InuYasha: The Final Act

Set in Japan’s Sengoku period, *InuYasha* is an adventure story built around battles, romance, comedy, and fantasy.

Its central group journeys across a dangerous world filled with demons, sacred powers, curses, and long-standing grudges.

The work is known for balancing intense action with light humor.

Its timeline is also unusually clear, with about four and a half years passing in the story when the special epilogue is included.

Before the television anime began, animated commercials for the manga were already being broadcast from April 1997.

These were produced by Sunrise.

A stage adaptation produced by Gekidan Shinkansen and Parco premiered in 2000, starring Atsuhiro Sato as Inuyasha.

It was well received and revived in 2001.

The television anime adaptation of *InuYasha* aired from October 2000 to September 2004 on the Nippon Television network, produced by Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation.

It adapted the story from volumes 1 through 36.

After the manga ended, *InuYasha: The Final Act* aired from October 2009 to March 2010.

That series adapted volumes 37 through 56 and completed the story.

Four theatrical anime films were also released by Toho.

In 2020, the franchise continued with *Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon*, centered on the daughters of Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha.

Five hundred years before the main story, the sacred priestess Kikyou protected the Shikon Jewel, a magical jewel said to grant any wish.

She and Inuyasha, a half-demon, fell in love, but a trap made each believe the other had betrayed them.

Kikyou used her last strength to seal Inuyasha to a sacred tree, and then died.

Following her final wish, the Shikon Jewel was burned with her body and vanished from the world.

In 1996, modern-day middle school student Kagome Higurashi is pulled into an old well at her family shrine on her fifteenth birthday.

She falls through time into the Sengoku period, fifty years after Inuyasha was sealed.

Because Kagome is the reincarnation of Kikyou, the Shikon Jewel reappears from within her body.

Inuyasha is awakened, and demons begin moving once again to claim the jewel.

During a battle, the jewel is accidentally shattered into countless fragments.

To recover the shards, Inuyasha and Kagome begin a journey together that slowly turns from reluctant teamwork into deep affection.

As they travel, they uncover the truth about Naraku, the true mastermind behind the tragedy between Inuyasha and Kikyou.

Joined by Shippou, Miroku, and Sango, they fight to defeat Naraku and end the curse of the Shikon Jewel.

Inuyasha

Inuyasha is the protagonist of the series.

He is a half-demon boy born from a human mother and a demon father.

He is hot-blooded, stubborn, and quick to fight, but also deeply loyal and protective.

His inner conflict between human and demon sides drives much of the story.

Voice actor in the anime: Kappei Yamaguchi.

Kagome Higurashi

Kagome Higurashi is the heroine of the story.

She is a middle school girl from the modern era who travels back to the Sengoku period.

Kagome is kind, brave, and spiritually gifted.

As Kikyou’s reincarnation, she has a powerful bond with the Shikon Jewel and plays a key role in the fate of the world.

Voice actor in the anime: Satsuki Yukino.

Miroku

Miroku is a wandering monk with a playful and flirtatious personality.

He carries the cursed Wind Tunnel in his right hand, a hereditary curse placed on his family by Naraku.

Though often comic in behavior, he is intelligent and dependable in battle.

His struggle against the curse gives his story an emotional edge.

Voice actor in the anime: Kouji Tsujitani.

Sango

Sango is a demon slayer from a professional exterminator village.

She fights using the giant boomerang-like weapon Hiraikotsu.

She is calm, skilled, and strong-willed, but carries deep grief because of Naraku’s manipulation of her family.

Her bond with Miroku becomes one of the series’ central relationships.

Voice actor in the anime: Houko Kuwashima.

Shippou

Shippou is a young fox demon who joins the group early in the story.

He uses transformation techniques and illusions in battle.

He brings humor and warmth to the cast, often acting like the youngest member of the family.

Despite his age, he is brave and emotionally perceptive.

Voice actor in the anime: Kumiko Watanabe.

Kikyou

Kikyou was the priestess who once guarded the Shikon Jewel.

She was Inuyasha’s former lover and died after sealing him.

She is later revived as an animated corpse through dark magic.

Her return adds tragedy, tension, and one of the series’ most memorable emotional triangles.

Voice actor in the anime: Noriko Hidaka.

Sesshoumaru

Sesshoumaru is Inuyasha’s older half-brother.

Unlike Inuyasha, he is a full demon of great power and noble blood.

At first he looks down on humans and despises Inuyasha’s mixed heritage.

Over time, however, he changes dramatically, becoming one of the most fascinating characters in the series.

Voice actor in the anime: Ken Narita.

Naraku

Naraku is the main antagonist and the hidden cause of the original tragedy between Inuyasha and Kikyou.

He is also a half-demon, created from the bandit Onigumo and many demons fused together.

Cunning, manipulative, and endlessly cruel, Naraku schemes through deception rather than direct confrontation.

He uses incarnations, poison, curses, and emotional weakness to control others.

Voice actor in the anime: Toshiyuki Morikawa for the later main form, and Hiroshi Naka for earlier forms.

His human disguise is the young lord Hitomi Kagetwaki.

Shikon Jewel

The Shikon Jewel is the central magical object in the story.

It boosts demonic power and is said to grant any wish, making it the source of endless conflict between humans and demons.

It was originally created one thousand years earlier when the priestess Midoriko expelled her own soul and the souls of many demons into a jewel during battle.

Inside the jewel, Midoriko’s soul and the demons’ souls continue fighting forever.

The jewel has no moral alignment of its own.

Its purity or corruption depends on the heart of the one holding it.

If a wicked person or demon holds it, it becomes tainted.

If a spiritually pure person holds it, it can be purified.

The jewel does grant wishes, but with a cruel twist.

It preserves itself by trapping the desires of its owner and specifically refuses to grant that person’s true wish.

According to the author, the jewel returns every 500 years.

In the end, its destruction is only possible through the truly correct wish: wishing for the jewel itself to disappear.

The jewel is effectively the true final evil behind the story.

It manipulates even Naraku in order to continue existing.

Shards of the Shikon Jewel

The shattered pieces of the jewel are called the Shards of the Shikon Jewel.

They grant immense power to whoever holds them, such as stronger abilities, slowed illness, prevention of injury, or even resurrection.

In the manga, the total number of shards is given as 24.

In the anime, including the films, three more appear, bringing the total to 27, before some are recombined.

Counterfeit Shikon Jewel

The anime also introduces a fake version of the jewel created by an original character named Gyu-oh of Izumo.

Although incomplete and fragile, it has power similar to a real shard.

Black Pearl

The Black Pearl is a gateway to the graveyard of demons, a boundary between this world and the next.

It had been hidden in Inuyasha’s right eye.

After serving its purpose of leading Inuyasha to Tessaiga, it disappears in the manga.

In the anime, it returns to his eye and merges with him, making further use impossible.

It is created by Hosenki and his son.

Each one takes one hundred years to make.

The Dead

In the story, the term the dead refers to people who have died once and returned in their former form through unnatural means.

Examples include Kikyou and the Band of Seven.

Rin and Kohaku die and revive at several points, but they are not classified this way because they are fully restored to life.

Those who truly count as the dead have no pulse and smell only of bones and grave soil.

Kikyou’s body is remade by the ogress Urasue from ashes, bones, and grave earth.

The Band of Seven return when Naraku places jewel shards into their remains.

Gods and Spirits

Gods in the series are beings distinct from both humans and demons.

They are worshipped in shrines and protect their lands.

Examples include a water god, a fox god, and a monkey god.

According to Sango, angering a god can be even worse than provoking a demon.

They resemble demons in appearance but lack demonic energy or corruption.

Instead, they use powers close to sacred spiritual abilities.

Spirits are attendants or familiars that serve gods.

They possess intelligence on the level of humans and can become almost equal to gods if they gain divine tools.

Half-Demons

A half-demon is a demon with human blood.

Usually this means a child born between a human and a demon, though Naraku also falls under the category through his unusual creation.

Half-demons are feared and despised by both humans and demons.

This social rejection is a major theme in Inuyasha’s character arc.

Half-demons are long-lived and powerful, but they may also lose their demonic abilities at certain times.

For Inuyasha, this happens on the night of the new moon, when he becomes fully human.

Naraku can choose this vulnerable period freely.

Because survival depends on secrecy, half-demons usually hide this weakness from others.

Bone-Eater’s Well

The Bone-Eater’s Well is the old dry well that connects Kagome’s modern era to the Sengoku period.

In the present it stands inside her family shrine, and in the past it lies in the forest.

Originally it was a disposal pit for demon remains.

Objects thrown inside disappear after some time.

The well was made from the wood of the sacred age tree.

Only Kagome and Inuyasha can pass through it.

It temporarily loses its power after Naraku’s death, then returns three days later.

Later, the path closes for three years before opening again when Kagome wishes to live with Inuyasha.

Priests, Priestesses, Demons, and Power

Priestesses perform purification, healing, and demon extermination.

In the world of the series, a powerful priestess is said to equal one hundred warriors against demons.

Demons are dangerous beings that threaten humans in the Sengoku period.

Many are violent man-eaters, but some are peaceful, and a very small number even form families with humans.

Demons with more human-like forms tend to be more intelligent and higher in rank.

The most powerful are called great demons.

Demonic aura is the energy emitted by demons.

It powers abilities such as poison, fire, and lightning.

This is distinct from evil aura, which comes from malevolent beings more generally.

Some demons can hide their presence by blocking their aura with barriers.

Demonic power is the source of a demon’s strength.

In general, stronger demonic power means a stronger demon.

Demon Swords

Tessaiga

Tessaiga is the mighty sword forged from the fang of Inuyasha’s father by Totosai.

At full power, it is said to cut down one hundred demons in a single swing.

It was passed to Inuyasha as an inheritance.

Normally it looks like a battered rusted blade, but it transforms into a giant fang-like sword when activated by his demonic power.

It was forged to protect Inuyasha’s human mother, Izayoi.

Because of that, it can only truly be used by one who has a heart that values humans.

Pure demons normally cannot even touch it due to its barrier.

Humans can touch it, but cannot transform it because they lack demonic power.

Tessaiga can absorb the powers of enemies it cuts.

It can also suppress Inuyasha’s full demon transformation.

The sword seems to have a will of its own.

It sometimes protects its owner with barriers or signals the right path by pulsing.

Its sheath is also extremely strong.

It can block attacks, create barriers, and even call the sword back.

After being broken by Goshinki, it is repaired using one of Inuyasha’s own fangs.

This temporarily makes it so heavy that even Inuyasha can barely hold it.

Its famous techniques include Wind Scar, Backlash Wave, the Red Tessaiga for cutting barriers, Adamant Barrage, the Dragon-Scaled Tessaiga, and in the films, Adamant Backlash Wave.

Later, it inherits Meido Zangetsuha from Tenseiga.

Tenseiga

Tenseiga is another sword forged from Inuyasha’s father’s fang by Totosai.

It was passed to Sesshoumaru.

If Tessaiga is the sword that cuts, Tenseiga is the sword that saves.

At full power, it is said to save one hundred lives in a single swing.

It cannot cut living physical bodies, but it can cut beings from the other world.

When drawn before the dead, it reveals the underworld’s messengers, and cutting them can restore a life once.

Its power has limits.

It cannot revive someone whose body is gone, someone already revived by it before, someone whose soul has already been taken away, or someone restored by another method.

Like Tessaiga, it has a will and can create barriers.

It can even transport its owner to another place.

Later it is reforged and gains the ability Meido Zangetsuha, which opens a path to the underworld.

It is eventually revealed that Tenseiga was originally split from Tessaiga, with Tessaiga considered the main blade.

During the struggle over true inheritance, Tenseiga breaks, and its underworld technique is absorbed into Tessaiga.

It is later reborn as a new Tenseiga without that technique.

Souunga

Souunga is a demon sword that appeared only in the anime film continuity.

It was originally owned by Inuyasha’s father.

It is so dangerous that it was sealed in the underworld.

Its full power is said to revive one hundred corpses in a single swing.

It is associated with the third film, *InuYasha the Movie: Swords of an Honorable Ruler*.

Tokijin

Tokijin is a sword made for Sesshoumaru from the fang of Goshinki by Kaijinbo.

It is a simple-looking blade, but exceptionally sharp and powerful.

It can slice apart Hiraikotsu and launch cutting shockwaves from a distance.

Its evil aura is so strong that ordinary people cannot even touch it.

Sesshoumaru overpowers that aura through sheer strength.

The sword later breaks in battle with Moryomaru and is discarded.

Bakusaiga

Bakusaiga is the sword born from Sesshoumaru himself.

It appears when he finally abandons attachment to his father’s legacy and surpasses him as a great demon.

Anything it cuts is blown apart, and the destruction keeps spreading through the target.

Its raw destructive power exceeds Tessaiga, and it is one of the few weapons that can truly damage Naraku.

Banryu

Banryu is the giant halberd-like weapon used by Bankotsu of the Band of Seven.

It is larger than a person and so heavy that three grown men can barely lift it.

It is durable enough to withstand Wind Scar.

After killing a thousand humans and later ten demons, it becomes a cursed blade powered by hatred.

In the anime, it gains techniques such as Banryu Flash and Dragon Thunder Flash.

Dakki

Dakki is the most wicked demon sword forged by Totosai’s rival, Shusui’s father Tokijin?

In the source text, it is identified as a sword forged by a smith named Toko, made from dragon scales and capable of draining demonic power.

Its absorption ability surpasses Tessaiga’s in direct combat.

After defeating it, Tessaiga absorbs its power and gains the Dragon-Scaled form.

Sacred and Spiritual Tools

Sacred Arrows

Sacred Arrows are fired by spiritually powerful priestesses such as Kikyou and Kagome.

By channeling spiritual power into an arrow, they can purify corruption, evil energy, and demonic influence.

They can even temporarily undo Tessaiga’s transformed state by dispersing demonic energy.

Monk’s Staff

Miroku’s monk’s staff looks like a standard staff used by Buddhist monks, but it is remarkably strong.

It can clash directly with a full-powered Tessaiga and its tip is sharp enough to cut a falling leaf.

Sacred Talismans

Sacred talismans are purification papers used by people with strong spiritual or holy power.

They can damage demons and repel evil.

Other Weapons

Staff of Two Heads

The Staff of Two Heads is carried by Jaken, Sesshoumaru’s loyal retainer.

It has the faces of an old man and a woman and can shoot powerful flames.

Crushing Top

The Crushing Top is one of Shippou’s favorite weapons.

He enlarges it with fox magic, though because it is illusion-based, the actual damage is limited.

Raigekijin

Raigekijin is the spear of Hiten.

It channels lightning and once fought evenly against Tessaiga before both weapon and wielder were destroyed.

Hiraikotsu

Hiraikotsu is Sango’s enormous boomerang made from the bones of slain demons.

It can wipe out groups of enemies at once and is powerful enough to act as both shield and platform.

It is melted late in the story after Sango coats it with poison to save Miroku.

It is then restored by an herbal sage and becomes strong enough to smash even Naraku’s body.

Goraishi

Goraishi is a sacred claw weapon of the wolf demon tribe, later obtained by Kouga to fight Naraku.

It merges with his right arm and releases giant lightning claws in battle.

It contains the spirits of generations of wolf tribe leaders.

Its power is enough to shatter ordinary demons in a single strike.

Jakotsuto

Jakotsuto is Jakotsu’s snake-like segmented blade.

Its shape allows wild twisting attacks over long distances, though it is weak in close combat.

Explosive Tube

The Explosive Tube is a dynamite-like weapon created by Renkotsu.

It reflects the unusual mechanical bent of his fighting style.

Trident

The Trident is a three-pronged weapon lent by Naraku to Abi-hime.

It is made from Naraku’s own bones and can create barriers and thrust with poison miasma.

Manga

The manga was written and illustrated by Rumiko Takahashi and published by Shogakukan.

It ran in *Weekly Shonen Sunday* from issue 50 of 1996 to issue 29 of 2008.

A special one-shot set six months after the final chapter appeared in issue 10 of 2013 as part of the earthquake recovery charity project *Heroes Come Back*.

That chapter was later included in the collected volume *Never Forget 3.11: Heroes Come Back* and in volume 30 of the wide edition.

The standard edition was published in 56 volumes.

The total chapter count is listed as 558 chapters plus 1 special chapter, although a drama CD bonus numbered itself as chapter 559, which results in a total count of 560 when the special is included.

A wide edition was later released in 30 volumes between January 2013 and June 2015.

International Publication

Besides Japan, the manga was published in Taiwan, Hong Kong, mainland China, and Brazil.

Publishers included Daran Culture and later Ching Win Publishing in Taiwan, Culturecom in Hong Kong, Jilin Fine Arts Publishing House with Jimei Culture in mainland China, and JBC in Brazil.

Television Series

The first television anime, InuYasha, aired from 2000 to 2004.

It adapted the early and middle parts of the manga.

The sequel television series, InuYasha: The Final Act, aired from 2009 to 2010.

It completed the manga’s final arcs.

An official anime website was hosted by Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation.

The franchise later expanded with Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon, announced on May 9, 2020 and broadcast from October that year.

Films

Four theatrical films were released:

InuYasha the Movie: Affections Touching Across Time — released December 15, 2001.

InuYasha the Movie: The Castle Beyond the Looking Glass — released December 21, 2002.

InuYasha the Movie: Swords of an Honorable Ruler — released December 20, 2003.

InuYasha the Movie: Fire on the Mystic Island — released December 23, 2004.

Except for the fourth film, character designs were handled by Hideyuki Motohashi.

These designs gave the movies a visual style distinct from the television series.

Bandai Titles

For the WonderSwan Color, Bandai released:

InuYasha: Kagome’s Sengoku Diary — November 2, 2001.

InuYasha: Fuun Emaki — July 27, 2002.

InuYasha: Kagome’s Dream Diary — November 16, 2002.

These games were marketed as adventure titles.

An original weasel demon named Hayate appeared in the Kagome diary games.

For the PlayStation, Bandai released:

InuYasha — December 27, 2001.

InuYasha: Sengoku Otogi Kassen — December 5, 2002.

The PlayStation role-playing game follows the early story of the manga with added original material.

It includes an original monk named Tenkai and the ghost siblings Yuki and Tasuke.

For the PlayStation 2, Bandai released:

InuYasha: The Secret of the Cursed Mask — March 18, 2004, later reissued at budget price on December 1, 2005.

InuYasha: Feudal Combat — June 16, 2005.

*The Secret of the Cursed Mask* stars an original protagonist from the modern era, either Michiru Kururugi or Kaname Kururugi.

It also introduces original characters Utsugi and Kakiju.

Takara and Avex

For the Game Boy Advance:

InuYasha: Naraku’s Trap! Invitation to the Forest of Illusion — January 23, 2003.

This title is a board-game style adventure.

The player controls an original modern protagonist while selecting one of the main cast as the playable fighter.

Mobile and Smartphone Games

For mobile phones:

InuYasha: The Final Act – The Chapter of Defeating the Saimyosho — February 20, 2010.

For smartphones:

InuYasha: The Story Reborn — service began March 5, 2020.

The smartphone game was free-to-play with optional purchases.

After licensing negotiations failed following rights expiration on December 28, 2020, service ended on February 26, 2021 and did not return.

Overseas Nintendo DS Title

A Nintendo DS game titled InuYasha: Secret of the Divine Jewel was released on January 23, 2007.

It was not released in Japan.

Because it was made for the American market, Kagome and the others attend a school in the United States.

It also features original American characters.

Real Escape Game

A live puzzle attraction titled Real Escape Game x InuYasha x Yashahime: Escape from the Demon-Haunted Amusement Park was held at Tokyo Dome City Attractions.

It ran from July 21 to September 26, 2021, and again on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays in October 2021.

Gekidan Shinkansen Version

A stage adaptation by Gekidan Shinkansen and Parco was first performed from April to May 2000.

It heavily reworked the original story.

In this version, all demons and enemies were presented as servants of Naraku.

Naraku and Kikyou were also treated as two sides of a single existence.

The script was written by Masashi Todoyama, and it was directed by Hidenori Inoue.

Atsuhiro Sato played Inuyasha, Marubuchi Erina played Kagome Higurashi, Kaoriko Toyama played Kikyou, Kyoshinsuke played Miroku, Megumi Nishimuta played Naraku, Shingo Isono played Shippou, Asa Yoshida played Myoga, and Ken Ukon played Urasue.

The production toured venues including Biwako Hall, Osaka Theater Drama City, Tokyo Globe-za, Kanazawa City Cultural Hall, Melparque Hall Fukuoka, Hiroshima Astel Plaza, and an additional run at Le Theatre Ginza.

A revival followed from January to February 2001 at Akasaka ACT Theater.

A DVD of the revival was released on November 21, 2002 and included footage from the original 2000 production.

2017 Stage Version

Another stage adaptation was produced in 2017, starring Yutaka Kyan of Golden Bomber as Inuyasha.

It ran from April 6 to April 15 at Galaxy Theatre in Tennozu, Tokyo.

This version stayed closer to the manga than the earlier Gekidan Shinkansen version.

Kaede did not appear, and Myoga was used as a constant guide and commentator instead.

The cast included Yutaka Kyan as Inuyasha, Yumi Wakatsuki as Kagome Higurashi, Hiroki Sana as Sesshoumaru, Junna Ito as Kikyou, Yukihiro Takiguchi as Miroku, Kaoru Noguchi as Kaede, Kenichi Kobayashi as the priest and spider-headed demon role, and Ryo Kimura as Naraku.

The script was by Takeshi Matsumura, direction by Isamu Kayano, and production by Nelke Planning.

It was presented by Nelke Planning, Euclid Agency, and Shogakukan.

A television broadcast of the stage production was announced for CS channel Fuji Television Two on June 2, 2017.

Pachinko

The franchise has also appeared in pachinko form.

Titles include CR InuYasha JUDGEMENT Infinity in 2018 and P InuYasha 2 in 2022, both by Daiichi.

Slot Machines

Slot machine versions include Slot InuYasha by Rodeo in 2016 and another Slot InuYasha by Cross Alpha in 2022.

A circular bus route in Niigata City is nicknamed the InuYasha-go.

The series also collaborated with the Monster Hunter franchise, where Tessaiga appeared in *Monster Hunter Tri* and *Monster Hunter Portable 3rd*.