The Three Daughters' Unique Journey

Translated by: Dylan Acres

The story of the three girls begins to unfold, carrying the hopes of Inuyasha fans. What fate awaits these girls, who have different personalities and live in different eras?



Moroha

The daughter of Inuyasha and Kagome, a quarter-demon bounty hunter. She has no memories of her parents, but has inherited the "demonic powers of a demon" and the "mystic powers of a miko."

Truly Inuyasha and Kagome’s Child!

Azusa Tadokoro, the voice of Moroha: "Moroha is the daughter of Inuyasha and Kagome, so I knew from the audition onward that I wanted to incorporate elements of both of them. I tried to incorporate the animalistic quality of Inuyasha when he sits and talks like a dog, and I also tried to evoke Kagome's feminine strength and grace. But when I thought about it, I realized that their personalities are similar to begin with. They've become similar as they've traveled together. They both have the kindness that leads them to help others, and the anger that makes them lose their temper easily. So I thought Moroha might be like that, too. Her volatile emotions and agility make her truly the child of Inuyasha and Kagome."

Setsuna

Towa's twin sister. A member of the Demon Slayers, she has a calm and collected personality. She was separated from Towa at a young age and has no memory of what happened back then.

Calmly, Thinking of Sesshomaru.

Mikako Komatsu, who plays Setsuna: "When I was playing Setsuna in the main story, I was directed to remember Ken Narita's (Sesshomaru) character." During the audition, I was offered two versions: one that emphasized a cool aura and one that was more down-to-earth and girlish. At first, I wasn't sure which version to choose, so I tried a softer version. Then, I was told, "You can play a bit more subdued and aggressive." So now, I'm trying to stay calm and collected while keeping Sesshomaru in mind. I haven't worked with Narita-san yet on the filming of Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon," but we played father and daughter for about a year in another production, so I can't wait to share the joy of being a daughter again (laughs)!" ^[2]

Towa Higurashi

Sesshomaru's daughter and Setsuna's twin sister. She traveled back in time to the present day at a young age. She excels in martial arts, and her skills are so great that she can singlehandedly defeat a group of delinquents.

She’s Good at Fighting, but She’s Ultimately an Ordinary Girl.

Sara Matsumoto, who plays Towa Higurashi: "Towa has spent 10 years under her father, Sota, and doesn't remember her real parents, so I think she's more contemporary than she is from the Warring States period. When I first submitted my audition tape, I was very conscious of the fact that I was Sesshōmaru's daughter, so I tried to look completely boyish. However, I was later instructed not to make her too boyish. This gave me the perfect balance: a brawler but still with the qualities of a 14-year-old middle school girl. Incidentally, like Mikako, I've played Narita-san's daughter in another production. I'm already curious to see if the parent-child relationship will be depicted in the future." ^[3]

Cycling in a War-Torn Land?!

Towa and Setsuna riding her bike, with Moroha chasing after her, reminds us of the scenes that unfolded in Inuyasha. In episode 1, Kagome's bicycle seat was placed in front of Towa at the Ogiya manor. Will bicycles be a key item in Yashahime as well?

The original anime series Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon, which continues the worldview of Inuyasha, has finally begun airing. Many viewers were likely surprised by the first episode. Not only were the main trio on screen, but characters from Inuyasha like Inuyasha, Kagome, Miroku, Sango, and Sesshomaru were running around freely! The first episode begins with Towa, who has been captured by Hiiragi Danjo of the Ogigayatsu family of the Kanto Shogunate, hearing the story of Kagome and Inuyasha (a shrine maiden from "Tokyo" who had been hunting demons with her over a decade ago). Inuyasha and his friends, who make a living by hunting demons, are said to have fought a demon called Root Head after their battle with the half-demon Naraku... The show was packed with familiar scenes, including exchanges that highlighted each character's unique style, the unleashing of Meido Zangetsuha with the black Tessaiga, and Kagome's "sit" command. It truly was a festival-like opening. However, as Mikako Komatsu, who voices Setsuna, said, "As episode 2 is the true first episode of Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon, this is just the beginning of the Yashahime companions' adventure. The new era of a feudal fairy tale with the three girls is just beginning!"

Inuyasha is a Textbook on Life

Inuyasha

Moroha’s half-demon father. After winning the battle against Naraku, he chose to live together with Kagome in the Feudal Era. He also drove back Root Head combining his power with Kagome’s but…

Sesshomaru

A great demon who is Towa and Setsuna’s father. While Inuyasha was fighting Root Head, he did not lend a hand but rather he quietly watched over Sango’s house where Rin was taking refuge.

Roundtable Discussion with the Three Princesses

All three grew up influenced by Inuyasha

Everyone, as fans of Inuyasha please tell us your favorite character or episode?

Matsumoto: Once we start discussing Inuyasha, we'll completely forget this is an interview, and we'll be talking past midnight! (laughs) My favorites were Miroku and Naraku.

Tadokoro: Miroku! He’s surprising!

Komatsu: You liked Naraku?!

Matsumoto: First, I was overwhelmed by Miroku’s adult sexiness. I loved that he's such a cad. You know how whenever things got too tense within the Inuyasha group, Miroku would say “now then” and calm things down. I always thought that was so cool. Back then, I drew Miroku’s Wind Tunnel on my hand and copied him (laughs).

Komatsu and Tadokoro together: I did that too!

Matsumoto: On the other hand, I felt charmed by how Naraku was so evil. I thought “There’s really someone this evil!”. I was shocked that even though he was originally human, as a result of manipulating all sorts of people and demons, he became like that. I was completely enamored by the idea of him as a “true villain”.

Komatsu: If we're talking about Naraku’s group, I loved Kagura.

Matsumoto and Tadokoro together: Ah Kagura!

Komatsu: Naraku's very existence as a demon came from the negative traits of humans such as jealousy and envy. But from that, Kagura was born with a human-like heart and I always felt that was interesting. Her life was always in Naraku’s hands. In reality, she wanted to join Inuyasha’s side but couldn’t. Even so she wanted to be free like the wind and ironically at the end, she became the wind by Naraku’s own hand. Then, in her last moments when she met Sesshomaru she said “I got to see you”...!

Matsumoto and Tadokoro together: Yes!!

Komatsu: Kagura was the only character on the enemy’s side that I liked. On Inuyasha’s side, I’d have to say I liked the pairing of Inuyasha and Kagome. Inuyasha had a romance element to it; for me it had elements of both a shonen and shojo manga and it was a work that was truly like a textbook on life. I did things like ask my parents to make the Japanese style room in our house into my personal room and bought folding fans because I said “I want to become a wind user too!”

Tadokoro: Mine is mainstream but I liked Sesshomaru.

Matsumoto and Komatsu together: Ah, Lord Sesshomaru!!

Komatsu: Well our Dad is so cool.

Tadokoro: I can’t resist his charm. He doesn’t say much but ultimately, he does look out for the others. At first, he kept going after Inuyasha in order to take his sword but eventually, he ended up helping Inuyasha grow right? Sort of (laughs).

Matsumoto: He’s so tsundere!

Tadokoro: Exactly! He cares for Rin obviously but despite how he treats him, he does consider Jaken important. My favorite episode was the one where Rin gets taken into the underworld.

Matsumoto and Komatsu together: Oh yes!

Tadokoro: When Sesshomaru said “There’s nothing worth losing Rin’s life for”... I think that was the moment everyone fell for him (laughs). Also Kohaku. He went through something extremely painful and continued to endure his suffering for a long time after being forced to kill against his well. He values his own life so little because of that, and there are many scenes where he’s saved by others. At first I thought “Please stop”, however, in the anime because of Akiko Yajima’s voice, I really understood “It’s not that he’s trying to get in everyone’s way, he just acts this way because he’s so tormented.” Yajima-san’s portrayal of Kohaku is what made me want to be become a voice actor so I have a lot of feelings for his character. When I saw him as an adult in Yashahime, I really felt like saying “Thank you for choosing to live”.

There is no end to this Inuyasha discussion. Will you please tell us your impressions of Yashahime. Did all of you audition for all three of the girls?

Tadokoro: I only auditioned for Moroha in the pre-tape audition, but later I did all three girls in the studio audition. But the fact is that because I did Moroha for the original tape audition I was most interested in her. My very first impression was being moved when I saw the child born from Inuyasha and Kagome was this girl, and I was so happy to see their child. She really does look like them and she’s so vivacious that I thought she would actually come to life. I randomly thought “I wonder if she’s living a happy life?”.

Matsumoto: I only auditioned for Towa. I thought she was cool simply from her appearance alone, but initially I was so shocked at the idea of “Sesshomaru’s daughter” that I was at a complete loss. I was like “Sesshomaru had a daughter…?!” (laughs).

All: (Laughs)

Matsumoto: I wondered “How did he give birth when he’s a guy?”

Komatsu: With Sesshomaru, I can imagine him doing something like cutting off a lock of his hair and breathing life into by blowing on it (laughs).

Matsumoto: I can see that transforming into a baby (laughs). While Setsuna is Towa's twin sister, Towa spent most of her life in the modern era. I felt there was a lot of room for thoughts like “What happened between her and Setsuna?” or “Are their personalities different?”.

Komatsu: In my case, when I received the notice for the audition, I only saw the title Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon and thought “This is going to be a rip-off of Inuyasha (laughs). When I read the description and saw it really had “a continuation of the world of Inuyasha” written on it I was really surprised. Not only that but it had the catch phrase “Sesshomaru has a daughter” and I thought “The Sesshomaru!?”. So I was completely surprised. For the audition, I only did Setsuna but upon seeing the planning documents, her facial features and the white fur around her neck, I realized she really is the daughter of Sesshomaru. In the audition script, there were a few lines that showed that she didn’t seem to really remember her father but her guarded demeanor really gave me the sense of ‘like father, like daughter.’

As you got used to your roles, have there been any changes from your first impression?

Komatsu: Each of their backgrounds are slowly being revealed up but of those, there are many scenes where you can tell Towa has been heavily influenced by the modern era from having lived there so long.

Matsumoto: Yes. You can see that contrast when they’re confronted by a demon; Towa will hesitate where as Setsuna and Moroha will go on the offensive. Also when Towa waits to take the killing blow, the two of them scold her.

Komatsu: For Setsuna and Moroha, killing demons is a job but for Towa, she kills them in order to save others. Therefore, due to the difference in their way of thinking, they come into conflict but as the three of them spend more time together, their sense of comradery will deepen... I feel like my impression is slowly evolving as the story progresses, like for example, how Setsuna suddenly begins participating in the humorous scenes and how they grow as a trio.

Tadokoro: With Moroha’s evolution, at first I was told by the directors “It’s okay to make her sillier”. But, while she does act on her emotions like a child and she can be a little simpleminded, in battle she’ll issue instructions like “Do this” and I think she’s good at assisting the others. Based on appearances, Towa and Setsuna seem like they would be better at combat but the fact that Moroha has a sharp tactical mind is something that surprised me.

Matsumoto: My impression of Towa hasn’t really changed but I am curious to see how she will adapt to the Sengoku Era and how the three girls will work as a team. Even when Towa returns to the Sengoku Era, it’s not like she forgets the modern era and so she says things to Setsuna, Moroha, and Takechiyo like “In the future, we have something like this”. Towa doesn’t seem to find it hard to go from the modern era to the feudal era and when recording began, I once again thought “so that's how she is.”

Komatsu: ...I think the way Towa brings herself and others together is similar to “that person”.

Matsumoto: You said something so dramatic like it was nothing!

Komatsu: I thought the way Towa concerns herself over Setsuna but Setsuna responds with “Shut up! Leave me alone!” was a relationship similar to that of their parents... If you look at Towa, I think you can figure out who their mother is.

Tadokoro: You definitely get an idea. So how about the possibility of Jaken? (laughs)

Matsumoto: The "Jaken Mama" theory huh! (laughs). ^[4] What makes me emotional is that even though Setsuna pushes Towa away and goes on ahead, she’ll stop, look back, and watch Towa complain behind her. She’s just like her father when she does that!

Komatsu: I agree! She’s truly concerned about her.

Tadokoro: To Moroha, despite what Towa and Setsuna say to one other, they’re pretty affectionate so she does feel a little “left out”.

All: (laughs)

Matsumoto: The other day when we were recording a preview, Azusa-san said to me “Towa really doesn’t mention Moroha much does she.” When I thought about it, I realized it’s true that there’s a lot of “Setsuna and I did this” sort of conversations (laughs).

Tadokoro: Moroha’s there too! (laughs).

Matsumoto: Setsuna is very precious to Towa. Even though Setsuna and Moroha are experts when it comes to surviving in the Sengoku Era, Towa still wants to play the big sister to Setsuna. That dynamic is pretty amusing.

That's definitely something to keep an eye on in future broadcasts. Now, please tell us your thoughts on episode 1.

Komatsu: It's a story of Inuyasha soon after the end of the series so I don’t know if fans felt as if they had “come home”? I think it was anepisode that was like “First of all, welcome back and now welcome to a new world of Inuyasha!”

Tadokoro: It really is moving isn’t it... I was also really excited for the broadcast.

Matsumoto: Even more so since during the recording, the different casts recorded their scenes separately, so we never got to watch the Inuyasha cast acting.

Komatsu: And there were scenes filled with nostalgia that were just as they were in the original anime which got me excited.

Matsumoto: There were. From episode 2 onwards, there will be some related demons that appeared in Inuyasha. When those scenes happen, I get excited like “There was a scene like that originally!”

Komatsu: In a way episode 2 is kind of the first episode of Yashahime. The first evil demon that appears is similar to the first demon that appeared in Inuyasha and I think that will make fans happy.

Tadokoro: Also demons that appeared in scenes in the original anime will also appear as Yashahime versions. That also makes me emotional.

From episode 2 onwards will be exciting for Inuyasha fans. In this article's illustration the connection is made with the bicycle Kagome was always rode in Inuyasha, and here we have a bicycle and the three girls.

Matsumoto: My heart is pounding seeing Setsuna wrap her hands around Towa’s waist.

Komatsu: She’s really staring at her (laughs)! In the episodes, Setsuna hasn’t opened up to Towa yet but I wonder how much time has passed for the gap between them to close like this?

Tadokoro: Setsuna’s completely riding like a “girlfriend!” Moroha’s been knocked off the bicycle entirely (laughs)

Komatsu: We need to attach a side car for her (laughs).

What are some scenes that you would like to see illustrated going forward?

Komatsu: I want to see everyone in school uniforms!

Matsumoto: Yes! Please put Moroha in Kagome’s sailor uniform.

Tadokoro: Yes, I definitely want to see her wear that! Along the same lines, I want to see Towa and Setsuna dressed like Lord Sesshomaru.

Matsumoto: Each one dressed like their parents, I like that. Not just a sailor uniform for Moroha but also in miko robes too.

Tadokoro: She has black hair so I’m sure it will look good on her.

Matsumoto: Moroha and Setsuna normally have their hair tied back so I want to see them with their hair down.

Komatsu: I'd like a scene where the three of them are in a hot spring. There were scenes like that in Inuyasha where there were monkeys in the hot springs (laugh).

Matsumoto: Personally, I want to see Setsuna and Moroha dressed in modern clothes. Something like all three of them going to an amusement park.

Komatsu: I want to see them taking exams for school!

Q. What do you think will happen when Towa and Setsuna reunite with Sesshomaru?

Komatsu: Well first, what would they call Sesshomaru? Would they call him “father”? I’ve actually been curious if Sesshomaru was the one who named them.

Tadokoro: That’s true. Who did name them?

Komatsu: The characters in “Towa" means "eternity” and “Setsuna" means "moment”... What sort of meaning do these totally opposite names have?

Matsumoto: I feel like Setsuna’s is more fleeting. The possibilities are endless.

Tadokoro: Kagome’s name was too but the names in general tend to have an uncertain nuance to them. For Moroha, the words “double-edged sword” and “fragile” have a certain similarity. There was a meaning to Kagome’s name so I tend to think there’s also a meaning in Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha. Also, Moroha’s red clothes are the Robes of the Fire Rat that Inuyasha wore. Apparently, she remodeled it herself and I’m really curious about that. Is it possibly a memento? I don’t want that to be the case!!

Q. Among the three of you, who resembles their character the most?

Komatsu: Probably Towa (Matsumoto)? Her aura is similar to Towa in a gutsy, cheerful sense. It doesn’t feel like she's putting on an act when she’s acting.

Tadokoro: My first thought was Towa too. I thought they looked alike.

Matsumoto: That makes me so happy...! There are times when I feel I’m similar to Towa but I think everyone is simailar in some ways. I feel like Azusa-san is mischievous and bubbly like Moroha and Komatsu-san has Setsuna’s cool beauty.

Komatsu: No, I'm not cool at all (laughs). I think the rock essence that Koroazu has during her concerts is close to Moroha!

Tadokoro: That’s true, I try to showcase a wild side (laughs).

Episode 1 Play Back: Inuyasha Since Then

Inuyasha and Kagome exterminated Root Head with a combination attack...or so it was assumed, but in actuality, the demon entangled itself with the roots of the Tree of Ages. The still living Root Head extends its roots to the fates of Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha. And the true identity of Yotsume who tells Towa the this tale of the past, comes to light. Is he someone to keep an eye on going forward?

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Footnotes

• [1] Rie Nakashima (中嶋理恵) worked as art director on Pokemon the Movie (劇場版ポケットモンスター ミュウツーの逆襲) as well as Inuyasha Movie 2: The Castle Beyond the Looking Glass as well as Kekkaishi (結界師).
• [2] Mikako Komatsu and Ken Narita appeared together in High School DxD (ハイスクールD×D), Akame ga Kill! (アカメが斬る!), That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime (転生したらスライムだった件) and The 8th Son? Are You Kidding Me? (八男って､ それはないでしょう!/Hachinan tte, Sore wa Nai Deshō!)
• [3] Sara Matsumoto and Ken Narita played daughter and father in Naruto: Shippuden.
• [4] The "Jaken Mama Theory" is discussed further in Prince Animage 2021 Vol. 5.

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