Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon: I don't want to betray fans of Inuyasha. I'm ready to create a new story. I learned "the power of persuasiveness" from Rumiko Takahashi

Translated by: Harley Acres

January 24, 2021 8:05
Mantan Web Editorial Department

The TV anime series Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon (Yomiuri TV/Nippon TV, Saturdays at 5:30 PM, excluding some regions) features the daughters of Sesshomaru and Inuyasha from Rumiko Takahashi-san's popular manga Inuyasha. The three princesses, Towa and Setsuna, twin daughters of Sesshomaru, and Moroha, the daughter of Inuyasha and Kagome Higurashi. The story is set in modern times and the Sengoku period and filled with mysterious developments in which the secrets of the three princesses' births are gradually revealed, all of which has garnered much attention. The series is directed by Teruo Sato, who served as assistant director on Inuyasha: The Final Act. Director Sato commented, "Creating a new story for Inuyasha, which came to a beautiful conclusion, was a tremendous pressure," adding, "Above all, the staff poured their love into the characters so that everyone would fall in love with the three princesses. ^[1] We're making it with determination." We asked him about the attention to detail that goes into creating this work.

◇ I don't want to disappoint Inuyasha fans, the mystery of the birth of the three princesses...

Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon is a story featuring three girls of mixed demon and human descent as its main characters. The story depicts Sesshomaru's twin daughters, Towa and Setsuna, and Kagome and Inuyasha's daughter, Moroha, as they rampage freely across time, from the present day to the Warring States period. Rumiko Takahashi-san is in charge of main character designs, with Sato-san, who was assistant director on Inuyasha: The Final Act, as director and Katsuyuki Sumizawa handling the series composition. ^[2] Like Inuyasha and Inuyasha: The Final Act, the series is produced by Sunrise.

"Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon" revolves around the three princesses, Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha, and characters from Inuyasha such as Inuyasha, Sesshomaru, and Kagome appear in flashback scenes related to the three princesses' births. The first thing that director Sato and his staff focused on was "how to include the characters from Inuyasha."

"I don't want to disappoint Inuyasha fans, so I'm very careful about how I should include him so that the fans will be satisfied with the character, so that it fits in seamlessly, and what the best way to end the story is. Of course, I always get confirmation from Rumiko-sensei about how he will appear in the script before I include him."

The story has progressed under the premise that the three princesses grew up without knowing their parents. On social media, there have been comments such as, "Why aren't Inuyasha and Sesshomaru raising their children?" Director Sato explains, "Up until now, we've been scattering seeds about the mystery of their births."

"Series composer Sumisawa-san was also thinking about building up anticipation to a certain extent and teasing them a little. This time, there is no original work that the anime is based on, so viewers are anxious about not knowing what the story will be like, and if they are teased too much, they will lose interest. On the other hand, we can't give away too much information, so we're making sure to strike a balance between these two aspects. That's what makes original works so interesting. Right now, we're scattering seeds as an original work. If you keep watching, the seeds will gradually sprout and bloom, so if you stick around a little longer, I think you'll understand everything."

◇ Developing new characters with love: What I learned from Rumiko Takahashi

In Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon, Rumiko Takahashi-san designed the main characters Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha, and the three princesses' resemblance to their parents garnered much attention. Director Sato said, "If the anime staff doesn't lovingly nurture the characters that Rumiko-sensei has created, viewers won't love them either."

"I think the reason the characters in Inuyasha are so adored is because Rumiko-sensei has spent years crafting them with love. Knowing this, we're fully prepared for the fact that if the staff doesn't shower their love on the three princesses, they won't be cherished by everyone."

Director Sato and his staff also received advice from Rumiko Takahashi-san when creating the characters.

"For example, Towa is a character who cross-dresses, and when asked why she does so, some people suggested reasons like, 'She had a bad experience dressing up as a girl in the past,' or 'Her skirt got cut.' But Rumiko-sensei suggested, 'Rather than justifying it like that, why not just say it's because she's easy to fight when dressed that way?' and 'Rather than digging deeper into that aspect, wouldn't it be better to create a solid core for Towa's character?' Unless the character's underlying qualities and their corresponding words and actions are linked, she won't be convincing. She thinks logically, so we have no choice but to agree. She places immense importance on a character being convincing."

Director Sato said that Rumiko Takahashi-san's advice was "very accurate, and I've learned a lot from it," and emphasized the importance of creating the characters, saying, "I put my heart and soul into creating them. I'm trying to make sure the characters stay consistent."

Director Sato and the staff's love for Inuyasha has been carried over to Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon. The story will reach a critical stage in the episodes airing in January. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens to Inuyasha and Sesshomaru's daughters.

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Footnotes

• [1] Teruo Sato (佐藤照雄) served as episode director on Inuyasha and Inuyasha: The Final Act and series director on Yashahime and MAO. His other credits include Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn (機動戦士ガンダムUC/Kido Senshi Gundam Unicorn). Toshikazu Naka (仲寿和) produced Yashahime, Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn and Hi-Drivers!.
• [2] Katsuyuki Sumisawa (隅沢克之) is a writer having worked on Inuyasha, Moeyo-ken (機動新撰組 萌えよ剣/Kido Shinsengumi Moeyo Ken), Zatch Bell (金色のガッシュベル！！/Konjiki no Gash Bell!!) , Sailor Moon (美少女戦士セーラームーン/Bishojo Senshi Sailor Moon), Dragon Ball Z (ドラゴンボールＺ) and Mobile Suit Gundam Wing (新機動戦記ガンダムＷ/Shin Kido Senki Gundam W). He also served as an advisor on the Yashahime manga adaptation that was created by Takashi Shiina (椎名高志).

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