Volume 24

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The Inuyasha Narrative, Part 24: Midoriko, The Soul That Started It All
	Translation provided by: Robby Stine of Kanabits

Midoriko exists to explain the origins of the Shikon Jewel.

Midoriko is the real origin of the Shikon jewel. As the story went on, it became apparent that I needed to explain what the Shikon jewel was and where it came from. Midoriko exists to answer where and under what situation the jewel was created. The scene where she makes her first appearance takes place in a time long before Inuyasha and the gang’s adventure. I traced a scene of Kikyo and Naraku fighting and used it to create this episode based long in the past, to show that the same kind of thing happened back then as well.

I never dared to create a detailed picture of her.

In the end, I never was able to draw Midoriko’s face in detail. And I never was able to show what kind of person she was. I wanted the story of Inuyasha to rely on past events as little as possible, so there was really no reason to create a fully developed character. A face wasn’t necessary, nor was a personality. It was the same with Inuyasha’s father. Had I done some digging, I could have written some stories. But had I started digging into the past, I absolutely would have lost sight of the main story. Inuyasha and the gang would have stopped progressing down the path I needed them to follow. I hate it when that kind of thing happens, so when I deal with incidents in the past, I try to treat them only as a hint of what is to come in the story. Nothing more, nothing less. So, I have no idea what kind of person Midoriko was. However, I imagine her spiritual powers were on par with if not exceeding Kikyo’s, and that the man who was in love with her was evil.

The Aloof Miko Fighting Endlessly

The battle between Midoriko and the demons had been going on for hundreds of years within the Shikon jewel. I thought an endless battle like that would be unsettling. And perfect. I would hate being stuck in that little ball, unable to get out. I don’t know if Midoriko was aware that it was her fate, but she probably hated the idea of losing. And I’m sure she was the stubborn type.

She and Kikyo were alike in that they were miko fighting demons, but Midoriko was probably more aloof. Kikyo was definitely aloof as well, but I think she lived something closer to a regular life.

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