A New “Inuyasha” Anime Spinoff “Yashahime”!

Back when I first got into anime, I watched stuff on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim block in 2002. It was a great way to introduce me to a lot of different titles. One title that I was introduced to was a shounen series called Inuyasha. I really enjoyed the anime I saw on TV and then read all of the manga until the series ended. Although the manga dragged on too long, and the anime sequel Inuyasha: Final Act was disappointing, Inuyasha still has a fond place in my memory.

As such, the recent announcement that Inuyasha is getting an anime spinoff series caught my eye. The anime series, officially titled in English as Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon (Hanyou no Yashahime), will see manga creator TAKAHASHI Rumiko-sensei as part of the production team.

What was Inuyasha about?

For those who don’t know, Inuyasha was about a half-human, half-youkai teen boy named Inuyasha, who lived during the Waring States period in Japan. He was tricked into stealing the youkai jewel Shikon no Tama (Jewel of the Four Souls). The miko Kikyo, who was in a relationship with Inuyasha, was also tricked. She shot him with a holy arrow and sealed him. Kikyo died and was burned with the jewel. Inuyasha remained sealed for fifty years.

In the present, a teen girl named Kagome lives on the site where Inuyasha was sealed. The Shikon no Tama is recreated in Kagome. She falls into a well on the site grounds and is attacked by a centipede youkai. Kagome arrives in the past and her presence causes Inuyasha to free himself and save her. He’s prevented from killing Kagome, and when she accidentally causes the Shikon no Tama to shatter and spread all over Japan, Inuyasha reluctantly pairs with her to recover the shards.

During the course of their adventures, Kagome and Inuyasha are joined by the teenage female youkai hunter Sango, the young male priest Miroku, and the child fox youkai, Shippou. They are chiefly opposed by the artificial hanyou (half-human, half-youkai) Naruku and his minions. Inuyasha also has to deal with his older, half-brother Sesshoumaru, who is a pure youkai lord.

What is Yashahime Going to Be About?

According to reports, Yashahime will feature Sesshoumaru’s twin daughters Towa and Setsuna as well as Kagome and Inuyasha’s daughter Moroha. Towa and Setsuna will become separated in a fire, after which Towa will end up in modern times. There, she’s raised by Kagome’s little brother Sota.

Ten years later, the well that connects the present with the past reactivates and Towa is able to return to her own time. She finds her sister Setsuna, who’s now a youkai hunter working with Sango’s little brother Kohaku. However, Setsuna does not remember Towa. Meanwhile, Mohora, who’s apparently lived on her own since she was a small child and doesn’t know Inuyasha or Kagome, eventually meets up with her cousins. The trio then attempt to find out clues of their missing past in both modern times and the warring state times.

My Thoughts

As I mentioned earlier, the Inuyasha manga dragged on way too long. Takahashi-sensei just kept finding new ways to extend the series and not end it. As such, the manga turned into a case of each step toward the goal only got one half-way there. Eventually, you all but stop moving forward and just mark time. But on the whole, I liked the series. And I absolutely loved the aftermath epilogue chapter Takahashi-sensei produced years later.

Even if Yashahime succeeds the Inuyasha: Final Act anime rather than the manga (which despite dragging, is a superior story), I’m still looking forward to it. One of Inuyasha‘s problems was that nothing ever advanced in terms of personal stories. That’s probably why the Since Then manga story is so sweet. We finally get to see Inuyasha, Kagome, Sango, and Miroku have personal progress. Yashahime furthers this by showing the children of Inuyasha and Kagome as well as Sesshoumaru.

I do note that the production team are being cagey as to whom Sesshoumaru married. Story-wise, there can only be one choice. But among Western fans, that might cause some controversy. And since Viz has already licensed the anime, Sunrise may not wish for controversy. We’ll see though.

I do plan to episode blog Yashahime if at all possible.

What are your thoughts? I’d love to read them in the comment section.