Volume 6

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The Inuyasha Narrative, Part 6: The Willpower of Miroku
	Translation provided by: Robby Stine of Kanabits

The Monk I Wanted to Create

Miroku exists because I thought Inuyasha needed a male comrade. I made him a Buddhist monk because I like their clothes and wanted to draw them. I don’t think monks of the era actually dressed like him, though. I liked the gown-like attire of the Sōtō school of Zen Buddhist monks, but when it came time to put pen to paper, I couldn’t remember exactly what they looked like, resulting in Miroku’s outfit turning into something far different than what the monks actually wear.

I always referred to Miroku as a hōshi rather than obōsan, the more common word for Buddhist monk, simply because the word obōsan has the image of a bald man strongly attached to it, and that…wasn’t the image I was going for. Miroku’s look comes from the hairstyles and piercings of celebrities I saw on TV around the time I was working on him. Fashion has changed since then, but I think younger people today can still appreciate his look.

The Character-Defining Wind Tunnel

When you think of Miroku, you undoubtedly think of his Wind Tunnel. The idea for that was simply that there are lots of characters out there who can shoot things out of their hands, but why none that suck things into them? I thought I’d try the idea out. Miroku has his Buddhist powers, of course, but they aren’t nearly as strong as the Wind Tunnel. It’s what makes Miroku Miroku. It defines him and is the basis of his entire character. He watched his father die because of the ability, and it’s his link to Naraku as well. Everything goes back to the Wind Tunnel. It made Miroku’s creation a breeze!

The Character Who Can Do Anything

Miroku fills the role of teacher, always able to provide explanations when I need him to. He can do comedy as well, and he’s also good in serious moments. He can do anything! Inuyasha is surprisingly earnest, so Miroku had to be a bit of a delinquent, a little crafty, to make up for what Inuyasha lacked.

Miroku is also a showoff who doesn’t like his weaknesses exposed. That said, when we first meet him, he appears to have given up on life. But after meeting Sango, Inuyasha and the others, he finds meaning in his life. He changes. He finds a way to live with the Wind Tunnel, and never wavers from the path.

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