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Volume 20

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Chapters Originally Published in:
Shonen Sunday 2000 Vol. 47 - 2001 4-5

Inuyasha Vol 20

Chapter 189: 竜骨精
Ryukotsusei
 (The Dragon-Bone Spirit)
Ryukotsusei awakens and decides to take his vengence on Inuyasha for his father sealing him away. Myoga tells Inuyasha that his father was only able to seal the beast, and so Inuyasha could not hope to defeat it. Not only that buy Ryukotsusei dealt his father such grave injuries that he eventually died from them. Inuyasha does not seem to care and tries to strike at the wound left by his father, but it seems to have no effect. As Totosai, Kagome, and the others make their way to the battleground Inuyasha loses his grasp of Tessaiga and begins to transform into his full demon self once again. Totosai explains that the only way to defeat Ryukotsusei is with the Backlash Wave, Tessaiga's ultimate attack.

Published In:
  • Shonen Sunday 2000 Vol. 47
  • Inuyasha Tankobon Vol. 20 ch. 1
  • Inuyasha Wideban Vol. 11 ch. 3
Publication Date: October 18, 2000
Pages: 3 (full color) 15 (black and white)
Anime Adaptation:
Notes:
  • The first set of Inuyasha gashapon from Bandai appear on the cover.
  • This issue contains an article for the Inuyasha anime asking fans "Have you seen it yet?" and giving an update on what the recent episodes have included.
  • Additionally this issue contains a two page poster of Inuyasha alongside all his antagonists from the series.
  • The English translation of the title is conveying what the kanji in Ryukotsusei's name. To Japanese readers this would be obvious but it would be difficult to convey this in English while still indicating to readers the title of the chapter is the character's name.
  • Like Naraku (and many other villians in countless manga), Ryukotsusei laughs with a "kukuku" (くくく). This is a stereotypical evil laugh.
  • Totosai makes the first mention of the "Backlash Wave" (爆流破/Bakuryuha) in this chapter. The kanji for the attack are "burst", "current/flow", "rend/tear".
  • How are things such as the "Wind Scar" and the "Backlash Wave" defined? They are called "secret techniques" (奥義/ougi).

  • Table of Contents
    • Q: When you're feeling blue, what music do you like to listen to?
    • A: When I feel depressed, I sleep.

Chapter 190: 爪と刀
Tsume to katana
(Talons and Blade)
Inuyasha proves to be a much more worthy opponent against Ryukotsusei once he has transformed, and even Totosai thinks he may be able to win now, but unless he does it using the Tessaiga it will not become lighter. Everyone decides they should leave as Inuyasha's berserker state puts them all in danger, but Kagome insists on staying. In his rage, Inuyasha manages to focus enough to pick up Tessaiga which causes him to revert back to his normal self. Ryukotsusei thinks this is foolish, but as Inuyasha does this Tessaiga becomes lighter and he is able to pierce Ryukotsusei's scaly armor.

Published In:
  • Shonen Sunday 2000 Vol. 48
  • Inuyasha Tankobon Vol. 20 ch. 2
  • Inuyasha Wideban Vol. 11 ch. 4
Publication Date: October 25, 2000
Pages: 18 (black and white)
Anime Adaptation:
Notes:


  • Table of Contents
    • Q: If you had a press conference, what would you talk about?
    • A: Leave me alone.

Chapter 191: 新生鉄砕牙
Shinsei Tessaiga
 (The New Tessaiga)
Even with the Tessaiga piercing his heart Ryukotsusei refuses to die. He is truly powerful, but Inuyasha is increasing in power as well. The Tessaiga has regained it's former light weight, and now it seems able to execute the Wind Scar at anytime. Inuyasha uses this against the dragon, but it seems to have no effect. Totosai tells Inuyasha to run away, but he refuses and insists that he must surpass his father. Totosai knows Inuyasha cannot defeat Ryukotsusei without the Backlash Wave, but just as the thinks this Ryokossei fires a blast at Inuyasha who decides he has to cut through it... the essense of the Backlash Wave technique has just been set in motion.

Published In:
  • Shonen Sunday 2000 Vol. 49
  • Inuyasha Tankobon Vol. 20 ch. 3
  • Inuyasha Wideban Vol. 11 ch. 5
Publication Date: November 1, 2000
Pages: 18 (black and white)
Anime Adaptation:
Notes:
  • When written horizontally such as on the title page, it is easier to see the small "tsu" てっさいが (Tessaiga) whereas when it is written vertically such as in most of the text bubbles it is easy to mistake the writing as てつさいが (Tetsusaiga).
  • As to why many Asian dragons have deer antlers, Henri Doré a writer on Chinese mythology writes about the standard characteristics of Chinese dragons. In his book Researches into Chinese Superstision he comments that Chinese dragons have: "The antlers of a deer. The head of a crocodile. A demon's eyes. The neck of a snake. A tortoise's viscera. A hawk's claws. The palms of a tiger. A cow's ears. And it hears through its horns, its ears being deprived of all power of hearing."

  • Table of Contents
    • Q: What makes you think of an old sweetheart you're now separated from?
    • A: Tameiki Rock-a-Billy

Chapter 192: 爆流破
Bakuryuha
 (The Crushing Stream)
As Ryukotsusei's blast heads for Inuyasha, he strikes it and the energy from both attacks intermingles and is forced back upon Ryukotsusei, killing him. Inuyasha has executed the Backlash Wave, and defeated his father's nemesis. Now the Tessaiga is lighter once more and he has learned it's ultimate technique. Everyone seems very happy for him. Meanwhile at Naraku's castle Kagura brings an old woman to Naraku. Her name is Tsubaki and she is a dark priestess who once fought against Kikyo five decades ago.

Published In:
  • Shonen Sunday 2000 Vol. 50
  • Inuyasha Tankobon Vol. 20 ch. 4
  • Inuyasha Wideban Vol. 11 ch. 6
Publication Date: November 8, 2000
Pages: 18 (black and white)
Anime Adaptation:
Notes:
  • This issue of Shonen Sunday features a photo shoot between Rumiko Takahashi and V6.
  • The English manga translation from Viz chose to translate "Bakuryuha" as "the crushing stream" which is closer to the kanji in the name. Years later, Viz's English adaptation of the anime chose "Backlash Wave" for the attack's English translation. Changes like this sometimes are made because of how many "mouth flaps" there are to work with or simply because of timing. Eventually Viz's manga would adopt the English anime nomenclature.
  • As the title suggests, Inuyasha manages to use the Backlash Wave for the first time in this chapter.
  • Ryukotsusei addresses Inuyasha as "brat" (小僧/kozo).
  • Naraku refers to a debuting Tsubaki as a "black priestess" (黒巫女/kuro miko).
  • Tsubaki's name (椿) means "camellia flower".

  • Table of Contents
    • Q: What is a great original dish that you can cook?
    • A: Negitoro Wonton.

Chapter 193: 黒巫女　椿
Kuro miko Tsubaki
(Tsubaki, the Black Priestess)
Kagome is struggling to keep up in her math classes at school, but is realizing she has fallen behind quite a bit. She tells her friends she has gotten back together with her boyfriend, which seems to worry them quite a bit. When Kagome makes her way back to the Sengoku Era she steps out of the well and feels something bite her leg. She looks down but sees nothing. Before long the Shikon shards around her neck have become tainted with evil and are absorbed into her body. The invisible snake that bit her was working for Tsubaki who is coating Naraku's Shikon shard with Kagome's blood. Now she has Kagome under her control, and Naraku decides that recreating the events that caused Inuyasha to be sealed by Kikyo might be appropriate.

Published In:
  • Shonen Sunday 2000 Vol. 51
  • Inuyasha Tankobon Vol. 20 ch. 5
  • Inuyasha Wideban Vol. 11 ch. 7
Publication Date: November 15, 2000
Pages: 3 (full color) 15 (black and white)
Anime Adaptation:
Notes:
  • Dream is on the cover of Shonen Sunday this week. They did the ending theme "My Will" for Inuyasha episodes 1-20.
  • Naraku and Tsubaki both refer to one another with the pronoun "kisama" (きさま). This means "you" and historically was a polite term, however in contemporary Japanese it is an insulting term. It is not a term used in everyday life and is often heard in anime and manga.
  • The altar that Tsubaki uses for her ceremony with Kagome's blood is visually very similar to a "gomadan" (護摩壇) though these have a hole in the center for ceremonial fires to be lit, which this altar lacks. The ropes around the side create a symbolic barrier. These are "shimenawa" (標縄), ropes used to denote holy places. The raised ceremonial tray that the Shikon Jewel is placed on is a "sanbo" (三方).

  • Table of Contents
    • Q: Please tell us a four-letter word (in Japanese) you've coined that best describes you?
    • A: Hiroukonpai (total exhaustion).

Chapter 194: 呪詛
Juso
(The Curse)
Kagome does her best to fight off Tsubaki's poison, but her attempts seem futile. Tsubaki is surprised at her tenacity, and Naraku tells her not to underestimate the girl. Miroku and Sango set off to find the source of the evil and free Kagome from the poison. Tsubaki recalls how she tried to take the Shikon Jewel when Kikyo's powers started to wane, only to have her own snake sent back against her. While Inuyasha waits with Kagome she suddenly springs up and fires an arrow at him. Kagome tells him to run away, hoping that she will not be forced to kill him. Meanwhile Kikyo watches as Miroku and Sango try to penetrate Tsubaki's barrier. She enters effortlessly.

Published In:
  • Shonen Sunday 2000 Vol. 52
  • Inuyasha Tankobon Vol. 20 ch. 6
  • Inuyasha Wideban Vol. 11 ch. 8
Publication Date: November 22, 2000
Pages: 18 (black and white)
Anime Adaptation:
Notes:
  • When Miroku speaks to Kagome he always refers to her as "Kagome-sama" (Lady Kagome), however Sango is always just "Sango". This denotes a less formal, more familiar feeling between the two of them. Sango always refers to Miroku as "Houshi-sama" (Lord Monk/法師さま).

  • Table of Contents
    • Q: This is the time of year for delicious nabe (hot pot). Sensei, what do you like in your nabe?
    • A: Splendid alfonsino with chicken, seafood and vegetables.

Chapter 195: 向けられた矢
Mukerareta ya
 (The Arrow's Mark)
Kagome manages to fight off the curse and asks Inuyasha to take her to the barrier. Meanwhile Naraku falls to pieces as Kikyo destroys him. Unfortunately it was just another puppet, but Tsubaki is quite shocked to see Kikyo is still alive and unchanged after all these years. Tsubaki recalls how Kikyo sent the curse back against her, causing her face to be damaged so she sold her soul to a demon to regain her beauty and youth. She is sickened that Kikyo, a dead golem would preach to her about how seeking immortality is wrong. Just then Inuyasha arrives with Kagome who fires an arrow to break Tsubaki's barrier. In the process of Kagome fighting off the curse the tained Shikon Jewel begins to purify itself.

Published In:
  • Shonen Sunday 2000 Vol. 53
  • Inuyasha Tankobon Vol. 20 ch. 7
  • Inuyasha Wideban Vol. 11 ch. 9
Publication Date: November 29, 2000
Pages: 18 (black and white)
Anime Adaptation:
Notes:
  • Inuyasha's Robe of the Fire Rat gets its sleeve torn off in this chapter. It seems to have repaired itself in the next scene.

  • Table of Contents
    • Q: What are you planning on doing on the last day of the 21st century?
    • A: Eating soba on New Year's Eve.

Chapter 196: 椿の祠
Tsubaki no hokora
 (Tsubaki's Shrine)
Kikyo discovers that Tsubaki was planning on using Kagome to kill Inuyasha in the same way that she attempted 50 years ago. Sickened by this she tells Tsubaki that she does not care what happens to Kagome, but if Inuyasha is harmed she will kill Tsubaki without hesitation. Tsubaki is clearly afraid of Kikyo's powers after all these years. Tsubaki heads outside to greet Inuyasha and the others once Kagome pierces the barrier. Slowly the Shikon Jewel becomes polluted once again. Tsubaki tells them that she can still kill Kagome with her curse when she releases the demon that has been living within her. A large weasel demon bursts forth from her eye and prepares for battle.

Published In:
  • Shonen Sunday 2001 Vol. 1
  • Inuyasha Tankobon Vol. 20 ch. 8
  • Inuyasha Wideban Vol. 11 ch. 10
Publication Date: December 6, 2000
Pages: 18 (black and white)
Anime Adaptation:
Notes:
  • There are many, many names for shrines (神社/jinja) in Japanese. In the case of this chapter, a "hokora" (祠) is a small shrine. Others are "omikoshi" (お神輿) which is a portable shrine carried in festivals, "sessha" (摂社) which is an auxiliary shrine, and "himerogi" (神籬) is a simple outdoor plot with an altar and barrier ropes.

  • Table of Contents
    • Q: Please tell us your wishes for the beginning of the 21st century now that it is 2001?
    • A: For the continuance of Inuyasha. Thank you.

Chapter 197: 式神
Shikigami
 (The Shikigami)
Inuyasha could easily kill Tsubaki's demon, but with Kagome's life in the balance he tries not to fight back. Miroku tries to use his sutras to destroy Tsubaki's snake demon, but they are of no use. Kagome fights her way up while Tsubaki is distracted and fires a few arrows at her, but Tsubaki spills more of her blood onto the Shikon Jewel causing her to weaken once again. Inuyasha manages to fight his way towards her and destroy her snake demon and weasel as well, but Tsubaki informs them that will not affect Kagome's curse in the least.

Published In:
  • Shonen Sunday 2001 Vol. 2-3
  • Inuyasha Tankobon Vol. 20 ch. 9
  • Inuyasha Wideban Vol. 11 ch. 11
Publication Date: December 13, 2000
Pages: 18 (black and white)
Anime Adaptation:
Notes:
  • Nothing is published the week after a double issue to give the artists a holiday break.
  • You can read more about shikigami (式神) in our culture notes.
  • Miroku's paper amulets that he uses for purification and exorcism are "fuda" (札).

  • Table of Contents
    • Q: Sensei, who is your favorite athlete? Or favorite sporting stadium?
    • A: Hanshin's Shinjo. He's cool.
    • Webmasters' Note: Here's a great article about just what makes "Big Boss" Tsuyoshi Shinjo so cool.

Chapter 198: 呪い返し
Noroi-gaeshi
 (The Curse Reflected)
Tsubaki unleashes a barrage of demons from her eye and everyone has their hands full as Kagome slowly grows weaker from the curse. Miroku notices as Tsubaki's snake regrows it's head and realizes the demons have been buying it time to recover. The snake lunges for Kagome, but like Kikyo before her she is able to reverse the curse and send it back on Tsubaki. Tsubaki quickly flees as Naraku observes though Kanna's mirror. He voices his disappointment with Tsubaki for giving up so easily. Once she has gotten far enough away the remaining demons of Tsubaki die. Without them she cannot keep her eternal youth and beauty. She now has the Shikon Jewel though and with it she will no longer need the demons. Just as she holds it up, one of Naraku's wasps bursts forth from her eye and carries the jewel away. Kikyo stares at her admonishingly and wonders why she thought she could ever defeat Kagome if she couldn't even defeat her.

Published In:
  • Shonen Sunday 2001 Vol. 4-5
  • Inuyasha Tankobon Vol. 20 ch. 10
  • Inuyasha Wideban Vol. 11 ch. 12
Publication Date: December 27, 2000
Pages: 18 (black and white)
Anime Adaptation:
Notes:
  • This is a double issue to give the artists a holiday break.
  • This issue of Shonen Sunday contains an advertisement for New Years goods from the various series running at the time, including QUO phone cards for each series.
  • Additionally, this issue contains a crossover poster for the two most popular series with anime running at the time, both animated by Sunrise, Detective Conan and Inuyasha.
  • This particular issue of Shonen Sunday is referenced in Naoki Urasawa's manga 20th Century Boys.
  • Kagome reverses the curse that Tsubaki's snake shikigami tries to strike her with. The reversal of curses will become a primary focus on Takahashi's later serial, MAO.

  • Table of Contents
    • Q: Sensei, what is your favorite song to sing at karaoke?
    • A: Manatsu no Yuru no Yume (Midsummer Nights Dream).


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