Main Characters

Like many of Rumiko Takahashi's other manga series, InuYasha has a very large cast of characters, bothe minor and main. Here I will give a small profile containing basic information about who I consider to be the main characters - still, the list is not short.

InuYasha - the child of an inu-youkai and a human, which resulted in him being a hanyou, half human and half youkai. InuYasha was rejected by both youkai and humans alike because of this. On the night of the new moon, InuYasha loses his yokai powers and changes into a normal human with black hair and violet eyes. Fifty years prior to story's beginning, Inuyasha was bound to Goshinboku by Kikyou's sacred arrow while he was attempting to capture the Jewel of the Four Souls. Ill-tempered, powerful, unpredictable, and courageous, he wields Tessaiga, a sword made from one of his deceased father's fangs. It has the abilty to destory 100 youkai at once, and eas create to protect InuYasha's human mother.

Kagome - a modern day 15 year-old school girl living just outside Tokyo. Kagome is the reincarnation of Kikyou, a priestess who died 50 years earlier from the time Kagome emerges from the Bone Eater's Well into the Feudal Era of Japan. Kagome has extremely powerful spiritual abilities and is able to sense jewel shards. She has the ability to Osuwari [Sit!] InuYasha because of the Kotodama no Nenju [Beads of Subjegation] that hangs around his neck, the command results in InuYasha eing thrown to the ground.

Miroku - a young houshi that traveled the countryside performing exorcisms and youkai extractions to earn a living. His grandfather was given the curse of the kazaana by Naraku, and it was thus passed gown from generation to generation ending with Miroku. The curse created a void in his hand that is able to suck almost anything inside of it, however, absorbing poisions is harmful and Naraku intentionally sends poisions insect to keep him from using the kazaana. Miroku is a talented con artists and has a weakness for young, pretty girls. He makes it a point to ask every attractice women he meets is she will bear his child.

Sango - a youkai taiji-ya who wields the massive Hiraikotsu in battle. Sango seeks revenge against Naraku for causing the death of her family and entire village, while also whishing to resue her younger brother from Naraku's influences. Brave, determined, and fearless, Sango will not rest until her enemy is destroyed. Sango closest companion is her two-tailed pet nekomata, named Kirara. Although this feline appears small and weak, she can transform into a monstrous animal.

Shippou - a young orphan kitsune whose father was killed by the Thunder Brothers. He is the first character to join InuYasha and Kagome on their travels. Shippou is able to shapeshift, temporarily, and create illusionary tricks with children's toys. He cares very much for Kagome, who has become a sort of foster mother to him. However, Shippou often makes cheeky remarks directed at InuYasha, which often result on a bonk to the head.

Kikyou - a priestess who was entrusted with guarding the Shikon no Tama and keeping it pure. She had great spiritual powers, but inside she wanted nothing more than to be a normal human woman. Kikyou felt an unusual bond with the hanyou InuYasha, and soon deeper feelings grew between the two. However, a trap was laid to corrupt the jewel and Kikyou died with hatred in her heart. Fifty years later, her bones were stolen and, using soil, the priestess was ressurrected.

Sesshoumaru - the elder half brother of InuYasha, Sesshoumaru is cold and emotionless, and believes both humans and hanyous to be inferior and worthless. While he wanders the lands, he is followed around by Jaken, an extremely loyal frog-like youkai, and then later by a small human child, Rin, which seems contrary to his presonality. He seeks to overcome his late father's strength and power.

Naraku - the main antagonist of the story. Naraku began his life as the thief Onigumo, but after suffering terrible burns covering nearly all his body, he became a ward of Kikyou as she cared for him. Onigumi soon began to lust after the priestess, and offered his soul to countless youkai thereby becoming the hanyou Naraku. Using cruel manipulation and countless tricks, he now seeks to complete the Shikon no Tama and destory InuYasha and his allies.