Shinto shrine in modern times, is transported back to the Sengoku period after falling down a well known as the Bone Eater's Well. The Shikon Jewel manifests from within her—she is revealed as Kikyo's reincarnation. Kagome releases Inuyasha to battle a centipede demon but restrains him using a magical bead necklace. During their journey, Kagome inadvertently shatters the jewel into multiple shards dispersed throughout Japan.

Inheriting his father’s sword Tessaiga, Inuyasha frequently clashes with his half-brother Sesshomaru, who wields Tenseiga. Together with Kagome, they collect jewel fragments while facing various dangers. They discover that Naraku, a spider-like half-demon who has manipulated events from behind the scenes, poses a significant threat. Their group expands to include fox demon Shippō, cursed monk Miroku, demon slayer Sango, and her demon cat companion Kirara. Sango’s clan was destroyed by Naraku, who also controls her brother Kohaku. As Inuyasha hones Tessaiga’s power, allies such as Sesshomaru, resurrected Kikyo seeking purification of the jewel, and wolf demon leader Kōga join their cause. Meanwhile, romantic tension develops between Inuyasha and Kagome amidst his lingering feelings for Kikyo.

Naraku extracts his heart and injures Kikyo; Kohaku eventually regains autonomy after being manipulated via a shard by Naraku. Sesshomaru reconciles with Inuyasha to assist in perfecting Tessaiga. Kikyo sacrifices herself to protect Kohaku. Naraku collects all shards aiming to restore the Shikon Jewel but is ultimately defeated by Inuyasha and his allies. Before dying, Naraku traps both himself and Kagome within the sentient jewel that seeks to extend its existence through conflict. Kagome wishes for the jewel’s disappearance and returns to her era with the well sealed; she loses contact with Inuyasha for three years.

During this time, life in the Sengoku period evolves: Sango marries Miroku and they have children; Kohaku continues fighting demons; Shippō develops his magical abilities. After completing high school, Kagome reactivates the Bone Eater's Well to return to Sengoku period where she reunites with Inuyasha. They marry and she advances as a priestess under Kaede’s mentorship.

Development

Following the completion of Ranma ½, Takahashi created Inuyasha. Departing from her earlier humorous series like Urusei Yatsura (1978–1987), Maison Ikkoku (1980–1987), and One Pound Gospel (1987–2006), she pursued a narrative with a darker tone, thematically resembling her work on Mermaid Saga. To moderate the intense violence, the plot was situated during the Sengoku period, an era marked by continuous warfare. Takahashi did not engage in extensive research regarding samurai or castle architecture, assuming these elements were widely familiar. By June 2001, she had yet to determine how to resolve the story, particularly uncertain about the conclusion of Inuyasha and Kagome's relationship. She mentioned that she generally develops endings throughout serialization instead of planning them in advance.

Manga

Inuyasha, both written and illustrated by Rumiko Takahashi, premiered in Shogakukan's shōnen manga publication Weekly Shōnen Sunday (issue #50, 1996) on November 13, 1996. The series ran for 11 years, concluding in issue #29, 2008, dated June 18, 2008. Shogakukan compiled its 558 chapters into 56 volumes, released between April 18, 1997, and February 18, 2009. A condensed edition comprising 30 volumes was issued from January 18, 2013, through June 18, 2015. Additionally, Takahashi contributed a special epilogue chapter titled , published in Weekly Shōnen Sunday on February 6, 2013, as part of a charity anthology supporting recovery efforts following the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. This chapter was later included in the final volume of the wide-ban edition and republished in Shōnen Sunday S on October 24, 2020.

In North America, the manga is licensed by Viz Media, initially released under the title Inu-Yasha. Viz distributed the series as comic books from April 1997 to February 2003, covering material up to the Japanese volume 14. The first trade paperback edition encompassed 12 volumes issued between July 6, 1998, and October 6, 2002. A second edition commenced with volume 13 on April 9, 2003; earlier volumes were subsequently reprinted to match. Up through volume 37, Viz presented the manga in a left-to-right reading format; beginning with volume 38 on July 14, 2009, they reverted to the original right-to-left orientation. The final volume (56) was released on January 11, 2011. In addition, Viz introduced an "VizBig" omnibus edition in 2009 featuring unflipped chapters compiled into an 18-volume set completed by February 11, 2014; this collection became available digitally on December 15, 2020.

Inuyasha

The inaugural anime adaptation of Inuyasha, titled , was produced by Sunrise, broadcasting a total of 167 episodes on Yomiuri TV and Nippon TV from October 16, 2000, until September 13, 2004. In Japan, Avex distributed these episodes across seven DVD collections released between May 2001 and July 2005.

For the North American market, Viz Media secured licensing rights for an English-language dub. This version aired on Adult Swim from August 31, 2002, through October 27, 2006, with reruns continuing until 2014. Later broadcasts occurred on Adult Swim’s Toonami block from November 2012 to March 2014 before losing broadcast rights. On August 25, 2017, Starz added the series to their video-on-demand platform until November 30, 2018. In Canada, it was shown on YTV’s Bionix block from September 2003 to December 2006. Viz released the anime in a total of fifty-five DVD volumes along with seven box sets. Beginning in September 2020, Funimation started streaming the first fifty-four episodes plus four feature films.

Additionally, Viz Media published a collection of ani-manga volumes derived from full-color screenshots of the anime series; this line consisted of thirty volumes issued from January 2004 through December 2008.

Inuyasha: The Final Act

In July 2009, it was revealed that a new anime adaptation would cover volumes 36 through 56 of the manga, involving the original production team and voice cast. Named , the series consisted of 26 episodes broadcast on Nippon TV and Yomiuri TV from October 4, 2009, until March 30, 2010. Although the show debuted first on Nippon TV, its initial run concluded sooner on Yomiuri TV due to a one-week hiatus in January on Nippon TV's schedule. Across Asia, Animax Asia simulcast the episodes concurrently with their Japanese airing. From December 2009 through June 2010, Aniplex distributed the series in seven DVD volumes.

In the North American market, Viz Media secured the licensing rights and streamed the show simultaneously via Hulu and Viz’s Shonen Sunday platform. The company released two DVD and Blu-ray collections featuring English dubbing—the first installment arrived on November 20, 2012, followed by the second on February 12, 2013. Starting October 2, 2012, the series was also made available on Viz Media’s Neon Alley streaming service in both the United States and Canada. Later, Adult Swim’s Toonami programming block began airing The Final Act at 2:00 a.m. EST on November 15, 2014.

Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon

In May 2020, Sunrise revealed Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon, an original sequel and spin-off to Inuyasha. The narrative centers on Towa and Setsuna, the daughters of Sesshomaru and Rin, alongside Moroha, the offspring of Inuyasha and Kagome. This series debuted on October 3, 2020.

The production was handled by Sunrise, with Teruo Sato directing the initial season and Masakazu Hishida overseeing the second. Character designs were crafted by Inuyasha creator Rumiko Takahashi. Returning key personnel from the original anime included scriptwriter Katsuyuki Sumisawa, character designer Yoshihito Hishinuma, and composer Kaoru Wada. The principal voice cast comprises Sara Matsumoto as Towa Higurashi, Mikako Komatsu as Setsuna, and Azusa Tadokoro as Moroha.

Viz Media acquired the rights for digital streaming, electronic sell-through (EST), and home video distribution across North and Latin America, thereby broadening the franchise’s presence in these markets.

Films

There are four animated feature films with original narratives penned by Katsuyuki Sumisawa, who also wrote for the Inuyasha anime series. These films were distributed on Region 1 DVD by Viz Media, including both English subtitles and dubbed versions. Together, they have grossed over US$20 million at Japanese box offices.

The inaugural film, Inuyasha the Movie: Affections Touching Across Time (2001), depicts Inuyasha and his companions battling Menomaru, a demonic moth warrior.

The second installment, Inuyasha the Movie: The Castle Beyond the Looking Glass (2002), follows the group after their apparent defeat of Naraku as they confront a new adversary named Kaguya, inspired by The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter.

In the third film, Inuyasha the Movie: Swords of an Honorable Ruler (2003), Inuyasha teams up with Sesshomaru to seal their father’s awakened third sword, Sō'unga.

The fourth movie, Inuyasha the Movie: Fire on the Mystic Island (2004), revolves around safeguarding half-demon children from four malevolent demons inhabiting a mystical island.

Original video animation

A 30-minute original video animation premiered on July 30, 2008, during an "It's a Rumic World" exhibition held in Tokyo’s Ginza area. Featuring the original voice actors from the anime series, it was subsequently released in Japan on October 20, 2010, available on DVD and Blu-ray formats.

Soundtrack CDs

Numerous soundtrack and character song albums related to the series were issued by Avex Mode. On August 3, 2005, three character singles were launched: by Inuyasha with Kagome, by Miroku alongside Sango and Shippō, and by Sesshomaru featuring Jaken and Rin. These singles attained positions 63, 76, and 79 respectively on the Oricon charts.

Subsequently, on January 25, 2006, three more character songs were released: by Naraku, performed by Kagome Higurashi, and by Bankotsu with Jakotsu, which reached numbers 130, 131, and 112 on Oricon rankings.

On March 24, 2010, Avex issued , a best-of album compiling all opening and ending theme tracks from the series. This collection peaked at number 20 on Oricon and remained charted for seven weeks.

Video games

The series inspired three video game releases for the WonderSwan platform: , , and .

On January 23, 2003, a single title named launched exclusively in Japan for the Game Boy Advance.

A mobile adaptation of Inuyasha was made available on June 21, 2005, targeting devices compatible with Java and Brew technologies.

For the PlayStation, two games were introduced: an RPG called Inuyasha and a fighting game titled Inuyasha: A Feudal Fairy Tale, the latter being released in North America. On the PlayStation 2, both the role-playing game Inuyasha: The Secret of the Cursed Mask and the fighting game Inuyasha: Feudal Combat were launched, each receiving English-language editions. Furthermore, an RPG exclusive to English-speaking audiences, Inuyasha: Secret of the Divine Jewel, was released for the Nintendo DS on January 23, 2007.

Inuyasha was featured as a playable character in the crossover title Sunday vs Magazine: Shūketsu! Chōjō Daikessen. Additionally, Inuyasha’s iconic weapon, Tessaiga, appeared as a craftable item during a special event in the Monster Hunter series.

An original English-language collectible card game by Score Entertainment was launched on October 20, 2004.

Light novel

Tomoko Komparu authored a light novel illustrated by Rumiko Takahashi, which was published by Shogakukan on December 10, 2004.

Stage plays

A live-action stage adaptation ran in Japan from April to May 2000 at Tokyo's Akasaka ACT Theater, coinciding with the anime's airing. The play closely followed the manga storyline with slight modifications to streamline the narrative. This production was revived for a second run at the same theater between January and February 2001.

In February 2017, a new stage play adaptation was announced for Tennozu Galaxy Theater in Tokyo, scheduled from April 6 to April 15. The cast featured Yutaka Kyan from Golden Bomber as Inuyasha and Yumi Wakatsuki of Nogizaka46 portraying Kagome.

Manga

Inuyasha earned Jury Recommended Work honors at the Japan Media Arts Festival in both 2001 and 2008. It secured the shōnen category award at the 47th Shogakukan Manga Award in 2002. In TV Asahi's Manga Sōsenkyo poll conducted in 2021 with 150,000 participants, it achieved a ranking of 28th place.

By February 2010, circulation figures surpassed 45 million copies and rose beyond 50 million by September 2020. Individual volumes consistently attained top positions on Japanese sales charts. In North America, several volumes appeared on The New York Times bestseller lists as well as Diamond Comic Distributors' top-selling rankings. The series was among the most searched manga on Lycos in 2005.

Critical reception highlighted Inuyasha for its blend of dynamic action sequences, creative fantasy elements, and humor. Reviewer Eri Izawa praised its thoughtful character arcs while noting occasional pacing concerns. Rebecca Bundy appreciated how the series balanced intense action with moments of introspection over its 23-volume run, emphasizing strong character development. Penny Kenny of Manga Life commended Rumiko Takahashi’s skill in reinvigorating familiar themes through new challenges, underscoring her character-focused artwork and humor that enriches dramatic tension.

Anime

Inuyasha secured the twentieth position on TV Asahi's 2006 ranking of Japan's top 100 anime series. It earned the Property of the Year title at the ICv2 Anime Awards consecutively in 2004 and 2005. In the Animage-hosted Anime Grand Prix, it achieved third place for Best Anime in 2003. At the 2007 American Anime Awards, the series received nominations for Best Cast, Best Long Series, and Best Anime Feature, though these accolades ultimately went to Fullmetal Alchemist and Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. According to a 2019 poll by NHK, Inuyasha was recognized as Rumiko Takahashi's finest animated creation, with characters Inuyasha and Sesshomaru ranking first and third respectively.

Between March 2003 and November 2004, English-language DVD sales surpassed one million units, with the debut film's DVD maintaining the top spot on the Nielsen VideoScan anime bestseller list for a duration of three weeks. By 2016, Viz Media had distributed over home video copies of Inuyasha. Despite its commercial achievements, Mania Entertainment identified the series as one that would benefit from a reboot, citing its repetitive nature.

See also

• The Holy Pearl, a 2011 Chinese television drama partly inspired by Inuyasha
• Nansō Satomi Hakkenden, a classic 19th-century novel that influenced several themes within Inuyasha