Intertwined Fates

Translated by: Dylan Acres

The story of Yashahime and their friends came to a close with the shocking scene of Setsuna's death. The complex web of relationships that revolves around Towa and the others continues in the second season.



Zero: Kirinmaru's older sister. She was in love with The Great Dog Demon. She was the one who created the Rainbow Pearls, and after her breakup with Kirinmaru, she went in search of the scattered rainbow pearls.

Kirinmaru: The Beast King of the Eastern Provinces. He was angry at his sister, and as a result of Sesshomaru's misconduct she parted ways with her brother. He fought against Towa and the other three and defeated Setsuna.

Sesshomaru: He's the son of the Great Dog Demon, the King of Beasts who once stood alongside Kirinmaru. Sesshomaru is the father of Towa and Setsuna. He is apparently searching for a boy named Akuru, but the reason for this is unknown.

A battle over half-demons?

Zero has tried to eliminate the half-demons descended from the Great Dog Demon by inciting Kirinmaru to defeat Inuyasha and burning the forest where Towa and Setsuna were hiding. Sesshomaru has always been by his side. Though he doesn't say much, Sesshōmaru may have seen through Zero's intentions early on and acted preemptively.

The bond between Rin and Zero

Zero connects herself to others through "bonds," allowing her to manipulate them at will. If Zero dies, the person she connects to will die with her. It seems that Zero connected herself to Rin through a bond, as a check on Sesshomaru. It's also interesting to see how Rin and Zero came to be connected by this bond.

What Sesshomaru is looking for

Sesshomaru has not appeared on the story's stage for a long time. During that time, he has been searching for a young boy named Akuru. The pinwheel that Akuru possesses seems to be connected to the giant "Windmill of Time." After Akuru appears before Sesshomaru, the Windmill of Time, which had been motionless for so long, begins to move. What does this mean...?

Setsuna's Seal

Zero wants Kirinmaru to defeat Towa and the others, but Kirinmaru, who prefers fair and honest fighting, realizes the difference in their abilities and decides to wait until they mature before fighting. So, Zero forcibly removes the seal of the demon blood placed on Setsuna, in order to get Kirinmaru to fight Towa and the others in earnest.

Broken Tenseiga

Sesshomaru's Tenseiga is a healing sword made from the fang of his father, and is said to "protect the lives of the weak." Sesshomaru uses Tenseiga to revive a fallen samurai, but in a fit of rage, Zero breaks the sword. Will the shattered Tenseiga be able to revive Setsuna, who also lost her life?

The fire that separated Towa and Setsuna, the Dream Butterfly that robbed Setsuna of her sleep, the sleeping Rin, and the Rainbow Pearls endowed with supernatural powers—all of these key events in the story are connected to Kirinmaru's older sister, Zero.
Once upon a time, Zero heard the Shikon Jewel prophecy that a being neither demon nor human, a being that transcends time and space, would "destroy" Kirinmaru. Believing this to refer to Towa, Setsuna, Moroha, and Inuyasha, she attempted to eliminate Towa and the others to protect her brother. However, that was just a facade. Behind her actions lurked jealousy toward the quarter demons and half-demons descended from The Great Dog Demon. Her unrequited love for The Great Dog Demon appears to have been the motivation behind her twisted emotions and actions. This behavior angered Kirinmaru, and Zero disappeared from his sight. However, the story doesn't end there. Towa and the others end up fighting Kirinmaru as a "test of courage and cowardice," and Setsuna loses her life in the process. There are still many other issues to be resolved, including Rin, who remains asleep, and the Grim Comet that has appeared in the present day. We can't wait to see how these mysteries will be unraveled in season 2.

Famous Lines Pick Up!

Ken Narita as Sesshomaru
"If we don't do this anymore, Rin will be sad."
The monologue in episode 24, "If we don't do this anymore, Rin..." really hit me.
"Sesshomaru doesn't show kindness, but sometimes he blurts things like this out. And he doesn't put any deep emotion into it, just blurts it out casually. I think that's one of his best qualities." (Narita)

Sara Matsumoto as Towa
"We're not alone anymore."
The words she says to Moroha at the end of episode 16, "We're not alone," struck me as very Towa-like.
Of course, Towa's thoughts about everyone include Setsuna. "Everything Towa did for Setsuna during the Sengoku period, she always had the core belief that 'I'll be okay because I'm with Setsuna.' I think her unwavering nature really shines when the three of them are cornered." (Matsumoto)

Mikako Komatsu as Setsuna
'You can always change the way you live.'
"The words from episode 16, 'You can always change the way you live.' I remember them saying that. Even though Setsuna is a half-demon, she's pretty crazy for her age. I think that's because of her past experiences and the blood that flows through her veins. Having gone through episode 20, which depicts Setsuna's past, I once again realized the power of those words." (Komatsu)

Don't Give Up the Future!

Father/Daughter Cast Roundtable Discussion

At the beginning of season 2, I want Setsuna to come back to life immediately.

The "sense of smell" required to play Sesshomaru

Today (the interview day) marks the end of the recording for episode 23, so thank you all for your hard work!

Matsumoto: Thank you. Actually, today I worked with Narita-san for the first time on Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon. It feels like we finally met, and I'm so happy!

Narita: So, it was finally the first time we met as father and daughter! I look forward to working with you on this interview.

Komatsu: Thank you very much. After recording episode 23, Narita-san also recorded episode 24 (the final episode of the season). Next week is the final episode, and we read the script, but it was so shocking...!

The final episode left us with a really intriguing ending. Having come this far in the story, how are you all feeling now?

Matsumoto: Since episode 20, the story has been picking up momentum as it approaches the end. I think viewers have had all their previous speculations overturned. We started recording without knowing what was going to happen next, and as we worked on the recordings, we kept asking ourselves, "What's going to happen next?" It was a constant stream of surprises. Just when we thought we'd finally gotten to interact with her father in episode 23, Setsuna ended up like that... We were shocked, thinking, "I never thought it would end like that!" I've been thinking a lot about how this will lead to season 2. While I'm looking forward to season 2, my current feeling is that I want to rewatch season 1 before it starts airing.

Komatsu: When I didn't know what was going to happen next, I asked the staff, "How did season 1 end, and what will happen in season 2?" and they said, "Most of the questions viewers have will be answered in season 1. We might be able to film again with the Higurashi family near the end of season 1." So, in my mind, I was hoping that at the end of season 1, a lot of things like Kirinmaru's situation and Rin's slumber will be resolved, and Setsuna and the others will return to the present day, and in season 2, the three Yashahime girls will begin their happy school life in the present day.

Everyone: (laughs)

Komatsu: Then it went in a completely different direction! Just when you thought the story was gradually coming together, more problems arise, and there are still many unsolved mysteries. While I'm excited to see how they'll all turn out in the second season, Setsuna, first and foremost, just has to be brought back to life as soon as possible. The Inuyasha world is known for its thrilling plots, where characters are repeatedly knocked down and then get back up to fight, so I'm looking forward to a similarly exciting plot in the second season!

Narita: I don't like to calculate future developments and think, "I'll do this part like this," so I try to approach dubbing without knowing as much about the story and other characters' actions as possible. I also find it more interesting when I don't know the story. So, all I'm using is my sense of smell. For this project, I feel like I'm using it about 1000 times more than usual. That requires a tremendous amount of concentration, I feel it's a very stimulating work in many ways.

Sesshomaru himself seems to be acting with full knowledge of Kirinmaru and Zero's intentions. Narita-san, you were acting without knowing what was going to happen next.

Narita: That's right. Sound director Nagura-san asked me if I could give you a document explaining what would happen next, but I deliberately declined. ^[1] If I knew, I was afraid I might let unnecessary emotions come out in my voice. I aimed for a middle ground between "the lines exactly as written in the script" and "my own theory," and I worked with a sense of "maybe it's like this?"

Komatsu: While I think Sesshomaru knows everything, his lines are mixed with so many different elements that I always feel like "I wonder what's going to happen?" That's why fans love to explore those gaps.

Matsumoto: Me too. There's always room left to make you think.

Komatsu: To begin with, he's not a man of many words, but even with those few words, I think it's typical of Father that he doesn't say everything. Today, I actually watched Narita's voice recording, and I was impressed by how precisely he expresses Sesshomaru's nuances.

Narita: As expected, you two are both Inuyasha fans (laughs). But it's really difficult. Sesshomaru doesn't express himself in words. That said, if I told him everything, he'd suddenly become a boring guy. I think he knows everything himself, but he holds back without giving an answer, and then pushes it out a little... that balance is important. It's something I'm always conscious of, but it's still difficult. He only has a few lines, so I sometimes worry "If I mess this line up, when will he next get to speak?" That's why I act with the feeling of needing to put everything into each of his words.

Komatsu hasn't given up on her dream of an exciting modern school life yet!

Narita-san, how did you feel when you first heard about the Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon project?

Narita: I never thought Inuyasha would be revived in this way. If it was going to be done, I naturally thought it would be a story centered around Inuyasha. I never imagined that Sesshomaru's children would be the main characters. I thought that was impossible, and I wondered a lot, like, "So who is the mother?" Rin was a surprise.

Was it a surprise?

Narita: I thought they would never touch on that part, so I wanted to shake Sesshomaru by the shoulders and say, "That's not like you!" (laughs)

Komatsu: Love blossomed!

Narita: Sesshomaru is far removed from love... I even think he had a ulterior motive in having children.

In other words, it wasn't because he wanted to start a family?

Narita: That might be true for Inuyasha, but with Sesshomaru, I wonder if he was experimenting, like, "What kind of chemical reaction would occur in my heart if I had a child?" Because I don't think he needed to be a father.

Komatsu: It certainly seems like Sesshomaru had that kind of desire to "know."

So how did you feel when you saw your daughters?

Narita: "Ah, so that's what they're like." I thought they were brave and healthy. It adds color to the characters. I can see some similarities between them and Sesshomaru, but the shock of finding out he had two daughters was still quite strong. "I wonder if the Sesshomaru I knew before will fall apart," and "I don't want him to end up with droopy eyes." It's complicated. However, it's also true that throughout the Inuyasha story, his affection for Rin gradually emerges. So perhaps something similar will begin to grow in his daughters, and I think that could also add to his charm.

It's been about 20 years since your Inuyasha days, but do you remember when you first met Sesshomaru?

Narita: I wasn't cast in the role of Sesshomaru through an audition. Apparently there were auditions, but they weren't successful, so Rumiko Takahashi-san, the original author, listened to voice samples from several candidates. That's when Rumiko-san asked me to play the role. Up until then, I hadn't appeared in many anime productions, so I think a lot of young people recognize me from my role as Sesshomaru, and I felt like things changed after I played Sesshomaru. So he's a really big presence to me.

His facial features are androgynous, but his voice is low, so some people might have found him surprising at first.

Narita: I remember when I first saw the character designs, I thought he was a woman in a furisode kimono. So for my first test, I used a higher-pitched voice. It was what they call a beautiful boy's voice. Then, the sound director at the time, Yota Tsuruoka, told me to make it lower. ^[2] I thought, "What?", but I made it lower, but he still said, "Even lower." At first it was really difficult. I even thought, "I can't keep doing this!" So from then on, I gradually raised the volume just enough so that it was unnoticeable. I thought I couldn't express it otherwise. Then, gradually, it became easier.

Matsumoto: I see.

Narita: But there was a trigger for that. One day, I received a letter from a fan of the series, and apparently the person's image of Sesshomaru was a certain voice actor who was very popular at the time. When I read it, I thought, "Wha-aat!?" (laughs) But if that's the case, I thought, "Maybe I can be more free," and suddenly, I felt a sense of relief.

Making the performance into one that is unique to yourself?

Narita: Yes, that's why I'm so grateful for that letter. Thanks to it, I was able to reach a turning point.

Komatsu: It was like I was able to let go of the idea that "Sesshomaru has to be like this." When I first heard Sesshomaru's voice in the animation, I thought, "So this is what Sesshomaru's fearsomeness is." Even when I read the manga, I had an image of him as scary, pierced by a calmness that contradicted his beauty, but the moment I heard his voice, I felt that this was very convincing. So, from the very beginning, I couldn't imagine anyone other than Narita playing Sesshomaru. He's the complete opposite of Inuyasha's high-pitched voice; he's calm, and he feels like a great demon. He conveyed the feeling that he's of a much higher rank than Inuyasha, and that he's impossible to beat.

Narita: After all, his father (The Great Dog Demon) is played by Akio Otsuka-san, and his mother is played by Yoshiko Sakakibara-san. His parents were amazing.

Matsumoto: Really, the whole family is strong...

Narita: But Sesshomaru's strength comes from the fact that he doesn't flinch, even in front of his father and mother. It's like he has his own world. I wanted to play him unwaveringly.

How did it feel to play Sesshomaru again in Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon after such a long time?

Narita: It was tough, 20 years since Inuyasha and 10 years since Inuyasha: The Final Act. I thought I'd be able to do it quickly, but when I tried, it felt different. I was confused, thinking, "Why is this happening when I'm the one who originally did it?" I tried my best to remember how I felt back then, but even so, it didn't work out right away, and I was surprised at myself. Because I'm so attached to the character, when I get emotionally invested, it becomes too close to myself, and I thought, "This is human." I had to bring it back, I had to bring it back, and I had to go back and reconcile it many times.

There is a certain mindset when it comes to playing a demon

Narita: That got me thinking, "I must have been more focused during the Inuyasha era." The Inuyasha set was a very harmonious studio, but I felt I shouldn't be swayed by that atmosphere, so I made sure to strongly believe that I was alone. Before I stepped in front of the microphone, I created a Sesshomaru in my mind and carried him through to the end. Maybe that's what I was missing now. So, during today's recording of the final episode, I deliberately asked my daughters to "get out."

What do you mean?

Narita: As I said earlier, I recorded episode 23 with my daughters, but after that, I was left to record the final episode alone. During that time, my daughters (waited until the interview began), so I could have stayed in the booth, but I decided to go it alone. It probably wouldn't have made much difference whether there was someone inside or not, but I wanted to get a little closer to the person I was back then...

I see.

Matsumoto: It's true that now we're focusing on small group recordings, so it might be a difficult environment to focus on the role. As soon as I arrive at the studio, I record my voice for my scene, and then I leave right after I'm done. Even though I'm a novice, I can feel that it throws off the rhythm somehow.

The scenes you work on get fragmented.

Matsumoto: If we'd all been able to record together from the beginning like before, I think we'd have been able to create time to each focus on our role while getting a feel for the flow of the story. I'm sure there are things we can all build together on set. But there are challenges precisely because we don't have the time to create them.

Komatsu: Being able to feel the overall flow on set is a bit different from the feeling I had when I was reading the script at home. There are things I could only understand then. But now, since I'm only doing my relevant scenes, I can't help but have trouble grasping the whole episode. There are times when we can't do it all. While there's the benefit of being able to just do your own part in a short amount of time, it feels completely different from doing it with everyone.

Who did you think Towa & Setsuna's mother was?

Narita: I thought it was Jaken. (laughs)

Matsumoto: The Jaken Mama theory! (laughs) ^[3]

Komatsu: At first, even fans were skeptical of the Jaken Mama theory. (laughs)

Narita: Well, Jaken was the one closest to Sesshomaru and knew him best, so if love were to blossom, it would have to be Jaken. He's a total yokai, after all.

Matsumoto: Jaken really does keep a close eye on Sesshomaru.

Komatsu: In fact, Jaken was his tutor and caretaker, so he could be like a wet nurse.

Narita: Maybe he even breastfed the girls occasionally. A yokai could do anything, I guess. (laughs)

Komatsu: I think Jaken guessed Sesshomaru's feelings and wondered, "What is my role...?"

Narita: If I couldn't anticipate things like that, I wouldn't be able to be by Sesshomaru's side (laughs).

Towa Higurashi cares for her twin sister Setsuna more than anything else. As she grieves over Setsuna's death, her father, Sesshomaru, hands her the broken Tenseiga...

Setsuna is a half-demon whose sleep and memories were stolen by the Dream Butterfly. She loses her life in the battle with Kirinmaru, but before her last breath, she calls Towa "Big Sister" for the first time.

Moroha is Towa and Setsuna's cousin. She was enraged by Setsuna's death, but even after becoming Beniyasha, she was able to maintain her own will and not be consumed by the rampaging power of her demon blood.

Recording the final episode recreated Sesshomaru's loneliness.

There are challenges unique to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Komatsu: I'm grateful that the staff made every effort to allow for as much dialogue as possible. While being mindful of infection prevention measures, they also made arrangements to have characters in the same booth as each other for scenes where they were talking to each other. Thanks to this, the three Yashahime cast members were able to basically record together.

Narita: They managed to keep it to about three people, or at most four. I think I worked with Yoshimasa Hosoya-san, who played Kirinmaru, and Maaya Sakamoto-san, who played Zero. And then there was Jaken-chan (Cho-san, who played him). Jaken was still Jaken, and it made me realize I had to keep trying my best. I'm not with my younger brother (Kappei Yamaguchi-san, who plays Inuyasha). Well, I don't really want to see him.

Matsumoto: He's truly Sesshomaru! (laughs)

Komatsu: Thank you! (laughs)

Narita: (laughs). Also, I got to work with Rin (played by Noto Mamiko) on the first episode. Noto-san seemed a little more mature. Her growth as a woman was evident in her acting, which I thought was wonderful.

Matsumoto: We daughters haven't been able to do any voice recordings with Noto-san, but I happened to be able to watch the recording of episode 15, so I got to say hello then. When I told her, "I'm your daughter. Thank you for giving birth to me," Noto-san said, "Wow! My daughter!" But because we have to maintain social distance, we both said, "We can't hug!" (laughs).

Komatsu: That's great. I can almost picture that situation (laughs).

The concerns are Setsuna's life and Towa and Riku's relationship.

Regarding Rin, in episodes 23 and 24, it was revealed that she is connected to Zero by a "bond." Matsumoto and Komatsu, what did you think as her daughters?

Komatsu: I thought what a cruel fate. While her desire to meet her mother sooner grew stronger, she knew she had to keep Rin asleep in order to keep her alive. Setsuna's Dream Butterfly was also involved, and they became linked to Zero.

Matsumoto: To restore Setsuna's sleep, Zero had to be killed, and if she did, Rin would die with her. It was a vicious cycle. Towa wanted to get Setsuna to sleep, but she didn't yet realize that connection. The final episode tried to break that bond, but the result was...

Komatsu: Setsuna, who hadn't been able to sleep for a long time, finally found rest after death! It was such an ironic turn of events.

Matsumoto: I really thought, "Who would write a script like this!!" (laughs) In the opening of the second cour, there was a scene where Rin catches Setsuna as she falls, and I hope they include that scene in the main story soon.

Narita: Setsuna will be appearing in season 2, right? I'm so curious, it's making us lose sleep in her place.

Komatsu: I believe she'll definitely appear, but... That's why I'm looking forward to Towa's performance!

Matsumoto: I'll do my best! The end of the final episode there's a line where Sesshōmaru takes out the broken Tenseiga and says, "Shall you try it, Towa..." and it was the first time her father called her by her name. I was just watching Narita-san's dubbing from outside the recording booth, and it really stuck with me. I really feel like it was a scene that was entrusted with a lot, so I want to keep that voice in my heart and approach the dubbing of the final episode.

As for Towa, fans are also curious about her relationship with Riku.

Matsumoto: That's right. The scene where she tells Riku, "I like you!" really surprised me!

Komatsu: Romance plays a big role in the Inuyasha story, but up until that point, there hadn't been any romantic elements. That scene showed a glimpse of that.

Matsumoto: Before recording the line "I like you!", Nagura-san gave me the direction, "It's definitely not lovey-dovey. Don't let it go to the romantic love side." ^[4] I think it's a simple emotion, a feeling of liking Riku as a person. However, from a number of episodes ago, he also told me, "When Towa meets Riku, it's okay to feel happy and think, 'Oh, it's Riku.'" Even if she doesn't think of it as romantic feelings, Towa seems to have always recognized that "Riku isn't a bad person," so that's why I think the "I like you" moment was what exploded. The memory of Riku embracing her carried over into the next episode, and it left a strong impression.

Narita: Riku... That's a lot to take in (laughs). It's no good, we can't let him live. I'll cut him down with one slash!

Matsumoto: Dad!! (laughs)

Komatsu: He's like "I won't forgive anyone who lays a hand on my daughter."

Riku's safety will also be a focus of attention in season 2 (laughs). Finally, please give a message to readers looking forward to season 2.

Komatsu: First of all, we're all wondering what will happen to Setsuna. I'm sure Towa, who has been entrusted with her, will awaken in season 2... Personally, I'd love to see parent-child interactions and reunions with their mothers, and I haven't given up on the dream of living an exciting modern school life yet! I'd love an episode where everyone goes to the present day, wears uniforms, and takes Kirin-sensei's class, even if it's just once. Even if it's just a dream, I'd be happy (laughs). I think there are also issues remaining with Inuyasha and the others trapped in the Black Pearl, so I hope they'll cover all of that in the second season!

Narita: I really can't help but wonder how everything will turn out. episode 23 was the first time we were able to record with the girls, and I'm curious to see what happens with them from here on out, as well as their relationships with Inuyasha and Kirinmaru. It will be a great experience. I, too, look forward to enjoying each and every episode, along with all the viewers. I'm truly happy to have come across this work, and I hope you will continue to support it.

Matsumoto: If I had to choose, I'd like Setsuna to come back to life right at the beginning of season 2... But even if that doesn't happen, I still want to bring her back as soon as possible. I think there will be new encounters until we get there, and the character Akuru and the keyword "Windmill of Time" appeared at the end of season 1, so I'm excited to see how that will connect to season 2. Also, I'm curious about the promise she made to Mei that she would "definitely come back."

Komatsu: Ahh. I'd love to see a scene where Towa says "I'm home" to the Higurashi's ... but I don't want to go back to the present yet! First, I need to bring Setsuna back to life and clear everything up! Osamu Kirin, Zero, and Kirinmaru may all show new moves in season 2. Don't miss any of the details and enjoy!

Sara Matsumoto
Born May 25th / From Chiba Prefecture / Kenyu Office / Appearances in -BORUTO- NARUTO NEXT GENERATIONS (Namida Suzumeno), Kono Oto Tomare! (Hiro Kurusu), and others.

Mikako Komatsu
Born November 11th / From Mie Prefecture / Hirata Office / Appearances in Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai (Maam), Jujutsu Kaisen(Maki Zenin), and others.

Ken Narita
Born May 18th / From Saitama Prefecture / Freelance / Appearances in Star☆Twinkle PreCure (Fuyuki Kakuya), Code Game series (Jeremiah Gottwald), and others.



The Two Surrounding the Great Dog Demon: Having lost her life to Setsuna's bloody sword, Zero is called out to by Sesshomaru's Mother on the path connecting this world and the underworld. Sesshōmaru's mother sees through Zero's heart, who was in love with The Great Dog Demon and hated the half-demons who bore his blood out of jealousy. "How pitiful... the woman who yearned for him," she laments.

The Twin Azure Dragon Wave: Enraged by Setsuna's death, Towa displays a power that even Kirinmaru is astonished by. Towa unleashes a shockwave in the shape of a two-headed blue dragon, a technique Kirinmaru names "The Twin Azure Dragon Wave" after Sesshomaru's technique. Kirinmaru is severely injured when he is hit simultaneously by Towa's The Twin Azure Dragon Wave and Moroha's Crimson Dragon Wave.

The Strength to Overcome Fate, An Interview with Director Teruo Sato

Sesshomaru's mother's words spoke for everyone.

Please tell us how you feel now that episode 24 has aired.

Sato: It really went by so quickly. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we had a lot of difficulties this time, even at the casting audition stage, and the actors performed in a different way than before. However, it was a production that was created through a new experience for both the creators and the performers. The dubbing method was also completely different from usual, with recordings being done with a small number of people. Up until now, recording together in a lively atmosphere has created teamwork, which has sometimes brought out the quality of the production, but this time we couldn't do that. That said, we couldn't get together outside of dubbing, so naturally we didn't have any after-party or get-togethers. I'm sure you've all gone through a lot of hardships. But I'm so grateful to the cast and staff for overcoming them and finally getting to this point.

Towards the end of the story, it was revealed that all of Zero's words and actions up to that point were motivated by her love for The Great Dog Demon.

Sato: In episode 23, Honorable Mother (Sesshomaru's mother) asked Zero, "What exactly did you want to do?" I think that question spoke for everyone's feelings. Zero's actions, as she herself said, "I wanted to protect my younger brother, Kirinmaru," but they were slightly distorted, and it was revealed that she ultimately wanted to use Kirinmaru as a pretext to vent her jealousy. Zero, who had kept her innermost thoughts to herself until then, became agitated when all the rainbow pearls were collected. In episode 23, Honorable Mother is also asked by Zero, "What did you think when Izayoi (Inuyasha's mother) travelled this road?" Honorable Mother and Zero loved the same man. Their powerful exchange was co-dubbed by Yoshiko Sakakibara (who plays Sesshōmaru's Mother) and Maaya Sakamoto (who plays Zero). Zero is a troublemaker, but she also has a mature perspective and a seductive appearance, making her an interesting character.

Conversely, Kirinmaru initially seemed like an absolute villain, but as the story progressed, we began to see that he wasn't such a bad person after all.

Sato: To Kirinmaru, The Great Dog Demon is his eternal rival. His grandchildren (Towa and the others) are, in a way, like his own grandchildren. Even as they fight, a parental affection seems to grow, and they no longer see him as someone Towa and the others need to defeat in a battle to the death. I think that's why he named Towa's technique "The Twin Azure Dragon Wave."

But in the final episode, Kirinmaru kills Setsuna.

Sato: It was quite a shocking turn of events. There aren't many works these days that push characters to this extent, and I think many people were surprised especially Setsuna fans. In the final episode, Towa was entrusted with the broken Tenseiga by Sesshomaru. What exactly does that mean? I can't say much yet, but I hope you'll look forward to the second season.

Carrying the fate of their parents, the children themselves take action.

Which character has Director Sato particularly enjoyed working on so far?

Sato: It's Takechiyo. As I mentioned in my interview in the February issue of Animage, Takechiyo is a soothing character who really helped me. On set, Moroha was popular. She's like a female version of Inuyasha, and her dialogue is similar to Inuyasha's, so I think she was the most familiar and easiest to animate for those who know Inuyasha. However, because of that, Moroha tends to become the starting point of the story. This work was centered around the story of Sesshomaru's daughters, so striking that balance was also a challenge.

So, which character was the most difficult?

Sato: I guess it was Zero, who required a lot of effort to draw. She's already dressed in a gorgeous outfit, but she fought in that form. That's because, initially, I envisioned Zero possessing Kirinmaru and fighting in that form. I didn't plan for her to move around so much. So, I asked Yoshihito Hishinuma (character designer) to create a flashy, memorable design for him, since he's a key character in the story. But in the end, it was Zero herself who ended up fighting. Hishinuma-san had repeatedly said, "She's not going to fight like this, is she?" So... I'm truly sorry. That's how it turned out though (laughs).

Finally, please give us some hints about the story for readers looking forward to the second season of Yashahime.

Sato: Up until episode 24, Towa and her generation as children were caught up in the conflicts of the older generation, including Sesshomaru and Kirinmaru. Season 2 transitions from a story about confronting the fate of their parents to a story about the children's generation realizing, "There are some things that only Towa and her friends can do." Since Towa and her friends are the core of the story, we're working hard to depict them taking action themselves, rather than being constantly swayed by their parent generation.

After all, in episode 4, when Towa and her friends were told by the spirit of the Tree of Ages about the problems their parents generation had, they said, "It's none of our business."

Sato: That's right, why do we have to do it? Setsuna has a natural dryness, and Towa has the modern sensibility of saying, "I don't know anything about that." Personally, I don't like the idea of a protagonist being suddenly swallowed up by fate, and I'd like them to reject unreasonable demands. However, as a result, they're now being forced to follow exactly what the Tree of Ages wanted... Whether the Tree is involved in this is one point to look forward to.

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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] Yota Tsuruoka (鶴岡陽太) was the sound director (voice director) on the full run of Inuyasha, Inuyasha: The Final Act and all four films.
• [3] The "Jaken Mama Theory" is first put forth by Mikako Komatsu in an online interview for Animage Plus in January 2021.
• [4] 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.

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