The Jaken Mama Theory?!

Translated by: Dylan Acres

The TV anime Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon is currently airing. Taking over the worldview of Inuyasha, the series unfolds into a new Inuyasha world, depicting the struggles of Sesshomaru's twin daughters, Towa and Setsuna, and Inuyasha and Kagome's daughter, Moroha, as they straddle the modern era and the Warring States Period. With the 14th episode now airing, we spoke with Sara Matsumoto, who voices Towa, Mikako Komatsu, who voices Setsuna, and Azusa Tadokoro, who voices Moroha, about the appeal of the series and behind-the-scenes stories.

What did you think when you first heard that a new story about Inuyasha and Sesshomaru's daughters would be made?

Matsumoto: When I found out it was going to be made, the first thing that came to mind was a strong shock... I was shocked to hear that characters I'd watched since I was little were having children, and I wondered a lot about how they came about (laughs).

Tadokoro: I was really surprised too! I knew that Inuyasha had a beautiful conclusion, so I never imagined there would be a new story that would continue it. I wondered if Inuyasha and Kagome had a child, but I wondered who Sesshomaru's child was. Before preparing for the audition, I looked at the character designs carefully, wondering whose children they were (laughs).

Komatsu: When I first saw the title, I thought it was a work with a title like Inuyasha, but I was surprised to find out that it was a work that continued the authentic Inuyasha world (laughs). I was also surprised that it was set as the story of Inuyasha and his children. However, the final episode of Inuyasha: The Final Act did depict Miroku and the others as having children, so it certainly seemed like a plausible story. I was very happy and excited to be able to experience the Inuyasha world, which I've enjoyed since I was a child, all over again.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it's hard to imagine recordings going on as usual, so what was it like on set?

Matsumoto: There are a lot of scenes involving the three of us, so we're usually all together when we're recording. Even in this situation, they've been very creative with the recording order so that we can record with people we interact with as much as possible.

Tadokoro: On the other hand, unless we're involved, we don't get to see each other much.

Komatsu: Moroha has a lot of solo scenes, so at times we don't see each other at all.

Tadokoro: Moroha is often with Takechiyo and Jyubei, so it must be lonely when you don't get to see them at all...

It seems like a friendly and harmonious recording set.

Matsumoto: That's true. The atmosphere on set was great, and after recording, we even went to an Inuyasha collaboration cafe together. I feel like I've been accepted into the Inuyasha family, and I'm grateful for that.

What kind of characters are Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha, respectively, that you play?

Matsumoto: Towa, unlike Moroha and Setsuna, is the only character who grew up in modern times, so there are many scenes where Moroha and Setsuna, who grew up in the Warring States period, criticize her for being too weak or too flexible. I thought she would brush them off, saying, "That's not true!", but she surprisingly takes it in stride, so I think she's a very soft-spoken girl deep down.



Tadokoro: Moroha, at first glance, seems a bit silly. Sound director Yasushi Nagura even told me to "act even more foolish" (laughs). ^[1] While she has an innocent side that makes her act before thinking, she has also survived some pretty tough times on her own, which has led to her being skilled in combat, the most strategic of the three, and the unexpected ability to give orders like, "You go here." She's a character you really can't take your eyes off of, and the more you get to know her, the more you like her. Her emotions and expressions change so constantly that it's hard for me to keep up, which is why I never get bored of watching her.

Komatsu: Setsuna is the complete opposite of Towa. While she has inherited a strong heritage from Sesshomaru in some ways, such as her calmness and way of speaking, she was raised in a human settlement, and I think her ability to connect with people is what sets her apart from Sesshomaru. While she's annoyed by Towa's lukewarm lifestyle, which is the complete opposite of her own, she's also conflicted because she recognizes her own unique charm... I think she truly captures the emotional turmoil of a 14-year-old girl. Also, she's surprisingly good at getting into comedy scenes, so she's really into it. She's the type who can't read the mood (laughs). I guess it's the influence of growing up in a remote village.

What were the parts that you found easy to empathize with and the parts that were difficult to empathize with when playing each character?

Matsumoto: Honestly, I didn't have any difficulty acting even during the audition. I felt like Towa's thoughts just came naturally to me without me having to think too hard about it. So it wasn't that hard, and in fact there were many parts that I could empathize with.

Tadokoro: When I first received the materials, I imagined how Moroha might act. But I don't think I have anything in common with her, as I tend to get depressed and withdraw... So it's quite hard to get into Moroha's energy (laughs). So I try to move my body in a big way when I act. Moroha walks with big strides and uses her whole body to express herself, so I try to move my facial expressions a lot and move around a lot too. It feels like I'm clinging to Moroha's vitality!



Komatsu: Setsuna is the opposite of Moroha, in that she speaks without moving as much as possible. However, simply speaking quietly doesn't carry any weight, so I try to put in a bit of pressure. I think Sesshomaru's voice is one that's not loud but has a certain power that makes you listen without thinking, so I try to keep that in mind.

Is it like imbuing your voice with dignity?

Komatsu: That's right. One difficult part was when we were doing the first recording, we were told that our voices were too similar to Towa's, and it was hard to tell which one was speaking.

Matsumoto: Ah! That's right.

Komatsu: Towa and Setsuna are twins, so it's possible, if you like, but we have to differentiate them as characters... So I'm devising ways to project my voice so that the differences in their upbringings come across.

It seems difficult to have to sound similar and yet have to change at the same time... What do you think about each other's acting?

Matsumoto: The only materials I received before the audition were character designs by Rumiko Takahashi and a simple relationship chart, so I was unsure what kind of people each character would come out as when they were voiced. But once recording began, I thought, "I see! So that's what they're like!" During the recording itself, I was desperately trying to keep up with the two actors so as not to cause them any trouble. I get so much from them every episode.

Tadokoro: When I auditioned, I was auditioning for the two other roles besides Moroha, but to be honest, I couldn't imagine what Towa and Setsuna's voices would sound like. But when I actually recorded with them, I thought, "This is it! This is it! I've found the answer!" (laughs) Towa is a difficult character who is quite unstable, not fitting in either the modern era or the Sengoku period, and she makes some inappropriate remarks. But Sara-san's honest and straightforward acting makes you feel like Towa must have her own beliefs that lead her to say and do the things she does. I love Sara's straightforward acting, which really brings out her personality.

Matsumoto: No, no, no, no! Thank you...

Tadokoro: I understand this because I also took on the role of Setsuna, but I think it's amazing how Komatsu-san, despite being a woman, is able to bring out the acting of (Ken) Narita-san, who plays Sesshomaru. But I also feel Setsuna's cute 14-year-old side, and I think the breadth of that is truly amazing, and I think it's all down to Komatsu's skill.

Komatsu: Oh man!

Tadokoro: No, it's Komatsu-san's skill! Every time, I feel like I have to keep up with the two of them. I always go home feeling depressed.

Komatsu: It's true that Sara-san's acting really brings out her personality. Although she looks quite boyish, she has a friendly personality that makes me think she could live in any era. That friendly personality is something Sara herself has; she has great communication skills, is on an even keel with everyone, and is fun to talk to. I get the impression that she has a lot of similarities with Towa in terms of the range of stories she can tell. Moroha is truly the descendant of Inuyasha and Kagome! Her acting is like that. The playful and absent-minded side of Koroazu matches up well with Moroha, making her look even cuter. That's why, even though Setsuna sometimes gets annoyed with Moroha, I think she can accept her. That's the "Koroazu Magic"!　^[2]

I'd also like to ask about the series. Was there a scene that made a big impression on you while you were acting?

Matsumoto: Episode 14. It was the episode where we learned how Towa and Setsuna got caught up in the forest fire, and it was a sad, fleeting, and beautiful story that made you sympathize a little with the mastermind behind the forest fire... The scene where Homura, who set the forest on fire, takes his own life had me emotional during the recording, and it made a big impression on me. I was stunned by what had happened right before my eyes, and it's an unforgettable episode.

Tadokoro: What I thought was unique to Inuyasha was how he explains things while being surprised, in a critical situation, firing off a technique, or doing something else at the same time (laughs).

Matsumoto: Ah! Maybe that's especially true for Moroha.

Tadokoro: It's difficult because I have to explain things clearly while still conveying the emotional surprise. I'm struggling, but I'm doing my best. But it really warms my heart to think that I'm now able to do what my predecessors in Inuyasha have done! I recently rewatched Inuyasha, and I imagine it must have been difficult for Miroku-sama, as he often had to explain things while yelling...

Komatsu: As a half-demon, I was looking forward to the episode on the first day of the month. Also, the episode in which Miroku-sama appeared was great, as it showed the father-son relationship between Miroku and Hisui. It was an unforgettable episode, showing us the positive side of Miroku-sama as father, and letting us fall in love with him all over again.

The mysteries of the story are gradually being unravelled, and the true identities of Towa and Setsuna's mother will soon be revealed. How did you feel when you found out?

Everyone: (applause) We all applauded.

Tadokoro: We weren't told for a long time either, so we always wondered who it was.

Komatsu: We had been discussing it for a long time, and during that time, the "Jaken Mama Theory" came up. It's true that Jaken is very caring and would make a good mother, but if that's the case, then if the child is Sesshomaru and Jaken's, then she wouldn't be a half-demon, but just a regular yokai, or something like that, I thought. (laughs) ^[3]

Matsumoto: When I ego-search on Twitter, I see that everyone is enjoying all sorts of speculation.

So you do ego-searches.

Matsumoto: I get especially curious on the days when there's a broadcast, so I end up looking. I search by tags and stuff. I check it out, thinking, "I see that people are watching like this, I'm so grateful."

Komatsu: I'm sure everyone is speculating as well, but the true identities of Towa and Setsuna's mother will be revealed soon, so please look forward to it!

Matsumoto, Komatsu, and Tadokoro gave a fun and well-paced talk, just like the three daughters in Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon. In the next broadcast, the true identities of Towa and Setsuna's mothers will finally be revealed...?! So, Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon is even more unmissable from now on. Episode 15 will air on Yomiuri TV and Nippon TV from 5:30 PM on Saturday, January 16th! ^[4]

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Footnotes

• [1] Yasushi Nagura (名倉靖) was the sound director (voice director) on both seasons of Yashahime and worked as a sound recorder on all of Inuyasha, Inuyasha: The Final Act and all four films.
• [2] "Koroazu" (ころあず) is Azusa Tadakoro's nickname.
• [3] The "Jaken Mama Theory" is discussed further in Prince Animage 2021 Vol. 5 and was first mentioned in an interview in Animage 2020 Vol. 11.
• [4] For unclear reasons, sections of this interview are nearly identical to an interview that was run by Animate Times, Mantan Web and Pash! Plus, however some of the answers are expanded upon here, and other aspects are omitted from the interviews that appear in Animate Times, Mantan Web and Pash! Plus.

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