Season
overview:
After a successful first season which ended on a cliffhanger, the second season was immediately announced following the conclusion of episode 24. In the interim time between the first and second season Rumiko Takahashi joined Twitter, became involved in discussing her process and eventually announced that a Yashahime manga was going to be published monthly by her colleague at Shonen Sunday, Takashi Shiina. Shiina had recently concluded his 63 volume manga Zettai Karen Children.
Episode 25: 天生牙を持つということ
Teiseiga wo motsu to iu koto (Wielding the Tenseiga)
Setsuna fighting Kirinmaru and the combined might of both Towa and Moroha are unable to stop the demon from escaping. Sesshomaru lends Towa the broken blade of Tenseiga, and after having witnessed him use it to revive Zero, she knows she can use it to save Setsuna, but only if she is able to create a blade using her own demon energy from its hilt. As she tries in vain to strengthen it, her hair begins to turn black as she draws out her own demonic energy to create the blade. Sesshomaru watches patiently, and suddenly Totosai arrives. Seeing Sesshomaru watching Towa holding the broken blade, he is perturbed to find his work of art, Tenseiga, broken. He admits that Setsuna is already dead, and takes her naginata from her, deciding to re-forge it into a better weapon to send her off to the afterlife with. As he begins to forge it, he tells Moroha that she will have to take care of the demons it summons, as the energy he uses to create the powerful new weapon will attract hundreds and hundreds of demons to the area. As soon as he begins to forge the blade, the demons arrive and Moroha and Kirara fend them off. Sesshomaru does not attack, but simply continues to watch Towa, who finally is able to create the energy blade from Tenseiga, but is too weakened to move to strike down the demons who are about to carry Setsuna's soul to the afterlife. With time running out, Sesshomaru calls out to Towa, who finally strikes, saving her sister and collapsing. Sesshomaru goes to his daughters and cradles their faces. As the demons flood into the crater, overwhelming everyone, Totosai tosses the finished naginata to Setsuna, who awakens, and wields it to slay all the demons in one powerful strike. With that, Sesshomaru and Jaken leave, but not before Sesshomaru hands Tenseiga over to Totosai to repair. Setsuna is mystified as to what has happened since her battle with Kirinmaru. Totosai tells her to be careful, as Tenseiga can only bring someone back from the dead once. He then tells her that her new weapon is named Yukari no Tachikiri and that it can sever things that can not be severed, due to the blood blade she has inherited from Sesshomaru, but that it will be up to her to master it. In the meantime, he tells Setsuna that the unconscious Towa will never be able to infuse demon power into a weapon made by humans, and that she should obtain a Kyuyokon root so that he can craft her a new weapon as well. Setsuna asks where they can obtain it, and Totosai says they should see out Bokuseno. Moroha pouts that Totosai seems uninterested in crafting a weapon for her.
The reference to Towa and Setsuna being placed on a "trial of courage or cowardice" echos the choice Ogami Ito placed before his infant son in Kazuo Koike's legendary manga Lone Wolf and Cub. Coincidentally, Koike was Rumiko Takahahsi's mentor at the Gekiga Sonjuku manga school that she attended in the 1970s.
The creatures that Towa has to slash in order to bring Setsuna 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.
Totosai reforges Setsuna's naginata using lapis lazuli. Lapis is a blue stone known as "ruri" (瑠璃) in Japan. The largest deposits of lapis lazuli in the world are found in Afghanistan where the blue mineral has been mined and exported for 6,000 years. Lapis lazuli would be very rare to find in Japan, though there are antique artifacts made from the semi-precious stone that are stored in Shosoin Temple in Nara. The blue stone likely arrived in Japan from its nearest natural source around Lake Baikal in Russia.
Yukari no Tachikiri (所縁の断切きり) - at the end of last season when Totosai arrived he hinted at the impending creation of this new naginata. The name roughly translates to "connection cutter" which is suggested by the woven threads that appeared around the blade as Totosai finished forging it. This is also important because the red mark on Setsuna's arm that she inherited from Sesshomaru is an allusion to the "red thread of fate" an Eastern belief that the thread binds someone to their destiny. The Yukari no Tachikiri will metaphorically sever Setsuna from the path she is fated to walk and allow her to carve her own destiny.
Kyuyokon root - this appears to be wholly invented for Yashahime, it is not a term that otherwise exists.
Bokuseno is a very minor character. He is a tree creature whose wood was used to carve scabbards for Tenseiga and Tessaiga.
Episode 26: 海の妖霊
Umi no yorei (Demon Spirit of the Sea)
Riku meets with Mimisenrei to learn the location of the Rainbow Pearls. Mimisenrei’s ears allow him to hear everything in the world and using them he hears the whispers of demons far and wide who have spotted Towa, Setsuna and Moroha traveling near the ocean. Alone on the shore Towa remembers waking up and seeing Setsuna alive, hugging her tightly only to be quickly rebuffed and told they need to find a Kyuyokon Root. As Towa talks some some villagers on the beach, Setsuna flies off in search of Bokuseno and Moroha turns in a cart full of demon skulls to Jyubei. He only pays her a pittance and she asks him if he knows where Bokuseno is. He says the name seems familiar but no. Then he recalls another demon who might. Moroha begs for the information. Jyubei tells her no one knows that the demon looks like and that it must never be looked at in its eyes. Meanwhile the villagers tell Towa that they must keep their hair covered near the ocean at all times or a demon called "Umi Hebi Onna" (Sea Snake Woman) will attack. She was once demon spirit named Watatsumi no Tamahi who protected the oceans and helped fishermen who fell from their boats but eventually began to turn violent and attack people, especially women with long beautiful hair. Towa worries about Setsuna who meets up with Moroha and Takechiyo nearby. Moroha tells her of the demon who knows Bokuseno’s location. Just then the pair meet a nun carrying bags to the top of her cliff top home. When she drops one Moroha and Setsuna offer to help her. Once they reach her hut she cooks a meal for them, encouraging them to stay before commenting on Setsuna’s hair. Back at the Demon Slayer’s Village Kohaku tells Hisui and Towa what little he knows about Umi Hebi Onna, who is attacking Setsuna as they speak. Nearby Riku searches the waters, freezing the sea spray that splashes against the shore. Moroha and Setsuna concoct a plan to hide behind Takechiyo, rolling him downhill so they can get close enough to Umi Hebi Onna to attack. She asks if they plan to kill her too and shares the story of a fisherman she once loved and rescued from drowning. She was so enamored with him she went to shore in the form of a sea snake and was killed by him and the other villagers who took her for an evil omen. When she was reborn her hatred transformed her. Anyone who looks upon her will turn to stone, and she hunts long haired women who remind her of the hair she once had that now is only snakes. The demon slayers arrive and bombard her with oil pots while Towa uses mirrored sunglasses to attack her head on, but is almost struck by a rogue wave before Riku intervenes and freezes it and Umi Hebi Onna in place. But it is finally Setsuna using her new Yukari no Tachikiri to see a red string of fate leading from Umi Hebi Onna to the sea floor where she finds the statue of the fisherman she once loved. Bringing him to the surface allows his voice to reach Umi Hebi Onna, transforming her cursed form back to normal. Riku watches the girls fly off, saying he’s glad they’re okay, and to lead him to the Kyuyokon Root.
Bokuseno is a very minor character. He is a tree creature whose wood was used to carve scabbards for Tenseiga and Tessaiga.
The snake woman was once named Watatsumi no Tamahi. In Japanese this is written without kanji, spelling it わたつみのたまひ. However Watatsumi is a mythological figure and that is likely who this character is based upon. The mythological character Watatsumi (海神) is a dragon and water deity. This dragon is created after Izanagi travels to Yomi (the underworld) and purifies himself by washing the corruption of the underworld off his body. This leads to the creation of Watatsumi.
The outfit that Watatsumi wears when she is disguised as a human is that of a Buddhist nun.
In her demonic form Watatsumi is called the "sea snake woman" (海蛇女/Umi Hebi Onna).
The sea snake woman's ability to petrify and her general appearance is based upon the mythological Greek gorgon Medusa. In the myth of Medusa, Perseus was able to overcome the petrification by using a mirror-like shield to stare at Medusa through its reflection. This is referenced in Towa's mirrored sunglasses.
Yukari no Tachikiri (所縁の断切きり) roughly translates to "connection cutter" which is suggested by the woven threads that appeared around the blade as Totosai finished forging it. This is also important because the red mark on Setsuna's arm that she inherited from Sesshomaru is an allusion to the "red thread of fate" an Eastern belief that the thread binds someone to their destiny. In this episode that allusion is made plain.
Episode 27: 銀鱗の呪い
Ginrin no noroi (The Silver-Scale Curse)
Setsuna, Moroha and Towa wander through the woods, and Towa asks Moroha if she is sure this is the right way to get to Bokuseno. Moroha says that Jyuubei was mistaken before, but is sure this will lead to his location this time. As the trio wander, Setsuna senses something nearby. Meanwhile, the Dream Butterfly arrives and delivers something to the sleeping Rin, who is watched over by Sesshomaru and Jaken. Sesshomaru comments that his daughters are going to search for Bokuseno, and Jaken asks if he thinks Setsuna will be able to master the Yukari no Tachikiri. As they leave Rin, Jaken remembers that fourteen years ago, as Sesshomaru and Inuyasha fought against the Grim Comet, Zero attacked Rin, cursing her with Silver Scales that would eventually cause her to rot away. Sesshomaru and Jaken arrived too late to stop Zero's curse, but as Sesshomaru went to kill Zero, she showed that she had attached a String of Fate, linking her to Rin, so that if Zero dies, Rin too will die. Zero demanded that Sesshomaru sacrifice his daughters if he wanted to curse on Rin to be lifted, but Rin refused, throwing herself at Bakusaiga, saying she would die before allowing their daughters to be hurt. Zero gives the couple time to consider her offer, leaving as Rin collapses in pain. Jaken has the idea to place Rin inside the Tree of Ages, to keep her safe, and in order to prevent Inuyasha and Kagome from going after Kirinmaru and Zero, thus risking Rin's life, Sesshomaru teams up with Kirnimaru, and attacks Inuyasha, removing the Black Pearl and sending he and Kagome to their father's tomb. Zero burns the forest in an attempt to kill Setsuna and Towa herself, but the Tree of Ages sends Towa to the future, and Jaken takes Setsuna and puts her in hiding to keep her safe. Rin continues to deteriorate, and so the Spirit of the Tree of Ages tells Jaken to use the Dream Butterfly to keep Rin asleep and slow the progression of the Silver Scales. And so Jaken links the Dream Butterfly to the only person he can use who has a blood bond to Rin, Setsuna, thus robbing Setsuna of her ability to sleep and keeping Rin asleep all this time. Meanwhile, Towa and Moroha continue to search for Bokuseno, while Setsuna hangs back, and attacks a trio of demons, one of whom has the Green Rainbow Pearl. Riku intervenes, killing them and taking the pearl for himself. He reveals to Setsuna that he is not their enemy, and in fact wants to help them, if only to keep Towa safe. In order to gain her trust, he gives her a map to the true location of Bokuseno. With that, he vanishes. On his ship, Kirinmaru watches everything. Riku returns to Zero, and gives her the Green Pearl, completing her collection of Rainbow Pearls. He reveals that she can restore her demon powers and kill Sesshomaru if she wishes, but she dismisses the idea, saying she intends to kill his daughters instead. After finding Bokuseno, Moroha is able to trick the tree demon into revealing the location of the Kyuyokon Root. It can be found as the root of a demon tree on Mount Musubi. The girls head there immediately, only to find that it is protected by a barrier. Finally, Zero reveals Riku's origin to him, pointing out that he was created from a horn that Kirinmaru lost in a battle against The Great Dog Demon 600 years ago. As a part of Kirinmaru, everything that Riku sees is reported back to Kirinmaru, and so Zero sends Riku away, saying if he comes to her again she will kill him. Ready to enact her plan, she begins to examine the Rainbow Pearls one by one, and realizes the pearls have been imbued by the memories of those who held them, which Zero considers as an infection by the half-demon twins and quarter-demon Moroha.
"Call me 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.
The red thread of fate - Rin and Zero are bound by a red thread. This is a frequent reference in Japanese literature to symbolize two people who are bound together. Typically it is used to suggest people fated to love one another, but in this case the suggestion is that if Zero is killed it would end Rin as well. In Japanese culture when someone talks about a secret lover/mistress they will often hold up their pinky finger. This is to suggest the invisible thread of fate that links them to their partner.
The previous suggestions that Setsuna's Yukari no Tachikiri (所縁の断切きり) is a technique to sever the red thread now very clearly will be connected to this folktale turned curse in this season of Yashahime.
Aun - The two-headed dragon mount Aun (阿吽) that belongs to Sessshomaru has a unique name that is taken from "Agyo" and "Ungyo" two guardian creatures in Buddhism that are called "nio" (仁王). Iconographically they can be told apart as the open-mouthed creature is making an "a" sound (Agyo) and the closed mouth figure grunts an "un" sound (Ungyo). This is where "aun" comes from which has become known as the word in Buddhism which represents the beginning and end, the alpha and omega. Sometimes you may see this transliterated as "Om".
Kirinmaru is seen eating grapes. According to legend grapes arrived in Japan 718 CE, however there is no written documentation of wine-consumption in Japan until the 16th century with the arrival of Jesuit missionaries from Portugal. The later timeline would be more in keeping with when Yashahime is set.
Bokuseno's (朴仙翁) name is written with the kanji "magnolia", "hermit" and "old man".
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).
"It is written as Sanreizan..." - Bokuseno is explaining which kanji are used to write "Mount Musubi" in order to convey the significance of the mountain's name. The individual kanji mean "birth", "spirit", "mountain" which, as mentioned above, is where the "divine spirit of creation" comes from.
"It all took place 600 years ago..." - Riku's creation 600 years prior to the late Sengoku period would place his creation during the Heian period of 1000 CE. This is around the time that a great deal of Rumiko Takahashi's series MAO is set.
"Go three ri in this direction and you will see the mountain in front of you." - A "ri" (里) is equivalent to 3.93 kilometers or 2.44 miles. Japan began using the metric system in 1868 and dropped the shakkanho (尺貫法) measurement system that had been in use prior since 701 CE.
The end of the episode briefly serves as the first appearance of Rion.
Episode 28: 産霊山の結界
Musubi yama no kekkai (The Barrier at Mount Musubi)
Moroha, Setsuna and Towa pass through the barrier at Mount Musubi. Inside a young, redheaded girl sleeps peacefully and dreams of a past battle between The Great Dog Demon and Kirinmaru. The Great Dog Demon injures Kirinmaru, cutting off his forearm, but refuses to kill him in front of the girl who watches from a distance, asking if she is Kirinmaru's daughter before he leaves. After passing through the barrier, Moroha, Towa and Setsuna are all separated. Setsuna is sent to the Tree of Ages where Rin is held within stasis, while Towa is sent to a facsimile of the present day Tokyo, and only Moroha is able to penetrate the barrier. She meets a ghostly version of the redheaded girl who awakens and says her name is Rion. She explains that Moroha was able to pass through because she has spiritual powers, unlike Setsuna and Towa. On his ship, Kirinmaru continues to recover from his injuries in battle with the Half-Demon Princesses, and recalls his battle with The Great Dog Demon. It was after this that he lost his horn and arm, and his horn became Riku and was cast off to remind him of his own weakness in battling the protector of the Western Lands. In his memories, he sends Riku away with his detached arm, telling him to get rid of it. Riku decides to toss it into the Bone Eater's Well. Back at Mount Musubi, Rion shows Moroha how to rescue Towa and Setsuna. As Moroha passes through the barrier again she enters the world where Inuyasha and Kagome are held captive and they all briefly see one another for a fleeting moment. Then Moroha finds Towa and helps her escape and all three reunite in front of Rin. The Spirit of the Tree of Ages tells the trio that Rin is the mother of Setsuna and Towa, and with that all three are allowed to pass through the barrier and appear in front of Rion. She tells them that she holds the Kyuyokon Root and will happily give it to them. Meanwhile, in the present, Osamu Kirin, Towa's teacher from St. Gabriel's Academy visits the Higurashi Shrine. He asks Grandpa Higurashi if they have anymore Shikon Jewel keychains, but Grandpa does not seem to remember ever selling them. Osamu ponders that things are changing, before it is revealed that he is an incarnation of Kirinmaru as well, the arm that Riku disposed of down the Bone Eater's Well.
The barrier to Mount Musubi is adorned with large ropes hung between trees. 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.
The voice on Mount Musubi asks Towa and Setsuna if they have something they wish to protect. This is a reference to the lesson Sesshomaru was supposed to learn through his use of Tenseiga.
Rion's explains that through the kyuyokon portal is the "boundary between this world and the next" (kyokai/境界). This is the same boundary referenced in the title of Rumiko Takahashi's Kyokai no RINNE.
"What kind of Zen riddle is that?" - A "koan" (公案) is a phrase or question that is used to provoke great doubt and test a student's progress in their study of Zen. Perhaps the most famous example is "what is the sound of one hand clapping?" Another is "if you meet the Buddha, kill him" which was referenced by Miroku in Yashahimeepisode 13.
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.
"Kirin" (希林) is a common Japanese name. While the name is phonetically the same as Kirinmaru it is spelled with different kanji (麒麟 vs 希林).
Episode 29: りおんという名の少女
Rion to iu na no shoujo (The Girl Named Rion)
Rion tells the trio of her existence trapped on Mount Musubi. What they see is only Rion's spirit, as she died 600 years ago, but has been kept alive and bound to Mount Musubi by Kirinmaru. She pleads with the girls to kill her father and reveals his master plan. He wants to capture a demon named Akuru who will grant him access to the Windmill of Time, that will let him travel into the future and destroy the world. Rion wants to rest in peace, and when Setsuna sees the String of Fate that binds her to Kirinmaru and allows him to visit her in his dreams each night, she begs Setsuna to cut it and free her. Setsuna does so, but imperfectly, destroying the bond between Rion and Kirinmaru, however Kirinmaru's spirit attempts to keep Rion in place, so she inhabits the doll made of her bones and grave soil and is resurrected in much the same manner as Kikyo was. With a body of her own now, she transforms the Kyuyokon Root into the Star-Slicer Flute, and as she plays it, destroys the barrier around Mount Musubi. Outside the barrier Riku had been slaying demons to keep them from attacking Towa and the others. But the demonic energy forms a powerful four headed demon that attacks the girls. Rion hands the Star-Slicer Flute to Towa and bids her to play it, as she does it transforms once again into the Zanseiken, a powerful sword that is the matching pair of Kirinmaru's blade, the Bakuseiken. With Zanseiken, Towa is able to easily dispatch the four headed demon as Rion, Setsuna and Moroha look on. Meanwhile, Sesshomaru and Jaken fly toward the mountain themselves, passing Akuru as he walks through the sky nearby, Jaken points him out, but Sesshomaru is uninterested. As the girls leave Mount Musubi, they encounter Riku and he is shocked to find Rion alive. He greets her, but fears what will happen if Kirinmaru sees her using him. Towa learns of the connection and grabs Riku's face, screaming that they are unafraid of Kirinmaru. Riku asks if he can take Rion with him, as she will only slow the trio down. He summons a boat for them as Setsuna, Moroha and Towa leave the forest surrounding the mountain, only to meet up with Sesshomaru and Jaken. Jaken asks Setsuna if she has mastered the Yukari no Tachikiri. She admits she has not yet. He summons the butterfly that passes her dreams to Rin, and kills it, spurring his daughter to master her blade's ability if she wants to save Rin from the silver scales that will now once again begin to cover her body. Setsuna swears to save her mother, but after years of not sleeping, falls asleep, collapsing on the ground, much to Towa's happiness.
We see Akuru (阿久留) mentioned again for the first time in awhile. Akuru's name is written with the kanji for "nook/recess", "long ago", and "detain".
After Rion's dream butterfly is killed the illusion of her body vanishes leaving behind a clay vessel. This calls to mind the reanimated bodies made by Urasue (including Kikyo) that were made from bones and grave soil (墓土/hakatsuchi).
The vessel that is left behind resembles a haniwa. Haniwa (埴輪) are terracotta soldiers that were initially placed on top of tombs.
In the flashback showing Kirinmaru taking Rion around the world he takes her to visit the Taj Mahal, the Great Wall of China, a mountain which is likely Mount Everest or the Alps and the Parthenon.
The Kyuyokon root is transformed into the Star-Slicer Flute (星斬りの笛/Hoshikiri no fue). It is then transformed into Zanseiken (斬星剣/Star Beheading Sword).
"In travel a fellow traveler, in life compassion." - This is a Japanese proverb, 旅は道連れ世は情け (tabi wa michizure yo wa nasake). It means when you travel it is good to have someone to accompany you, just as in life it is important to have compassion for others. There is a famous exchange in Haruki Murakami's 2002 novel Kafka on the Shore (海辺のカフカ) that revolves around this proverb.
"In ancient times, Amatsumikaboshi, the god of stars, bequeathed the two swords." - Amatsumikaboshi (天津甕星) was a rebellious Shinto god/kami that refused to bend to the will of the other Shinto gods/kami.
Towa's special technique evolves into the Twin Azure Dragon Wave (そとの蒼竜破/Soto no Soryuha).
Episode 30: 退治屋翡翠
Taijiya Hisui (Hisui the Demon Slayer)
Setsuna has slept for two days straight as Towa watches over her worried about her sister. Kaede calls her outside and while she's gone, a group of ninjas appear, kidnapping Setsuna. When she awakens she is in Princess Aiya's mansion. It seems the princess wants Setsuna to take her place and meet her new etiquette instructor while Aiya goes out to have some fun for once. Aiya tells a tale of woe to get Setsuna to finally agree and once Aiya escapes she decides to go to the port for some fun. As Setsuna waits in her place, the etiquette instructor named Kin'u arrives, however it turns out to be Hisui! Hisui was prodded into taking his sister Kun'u's place. Hisui and Setsuna end up talking about his family life, as he reveals he had trained to be a monk like his father, but Kin'u became one first, and Gyokuto took over manufacturing weapons for the Demon Slayers, so Hisui felt like he did not have a future of his own. One day, his uncle Kohaku saved him from a Stag Beetle demon and earned the scar on his face he still carries. Seeing Kohaku in action made Hisui decide to become a Demon Slayer himself. Suddenly, one of Aiya's retainers bursts in and begs for help, saying that Aiya has been attacked. Hisui continues to get Setsuna to stay in Aiya's place, while he goes off to save her. He finds the Aiya in the tentacles of Takonyudo an octopus demon. Everytime he tries to throw Hiraikotsu the demon moves Aiya into its path. Thankfully sutra's and gas bombs are suddenly hurled at the demon courtesy of Kin'u and Gyokuto who had been in town delivering a weapon to the Northern Demon Slayer's headman. The might of the three siblings combined the octopus goes down, and Princess Aiya falls for the brave Hisui, insisting on riding on the back of Kirara with him to her castle. Unfortunately, when she arrives her father scolds her for sneaking out in the first place.
After the opening theme a short looping animation is played where the Japanese sponsor is usually announced. In the second season it has shown Setsuna trying to wake up a sleeping Towa, however now that the Dream Butterfly has been killed and Setsuna is able to sleep it shows Setsuna sleeping while Towa tries to wake her.
Princess Aiya returns after having last appeared in Yashahimeepisode 19.
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.
Setsuna is grinding an inkstick to make ink (墨/sumi). A small amount of water is added to the inkstone (硯/suzuri) and the stick (made from soot and animal glue) is rubbed back and forth to create ink.
Tanka (短歌) is a type of poem that has 31 syllables. The name translates to "short poem".
"You expect me to compose a waka poem?" - Waka (和歌) literally means a "Japanese-style poem". This distinction was initially made due to the number of differing formats poetry could take which included tanka (短歌/short poem), chouka (長歌/long poem), bussokusekika (仏足石歌/Buddha footprint poem) and sedōka (旋頭歌/repeating-the-first-part poem). Waka poetry was beginning to become unfashionable in the early 1600s (around the time Yashahime is set) and was being replaced by renku (連句/linked verse poetry). Eventually renku would evolve into haiku (俳句) a type of poetry that follows a 7-5-7 syllable format. Haiku was not developed until the late 1800s by Masaoka Shiki (正岡子規).
Fujiwara no Tameie was a poet who lived from 1198-1275 CE, he was an important compiler of poems.
Setsuna is asked to read poetry by Hisui. She had previously mentioned in episode 20 that she learned to read and write while in the care of Shiori.
This episode reveals how Kohaku received the scar across the bridge of his nose while protecting Hisui.
Moroha claims to have gotten her debt down to a single ryo in this episode.
Takonyudo (蛸入道)'s name means "a man with a shaved head who resembles an octopus." Takonyudo is an actual historical yokai that was said to inhabit the waters around Shimane and resembled an octopus with a beard and wearing monk's garb.
"I'm going to shove you into an octopus pot!" - An octopus pot (蛸壷/tako tsubo) is the typical method for capturing octopi. Because the creature likes to squeeze into enclosed places for safety, pots on ropes are lowered into the sea. Passing octopi will often climb inside to hide or rest. The pots can be hoisted up later and the octopus is then captured.
Episode 31: 竹千代の依頼
Takechiyo no irai (Takechiyo's Request)
Towa and Setsuna play their instruments in a barren, rocky area, eventually luring a rock demon out. A brief fight ensues, and the sisters easily manage to defeat the demon, but when he begs for his life, Towa is unable to kill it, allowing the demon to lunge at her and attempt to explode himself, taking her with him. She creates a barier using Zanseiken to save herself. But smaller rock demons appear from the ground to announce that they will bring their leader back to deal with the sisters, and so Setsuna and Towa must continue to wait, in hopes of ridding the nearby village of these creatures. As they wait, Setsuna tells Towa she should go back to her own time, that she alone will save Rin, even though right now, she continues to be unable to conjure visions of the red string of fate at will. Meanwhile, Moroha goes undercover in hopes of finding demons to slay, and learns that demons have been avoiding the area out of fear of her growing reputation as not only a bounty hunter, but the daughter of the priestess who purified the Shikon Jewel. Moroha curses her luck at being able to get the final ryou paid off in her debt to Jyubei. At the same time, a letter arrives for Takechiyo from a hawk named Takamaru. Takechiyo arrives and offers to hire Moroha to help him with a problem for the one ryou she needs for her debt. At the same time, Hisui and Kohaku discuss the oncoming Northern Demon Slayer Tribe's all out assault on a mass of demons that Kin'u delivered an item to assist in. Kohaku and his team will be joining the mission, and he wants to take both Towa and Setsuna as well, but fears that Towa may not be ready. Both Hisui and Kohaku go to visit the sisters on the rocky plains and test Towa's ability to sense danger and prepare for it, as the girls await the return of the Rock Demon Leader. As Kohaku practices with Towa, he learns that she refuses to dodge or retreat adequately, due to her own past feelings of abandoning Setsuna when they were children. Because of her inability to run from danger, Kohaku refuses to take Towa with them. Later, Rion and Riku arrive at the home of Zero, and Rion attempts to convince her aunt to help her stop Kirinmaru's desire to use the Windmill of Time to destroy the world. Zero is happy to see her niece but says that she is beyond caring, and gives a warning for Rion to pass on to Riku. The next time Zero sees Riku, will be at the time and place of Towa's death. Moroha travels with Takechiyo to his home to rid it of Tanuki who have overthrown the village. It turns out that Takechiyo is the young lord of the Tanuki Tribe, and the hawk Takamaru is his former vassal. When the duo arrive at this home they are greeted by Takamaru and Hatchiemon, who is excited to see Moroha all grown up. He tells her that he was the one who delivered her from Inuyasha and Kagome to the Demon Wolf Tribe, and passes on his fears that Inuyasha and Kagome perished in the battle against Kirinmaru and Sesshomaru, as they've never been seen alive again. Moroha wonders if it was the afterlife she saw her parents in briefly, but shakes off her worries and readies for the battle against the Tanuki's. Finally, Rion and Riku watch over the battle as the Demon Rock Lord arrives to take on Setsuna and Towa. Towa uses her Zanseiken to absorb the demon's power as everyone watches.
The attack at the very beginning, the "Rock Bullet" is "Iwadan" (嵒弾) in Japanese. Shooting off a giant fist is likely a reference to the famous "Rocket Punch" of Mazinger Z and Giant Robo attacks.
The Rock Fiend's name is "Gansekimajin" (岩石魔人), written with the kanji for "rock" "demon" and "man".
Takamaru's name is written タカマル in katakana so it is more difficult to discern a meaning. However 高まる (takamaru) means "to rise or swell".
The umbrella creature that Moroha disguised herself as is an example of two types of Japanese yokai. Specifically this is an Umbrella Ghost (傘おばけ/Kasa-obake). More generally speaking this is an example of a tsukumogami (付喪神) which is an inanimate object that has "lived" for 100 years and gained a soul.
The floating green ball that Takechiyo turns into in this episode is a reference to the shape Shippo often assumed.
Mamiana Island is written 狸穴島 or "Tanuki Cave Island".
Episode 32: 七星の小銀河
Nanahoshi no shogenga (Nanahoshi's Mini Galaxy)
As Towa applies some hand cream Akuru appears and sniffs it curiously before vanishing as Rion and Riku appear. They remark that they didn't see anyone but Towa, but request to join her. Meanwhile, Zero journeys to the mansion of a demon named Nanahoshi, who feasts on the sadness of others to fuel his power. As he attempts to access the tears of Zero he finds that she has none, as they have been sealed within the Rainbow Pearls. She uses this to her advantage and recruits Nanahoshi to her cause by force. Setsuna, along with Kohaku, Hisui, Nanasuke and Rokuta continue their trek north to meet with the Northern Demon Slayers for a joint mission. Setsuna rubs the hand cream that Towa had given her on her hands, which attracts the Akuru once more, and just as with Towa, no one can see him but Setsuna. Far away, Moroha has been imprisoned by the Tanuki Clan, who have surmised that she is working with Takechiyo. At the same time, Rion, Riku and Towa encounter Kirinmaru, who prepares to fight the trio, but Akuru appears once more, curious about Towa's bicycle. It seems that objects from the future attract him, Kirinmaru is stunned as he cannot see Akuru himself, and sheathes his sword, realizing that Towa will be of use to him, as only those of Sesshomaru's bloodline can see Akuru. Before Kirinmaru leaves, he unleashes an attack that blinds Riku. In the north, the slayers arrive at the village of Gokoku. Everyone notices how wealthy they seem to be, and Kohaku remarks that it is thanks to an object known as "the Blessing of the Five Grains" that the village keeps enshrined. Within the village, Kohaku's team meets Kuzu and Yamata, two old friends of Kohaku's from the northern demon slayers group, as well as Goro, who has been sent in place of the Northern group's chief, who was too old to make the trip. The northern slayers seem hesitant to think that a female slayer like Setsuna would be able to be of assistance, but she happily challenges them to put her to the test if they doubt her skills. Kuzu tells the others that they have been hired to deal with a heard of Flame Bulls that have been attacking and burning the village. The bulls themselves are not that powerful, but they are being controlled by a local deity. As a bull attacks, Setsuna makes short work of it, impressing everyone. At the tanuki village Moroha uses a Swiss Army knife to break out of the cell she was imprisoned in. After escaping, she sneaks into the ceiling and spies on a gathering of the tanukis, learning that they are being led by Kikunosuke, Takachiyo's younger brother, who is being influenced by an older tanuki named Shogen Mamaiana, who encountered Kagome and Inuyasha in the past and holds a grudge against Inuyasha for scarring him. Kikunosuke admits to missing his older brother a great deal, but Shogen Mamaiana reminds him that Takechiyo brought ruin to the Mamidaira Clan. Back at Gokoku, the local deity Mayonaka, curses the village for trying to amass a force against him. The village headman has hired a shaman to conjure a blizzard to keep the flame bulls at bay. During questioning, he admits that he has no idea why Mayonaka would want to attack the village, but Kohaku comments that there was once another deity named Mahiruma in the area. The fact that Kohaku knows this surprises the village headman, who takes them to show them the Blessing of the Five Grains. He explains that the grains allow the village a bountiful harvest every year, and that the powerful object would be coveted by lords and demons alike, and this is why Mayonaka attacks the village. Finally back at the tanuki village, Moroha faces off against an army of tanuki, and uses her rouge to transform into Beniyasha to battle against Shogen Mamaiana and Mamaiana Islands Full Moon Tanuki. She uses the Crimson Backlash Wave, but Shogen seems prepared for the attack.
Nanahoshi is using peoples' sorrows to feed into his "fragrant wood" (香木/kouboku). Insense is typically made from these types of wood. Aloeswood and sandlewood would be examples.
Nanahoshi has a number of interesting characteristics. The marks on his forehead are "hikimayu" (引眉) which means "pulled eyebrows". Aristocratic women would pluck their eyebrows and then paint new, stylized ones on with an ink called "haizumi" which was made with soot and rapeseed oil. Additionally Nanahoshi has black teeth, a practice known as "ohaguro" (お歯黒). A drink is made with iron-filings and vinegar that stains the teeth black. The process has to be repeated everyday to maintain the black-teeth appearance. Though primarily associated with women, both hikimayu and ohaguro were practiced by men at times. In 1870 as Japan began to adopt Western customs both hikimayu and ohaguro were banned.
The straw coats worn by the demon slayers are called "mino" (蓑). These are made from the straw of rice plants which have natural water-resistant properties.
The snowy, northern village is named Gokoku Village (五穀), which is named after "the blessing of the five grains" artefact that keeps the village fed during the winter months. The concept of five classical grains dates back to China where Confucius noted them to be soybeans, wheat, broomcorn, foxtail millet and rice. According to the Kojiki (古事記), the oldest book of Japanese history, they noted the five grains as barley/wheat, rice, soybeans, azuki beans and kibi (common millet).
The northern demon slayers are named Yamata (八股), Kuzu (九頭), and Goro (五郎). Just like Nanasuke (七助) and Rokuta (六太) each of the demon slayers have number-based names. The kanji in their names are, "eight thighs (Yamata)", "nine animals (Kuzu)", "five sons (Goro)". Nanasuke and Rokuta, as previous mentioned are "seven help (Nanasuke)" and "six plump (Rokuta)".
The flame bulls (炎牛/engyuu) have unique iconography that seems to be unique to Yashahime. Their closest antecedant in historical literature would perhaps be the "Bull Demon King" from the Chinese Journey to the West, though this character is often translated as "The Ox King".
Swiss army knife - this is a multi-tool made by the Victorinox company. The tool is typically red-handled with a cross, the coat of arms of Switzerland.
Kikunosuke (菊之助) is Takechiyo's younger brother. The kanji in his name means "chrysanthemum of help".
Shogen Mamiana (狸穴将監) translates as the overseer of Mamiana, which is the island of the tanuki. This old tanuki is able to summon Mamiana Island's guardian, the Full Moon Raccoon Dog, which is called Mangetsudanuki (満月狸).
Mayonaka (魔夜中) is a local diety (土地神/tochikami). Local deities are gods of small areas and villages and are particularly common in Shintoism. A discussion and brief listing of local deities can be found here.
Episode 33: 魔夜中の訪問者
Mayonaka no homonsha (Mayonaka the Visitor)
Moroha transforms to Beniyasha to attack the Full Moon Tanuki, but Shogen Mamaiana immediately reverses her Bakryuha, sending both her and Takachiyo flying. Towa, Riku and Rion kneel by a river as Riku continues to try to cleanse his eyes and restore the damage done by Kirinmaru. Once he uses the lavender skin cream he smells on Towa, he remarks that his eyes are much better. Meanwhile, in Gokoku Village the demon slayers prepare for a battle against Mayonaka and his Flame Bulls. Setsuna prepares by cutting down an enormous amount of bamboo, but worries that she still cannot sense the strings of fate that will enable her to save Rin. As the slayers prepare, she finds Goro kneeling over the burial site of the flame bull that had previously entered the village, praying for it. The next day, when Mayonaka attacks, thanks to Kohaku's planning, the walls of bamboo surrounding the village are able to hold out against the bulls, while Hisui and Setsuna fly atop Kirara, leading the bulls down the ravine of bamboo while the other slayers attack them. Unfortunately the grave of the bull that Goro had visited erupts and the bull comes to life, wrecking havoc on Gokoku village and allowing Mayonaka to enter. The Northern Slayers accuse Setsuna of not killing the bull properly, but the truth is that Goro was working against the group. Setsuna is knocked unconcious but awakens to find herself with Goro and Mayonaka at the center of the village. Mayonaka says he has no interest in the village and no particular interest in the Blessing of Five Grains either. Setsuna listens to his tale of woe, as he tells her that many generations previously he was the deity of the village, and happily shared the Blessing of the Five Grains, but a man and his daughter arrived in the village, and the daughter, Oharu came to pray for more abundance from him. He gave her the grains, but her greedy father, the headman of the village, took them and hid them away in order to keep them for himself. Mayonaka told Oharu she would have to get the grains back or a great misfortune would befall the village. She tried many times, but her father never revealed their location. Ultimately she gave up and asked Mayonaka, with whom she had fallen in love, to run away with her. He agreed, but when he waited for her, she never arrived, and he left the village behind to wander. Upon returning, he learned that the village had continued to abuse the grains, and that Oharu had died, at which point his wails of sadness summoned the Flame Bulls. It turns out that Goro is his now grown son, who was born after he left. His mother, Oharu regretted not leaving with Mayonaka, and loved him until she died. With his tale told, Setsuna is able to see the string of fate that binds him to the Blessing of Five Grains. As she severs it, the village returns to its shabby former self, and the slayers leave, having no reward for their efforts, but the demon slayers of the North remark to Kohaku what an excellent team he has created.
Shogen Mamiana casts a spell with his hands. This is called a "mudra" or "enzou" in Japanese (印相). Mudra are primarily associated with Buddhism and Jainism. The hand positions of depictions of Buddha can help to identify which Buddha is being depicted. Additionally mudra become associated with ninjutsu and spell casting such as "Kuji no in".
Rion and Riku comment on the fragrance Towa wears (her lavender moisturizer) with Rion explaining that she smelled it when she was traveling the world with her father. Lavender is native to the western part of the Mediterranean coast.
Mayonaka's name is written 魔夜中. His name means "the demon in the night".
The rope that the flame bull sets alight is a Shimenawa (標縄), "enclosing ropes". They are made to ward off evil spirits.
Mahiruma (真昼間)'s name means "broad daylight".
Oharu's name (お華) means "flower" with the "o" being an honorific. It is an appropriate name given the vegetal aspects of this storyline.
"She was being used as a yorishiro for the Blessing of the Five Grains." - A yorishiro (依代) is an object to which a spirit is drawn. It can also be an object that is occupied by a kami (spirit/god) in Shintoism.
Mayonaka is shown to not understand why he is continuing to pursue his vengenance against the village. His grudge has consumed him and he cannot separate himself from it even though he fundamentally knows that he should. In some ways this connects with the Japanese idea that spirits such as onryo (怨霊) will continue to try to avenge grudges after their deaths. In some ways Kikyo too was consumed with a thrist for revenge against Inuyasha even after understanding that he was not responsible for her death nor did he betray her. Despite understanding this she could not move beyond the feelings she harbored when she died for some time.
Episode 34: 決戦の朔（前編）
Kessen no saku (zenpen) (Battle on the New Moon, Part 1)
Planning a strategy to save Kikunosuke before his coming of age ceremony, Moroha, Hachiemon and Takechiyo review what has led up to this. Kinkunosuke is too timid to lead the Tanuki, and will continue to be a puppet of Shogen Mamiana, who has raised taxes on all the other tanuki in the area. The eyeball tower that paralyzes anyone it sets its gaze upon is keeping the castle safe, but Hachiemon says that with tonight being the night of the new moon, they should be able to easily sneak past the eye. As night falls and the new moon rises, Towa, with Riku and Rion at her side transforms into her fully human state, and worries that now that Setsuna is no longer under the control of the Dream Butterfly, the same thing will happen to her. Riku worries that Towa's emotions are similar to those of Zero, who lamented that she could not protected the Great Dog Demon centuries ago when she foresaw his death. Setsuna and the other demon slayers are still in the snow country, where they prepare to help a village battle against Yukinyudo, a snow demon, who has sensed Setsuna's presence. Setsuna has succumb to the new moon as well, and is freezing cold now that she is fully human. On top of that her exhaustion is overwhelming her. Knowing that she will need to sleep soon, she begins to write up battle plans to help her compatriots defend themselves against Yukinyudo and his horde of snow demons. Meanwhile Zero and Nanahoshi wander the grounds of his estate. Nanahoshi remarks that if Zero would absorb the Rainbow Pearls rather than keep them floating around her, she would become even more powerful, but Zero points out that they contain memories she does not want. Instead she summons Lantern Butterflies and sends them after Towa, Riku and Rion. Riku tells Towa that she and Setsuna were born on the night of a lunar eclipse, and Rion reveals that Riku is the cast off horn of Kirinmaru, so he shares all the memories that Kirinmaru has gained through his centuries of travel. Hiding in a cave, Moroha teaches Hatchiemon and Takechiyo how to build a hang glider based on an anime she saw when she was in the modern era. Hatchiemon tells Moroha about how her parents successfully fought against Shogen Mamaiana and sealed the Full Moon Tanuki. Over ten years ago, Hatchie was the assistant head elder of the Mamidaira Clan after his travels with Miroku had ended. During the funeral of the previous elder, Miroku infiltrates the service offering his abilities as a monk, while Sango and Kagome arrive as entertainment for Shogen Mamaiana. Shogen eventually declares his desire to take control of the Mamidaira Clan and summons the New Moon Tanuki. Inuyasha crashes through the roof as Kagome, Sango, Miroku and Hatchiemon reveal themselves. While Miroku, Inuyasha and Sango fight off Shogen Mamaiana, Kagome and Hatchiemon battle the floating eye and the New Moon Tanuki. Kagome is able to seal the Tanuki but only for a short time, as a storm hits the island Shogen Mamiana is able to free the New Moon Tanuki and reclaim control of the clan. He cursed Takechiyo, and Hachiemon brought him to Miroku to help heal him and then they hid him away with Jyubei, as Inuyasha and Kagome had disappeared by this point, and the New Moon Tanuki could not be sealed without her spiritual abilities. With her newly crafted hang glider, Moroha is able to infiltrate the estate of the Mamidaira Clan. At the same time, Zero's Latern Butterflies arrive and teleport Towa away, bringing her to Zero and Nanahoshi.
This is the first episode directed by Kei Umabiki. He stated on Twitter that he met the producer in a convience store and was asked if he'd like to direct an episode, but had no idea it would be one that would feature Inuyasha so heavily. He added, "Who would have thought that the day would come when I would get to draw the Wind Scar!"
Coming of Age Ceremonies (成人式/seijin shiki) have been celebrated in Japan since around 714 CE when a young prince would change his hairstyle and don new robes to show his adulthood. Since becoming a national holiday in Japan in 1948 the official "age" that one "came of age" was said to be 20, however due to the declining birthrates and lack of attendance at the local ceremonies the age was lowered to 18.
"Can't you just pay your taxes by diguising leaves and pebbles as money?" - This is a common trick performed by tanuki historically who are said to use their magic to temporarily turn leaves into money so they can buy things only for the money to turn back into leaves when their magic wears off and they have already run away. Isao Takahata's 1994 film Pom Poko (平成狸合戦ぽんぽこ) has an example of this.
Yukinyudo (雪人道) is written with the kanji for "snow person path". The snow beasts he creates are 雪獣/sejjuu, literally "snow beasts"
"I was watching this thing called tv in the other world and saw someone known as a "phantom thief" using this!" - Moroha is refering to Kaito Kid (怪盗キッド/Magic Thief Kid) by Gosho Aoyama, who often appears in the pages/and as a guest star in the anime (also by Aoyama) Detective Conan. Kid often makes his escape via hang glider.
Setsuna's long hairstyle when the new moon is out and she loses her demonic powers is known as taregami (垂髪) which translates as “hair hanging down” and was popularized during the Azuchi-Momoyama period (1568-1600, the final phase of the Sengoku era) for “court nobility” (公家).
Episode 35: 決戦の朔（後編）
Kessen no saku (kouhen) (Battle on the New Moon, Part 2)
Zero offers up Towa's sadness to Nanahoshi and Moroha flies her hang glider past the closed eye that watches over the Tanuki fortress, deciding that her first order of business is getting her bow and arrows back. No longer bound by the Dream Butterfly, Rin's curse continues to spread, and she is awake and able to talk to Sesshomaru and Jaken. Feeling that her life is drawing to a close, she begs Sesshomaru to bring their daughters so she can see them. Meanwhile, Yukinyudo and his minion fan out across the snow covered village to find Setsuna, who sleeps in exhaustion. Nanahoshi begins to torture Towa, using an Eternity Bug to draw out her sadness and inflict pain, while Moroha and Hatchiemon use Hatchie's transformation powers to pose as Shogen Mamaiana and get the guards to attack the true Shogen. The painting of the Full Moon Tanuki reveals itself as Moroha gets her weapons back and meets with Kikunosuke. Takamaru returns with a letter from Miroku explaining how he dealt with Shogen Mamiana's reversal technique, but Moroha is interrupted by the tanuki before she can finish reading it. Moroha escapes and uses Takamaru to lead the Shogen and tanuki forces away with her hang glider while she and Kikunosuke hide and remain in the castle. Kohaku and Hisui read through Setsuna's battle notes as Yukinyudo attacks the inn they're staying in. The traps they've laid send the demon flying as they easily kill his minions, while Towa holds up under torture, refusing to shed tears for Zero and Nanahoshi. Moroha and Kikunosuke inflitrate the underground area of the tower where the Full Moon Tanuki's true form is kept. Instead of sealing him as Kagome did, Moroha purifies the demon, killing it and destroying the tower itself. In the collapse, she and Kikunosuke are rescued by Hatchiemon and Takechiyo. Shogen Mamiana rushes to confront them, and uses his World Reversal technique on any attack Moroha sends his way. With Takechiyo holding Miroku's notes, she is able to reverse his reversal and send the attack back his way, defeating him. The rest of the tanuki are convinced that Shogen Mamiana was corrupt and abandon him. Kikunosuke and Takechiyo are reunited, but Takechiyo refuses to return to the kingdom, leaving his younger brother in charge. Moroha refuses payment Takechiyo offers her, instead giving it to the tanuki to make up for Shogen Mamiana fleecing them all these years. Both Moroha and Takechiyo decide to continue working and living with Jyubei, as the sun rises. Setsuna awakens, her demonic powers returning, and she and the demon slayers begin the long walk home, as they congratulate her on her strategies having worked so well for them while she slept. Finally, Towa continues her best to resist Nanahoshi's torture, but as her own powers return, tears run down her cheeks.
Episode Staff:
Director: Takashi Mamezuka (豆塚隆)
Animation Director: Miyu Takaku (髙久美弥), Taiki Eto (江藤大気), Kumiko Shishido (宍戸久美子), Shuji Maruyama (丸山修二), Sakurako Mihashi (三橋桜子), Toshiko Sato (佐藤寿子)
In Japanese folklore the term "bake-danuki" (化け狸) is sometimes used to differential supernatural tanuki from their ordinary animal bretheren.
The story of a conflict between tanuki is drawn from Japanese folklore. The Awa Tanuki Gassen (阿波狸合戦) details a tanuki named Kincho (金長) who was saved from bullying by a dye-maker and thus began to bring him luck. Eventually he sought to rise in the rank among tanuki and went off for training with the intention of returning to continue working alongside the human dye-maker. Kincho sought training under a high-ranking tanuki named Rokuemon (六右衛門) who soon became jealous of his skills.
Outside the tanuki palace we see dozens of tanuki statues that are quintessential to Japan even today. These type of statues are Shigaraki ware, a type of pottery manufactured in Shigaraki, Japan. The common statuary image of tanuki was created by Tetsuzo Fujiwara (藤原銕造) around 1936.
Tanuki (as depicted in the Shigaraki statuary) supposedly have eight defining characteristics:
A big hat in case of bad weather.
Large eyes to help them see any trouble that might come their way.
A sake bottle that represents virtue.
A big tail that provides strength.
A large scrotum that they appear to be sitting on that symbolizes their financial good fortune.
A promisory note held at their side showing that they can be trusted.
A fat belly showing their calmness (rumor is they can drum on their belly as well).
And lastly, a friendly smile on their face.
Because they are said to have eight characteristics the number 8 (八/hachi) is often associated with tanuki. This is where Hachiemon (八衛門) gets his name from.
"If the demon who shows up is taller than six shaku..." - A shaku (尺) is an old unit of measurement. It was said to be derived from the length between the thumb and and the tip of the forefinger. It eventually was standardized as 30.3 centimenters (11.9 inches). Because the measurement is gauged with ones fingers, this is why Kohaku is looking at the snow beasts with his thumb in front of his eye.
Episode 36: 永遠にない場
Eien ni nai ba (A Place (Not) for Towa)
Towa continues to be tortured at the hands of Nanahoshi. He uses his powers to create a stage upon which to dance and draw out Towa's memories of her sadness. From her separation with Setsuna, to being taken to the modern era and meeting Sota, Nanahoshi and Zero attempt to draw out more and more sadness from Towa, even going as far as attempting to re-contextualize the feelings her adopted family have for her. Towa fights back as much as she can, while reliving the years she spent separated from Setsuna and growing up with Sota and Moe. She remembers becoming a big sister to Mei, and being bullied by children who taunted her for always looking for Setsuna. As her sadness builds, she becomes filled with rage at Nanahoshi and Zero for their torture, but as the new moon still shines, she is in her human form and not powerful enough to act against them. Meanwhile, Sesshomaru and Jaken fly to Rin, but overhear the location of Setsuna and the demon slayers who are returning from the north as the sun rises. Sesshomaru changes directions to intercept Setsuna and is separated from Jaken as he does, sending Jaken falling and colliding with Moroha and Takechiyo below. Jaken informs them Towa is in danger, while Sesshomaru is reunited with Kohaku and slays the demons who had planned to ambush Setsuna. He tells his daughter to go to the Tree of Ages and use her Yukari no Tachikiri to sever the red thread that connects Rin to Zero. At that time, while the sun is rising, Towa regains her demonic power and her rage pushes her into a fully demonic form. With the just arrived Riku and Rion looking on, she overpowers Nanahoshi and immediately kills him before moving to strike down Zero as well. Riku leaps in to stop her, knowing that killing Zero will kill Rin as well. Inside the Tree of Ages, Setsuna is able to speak to Rin, who tells her that it is her wish to be able to hold both of her daughters in her arms before she dies. Setsuna prepares to sever the thread keeping Rin bound to Zero, but Rin stops her, saying that it will not make a difference, as Zero's curse will still kill her, and the curse comes from Zero's own feelings of sadness and suffering. Knowing what she must do, Setsuna leaves Rin to rush to Towa's side and attempts to save both her sister and Rin.
Japanese dances traditionally descend from two different sources, both originating in theater. Mai (舞) is characterized by simple movements and slow shuffles. This had its origins in Noh theater. By contrast, odori (踊り) originates in Kabuki theater and is more more flowery and is characterized by leg lifts, spins and turns. Nanahoshi's stiff dancing is likely the former.
Episode 37: 是露の想い
Zero no omoi (Zero's Wish)
Towa in her rage attempts to lash out at kill Zero but is stopped by Riku, who knows that if Zero dies, so will Rin. Towa is easily able to push him away. Setsuna rushes to stop Towa, as Rin has given her something to show her sister that will hopefully change things and help Towa forgive Zero. At the same time, Jaken and Moroha travel to the tree of ages with Takechiyo. When they arrive, Jaken struggles again and again to enter the tree, but is blocked each time. Zero continues to attack Towa, until finally Setsuna arrives. The two sisters briefly fight, with Setsuna telling Towa that if she kills Zero, Rin will die as well. When Towa says she no longer cares about that, Setsuna slaps her. Setsuna then takes out the Dream Butterfly that contains her memories from childhood. It is revealed that when she and Towa were separated as children, Setsuna was beside herself with grief. The next day she was found by Jaken, and he learned that Towa had vanished. He went to Rin and promised to find her, but she was already suffering from Zero's curse within the Tree of Ages. The Spirit of the Tree tells Jaken to use the Dream Butterfly on someone close to Rin in order to put her to sleep and protect her the curse spreading further. The only person Jaken knows to use the butterfly on is Setsuna, but when he does, she loses her memories of her sister and the fire. Jaken hides and uses Aun to take Setsuna away to be raised by Shiori in hopes of keeping her safe. With Setsuna's childhood memories restored, she and Towa both break down in tears and embrace one another. Zero curses them, but rather than continue to fight, Towa forgives Zero and says that she, Zero, helped her learn that she was loved by her family in the modern era, as well as by Setsuna, and thanks her. Zero is shocked at this. Sesshomaru arrives at the Tree of Ages and finds Moroha and Jaken. He gives Moroha a black pearl and tells her that Inuyasha and Kagome are within it, before he and Jaken enter the tree. Rin is near death from her curse. Suddenly Setsuna is able to see another red string, leading from Zero to a faint memory of Inuyasha and Sesshomaru's Father, the Great Dog Demon. As she cuts it, Zero recalls that she had always blamed herself for letting the Great Dog Demon die, as the Shikon Jewel predicted he would pass away, but she did not believe the prophecy and did not act to stop it, and so she always blamed herself for him dying, as she secretly loved him. As she cries tears for the first time in years, she releases Rin from her curse, sparing her life. With that, she calls out to Riku, who rushes in and stabs Zero, fatally wounding her. She was ready to die, and tells the Half-Demon Princesses, that the reason Kirinmaru hates half-demons is that one killed Rion. One night in battle, Kirinmaru killed a human who was sent after him by a Feudal Lord. After killing the human, his half-demon disciple, a man named Sakasa, grabbed Rion, as she was on the battlefield with Kirinmaru and Zero. Kirinmaru quickly decapitated Sakasa, but he had enough strength to command his body to stab Rion to death, causing Kirinmaru to hate all half-demons. After telling this story, Zero dies and her body vanishes. Sesshomaru holds Rin as she wakes up in his arms, with Jaken crying beside them. Moroha sits at the Bone Eater's Well studying the Black Pearl that Sesshomaru had given her. Takechiyo asks why she's waiting to use it, and she admits she never thought she really had parents, but is excited to see what happens when they meet. Suddenly Kirinmaru arrives in pursuit of Akuru and his pinwheel. Kirinmaru sensed the death of his sister, Zero, and takes the Black Pearl. He commands Moroha to get the pinwheel from Akuru for him, or else he will destroy the Black Pearl and kill Inuyasha and Kagome.
Black pearl - it is easy to become confused about the origins of the black pearl and conflate it with the rainbow pearls. The black pearl was crafted by Hosenki (and later another was made by his son) as a gateway to the grave of the Great Dog Demon. The rainbow pearls were created when Zero's tear touched the Shikon Jewel as she made a wish. Though conceptually similar their origins are quite different.
The Great Dog Demon addresses Zero as "Zero-dono" while she addresses him as "Taisho-sama". Both "sama" and "dono" are polite titles, however "sama" is the highest honorific one can use in Japanese. "Dono" (殿) would be a polite way of addressing someone that is slightly less than your own level of esteem. Both titles would typically be translated as "lord" or "lady", but the difference in politeness is difficult to succinctly translate into English.
Sakasa, the half-demon that killed Rion, write his name 逆叉. These kanji mean "wicked" or "opposite" and "fork in the road". Perhaps more elegantly one could say "a dark path".
"I'll wait for you in Nirvana." - Nirvana (涅槃/nehan) is not a physical place, rather it is a state of enlightenment. Once a Buddhist reaches this state they will no longer be reincarnated, which is the ultimate goal of Buddhism (because living is suffering). Nirvana is a state that living beings reach while still living, however once that individual dies they parinirvana occurs, a point in which no reincarnation will take place.
No episode will air the following week as that will fall on New Year's Day.
Episode 38: 東雲の麒麟丸
Shinonome no Kirinmaru (Kirinmaru of the Dawn)
After the death of Zero, Riku stands mourning her loss while Setsuna asks Towa if she would like to see their mother, and the sisters rush off before Towa realizes that she is leaving behind Riku, and feels that it may be the last time she sees him. Outside the Tree of Ages, Moroha and Kirinmaru prepare to face off, with Moroha using her rouge to transform into Beniyasha and prepare to attack. Kirinmaru explains to her who Akuru is and why he wants her, the offspring of the Great Dog Demon to find Akuru for him. Within the tree, Rin recovers but Sesshomaru can sense the battle between Moroha and Kirinmaru outside. He tells Rin and Jaken to stay within the tree while he goes outside to investigate, also mentioning to Rin that Setsuna and Towa are likely to arrive soon. Meanwhile, Rion gathers Zero's staff and tells Riku she needs him to help put an end to Kirinmaru, or else the entire world will end if he uses the Windmill of Time to move to the future. Riku agrees to help her, even knowing that if Kirinmaru dies, so will he. But he admits that he wants to keep Towa safe, as he has fallen in love with her, and she has given him life experiences he never would have known otherwise. Outside the Tree of Ages, Setsuna and Towa arrive and help Moroha while Sesshomaru steps in to battle Kirinmaru instead. Sesshomaru manages to get back the Black Pearl and tosses it to Moroha while Kirinmaru curses him. Setsuna, Moroha and Towa all attack Kirinmaru while he's busy fighting Sesshomaru, which only enrages him more. He uses the same attack he used against Inu no Taisho in the past against the girls, but Sesshomaru moves in the way, blocking it without even using his sword, but at great cost. The Black Pearl activates, drawing Moroha, Setsuna and Towa within it, while Rin and Jaken emerge from the Tree and watch Sesshomaru fall to the ground below, exhausted from the battle. Kirinmaru admits that even if he survived the attack, it will destroy his haku ultimately and leaves. Takechiyo grabs the Black Pearl and runs off with it to keep it safe, while within the pearl, Moroha and her cousins come across a figure in the haze, who turns out to be Kagome. Kagome quickly inspects Moroha, and realizes it really is her daughter, apologizing for leaving her alone for so long. The two cling to one another lovingly, as Inuyasha approaches.
Ryo Owatari and Tomiko Van of Do As Infinity released promotional messages about the upcoming "Inuyasha BESTALBUM Theme Song Collection" (犬夜叉 BEST ALBUM 主題歌集) that will collect the numerous pieces of opening and ending music for Inuyasha and Inuyasha: The Final Act.
Kirinmaru states that Akuru is from the "age of the gods" (神の昔/kami no mukashi). Typically called "Kamiyo" or "Jindai" (神代) the age of the gods is the period prior to the first emperor, Emperor Jimmu. Emperor Jimmu and his successors begin the "human age" (人代/hitoyo). Jimmu is typically said to have lived around 660 BCE.
Otoshidama - The girls say they have to survive so they can get "otoshidama" together. Otoshidama (お年玉) is a New Year's gift of money given to children by relatives. This episode aired the week after the New Year holiday, so the comment was timely when the episode originally aired.
"After getting hit with my demon fireball, Sesshomaru will start to lose his haku." Haku (魄) is "yin energy". Its counterpart is Kon (魂) or "yang energy". Both of these could also simply be called "spirit".
Moroha addresses Kagome and Inuyasha as "ofukuro" (おふくろ) and "oyaji" (親父). These are colloquial, slightly coarse ways of saying "mother" and "father".
Episode 39: 親子の再開
Oyako no saikai (Moroha and Family, Together Again)
Inuyasha and Moroha meet for the first time, as Kagome greets Setsuna and Towa. The father and daughter have difficulty greeting one another until Towa and Kagome push them together, and when they embrace, their emotions overwhelm them as Moroha cries in her father's hug. After a few moments, Inuyasha points out that Setsuna and Towa smell like Sesshomaru, and Moroha introduces the girls to their aunt and uncle. Everyone catches up, as Inuyasha curses Sesshomaru for trapping he and Kagome at their father's gravesite for the past fourteen years. Kagome tries to calm him, saying she's sure Sesshomaru had his reasons. Kagome and Inuyasha learn about Towa and Setsuna's past while Moroha falls asleep in Inuyasha's lap. Kagome is happily shocked when Towa pulls out her smartphone and shows her photos of Sota, Moe, Mei, Kagome's mother, Grandpa and even Buyo. Kagome is overwhelmed to find everyone is doing so well, and that her little brother has grown up to have a family of his own. Setsuna asks Kagome and Inuyasha how they recognized Moroha as soon as they saw her. Meanwhile, Jaken and Rin tend to the injured Sesshomaru. Jaken realizes that they will need Towa's Kyukokon to undo the harm that Kirinmaru inflected to Sesshomaru's haku. Near death, Sesshomaru whispers to Rin that their daughters are within the Black Pearl. Jaken uses the power of his Staff of Two-Heads to begin to search for the Black Pearl, which is in Takechiyo's possession. Elsewhere, young foxes attend a school taught by an elderly fox demon, who is none other than Shippo. After all these years, he has become a teacher for foxes studying for their kitsune exams. As he lets his students go for the day, he is approached by a beautiful younger fox girl named Kyuubi who thanks him for his hard work. Shippo transforms into a younger, taller, handsomer version of himself and greets her, telling her how beautiful she is. She teases him and tells her she can see through his illusions, and with that, the two turn back to their normal, smaller forms, with Shippo having not aged at all. He laments that the only way he can get students is if he disguises himself as wiser and older. Kyuubi thanks him for filling in for her husband for all this time, and mentions that Inuyasha and Kagome, who he has been searching for have not been found, but news that their daughter Moroha has become a bounty hunter has reached the foxes. With that, Shippo uses his fox magic to go in search of her, riding his top to the Bone Eater's Well. At the well, Takechiyo bumps into Kirinmaru, who wants the Black Pearl for himself. Rin and Jaken track the pearl to him and Rin prepares to face off against Kirinmaru herself to keep Sesshomaru and her daughter's safe. Just as Kirinmaru draws his sword, preparing to begin his attack, Sesshomaru, still gravely injured walks forward to protect Rin and Jaken. He asks why Kirinmaru wants to travel to the future, and Kirinmaru reveals that he wants to travel to the Reiwa Era to stop the Grim Comet, and prove he is the most powerful demon in history. Suddenly, Shippo arrives, and Takechiyo leaps on him, bidding him to teleport away again, which Shippo does, taking the Black Pearl with them. At Inu no Taisho's Grave, Inuyasha and Kagome take the girls to the Lake of Two-Heads, where they reveal that this is how they knew who Moroha was. The lake is linked to Jaken's staff and allows them to have glimpses of the other world every so often, and so they were able to see Moroha grow up somewhat. After learning that Setsuna was killed by Kirinmaru, and revived by Towa using Tenseiga, Inuyasha has an idea to use Tenseiga to pass back through Gozu and Mezu's door into the world of the living. He calls on Towa to call forth the Tenseiga.
Haku (魄) is "yin energy". Its counterpart is Kon (魂) or "yang energy". Both of these could also simply be called "spirit". More specifically in the context of this episode haku is said to be the energy that animates the body. You can read more about this in our cultural notes.
Staff of Two Heads - Jaken's staff was originally used to locate the Black Pearl, a story element that becomes important once again. In mythology a staff topped with a human head (and occasionally two heads) is associated with Enmaten, the most important of the ten kings of hell. The staff is often called the "dandato" in the context of Enmaten stories. You can read more about the staff including a historical representation of it that is held in Kamakura Museum of National Treasure in our cultural notes.
Kagome and Towa have a conversation about telephone technology in this episode. Kagome calls it a "mobile phone" (携帯電話/keitai denwa) and Towa remarks that nowadays they are called "smartphones" (スマホ/sumaho). Kagome goes on to explain her phone was a "flip phone" (パカパカ/pakapaka).
Shippo makes his return and he is speaking with Kyuubi (九尾) which means "nine-tales". A nine-tailed fox is meant to be the most powerful of the magical foxes.
Gozu and Mezu originally appeared in episode 145. The pair are the guardians of the underworld and originated in Chinese mythology. Their names mean "Ox-Head" (牛頭/Gozu) and "Horse-Face" (馬頭/Mezu) and are traditionally depicted with animal heads. They are said to be the first entities one meets during their journey to the afterlife.
When Kirinmaru speaks of the Grim Comet eventually crashing into the earth in the Reiwa Era it shows a picture of the comet looming over Tokyo and crashing into skyscrapers. The double-spired skyscraper on the left of the screen is the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building built by famed architect Kenzo Tange.
In the next episode preview Kagome asks about "slouch socks". This is a reference to the "loose socks" (ルーズソックス) fashion that was popular in 1997 when the Inuyasha manga began. Kagome was shown to always wear her socks this way and the fashion is often considered emblematic of the late 1990s. You can read more about this trend on Wikipedia.
Episode 40: 三姫の脱出
Sanhime dasshutsu (The Three Princesses Escape)
Sesshomaru attempts to face down Kirinmaru, even as he is quickly losing all his haku and approaching death. He reaches for Bakusaiga. Within The Great Dog Demon's Grave inside the Black Pearl, Inuyasha and the rest look on through the Lake of Two Heads. Inuyasha prompts everyone to hurry, and they travel to his father's stomach, where Tessaiga was originally located. He prompts Towa to call out to Tenseiga, using Tessaiga to help summon it, since they were originally one blade. Once they have Tenseiga, they can use it to open the portal to Gozu and Mezu and escape back into the world of the living. Towa focuses her power and calls to Tenseiga, and instead of drawing Bakusaiga, Sesshomaru draws it, throwing it into the air. Lightning strikes the blade, sending Kirinmaru flying, as the sword vanishes and reappears on the altar within the Great Dog Demon's grave. Rin and Jaken use this chance to take Sesshomaru within the Tree of Ages, in an attempt for him to regain some strength. Meanwhile, Shippo lands in the Demon Slayer's Village and runs into Kin'u and Gyokuto. The twins dote on him and ask him to introduce them to cute fox boys, but he hurriedly asks where Sango is. She soon comes running and asks if he's found Inuyasha and Kagome. Takechiyo interrupts to say that they are within the Black Pearl he is carrying. With this information, everyone knows what to do. Sango tells Gyokuto and Kin'u to go get Kohaku and Hisui, while she goes after Miroku, but before that, she says its time to use her new weapon, the Black Hiraikotsu. Shippo and Takechiyo take off again to head to Gozu and Mezu and await Inuyasha and Kagome's return. Within the grave, Towa struggles to free Tenseiga from the altar, but with the help of Setsuna and Moroha, she removes the blade. The group then rushes back to the lake, where, holding the blade aloft, a pathway to Gozu and Mezu's gate appears, and after fourteen years, Inuyasha and Kagome are free to leave. Emerging through Gozu and Mezu's gateway, they are greeted by Shippo and Takechiyo. Takechiyo gives the Black Pearl back, and Inuyasha prepares to destroy it, but Moroha says she'll keep it within her grandmother's rouge, which she thinks would make her grandfather happy. With Sesshomaru near death, everyone asks Shippo to carry them to the Bone Eater's Well. After some protests, Shippo manages the feat and transports everyone using his fox magic. Inuyasha, Kagome and Moroha wait outside as Setsuna and Towa rush within the Tree of Ages. They are finally reunited with Rin, but Jaken encourages them to hurry and use Kyuyokon to absorb Kirinmaru's energy that is destroying Sesshomaru's haku. Towa attempts it, but struggles, as Sesshomaru tells her to stop or she'll die trying. Towa refuses and continues to absorb Kirinmaru's powerful demonic energy, saving Sesshomaru. But as she finishes, she collapses.
The title mentions the "three princesses" (三姫/sanhime). This is also a cultural term in kabuki theater for the three most challenging roles to perform.
Gyokuto and Kin'u making a fuss over Shippo is a call back to how they treated him in the first episode of Yashahime when they were little girls. Shippo still calls them "Kin Gyo" just as he did then as well.
Shippo uses a top (独楽/koma) to travel on. When he throws it he tosses it against a go/shogi board (棋局/kikyoku) to launch it into the air.
Kagome can be seen carrying two bows on her back, one with a white tip and the other with a black tip. What the implication of this is has not yet been revealed.
Episode 41: 阿久留のかざぐるま
Akuru no kazaguruma (Akuru's Pinwheel)
Towa uses the Kyuyonken to absorb Kirinmaru's energy but collapses in the process, entering a catatonic state. But Akuru appears and uses his pinwheel to restore her before vanishing. The Spirit of the Tree of Ages then appears and tells everyone that Akuru has chosen Setsuna and Towa to go forward to the Reiwa Era and destroy the Grim Comet. In the present, Osamu Kirin visits the Higurashi shrine, as Grandpa and Kagome's mother sense that something dangerous seems to be going on, and Mei leaves the shrine to visit some of her school friends, passing Osamu on the way to the park. Back in the feudal era Rin tells her daughters that she wishes she could hug them, but that they are the daughters of Lord Sesshomaru, and have a great responsibility ahead of them. She wishes them goodbye both for herself and Sesshomaru, telling them to go and destroy the comet, before coming back so that she and Sesshomaru can hug them both. Jaken tells them that the location of the Windmill of Time is beside Sesshomaru's Mother's palace, and that he can take them there. Outside the Tree of Ages, Kagome, Inuyasha and Moroha sit and visit at the Bone-Eater's Well. Inuyasha says he can tell that Sesshomaru is alright, as he doesn't smell his blood. Kagome then gives Moroha a new bow that she and Inuyasha made for her, using Inuyasha's hair and items the found at the gravesite of the Great Dog Demon. Just then, Kirinmaru appears, searching for Sesshomaru again to finish him off. Inuyasha instead does battle, with Moroha and Kagome as well. The trio are powerful enough to subdue Kirinmaru and give him much more trouble than he expects. Meanwhile, far away, Rion and Riku are hiking up a cliffside, when Rion suddenly collapses. Kirinmaru senses this and abandons his battle with Inuyasha and the others, vanishing, but not before Towa, Setsuna and Jaken emerge from the Tree of Ages, and Akuru indicates that Moroha should travel with them to the Wheel of Time. In the future, Osamu Kirin protects Mei from demonic crows that seem to be appearing as the Grim Comet nears. Sango arrives at the end of Miroku's training to gather him as they prepare for the fight against Kirinmaru with Kin'u and Gyokuto. Kohaku, Hisui and the other demon slayers visit the castle of Ogigayatsu Hiiragi Danjo and he pleads with them to take up the battle against Kirinmaru and the dangers ahead as well. Kohaku says this is something beyond their expertise, but Princess Aiya laughs this off and says that Setsuna and Hisui can surely handle it. With that, the Lord gives Kohaku the Kikujumonji, which Hisui says is somehow tied to Towa. Kirinmaru uses his own demonic energy to revive Rion, but she and Riku refuse to talk further with him, and continue to march toward their destination.
At the Higurashi Shrine in the modern era is a large rope tied around the tree. This is a 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.
The small fence around the tree is a tamagaki (玉垣) which is used to enclose sacred spaces in Shintoism.
Haku (魄) is "yin energy". Its counterpart is Kon (魂) or "yang energy". Both of these could also simply be called "spirit". More specifically in the context of this episode haku is said to be the energy that animates the body. You can read more about this in our cultural notes.
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.
The three-eyed crow is referred to as Corpse Dancing Crow (屍舞烏/shibugarasku) in Japanese. They are creations of Rumiko Takahashi, however they are likely inspired by the three-legged crow Yatagarasu (八咫烏) from Japanese mythology. Yatagarasu does not have a negative connotation so there are differences in their perception versus the three-eyed Corpse Dancing Crow.
Episode 42: 崩壊する時の風車
Houkaisuru toki no fusha (The Collapse of the Windmill of Time)
As the daughters of Sesshomaru and Inuyasha arrive at the palace of Sesshomaru's mother with Jaken and Takechiyo, they are introduced to their grandmother. She sees that Akuru is with them and has chosen them as being worth of traversing time using the Windmill of Time. However, she tells them that many have tried before them to travel through time and been chosen as unworthy, with their wrath and regrets being left to fester in the Underworld, merging together to form a demonic entity named Meidomaru, who keeps the Windmill of Time from turning. If they want to use the windmill, they must first defeat him. After reviving Rion's failing body, Kirinmaru tells her that he wants her to travel into the future with him. He reveals his plan to save the humans from the Grim Comet. When questioned as to how he knows the Grim Comet will kill all the humans in the future, he reveals all about his severed arm absorbing the demonic energy of the Bone Eater's Well and becoming its own being, Osamu Kirin, who can communicate with him across time. Kirinmaru tells Rion he wants her to travel to the future with him in an attempt to save humankind. As she ponders this, he admits that he has been planning to get a new, stronger body for her, the body of Towa. He reveals that he cursed the Zanseiken in case anyone ever stole it. Every time it is used to absorb demonic energy, it drains the Kon of its user, eventually leaving them in a living comatose state, which he could then use to put Rion's soul into, returning her to life. Setsuna, Moroha and Towa battle against Meidomaru, as Rion and Riku fight against Kirinmaru. Meidomaru's wild attacks catch the princesses off guard, but Setsuna plans on severing his red thread with her Tachikiri. She gets her opening when Moroha uses the bow Kagome gave her to fire a powerful sacred arrow at Meidomaru, making him explode into a tangle of red strings. Meidomaru immediately reforms. In their battle with Kirinmaru, Rion manages to score a hit that may kill her father, but before she can bring herself to strike, he yanks her hand and makes her stab Riku, leaving him severely wounded. He then puts the stunned Rion to sleep and takes her to the Windmill of Time. Moroha is unfortunately out of arrows, leaving Towa to use the Kyuyokon to absorb his demonic energy. Sesshomaru's Mother sees this and notes that her sword is the blade belonging to Amatsumikaboshi. With Meidomaru stunned by Towa's attack, Setsuna is able to use Yukari no Tachikiri to sever all the threads that time Meidomaru to the Windmill of Time. Meidomaru vanishes, finally at peace. Sesshomaru's Mother warns her granddaughter that she can tell the Zanseiken has been cursed, and using it will eventually drain her Kon and allow its original owner to possess her body. The girls are shocked that Rion could do this, but Towa admits she doesn't think Rion herself is behind the attempt. She swears to continue to try to master the Zanseiken. With that, Akuru appears and hands his pinwheel to Towa. Upon blowing it, the Windmill of Time begins to turn and a portal to the future is opened. Takechiyo and Jaken escourt them to the portal, but as they follow Akuru through, Kirinmaru blows past Jaken and Takechiyo, taking Rion with him to follow behind into the future. Sesshomaru's Mother says that the Degenerate Age has begun as endless demons spill forth from the portal.
Meidomaru's name is written 冥道丸. The "maru" is a common suffix (丸), however "meido" (冥道) is written with the kanji for "dark path".
"If she continues to use the Zanseiken her kon will be whittled away and her body will become an empty husk." - Kon (魂) is "yang energy". It is the counterpart to Haku (魄) which is "yin energy". Both of these could also simply be called "spirit". You can read more about this in our cultural notes.
Azusa no Yumihari, Zero's spider web attack now used by Rion 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.
When Towa is trying to suck away Meidomaru's demonic energy she shouts, "Kyuyokon!". Kyuyokon (吸妖魂) is written with the kanji for "suck", "calamity" and "soul". A "soul sucking" root.
"Just as I thought! It's Amatsumikaboshi's sword!" - Amatsumikaboshi (天津甕星) was a rebellious Shinto god/kami that refused to bend to the will of the other Shinto gods/kami.
Yukari no Tachikiri (所縁の断切きり) - The name roughly translates to "connection cutter".
Episode 43: 暗転の舞台
Anten no suteeji (The Blackout)
Kirinmaru attempts to pass through the portal at the Windmill of Time but meets the endless demons spilling forth, beginning the Degenerate Age in the Feudal Era. He kills them in an attempt to pass but is held back. In modern times, Osamu Kirin is in the sewers of Tokyo, hunting frog demons at night to keep the city safe as the Grim Comet approaches. Towa, Setsuna and Moroha arrive in the Reiwa Era and are met by Mei, who had stopped by the Higurashi Shrine to pray for their return on her way to school. She is overjoyed to see them, and Mrs. Higurashi and Grandpa come out to meet them as well. The girls are shocked to find no sign of the Grim Comet overhead, and when questioned the Higurashi Family seem to know nothing about it, saying that had not heard or seen anything about a comet on the news. Mei tells the girls that Moe is having a concert that night that they have to come to, but they ask about Osamu Kirin instead, and Mrs. Higurashi admits he has been coming by the shrine lately as well. After a quick change of clothes, the girls head to St. Gabriel's Academy to find Osamu Kirin and question him. After arriving at school and finding Osamu, the girls prepare for a fight but are shocked to find that he wants to help them. He admits that while he is the right arm of Kirinmaru, he loves humans and the society they have built for themselves and has dedicated himself to protecting them. He is ashamed that it is his very presence that has pulled the Grim Comet toward Earth once more, as the group are set upon by crow demons and work together to slay them. Osamu mentions that since none of the girls can fly, they won't be able to reach the Grim Comet yet, but that he senses the presence of many demons in the area, and that with a big concert being held, he worries about people being attacked that night. Handing the girls his iPad, they are able to see that Moe is a special guest accompanist at the concert by 6xs as well, and so decide to protect the concert hall. The girls go to the arena and find numerous Spider Head demons there. After slaying a few, they are interrupted by Mei, who takes them inside to see Moe and meet Julian and the other members of the band, 6xs. Back in the Feudal Era, Kirinmaru is still trying to push through the gate, but the injured Riku appears and uses Rion's staff to create webs that pull her out of Kirinmaru's grasp, vanishing with her. The enraged Kirinmaru begins to call out through time to Osamu Kirin, demanding that he lead him to the Reiwa Era. During the concert that night, while Moe is performing, Julian is supposed to slay a fake demon since their tour is entitled "Monster". Instead, the actual leader of the Spider Heads emerges and the girls jump on stage to save the day. After killing it they rush outside to continue to watch over the crowds as they leave. Finally, the group move toward Tokyo Tower and face down the Grim Comet, knowing that demons will continue to be summoned unless it is destroyed.
"Momotaro, Momotaro, those millet dumplings in your hip pouch, please could you share them with me?" - In the legend of Momotaro the Peach Boy (桃太郎) the titular hero uses his millet dumplings (黍団子/kibidango) to gain the allegiance of his animal companions, the dog, pheasant and monkey. The 1886 illustration shows Momotaro giving his dumplings to his animal friends. This reference is why Osamu Kirin says "I don't have any millet dumplings or skilled retainers" later in the episode.
The frog demons that appear in the Reiwa era are based on the design of Tsukumo no Gama.
The manhole cover has the kanji for "rain" (雨/ame) on it indicating it is for carrying rainwater away rather than sewage.
The band having the concert is called 6xs. This is obviously meant to be the SixTONES, the singers of the opening theme. Julian, who has been mentioned before by Towa in Yashahimeepisode 6 is played by Kyomoto Taiga, a member of SixTONES. A few months later he was interviewed in Shonen Sunday alongside MAOchapter 134.
At the Higurashi Shrine in the modern era is a large rope tied around the tree. This is a 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.
The small fence around the tree is a tamagaki (玉垣) which is used to enclose sacred spaces in Shintoism.
"Have you recovered from your rheumatism and neuralgia?" - These are the same illnesses that were often cited as Kagome's reason for not being able to go to school. Rheumatism is simply inflamed joints. Neuralgia is nerve pain.
Man Proposes, God Disposes - this is written on one of the tests that Mr. Kirin is grading at school being that he works at a Catholic school. The phrase "Man proposes, but God disposes" is a translation of the Latin phrase "Homo proponit, sed Deus disponit" from Book I, chapter 19, of The Imitation of Christ, a 15th-century book by the German cleric Thomas à Kempis. A few modernized and paraphrased Bible translations use it as a translation of Proverbs 19:21, but the original of that verse is longer and more elaborate.
The phrase was also put on a Dutch commemorative medal celebrating the Elizabethan England Protestant victory in 1588 over the Catholic Spanish Armada.
A similar phrase appears in the concluding lines of Lucian's "Symposium" (circa 150 AD), quoting from the concluding lines of Euripides's Alcestis, Andromache, Helen, and Bacchae (5th century BC): "πολλὰ δ᾽ ἀέλπτως κραίνουσι θεοί" (loosely translated, "the gods bring many matters to surprising ends").
The crows that appear are the Shikon Jewel evolved depictions of the Corpse Dancing Crow.
The concert for 6xs and Moe Higurashi takes place at Yokohama Arena. The animators did a faithful job of capturing the likeness of the venue. The arena was modeled on Madison Square Garden in New York City and opened April 1, 1989.
"It looks like I've finally come across my skilled retainers!" - Again, this is a reference to Mr. Kirin's passage about Momotaro mentioned above.
The soldier-like demons are said to be Spider Heads.
The signs on the concert memorabilia say "こっち見て" (Look this way) and "ジュリアンくん" (Julian-kun).
Some of Moe Higurashi's behaviors (and appearance) are based on Tamako from Rumiko Takahashi's previous series Kyokai no RINNE. Not only because her eyes seem to remain nearly closed all the time, but her frequent utterance of "Ara!" (Oh!) is a common trait of Tamako.
The inflatable oni that Julian is supposed to fight is much more in line with the classical appearance of what oni are meant to look like with their club and tiger-striped pelts. Of course the hulking oni cannot be mentioned without some mention of Lum's father from Urusei Yatsura.
At the end the girls prepare to face off against the Grim Comet from atop Tokyo Tower (東京タワー). The tower was built as a radio tower in 1958 and is the second tallest structure in Japan after the Tokyo Skytree building.
Episode 44: 妖霊星が墜ちる時
Yoreisei ga ochiru toki (When the Grim Comet Falls)
Setsuna, Towa and Moroha all stand atop Tokyo Tower with Osamu Kirin as they vow to destroy the Grim Comet. Kirin delves into the comet, telling the girls to remain on the outside and face the demons as the pour out. Moroha leaps onto the back of a serpent-like creature and begins to draw the other demons in close to her. Osamu Kirin sense something within the core of the Grim Comet and realizes what really is in the heart of the celestial body. Meanwhile in the past, Kirinmaru tries to breach the Gates of Time that will allow him to pass into the present era. Kaede fends off the demons that are now attacking her village. Inuyasha, Kagome and Shippo soon arrive to lend their aid. In a nearby town Kohaku, Hisui, Nanasuke and Rokuta work alongside Miroku and Sango to battle against the packs of demons that have begun to run wild, even Kin'u and Gyokuto join in to help. With Hisui using the Hiraikotsu Sango has forged a new weapon, the Black Hiraikotsu from the materials Gyokuto gathered and infused with the Buddhist faith of Kin'u. Inside the Tree of Ages Rin tends to an ailing Sesshomaru as she wishes for her daughters safety. Towa and Riku travel deep into Mount Musubi in order to look for a power that can seal Kirinmaru- the kyuyokon. Suddenly Riku presents Towa with the apple seed he has been carrying from the gift Towa gave him. In the present day the girls fire their attacks at the Grim Comet to strip away its outer shell but they are not able to deal it any permanent damage. Despite the risk to her own life, Towa decides to use the Zanseiken/Kyuyokon to absorb the demonic energy that pours from the comet before it can replenish itself. Successfully controlling the massive amount of absorbed power she has harnessed Towa unleases the Shooting Star Azure Dragon Wave. The attack weakens Towa severely but Osamu Kirin is touched by his student's willingess to sacrifice everything to save the world. With his amazing power Osamu Kirin manages to push back against the Grim Comet sending it back into space. He settles in on Tokyo Tower to check on the girls and advises Towa not to use the Zanseiken again at the risk of her own life. Towa mutters that she had promised Rion she would use the blade to kill Kirinmaru and when Osamu Kirin asks how Rion is he is shocked to hear that she had died long ago. In the past Rion is able to produce an apple that contains all of the powers of the kyuyokon after tapping into Mount Musubi while in the present era Kirin asks if he can use the Zanseiken to try to save Rion. He claims that he will ride the Grim Comet back to the feudal era and use that in conjunction with the Zanseiken to defeat Kirinmaru himself. As a crack in time opens Osamu Kirin attaches a red thread to the Grim Comet and yanks it back into the past where he says he will not only kill Kirinmaru but all demons. Back in the past Kirinmaru angrily punches Osamu Kirin for not following his orders but the professor shows him pictures of the Reiwa era that he brought back for Rion. In the present the girls return to the Tree of Ages only to find they cannot travel back in time.
Because of Lunar New Year celebrations, no episode aired the previous week.
Because Osamu Kirin is an English teacher he mixes in some English with his Japanese. In the beginning he says "time has come" in English. He later says "Excellent!", "Amazing Power!" and "Goodbye!" in English as well.
The paper talismen used by Miroku and Kin'u are called "ofuda" (お札), which are generally Buddhist or Shinto in origin. Ofuda were introduced to Japan via onmyodo before eventually becoming appropriated by both Buddhism and Shintoism.
Sango's new weapon is the Black Hiraikotsu (漆黒の飛来骨/Shikoku no Hiraikotsu). Shikoku (漆黒) literally means "jet black". Hiraikotsu (飛来骨) is "flying bone".
Towa also gains a powerful new attack, the Shooting Star Azure Dragon Wave (流星の蒼竜破/Ryusei no Soryuha).
"This is the sword of Amatsumikaboshi." - Amatsumikaboshi (天津甕星) was a rebellious Shinto god/kami that refused to bend to the will of the other Shinto gods/kami.
"I suppose you could say this is the millet dumpling which will save the world." - This is another reference to the legend of Momotaro that Osamu Kirin made in the previous episode.
The scenes that Osamu Kirin brings back to shown Rion are the Statue of Liberty in New York City, Tokyo Tower in Tokyo, Big Ben in London, the Oriental Pearl Tower in in Shanghai and the man-made Palm Jumeirah in Dubai.
Episode 45: 希林理の妖征伐
Kirin Osamu no ayakashi seibatsu (Osamu Kirin's Apparition Conquest)
Setsuna, Towa and Moroha are trapped in the present with no way of returning to the Feudal Era. Happy to see them, Mrs. Higurashi takes them inside her house where they meet with Grandpa Higurashi, Moe, Mei, and Sota and discuss what has happened. Sota mentions that there was a time when Kagome could not return to the Feudal Era as well, and it took her three years before she was finally able to go back. They are encouraged to get some sleep and try again the next day. In the Feudal Era, Osamu Kirin finds Rion about to use her Apple of Kyuyokon on Kirinmaru, but is stopped by Osamu. He tells her how much he has missed her, and reveals his identity as Kirinmaru's right arm. As they embrace, she remembers the happy times she had with her father when she was young, as Osamu seems to share the thoughts and feelings of Kirinmaru before he became embittered after Rion's death. Osamu convinces her to use the Apple of Kyuyokon on the Grim Comet instead of Kirinmaru, and she agrees, knowing that if she uses it on the Grim Comet they can destroy all the demons in the world and save the human race. As they go outside, Riku tries to stop them but fails and is forced to teleport away. In the present, Moroha, Setsuna and Towa pray to the Tree of Ages, and a portal is finally opened by Akuru who gives his life to allow them this chance to travel back to the past. After an emotional goodbye, in which Sota tells Towa that he will always think of her as his daughter, the trio go through the portal. In the past, the power of the Apple of Kyuyokon has awakened the Grim Butterfly from within the Grim Comet. Both Rion and Osamu Kirin merge with the Grim Butterfly in order to live forever and protect the world from demons. The butterfly easily starts to destroy and absorb weak demons all over the area. Inuyasha, Kagome and Shippo arrive to meet the returning Moroha, Towa and Setsuna and tell them what has happened. Riku arrives and lets them know that Rion has merged with the Grim Butterfly. Additionally, Kohaku hands over the true Kikujumonji. Kirinmaru wakes up and realizes that he was betrayed by Osamu Kirin and Rion and attacks the Grim Butterfly to reach them. As he confronts Osamu Kirin, he is told that he must kill Sesshomaru to honor his daughter's wishes. On the ground, Sesshomaru finally awakens and emerges onto the battlefield with Rin, where he is immediately confronted by Kirinmaru. In a mirror of Kirinmaru's battle with Sesshomaru's father. Kirinmaru and Sesshomaru prepare to face off, and Sesshomaru tells Rin to stand by and witness the battle.
At the Higurashi Shrine in the modern era is a large rope tied around the tree. This is a 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.
The small fence around the tree is a tamagaki (玉垣) which is used to enclose sacred spaces in Shintoism.
The brand of TV in the Higurashi home is "Shorp", an obvious reference to "Sharp" (シャープ株式会社/Shaapu kabushiki gaisha).
The multi-armed demon that attacks Riku and Rion as they land on Kirinmaru's ship seems to be based on a German demon called a "buer".
Kyuyokon (吸妖魂) is written with the kanji for "suck", "calamity" and "soul". A "soul sucking" root.
The Grim Butterfly (妖霊蝶/yoreicho), is written with the kanji for "bewitching spirit butterfly". It debuts in this episode.
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.
In this episode Kohaku gives the true Kikujumonji sword (rather than the replica that Towa has carried with her) to Towa as a gift from Ogigayatsu Hiiragi Danjo. This is the sword Riku had attempted to steal when Towa met him in episode 7.
Episode 46: 絶望の妖霊蝶
Zetsubo no yoreicho (The Grim Butterfly of Despair)
Within the Grim Butterfly Rion and Osamu begin to travel across the land, instantly killing any minor demons they come across. Inuyasha and Kagome follow along on Shippo, while Moroha, Setsuna, Towa and Riku fly alongside on Takechiyo. They realize that the butterfly is headed toward Mamaiana Island and will wipe out the Tanuki Tribe, including Hatchiemon and Kikunosuke. Inuyasha wants to unleash an Adamant Barrage attack but Riku pleads with him not to, as Rion is inside the Butterfly and he wants to save her. Moroha agrees with this as well, pleading with her father not to. Instead they approach the Grim Butterfly and Riku calls out, asking Rion to allow them to enter. She opens a portal and the Riku and the Half Demon Princesses go inside the Grim Butterfly to find their friend and attempt to save her. Meanwhile Inuyasha and Kagome realize that they will need Buddhist spiritual power to go with Kagome's spirtiual abilities if they want to help fight the Grim Butterfly. Takechiyo rushes back to the Demon Slayer's Village to find Miroku as they prepare to enact their plan. Within the Grim Butterfly, the group meet with Osamu Kirin, who is unhappy to see them. Osamu produces the Zanseiken and tells the group he will not allow them to see Rion, and that her will is to bring about an age of peace by eliminating all demons, and that if anyone could understand the desire for peace he thought it would be Towa. The group splits up with Riku and Towa keeping Osamu busy while Moroha and Setsuna rush to find Rion. As they begin to fight, Riku realizes something about Rion and her lack of hatred for half-demon's even though she was killed by one, as he is about to speak, Rion stops him by sending webs out to snatch him away, leaving Towa to fight Osamu Kirin alone. The two begin their fight. Finally locating Rion herself, Moroha and Setsuna are attacked by numerous deadly strings. Setsuna realizes that she has to use her Kikujumonji to sever the threads in a specific order. With each thread she and Moroha cut, they can hear Rion's voice lamenting her father's behavior throughout her life. Outside, everyone has gathered to begin their plan. Miroku and Sango's reunion with Inuyasha and Kagome is short lived as the Demon Slayers along with Gyokuto and Kin'u unite to drive the Grim Butterfly into a barrier erected by Miroku and Kagome while Shippo and Inuyasha act as bait. The group manages to capture the Grim Butterfly and subdue its deadly rampage, all the while, Kirinmaru and Sesshomaru face off against one another. Kirinmaru wants Sesshomaru dead so that he can be the most powerful of all demons, but in their battle, he spies Rin and Jaken, and attempts to attack them to make Sesshomaru move to protect them, a similar tactic that cost Kirinmaru his arm when he dueled with Sesshomaru's Father centuries ago. Sesshomaru easily sees through this and protects Rin and Jaken. Within the Grim Butterfly Osamu and Towa continue to battle and Osamu uses the power of the Zanseiken to absorb Towa's demonic power, leaving her as a normal human. He erects towering shelves of books, proclaiming that as a part of Kirinmaru he was able to see the world, and fell in love with culture and history of mankind, but when he arrived in the Reiwa Era he saw that humans had erased demons from history altogether, relegating them to fairy tales and folklore. He says he will correct this by installing Rion as the king of the world and ushering in a true era of peace as he stabs toward Towa.
"Oh no, it's heading to Mamiana Island!" - Mamiana Island is written 狸穴島 or "Tanuki Cave Island".
Sakasa, the half-demon that killed Rion, writes his name 逆叉. These kanji mean "wicked" or "opposite" and "fork in the road". Perhaps more elegantly one could say "a dark path".
Bakusaisoha - Kirinmaru uses this attack against Sesshomaru. Bakusaisoha (爆砕槍破) is a portmanteau of "Bakusaiga" (爆砕牙) and "Kongosoha" (金剛槍破). Together the kanji would mean "blasting spear tear".
"I actually wanted to become a history teacher." - In the Yashahimemanga adaptation by Takashi Shiina the author stated he felt it would be more appropriate for Osamu Kirin to be a Japanese literature teacher instead of an English teacher. Consequently in the manga adaptation he is neither a history teacher nor an English teacher.
"Throughout history, demons have saved humans countless times but there wasn't a single mention of anything involving demons." - There are few myths of the cyclops interacting positively with humans. In the image illustrating Osamu Kirin's story, we see a cyclops kneeling before a human ruler (likely Greek) in a megaron. This is perhaps an example of the unnamed cyclopes who were said to have erected the massive walls at Tiryns, Mycenae and Argos. If so the human they are likely interacting with is Perseus or the king Proetus, both of whom are attributed as having used cyclopes to build walls in Argos.
In the next scene we see a group of knights lead by a woman. This is likely meant to be Joan of Arc. Overhead an angel flies, guiding her into battle. This is the archangel Michael.
The next example is eastern, we see Momotaro alongside the dog, pheasant and monkey who agreed to help him in exchange for his millet dumplings (see episode 43 notes for more on this). The creatures in the background are the oni who live on Onigashima. Momotaro seeks to slay them.
The final image shows Issun-bochi, the One-Inch boy, chasing away oni as he gains the magical wish-granting mallet. The image used to illustrate this is directly taken from this 1725 CE illustration from Otogi-zoshi (御伽草子).
The characters painted on the ground (and what spin in the afterimage of Sango's Black Hiraikotsu) are sanskirt. This is the original written language for the earliest Buddhist documents in India.
Sesshomaru's battle against Kirinmaru has some sequences that were traced from Inuyasha: The Final Actepisode 17. You can see the comparisons here.
"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 22. We explain it a bit more in this video.
"Goodbye, Higurashi-san!" - Osamu Kirin says this in English as is his habit to sometimes use English phrases given his position as an English teacher.
Episode 47: 父と娘と
Chichi to koto (Father and Daughter)
As Osamu Kirin moves in for the kill on Towa, Riku falls from the ceiling and pins her to the ground, reminding Towa that he only kills those he loves, and that he will be the one to kill Towa. Kirin shrugs this off, saying he does not care if that's the case, but the whole thing is a ruse as Riku whispers to Towa, who kicks him off her, launching him at Osamu, but he misses his chance and is wounded once more but Towa is right behind him and strikes down Osamu, killing him. Riku, dying, tells Towa that he loves her, and she cries as his body vanishes, as does Osamu Kirin's. In the main chamber, Setsuna and Moroha face down Rion, and are soon joined by Towa. The trio begin to cut threads, and with each one they can hear the voice of Rion calling out to her father. Outside the Grim Butterfly, Kirinmaru and Sesshomaru face off. Kirinmaru wonders why Sesshomaru would allow Rin to watch, but Sesshomaru easily strikes Kirinmaru over and over. Eventually, Kirinmaru enraged transforms and unleashes his full demonic powers. Sesshomaru smirks and easily blocks his strike, mortally wounding his opponent. As he lays there, a portal opens and his body is taken to the Grim Butterfly to be reunited with Rion. As Rion moves to her father's dying body, the spirit of Osamu Kirin stirs once more and he causes Rion to be taken back to the day of her death at the hands of the half-demon Sakasa. Rion runs in fear, and Towa, Setsuna and Moroha look on. Towa wants to give Rion the strength to save herself and fight back, and so she uses the Zanseiken, which drains her of her Kon. Seeing them, Rion calls out to the Zanseiken and uses it to kill the phantom image of Sakasa. This also destroys the spirit of Osamu Kirin, who is surprised to see Rion protect herself, knowing his desire to save her is no longer necessary. Sesshomaru, Rin and Jaken arrive to find Towa's collapsed body on the ground, completely drained of Kon. Tenseiga cannot be used to save her, since she technically is not dead. Instead, Towa's spirit calls out to Rion, asking her to use her body, as Kirinmaru originally planned. Rion's spirit possesses it and is resurrected. With her new body she walks over to the dying Kirinmaru and tells him goodbye, before asking Setsuna to sever their threads of fate and allow them both to finally pass on. Setsuna grants her request and both Rion and Kirinmaru finally die, allowing Rion to give up Towa's body and save her. With Rion gone, the Grim Butterfly is defeated and the world is spared from the Degenerate Age as outside, everyone looks on, seeing the butterfly begin to weaken and fade. After the battle, families are reunited as Inuyasha, Kagome and Moroha watch Rin finally embrace her daughters with Sesshomaru and Jaken at their side.
The red thread of fate - This is a frequent reference in Japanese literature to symbolize two people who are bound together. Typically it is used to suggest people fated to love one another. In Japanese culture when someone talks about a secret lover/mistress they will often hold up their pinky finger. This is to suggest the invisible thread of fate that links them to their partner.
Aun - The two-headed dragon mount Aun (阿吽) that belongs to Sessshomaru has a unique name that is taken from "Agyo" and "Ungyo" two guardian creatures in Buddhism that are called "nio" (仁王). Iconographically they can be told apart as the open-mouthed creature is making an "a" sound (Agyo) and the closed mouth figure grunts an "un" sound (Ungyo). This is where "aun" comes from which has become known as the word in Buddhism which represents the beginning and end, the alpha and omega. Sometimes you may see this transliterated as "Om".
Sakasa, the half-demon that killed Rion, writes his name 逆叉. These kanji mean "wicked" or "opposite" and "fork in the road". Perhaps more elegantly one could say "a dark path".
Kon (魂) is "yang energy". It is the counterpart to Haku (魄) which is "yin energy". Both of these could also simply be called "spirit". You can read more about this in our cultural notes.
Amatsumikaboshi - the two swords, Zanseiken and Bakuseiken merge to form the sword of Amatsumikaboshi. Amatsumikaboshi (天津甕星) was a rebellious Shinto god/kami that refused to bend to the will of the other Shinto gods/kami.
Next episode preview mentions Iyo province. Iyo province (伊予国) is the ancient name for modern-day Ehime prefecture (愛媛県) in southwestern Japan. During the Sengoku era (when Inuyasha and Yashahime take place). It was unified by the Chosokabe clan (長宗我部氏) until Toyotomi Hideyoshi (豊臣秀吉) invaded the region.
Episode 48: 永遠に続く未来
Towa ni tsutzuku mirai (A Never-Ending Future)
As the worlds of the past and future have both been saved from the Degenerate Age, now is the time to rebuild the damage that has been done. The Spirit of the Tree of Ages congratulates the daughters of Sesshomaru, confiding that she knew they could accomplish this dangerous task. Urasue and the demon slayers work to rebuild damage in her village. On a cliffside overlooking the sea, Towa, Setsuna and Moroha bury the horn of Kirinmaru that gave life to Riku, erecting a small grave for him. In the present, Moe plays her violin outside the Higurashi household and hopes that Setsuna is practicing in the past as well. Sota comments on Mei's drawing of Towa, Setsuna and Moroha, and admits that she has gotten more forthright since Towa left. Mei comments that it is because she wants to be as strong as her sister Towa. In the weeks that follow, Inuyasha and Moroha team up to slay a powerful ice demon named Un'ei. It turns out that as soon as Moroha mentioned she had debts to settle, Kagome insisted that Inuyasha help her slay demons in order to pay it off. The father and daughter make a great team and kill Un-ei, and earn the Sword of Un'ei, a powerful treasure that Jyubei had requested. When Moroha returns it, her debt is finally repaid, and Jyubei offers her a new contract from a mysterious client. Rin meets with Towa and Setsuna and gives them gifts of kimonos that she made from fabric given to her by Sesshomaru. The girls remark about the dangerous things that have happened to them and the fact that they've both died and can no longer be resurrected by Tenseiga should they die again. Rin tells them that they will have to continue to be strong as they are both the daughters of Sesshomaru and will have many enemies simply because of who their father is. On Mamaiana Island, Shippo teaches transformation lessons to the tanuki population, as Miroku and Sango look on, commenting on what a good teacher Shippo has become. Kin'u and Gyokuto appear and begin to torture the poor fox demon as well. That night, Moroha meets Towa and Setsuna on the beach and they discuss their fathers. Towa and Setsuna seem to wish that Sesshomaru was as easy to talk to as Inuyasha, but Moroha puts things in perspective by saying that Sesshomaru only wanted to make sure they were strong enough to endure any bullies that came their way. Moroha worries that she overstepped saying this and may have offended the sisters, but they hug her lovingly and tell her what a good friend she is. Moroha mentions the new job offer she received to hunt demons in western Japan and asks them to come with her. She takes them to Jyubei's hut where they meet the client and are shocked at who the masked man appears to be. Leaving Towa alone with him, she instantly confronts the man who reveals he is Riku, returned to life by the Haku and Kon of the deceased Kirinmaru and Rion. The next day the girls say their goodbyes before setting off on their travels. Setsuna spars with Hisui and brings up Princess Aiya. Hisui is almost able to confess his feelings for Setsuna before she leaves, just as Kohaku arrives. Kohaku tells Hisui he'll have to be even stronger if he wants to keep up with the daughter of Sesshomaru, which Hisui agrees with. Moroha says goodbye to Inuyasha and Kagome and asks for a hug before she sets off, and as Setsuna and Towa fly away on Kirara they see Rin, Jaken and Sesshomaru watching them from the ground below. Jaken remarks at how happy Sesshomaru seems to be and gets stepped on for his comment. Days later in the Iyo province, Kirinmaru's ship floats in the ocean as Moroha slays massive amounts of fish demons encircling the ship. Riku and Torachiyo are impressed but Moroha says the leader of the demons has not revealed himself yet. Suddenly a large mud demon springs from the ocean, saying that it smells the scent of Sesshomaru. Riding out on Kirara, Towa and Setsuna slash the demon, cutting him to pieces before landing on the ship and saying that they are Sesshomaru's daughters, bringing their adventure to an end.
This episode is the lowest audience viewership rating of the entire series. For more information please see our article "Inuyasha Top 10 Highest Rated Episodes".
The title of the episode uses the word "enternity" (永遠/eien). However they give the non-standard (but significant in the context of the series) pronunciation of "towa".
After Kaede says that things finally seem to be over the camera pans up to show a rainbow over the village. In the western tradition (and so perhaps unrelated to the intention in Yashahime) a rainbow is meant to represent God's promise not to flood the world again.
At the Higurashi Shrine in the modern era is a large rope tied around the tree. This is a 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.
The information center at the Higurashi Shrine is shown in this episode along with all of the amulets and souveniers they sell to manage the upkeep of the shrine. The camera lingers on the Shikon Jewel replicas just like the one that Grandpa gave to Kagome in the first episode of Inuyasha.
Un'ei (雲影), the ice demon sabretooth cat like creature's name has a particular meaning. It means "cloud shape".
The "mami" in "Mamidaira" (狸平) means "tanuki".
When Towa changes her outfit she is wearing a saraishi (晒し) chest wrap beneath her yukata. Other notable heroines of the tomboy persuasion have worn this same chest wrap including Ryunosuke Fujinami and Ukyo Kuonji.
Moroha apologizes for being late and says she was discussing a money-making opportunity. While saying this she makes a circle with her thumb and index finger with the rest of her fingers sticking out. This hand gesture means "money" (おかね/okane) in Japanese.
Kai's name is written 鹿猪. This means "deer boar".
Moroha says she will be going to the Iyo province. Iyo province (伊予国) is the ancient name for modern-day Ehime prefecture (愛媛県) in southwestern Japan. During the Sengoku era (when Inuyasha and Yashahime take place). It was unified by the Chosokabe clan (長宗我部氏) until Toyotomi Hideyoshi (豊臣秀吉) invaded the region. Kagome then calls it "Shikoku" (四国) which is the modern name of the island it is on.
Inuyasha and Kagome's home has stones placed atop the roof. The stones are used to hold the wood shingles in place so they do not blow away in a strong wind.
Kon (魂) is "yang energy". It is the counterpart to Haku (魄) which is "yin energy". Both of these could also simply be called "spirit". You can read more about this in our cultural notes.
