Finally.  Good chapter though.  

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 A Naraku and Kagome arc? At the same time? Seems like the start of something good. Does anyone else feel like this could be the beginning  of the final arc?
  

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Is it just me or was the art up a notch in this arc? That tends to happen when something important is about to happen.

I certainly hope RT allows Kagome to take this on in a spirtual power battle royale instead of having IY come in at the last minute and display his sword upgrades. It is inevitable that Kagome will be the one to get in the last hit on Naraku, as his soul must be obliterated and only spiritual power can do that. We need an arc that displays her coming to more maturity with her spiritual powers as well as her new bow before the final battle- and I hope that's how this pans out. As with most arcs like this, there will probably be some big emotional stuff as well. Last time we had an 'evil' miko was the Tsubaki arc, and that one (at least in the manga) was absolutely superb. Glad to see Naraku is viewing Kagome as the threat she is, as he's grossly underestimated her before.

  

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Naraku still hasn't reformed his body yet?  God damn.  Looks like we're finally getting a good arc.  First time in weeks too.

  

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RT sure has a love affair with dead ppl, especially dead miko's. This was a good chapter, it wasn't over the top, we had just enough background on the new miko to feel for her. The spider web thing is pretty icky. Can't wait until next week. This should have something to do with Kagome's bow, it certainly would be a perfect start for it.  

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Starks, in page 15 Miroku is repeating same sentence twice in 2 different balloons, Looking in the translation, the second one should say "… It means she was afraid of being resurrected in
this manner."

Maybe you should do v2 . 

  

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Thanks for the chapter!

Not much to talk about… just waiting to see how the arc develops.  

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Snow, it was fixed.  

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Haro: It has been a long time since Naraku has underestimated Kagome. After she destroyed his body near the beginning of the Manga, he has taken her very seriously. His proxies consistently underestimate her, but he has been one of the few characters to consistently view her as a power. He even warned Tsubaki that Kagome was not to be taken lightly. I do admit that he has not set that many traps for her.
  

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Wow, for the first time in a long time I'm actually really interested in what happens next. I hope this next storyline is good for Kagome and not just another random encounter.   

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This chapter was interesting. The bunch of bells was rather a little cute…

Sometimes I wonder this; Hey Naraku, wouldn't it better&faster to kill them directly with your tentacles or shouki or spider webs?(joke)

  

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Ah, I have a question. The miko's name is 'Hitomiko' or 'Hito'?  

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Considering Naraku is the most intelligent in the series by a long shot…he's a genius.  If this was not a manga series but real life…all his adversaries would be dead and Naraku would posess the full jewel.

Anyways, the arc looks interesting…

  

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Plus, I can't understand why Hitomiko said like this, "Bury my head and body in different places". Can that help her not to be controlled?

To see this chapter, Naraku really seems to be an abnormalityㅡ_ㅡ^; He needs a girlfriend indeed.(joke)

  

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To Jakensama : Yes, Naraku would be a great man. And I wonder how Rumiko-san lives in real life.

In fact, I think people(especially who lives in Japan) must be thankful to Aoyama Gosho, the writer(Is this right name?) of the Manga(Meitantei Conan(the Great Detective Conan)), because he seems not to be an criminal.(well I can't tell he is not a criminal surely kuku…joke)

  

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It has been a long time since Naraku has underestimated Kagome.

DavidK: No, Naraku has often pinpointed Kagome's accomplishments on Kikyou, and it hasn't been that long since he did so. For example, during the gateway battle when Kagome fired the arrow covered in Onigumo's grave soul, Naraku's reaction was to blame and curse Kikyou's ability. He was wrong there. Kikyou did not put spiritual power into the arrow, it was 100% Kagome. Following Kikyou's death arc, he ignored Kagome's contribution (it is her purifying power in that arrow as much as Kikyou's) and expressed anger with only Kikyou.

Naraku is so hung up on Kikyou that he often has been unable to see Kagome as the threat she is, besides very early series (which he didn't really follow through on) and the Tsubaki arc. Even with the baby Hakudoushi thing, he was not trying to kill her for fear of her power, but harness her power so he could use it. I believe this will come back and bite him in the butt. He has somewhat obsessively set up traps/concentrated on taking out other characters, and at times ignored who is likely his most dangerous enemy.  

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Yay, chapter!  This was good.  I find myself cheering on Naraku just so I can see Kagome kick his ass on her own.  Please let it be on her own, dammit!And yeah, I would imagine that cutting the head would deter the body from doing anything beyond death (sort of like old vampire stories where you cut off the head after you run a stake through the heart; it gets rid of them for good), so that's why she asked them to do so.  

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Haro: The fact that Naraku went after Kikyou rather then Kagome in the aftermath of the demon graveyard does not say that Naraku underestimates Kagome. Kikyou had covered the arrow with soil from Onigumo's cave, which is what allowed her arrows to pass through the barrier and cause so much harm to Naraku. It was therefore neither Kagome nor Kikyou's power that caused such damage, but Onigumo's desire for Kikyou, which had seeped into the soil, that made that arrow (and St. Hijiri's) so deadly. Be that as it may, the arrow was proof to Naraku that Kikyou was still alive. The Zushi Nezumi arc was about forcing Kikyou out of hiding, where as Kagome was in plain sight, and he could turn his attention to her once Kikyou was out of the way. Naraku himself went into hiding shortly after the Zushi Nezumi and ceased to pursue his enemies, as the build up to Moryoumaru started shortly there after.

When the baby attempted to control Kagome, it was the baby that underestimated Kagome. He even wonders aloud why Naraku fears her so much. And the fact that he didn't want her dead was a strategic move. At that point only Kagome could see the location of the final shard, to kill her and eliminate the one person who could track it down would have been dumb. Better to seize and enslave then leave her as an adversary, or kill her. It was the baby's inability to understand how strong Kagome was that led to failure, not Naraku's.

If you look back, the only character Naraku consistently underestimates is Inuyasha. Whenever Inuyasha defeats him Naraku is just shocked! 

  

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<i>Ah, I have a question. The miko’s name is ’Hitomiko’ or ‘Hito’?</I>

Her name is Hitomiko.  As in Hitomi-ko, not Hito-miko.  In Japanese it's spelled 瞳子.

  

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OK, the name makes more sense now that I've seen the kana.  I'm oblivious lately.  Was just reading the romanized version before

Personal opinion here (coming from a wannabe psych minor), but I'm thinking that Naraku's always so damned surprised by Inuyasha's strength because Naraku is just a "lowly hanyou," himself.  That's his reasoning for obtaining the jewel, after all.  Inuyasha's figured out that youkai power isn't everything.  Naraku doesn't care about the ill side effects; he just wants power and wants it now.  Funny how he's hell incarnate and keeps thrusting himself into his own private hell, as well.  We are our own worst enemy, obviously.

  

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KagomeKagome: I've always seen Naraku and Inuyahsa as contrasting characters as well. I've always thought of Inuyasha as a coming of age story, with the protagonists and antagonists both tryiong to come to grips with what it means to be an adult. Naraku chose the path of power, greed, and evil. Inuyasha learned from his mistakes and has cast aside such desires.  

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Perhaps Naraku is whom Inu would become if he had not met Kikyo.

Kagomekagome: Inu is relying on yokai power, the power of his father through tessaiga. 

  

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I've always thought that Kagome had some growing to do, she's been given the tools all along but she rarely displays her true power.  It's about time we see what's she's made of and how Naraku plans on "disposing" of the threat she poses.  I for one would love a battle between the two.

  

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Jakensama: Inuyasha could have become a Naraku like figure if he had seized and used the complete jewel shard. He could also have become feral, like when he used the jewel in the stone oni's belly.

Also, RT seems to make a distinction between using tesseiga and the jewel shard to gain power. Tesseiga and the wind scar are initially Inuyasha's fathers protection. Once he adds his own fang as a bridge he is using his own power in concert with his fathers. All other powers he mastered and adding through his own strength, cunning, and compassion. The power of the jewel is the power of the great, wicked yokai that was devouring Midoriko. To use this power is to be overwhelmed by that demons yoki.  

  

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Jakensama, I realize that (I hate to sound horrible here; I'm not trying to be, but seriously, with a comment like I got, do you think I just started reading this manga?), but he's still a hanyou, like Naraku.  Naraku uses the corrupted jewel to magnify his power, just as Inuyasha uses the sword to magnify his.  The only difference between them is that the jewel also contains Midoriko's energy, not just youkai energy.
  

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Jakensama: Naraku is not the way he is because he's been hurt and rejected all his life or whatever like InuYasha was. To say that InuYasha would become like that is, imho extremely out there.  

First off, IY doesn't have the power and being just a normal hanyou it isn't as if his body works and can grow the way Naraku's does. Naraku is inherently evil, in fact he's entirely made up of evil. IY is nothing of the sort.

And if he hadn't met Kikyou? The betrayal caused him to become more bitter than he ever was before. InuYasha directly post being unsealed was twenty steps back from where he was when Kikyou met him. She started to open him up (although according to Kikyou, she did not get that far), but the minute the betrayal happened, all that was completely gone and Kagome had to start over from a point of bitterness greater than InuYasha had ever been at before.

The only way InuYasha could have ended up Naraku-esque is if he'd used the jewel to become full youkai. Because if that were the case he would be ENTIRELY void of anything 'InuYasha.' His heart and mind are human, and that's what makes up who he is on a non-physical level. If he's youkai, that can't be there. But even then, I imagine he'd become a berserker/feral, not a conscious being like Naraku.

  

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The podcast I recorded last night will be coming in a few hours…  

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Haro: Onigumo was extremely hurt, Kikyo felt sorry for him even though he was a criminal, he probably went through much suffering through his life, and near the end (before becoming naraku) was in as painful a state as a person could be.  He probably was alone his whole life and didn't have anyone who cared for him.  If looked at from a psychological point of view…he was probably brutally abused as a child, and thus developed anti social disorder.  You can't be that evil without having a seriously screwed up life.  

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But Onigumo was still a brigand. He was a murderer a thief, and a thoroughly evil individual. No matter how bad your life is it does not excuse criminal behavior. Even his desire for Kikyou was tainted. He desired to defile her not love her. In the end he took Kikyou's compassion and charity and turned it into violence and hatred. For all his faults, Inuyasha has never been portrayed as committing any acts of evil in his past. He loved Kikyou and loves Kagome for there purity. The good in them is what healed the hurt inside of him, and helped him find happiness and acceptance.
  

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Jakensama: Onigumo was extremely evil. Before being trapped, he was seemingly a murderer and a cruel bandit. It is not as if he just went rotten after being injured. The feeling his backstory gave us was not of a man wounded, but of an evil man who let the feeling of lust get the best of him.

Until Onigumo was injured, we never got the vibe he suffered a horrible life. he was a horrible man who likely gained pleasure from evil deeds, and I see him as being presented no other way. Naraku is LITERALLY pure evil. There is no good in Onigumo's heart that we've seen, from when Naraku had it. Never has Naraku had to quelch his humanity, outside the lust for Kikyou. It is always presented as lust, not love. That is bravely filling in a lot of blank spaces. RT never really presents Onigumo as a tragic character, ever.

Yes, you really can be evil without having a seriously screwed up life. It is not uncommon for a person to commit a crime and for everyone around them to be literally boggled because of their stable, normal life/attitude beforehand. That aside, at least through much of his childhood- IY did have a loving upbringing. It was an impoverished one, but the person he lived with did care for him and love him deeply.

  

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David: Double comment, sorry. Anyway, in total agreement. You nailed it.  

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Finally a chapter that so far has no swords upgrades in it^^

Yes it would be good to see Kagome finally do SOMETHING.  Not saying she never does… but most of the time… yeah…… Gawd I forgot about her new bow from Kikyou, been too many sword upgrades since then.  Yes to have her do something and see what that bow does will be great… however… Naraku's 'possessing' someone of a pure heart has ALWAYS backfired eventually.  The pure heart comes out in the character and they are unable to follow through with his orders (i.e. Kohaku (for the most part), Kikyou etc.)  If this Miko is even close to as powerful as Kikyou I have a feeling this plan may backfire.  Or not, he is using his web instead of a shikon shard.  I guess we will have to wait another week to find out.

And yeah for someone with an almost full Shikon no Tama… he DOES take forever to put himself together, perhaps he likes being headless, since he has been for the better part of the past half of the manga, perhaps its like a guy wearing nothing but boxers around the house, maybe its more relaxing when he's using others for is diry work.^^

  

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Correction: 'Headless' meaning disembodied head… which I know still isn't technically right… but meh I was typing fast   

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Nobara: Just to clarify, he has never possessed Kikyou or even attempted to. She has always acted independently of her own free will.

Kagome (through Tsubaki and baby Hakudoushi) and Kohaku are the ones he's gotten to. Kagome broke free both times, and Kohaku was able to somewhat. It is highly doubtful that this Miko is as powerful as Kagome (since Kikyou was supposedly so legendary in power, and Kagome has been implied to be more powerful than her), but Kagome is untrained and this Miko is both trained and not alive, so it should still prove a challenge to her. Since the miko is not a major character, likely the storyline will be less about Hitomiko overcoming her possession, and more about Kagome helping her do it. 

Kagome used to fight a lot, before she got relegated to cheerleader of sword upgrade position along with the rest of the group. I so hope that's coming to an end. -_-;

  

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You can do bad things certainly without being screwed up mentally, but to be a psychopath like Naraku is…there has to be some serious head issues.  Also, I am not excusing evil acts in anyway, just stating that people aren't born innately evil…or good.  Their experiences shape them, also those with antisocial disorder do tend to appear charming and stable…to others and they are often with intellect in the genius level but truthfully they are messed up inside.  

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Jakensama: But there are ways to be screwed up mentally without it having to do with a difficult and tragic life. The human mind is not so simple.

All that aside, life in the feudal era sucked. A huge chunk of the population ended up with their villages pillaged and their families murdered. I know this is going to sound insensitive, but tragedy was merely a fact of life back then and thus Onigumo would be just another victim if something did happen to him growing up. I am sure the majority of people who survived tragedy in the feudal era did not turn into sociopaths. We know that from the series alone.

I like that Naraku is pure evil. You watch most anime/read most manga and the villains always have a somewhat sympathetic backstory. Even if they ARE evil, their motivations are a bit more understandable, if twisted. I sometimes like characters like that, but I love that Naraku isn't like that. He's ruthless and without a grain of humanity (aside from the lust) or sympathy to him. His heart is the blackest of the black. It's actually kind of fresh and different, making for an interesting storyline, and adding in a tragedy angle with Onigumo imho ruins that.

  

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Onigumo and Naraku are two different ppl. Everything that makes up Onigumo is in fact somewhat seperate from Naraku. The ability to free himself from his own heart shows that Onigumo has very little influence on Naraku. 

Between the two I think that Onigumo is the more evil, cunning in his plots. Naraku blundered several times when he had left Onigumo behind. Just about everything he did was pointless when it come to achieving his aim of destroying Kikyou. Then he allowed way too much contact with Mouryoumaru. Even though Inu and his group never figured it out (because they weren't supposed to) it was pretty obivious that Mouryoumaru did not have Naraku's heart. Let alone allow them to see him take Mouryoumaru back in himself.  If Naraku had half a brain he would never let them think he had his heart, which he didn't up until right after that. If they hadn't witnessed him taking in Mouryoumaru they would still be out on a pointless search and destroy mission. Naraku would not be as venerable as he is know, at least Inu's group would not know that he is.  I wouldn't exactly call Naraku a genius by any stretch of the imagination, but compared to all of the other characters he certainly is cunning.

Naraku's creation may have been the jewels fault to begin with, since it wants to recreate itself. Naraku is just like the youkai of the jewel, Onigumo just like the man that loved Midoriko and opened himself to a horde of youkai and Kagome is the miko counterpart. Midoriko was alone and so lost her life. Kagome has companions, she would not have survived long without them.

  

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Nobara: Naraku can not reform his body at all since his battle with Sango in chapter 498. After commenting on the poison from Hiraikotsu is absorbing his jyaki, he states "my body…won't reform". I am assuming he still as no body, they only showed his head emerging from the darkness in this chapter. He seems to be in a position similar to when Kagome shot him at his castle, he will have to build a whole new body at some point.

If anyone is interested in a historically accurate portrayal of the Sengoku Jidai rent a copy of the Seven Samurai (if you have never seen it).

  

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Sorrel: It is a triple parallel because it also happened with Kikyou. With her though, the evil (Naraku) went an extra step and instead of fighting her directly, capitalized on her heart's weakness. Kagome is not alone, unlike Midoriko, and her faith in IY's goodness is such that Naraku could not pit her against him, unlike he was able to do with Kikyou. Also, love has somehow not weakened Kagome's abilities, but strengthened them. So, third time's a charm I guess.

This is totally not relevant, but while I liked Hitomiko's design for the most part- I did not like her hair. It is… a mullet.

  

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Haro: There are different levels of tragedy…I am well aware of how tragic and era that was.  However antisocial disorder arises from an individual often suffering from unimaginable tortures over a long period of time…sometimes starting at infancy and usually done by the parents.  This feeling of being trapped, as well as being abused by those whom should protect and care for you destroy the person's sense of trust in humanity as a whole.  If you read case studies of individuals with this disorder you see why the person turns out as he/she does.  Naraku fits the profile of someone with this disorder to a tee.  He uses others for his own gain, shows no remorse or pity, has no morality, etc.

  

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Jakensama: Naraku is an entity made up of youkai. He is NOT Onigumo. Whether Onigumo had it or not (which imho, is thinking too much on it. Onigumo is meant to symbolize pure evil, nothing more, nothing less), is not relevant to whether Naraku does.

Naraku cannot have antisocial disorder, unless you theorize that the random creepy crawly youkai he is made up of did, which is pretty out there. I am all for analyzing aspects of the series, but why can't Naraku just be evil?

  

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I like the new chapter, however there is something that keeps poping in my mind.

If Hitomiko suspected that she could be revived by youkai, why didn't she requested to be cremated (burned), just like Kikyou did. I'm sure the villagers  would have been much happier to spread her ashes, than cutting her head.

Well the obvious answer is that RT needs some miko under Naraku control. I just hope there may be another reason. And no, Naraku couldn't stop her talking freely even after he revived her.

  

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As far as the pure evil villain being interesting, I can't agree.  That is by far the most common type of villain actually, its been overdone to death.  They are easy to hate you don't know why they are so evil so you feel nothing for them if they are defeated or destroyed.  However Naraku remains interesting not because of his character, motives, etc. but his new bodies and how he seems about twice as intelligent as anyone else in the Inu universe.  You admire how cleverly cruel he could be, (getting kohaku to kill everybody in his own village accept his father, then telling sango (an expert demon slayer) that Inu was responsible is so sadistic and yet clever).  However since he is pure evil I think all readers (accept his fangirls) will rejoice when he is killed.    

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Naraku can be pure evil…this is fiction after all.  The author intends for us to think of him as pure evil, so we only hate him and wish for his destruction.  I was just analyzing him as if he were real which he is not.  

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That is by far the most common type of villain actually

Jakensama: It's more common in western literature, far less common in anime/manga. I struggle to think of more than a couple anime/manga villains like that.  We DO know why Naraku is so evil. He is not 1dimensional. It's just that his backstory is not presented as sympathetic, but as a manifestion of the deepest possible corruption of the human heart.

  

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Haha!  I'm glad I'm not the only one to notice that.  Must be because there's so many of them here in the Midwest.   

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Snow: If it were as simple as that, there'd be no story for this arc. Damn mikos need to have their pagan rituals.  

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it really does seem like this is a possible catalyst for the manga. i think the end is approaching. predictions anyone?  

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Haha, nice podcast!  Bitch needs to stay dead!  Nice to hear you, Hari Kari.I, myself, am really damn happy it wasn't Kikyou or Midoriko.  While I like Kikyou, this is not The Uncanny X-Men, Kikyou is not Phoenix, and thus, she doesn't need to rise from the fucking dead.  Undead.  Whatever.Super Smash Bros.  Meh.  If you do get a PSP, please do a review.  I'm interested in getting one for a few games, but I'll take a pass if it's a worthless piece of shit/waste of money.  AND SAY ANYHOO AGAIN!!   

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Paragraphs aren't working for me again.  I hope you can read that shit.
  

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I know.

Also, if you smoke pot, how can you be expected to make wise decisions as an Admin?

Oh… and it is illegal. I'm not sure about this, but can you have a website if you're breaking the law?  

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I'm already breaking the law by scanlating…

Copyrights are serious business. ^_^

  

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Haro: My mistake, in the manga no, but in the anime he did try yes (Episode 33).  I haven't read my early manga volumes since I bought them over 2 years ago.  The anime I have watched twice so I have a better memory of it.  Sometimes it gets muddled.

Davidk: Yeah I completely forgot about that line… kill a girl for trying to be cute ;p

  

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Yeah, nice excuse. That's a victimless crime, except for the authors… though we can't even get it anywhere else.

Pot causes mental and physical harm. The victim is you. IMO, it's masochistic.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_issues_and_the_effects_of_cannabis For a whole article to be written on the effects… quite dangerous, no?  

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Nobara: He did in episode thirty-three? How so? I'm sorry, I don't recall the situation. I haven't seen that anime episode forever.

  

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It was in 'Kikyou, Captured by Naraku.'  Chapter in the manga was titled the same occuring in volume 13.  In the anime Naraku implants Kikyou with a tainted shard of the shikon jewel to try and control her.  She is also the one that kills his 'puppet' when she awakens in the tree, showing him that he can't control her (Kagome does that in the manga).  When Kagome finds her Kikyou explains to Kagome what Naraku tried to do and then purifies the shard in her chest.  In the end of the episode she returns the shard to Naraku and tells him she wants him to complete the Shikon no Tama.  

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WTF.  I used to smoke pot.  It's only a dangerous drug if you let it be.  LIKE ALCOHOL.  And that shit is legal.  Does worse shit to your body than weed does.

As Starks pointed out, he's bringing us these scanalations, and that ain't exactly kosher, now is it?  How hypocritical to point out one and not the other.  And it's not a "victimless crime," according to publishers, artists, etc.  And you're actually breaking the law by viewing this.  We're all happy criminals here.

  

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Don't get me started on alcohol… and people often don't have control because of addiction and/or the side-effect of poor decision-making skills.

Yeah, I know it's illegal, but which is worse: pot or pirating?  

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I'd say pirating… Viz and Shogakukan will lose sales to us.
  

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obviously piracy is worse.  Even with more serious drugs such as heroine, crack, etc. you are only harming yourself while taking them.  With piracy you are harming others.    

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Nice Podcast. The dynamic of the conversations were "highly" amusing.

I really enjoyed this chapter…nice thrill element at the end. It's about time…(I know I'm sure repeating comments here). I really haven't felt this good after reading an Inuyasha chapter since like…at least Rin, Kohaku, and Sesshomaru were in th depths of hell.

And I feel like I've lost Kagome. Who the hell is she again? Hope this arc brings her character back for real…

I know I've mentioned this before. But, if you haven't watched any Blood +…you should.

  

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Oh…edit…um…sorry about my grammar in my previous comment. I feel shamed as an English Major:

"The dynamicS of the conversation (not plural) were highly entertaining…"

God, I'm a moron.

  

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But which is worse: financial harm or mental/physical harm?  

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Edit: Buying drugs is also financial harm.  

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Let's just drop the subject.  

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Really.  It's nothing to do with the chapter.

Anyhoo, medieval Japanese people sport mullets now? 

  

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Haro, a mullet ?       Lmao, that cracked me up.

I suppose she isn't supposed to look too appealing. That might have been a bit of a problem when she dies, again.

I don't expect Kagome to come to any harm in this next chapter but I would like to see her become seperated from the group in some way, perhaps via a barrier. Then she can deal with the spiderweb controlled miko on her own. At least that is what I would like to see. Neither Kagome nor Kikyou died as a result of the spider web they were exposed to. I wonder if it is because the intent was different on Naraku's part or simply because they were too strong for that.

I did notice the biggest difference in Inuyasha concerning this. He certainly has no illusions about trying to save this woman in any way. This is very different then in the past, not just Kikyou, but also in the case of the shichinintai. He has changed alot, or so it seems.  

  

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Listened to podcast – Some funny shit, but i agree if kikyou comes back then well, fuck this! Sorry i really hate that character. And though the viz translations are somewhat comical, english rules!!!

Anyhoo, nice chapter seems to get the story back on track. Though if we the readers keep thinking this is the end, this is the end , it will never come. Naraku probably needs to get a new body first and then things will start spinning. 

  

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KagomeKagome: My friend and I have started affectionately calling her Mullet no Miko. Mullets are never stylish, although they're quite hilarious. Maybe Kagome can give her a haircut when they start duking it out ala Akane. XD

Nobara: Yeah I do remember how the anime made it so Kagome WAS affected by the vines, which really bugged me (Not to mention her vision there, which was really OOC considering it's supposed to be her 'worst fear in the world'), since it seemed important in displaying her power. I also remember them changing it so Kag didn't kill the kugutsu. But I didn't remember that they'd added Kikyou being almost controlled. Thanks for clarifying. In the manga she is just pretending to be unconscious and there's no shard.

  

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KagomeKagome: She does look quite man-ish if ya know what I mean.  

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Sorrel: I too want Kagome to be separated from the group, or at least fight without much of their assistance. I also noticed how much more resigned IY was to the dead staying dead. I believe he still holds out hope for Kohaku, but probably Kikyou really caused it to sink in that not everyone can be saved.

However, I have to say I don't believe IY would be able to bring himself to kill this woman. He realizes she can only die, but it seems impossible for IY to kill a human, dead or alive (unless berserk). He did not even kill any of the Shichinin-tai. He left Jakotsu because he couldn't finish him off, and resisted Bankotsu for quite some time, angered when Naraku finished him off.

  

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She does look rather…er, brutish.  Shall we give her a flannel shirt, too? 

Mullet no Miko?  Hahaha!  Was that friend TailfluffGirl, by any chance?  I approve, you two, very much so!

I need my dictionary here with me.  Does mullet even translate into Japanese?  Seriously! 

  

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The front of her hair could be pulled back by some sort of hair pin, I certainly hope it is and not some sort of really bad hair cut. That is what happens when ppl don't take baths or use shampoo.

RT has made quite a few female characters with very similar hair, even Inu's mother. Her's was just longer on the sides and back. This miko at least looks different.  RT's artistic abilities have improved greatly over the series, but her women haven't changed much. At least those that do not play long term roles haven't. 

  

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Haro: Yeah I know.  I dusted off my old manga and looked it up, the chapter has a similar plot line but is still very different with manga vs. anime.  Meh. Oh well. ._.;  

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@KagomeKagome: Mullet would be written in Katakana. I would guess, like this: ムレット.  

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>>KagomeKagome 5464th

So there was that mean, hm? Thanks!

>>Patches 5466th

Thanks!  I know you are the translater, I think it's first time for me to see you in comments. Nice to meet you~

  

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No problem, Kaze!

Hitsugaya, I'm guessing it's either something like that or うるふ へあ.
 

(I hope the hiragana shows up when I post.  It's invisible when I type it?)

  

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Did I have white on or something?  Eh, at least it's visible.  

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I'm sorry I just think these spider webs are lame….Naraku is the epitome of pure evil…and he uses spider webs?!  Yeah I'm sure it's symbolic/metaphoric/whatever but I'm always hoping for more.  

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Onigomu means (roughly) spider ogre/demon so the spider webs make sense I guess.  

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Jolly: Naraku is a villain of subtlety, he enjoys doing things in overelaborate ways.  

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That's true Starks, overelaborate is the perfect word for it all!     I guess I'm like everyone else and want some true action!  

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Well this arc certainly looks to have a lot of potential. Hitomiko seems different from a lot of the other miko characters that have been presented, and not just because of the mullet and masculine face. I want Kagome to take this one on by herself, for the 'main character' she's been mostly on the sidelines for a very, very long time.

Does anyone else feel like the last couple arcs have been RT's way of trying to set up an end for all this? It seems to me like she's been trying to maneuver everything into a place where she can pull all the strings together ever since Kanna's demise.

  

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Yeah, that's how I feel about it, MB.  Though this is probably just me, but I feel like it's being rushed.  Not that I want it to go on forever, but yeah…it's moving a little too quickly.

Hm, Hitomiko…medieval crossdresser or something more?  Hehehe.

  

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Starks, one of the things I have always wondered about was the spider mark (scar) on Onigomu's back. It shows up on all of Naraku's spawn, considering none of them have ever been hanyous it is a bit odd. I thought that perhaps it may turn out that Onigomu was not entirely human, mostly but not completely.

I had hoped that the story would shed some light on it, but it hasn't ever turned in that direction. I wouldn't want it to now. I am hoping for the end of the series. Another story line wouldn't add much at this point perhaps after Naraku is dead…….or at least dying. The spider webs seem to be Onigomu's spin on "how to destroy a miko in a few easy steps".  The first creature that is trapped within the jewel by Midoriku was also made of many different youkai, spiders are specially named.

Jolylito, the spider web may not be such a weak attack. If it can do what it did to Kagome before just by touching her. She could become tainted and loose her ability to use her bow or purify the shard in Kohaku.   

  

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My memory is bad, so please forgive me, but I seem to recall that Onigumo's scar came from the fire that he was in before Kikyou found him?  I remember an episode that discusses it…can't remember if it was filler or not.  

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KagomeKagome, Onigumo had the scar before the fire. There were a couple of episodes about it, one with muso and one with the bandit that set Kikyou on the path to Mt. Hakurei. The bandit refers to Onigumo as a bandit with a spider scar, one that at one time betrayed him and he burned him…..and so on and so forth. The bandit did not see Onigumo afterwards so he would have no way of knowing that the fire would leave such a scar, as well as the fact that he refered to it as something that Onigumo already had.  Long series, it is easy to forget, and sort what happened in what, between the manga and the anime….the fact that they differ in so many places doesn't make it any easier.    

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Well, see, what did I tell you about that memory of mine.

I could have sworn seeing it mentioned somewhere how he came about that scar.  Maybe I dreamed it up.

Yeah, what the hell am I doing dreaming about Onigumo anyway? 

  

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No KagomeKagome, I do think that in the anime someone did say something like that. And if I recall correctly the bandit story was anime only…….geez it can be hard to keep it straight. But then again I am sure that it was referred during a Naraku arc. I will have to look it up some time, it was fairly early in the series, manga not anime. (I hate looking thru several books trying to find what was what sometimes.) 

  

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Well, unfortunately, all of my manga, along with my books, were stolen two years back, and my DVDs are in storage, so I can't research it for myself or I would.  

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KagomeKagome, that sucks.

Download some fansubbed, better stuff anyways. I think ani-kraze still has a great deal of Inuyasha. They do a fairly good job.  I miss FangirlFriday, and saiyaman for raws…..oh well. Can't do anything about that.  You can download manga at stoptazmo. 

  

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KK and Sorrel: Kikyou finds a dying bandit in the manga and takes his hair to Mt. Hakurei, but the rest of the story is indeed anime only. There is no Onigumo connection in the manga.

There is a scene where we see Naraku cutting off the scar and cursing it, but that's all I recall from him on it.

  

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Sorrel: Byakuya doesn't have the spider mark and I'm pretty certain that Onigumo was completely human.
  

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Starks: We haven't seen Byakuya's back, so he might. Onigumo was definitely human though.  

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Byakuya was made when Naraku's heart was buried beneath Mt. Hakurei. Perhaps he does not have a mark. Sort of like "how many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop" the world may never know. LOL. Even then though Naraku did not change from a hanyou to a youkai. 

Just one of the many things I wonder about when I get bored…..and have to wait for an episode that I want to read NOW.  

  

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Byakuya may have the scar… I don't remember seeing him topless yet to tell.  Only way we knew Kagura had it is when Kaze no Kizu stripped her clothes in that very early episode.  And on second thought he may not have it since Kagura was made before Mount Hakurei where Naraku supposedly got rid of Onigumo… which goes back to the baby and everyting which if I recall didn't he recombine with later on?  Gah too many chapters >< 

Sorrel: As far as I recall about the scar is that it is what is 'physically' left of Onigumo's burn scars.  Volume 8 scroll 4 explains the spider scar as possibly the 'last vestige of Onigumo.'  In Volume 13 scroll 6 Naraku refers to the scar as 'the Bandit Onigumo's burnt mark.'  Hope that helps. 

  

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Haro: We never saw Kanna's back either yet we assume she had the scar. With regard to Byakuya, I assume he has no spider scar because he was created after Naraku discarded his spiritually human heart.

  

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Oh, by "DVDs" I meant my burned copies of fansubs from FGF, SM, and Anime Forever, Sorrel.   I don't have any of the dub.  

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Starks: Hakudoushi did have it though, so Kanna should have.  

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You know, thanks to the last sword arc, I will forever feel pity for Byakuya because he had to suffer a form of tentacle porn at the hands of Naraku.  That's really got to suck, even if you're a slightly gender-confused youkai.  

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Byakuya is very much a "girly" type of guy. I have to wonder just what kind of fan base she is appealing to with his character. The same one's that loved the band of seven no doubt.  

Kagome, I wonder how much of Naraku is "girly". He keeps spiting out females, a couple of boys now and then but Byakuya is some sort undecided. I know he is supposed to be a guy but he certainly doesn't act much like any male youkai I have seen yet. He doesn't seem to like to fight, or even use harsh language. 

  

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@KagomeKagome: What does aruhuhea lit. translate to?  

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Well, evil geniuses often are well-mannered for the most part. Though evil genius is a rough comparison.  

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Sorrel: Byakuya seems to generally be there for to provide dry humor, and he's really great at it. So in that his appeal is probably intended be rather universal. I think his character design is rather… pretty though. I'd really love to cosplay him.  

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Yeah, what the hell is up with Naraku having female offspring?  

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Yeah but Haro you're a girl. Just the fact that you could cos-play Byakuya and get away with is probably a good indication that he leans toward the femine side.

Starks, I don't know. It is more then strange that Naraku can have women……..just too weird.  Makes me wonder if Onigumo was a cross dresser.

  

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Sorrel: Not necessarily. Unless a character has facial hair or is particularly brutish in appearance (i.e. extremely muscular) girls can usually cosplay them and get away with it. I already do cosplay InuYasha, and I've never felt too weird doing it.

But I am not denying his feminine appearance. I didn't intend to. His appearance definitely takes props from Jakotsu. XD

When I imagine Onigumo as a crossdresser, I imagine wrapped in bandages Onigumo crossdressing. This breaks my brain.

  

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Haro, just very curious. Why would girls cos-play a male ?

I am familar with the term cos-play, I have never met (that I know of) anyone that actually does it. Is it just to fill a role ? And how did you get into it ? 

  

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I've always wondered why Naraku has a thing for female offshoots, too. Naraku likes to manipulate and operate behind the scenes, and traditionally the masculine is supposed to be outgoing, physical, and domineering – maybe the traditionally defined feminine just fits into his methods better. Then again, maybe he's a misogynist asshole. Gotta stop myself from overthinking these things.

Y'know, maybe there's something to the 'gender-confused Onigumo' thing. When Naraku spit him out as Muso he did keep the girliest pretty-boy face he could find.

  

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Hitsugaya, I screwed that up.  My Japanese is first year only, so far, as I had to drop out.  I think it should be オオカミ髪の毛 which is the Japanese equivalent of the word mullet.  It's "wolf's hair".  My mistake, I'm sorry.

As far as Naraku goes, he's, uh…asexual?  A hermaphrodite?  Obviously, Onigumo was 100% male, but whatever the hell Naraku is, who knows.  And yes, why all of the females?  (To cater to fans, I know, but seriously, how could a man have so many female children by himself?)

  

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Sorrel: Well some girls dress up as guy characters when they're little on Halloween as well. XD

No, generally people just choose to cosplay characters they really love- regardless of gender. When a girl cosplays a male character, it's called 'crossplay.'

I don't know how it originated, but crossplay is as big in Japan as it is here. I think it's just that male cosplayers are much less common, and girls just wanted to dress up as their favorite characters regardless.

Some of the best cosplayers of males are women, and I'd venture to say that due to the feminine appearance of some 'bishounen,' girls can sometimes make better guys than the guys do. That doesn't really apply to most of the Iy cast though (especially with the rounded faces her characters have), but none of the main cast is so masculine looking that it looks very odd for a girl to be doing them. I mean Iy has dark eyebrows as likely his most masculine feature, but that's it. I have dark eyebrows as well, and although they're not InuYasha thick (I'd certainly hope not), it works in my favor.

Cosplay is such that a lot, even most, girls, don't even consider the original gender of the character when deciding on a costume. I have cosplayed a lot of girls, but I've also cosplayed InuYasha, Luffy from One Piece, and a couple other guys. However, most of my costumes are female, because my friend usually does the male counterpart.  If you're well endowed, of course you bind yourself, but otherwise it's no big deal.

I got into it because I wanted to go to an Anime Convention, and saw that a lot of people wore costumes. It seemed to me that most people did, and in time it's gotten to the point where I feel out of place when not in costume. It looked like fun to me (Halloween has always been my favorite Holiday, and I was a theater nerd who never grew out of dressing up), so I had one custom one of Amelia from The Slayers back in early '02.

Most of my costumes from then on were made by friends and I though. InuYasha was my second costume and I've actually gone through two because the first one got a bit worn out and we wanted to remake it so it was a bit more authentic to Japanese clothing.

It is fun to 'become' a character in that sense,  especially as someone who has always enjoyed acting. At cons they have shows called masquerades, where you wear your costume and perform skits you have written. They're usually crack comedy, but it's one of my favorite parts of participating in conventions.

  

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KagomeKagome: Well Naraku IS made up of a buttload of various youkai, and it would be pretty impossible for all those youkai to be male. I would say probably he is asexual, although his Kagewaki body was male.  

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Err this

That doesn’t really apply to most of the Iy cast though (especially with the rounded faces her characters have), but none of the main cast is so masculine looking that it looks very odd for a girl to be doing them.

Should be

That doesn’t really apply to most of the Iy cast though, but none of the main cast is so masculine looking  (especially with the decidedly rounded faces her characters have) that it looks very odd for a girl to be doing them.

  

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Haro: Agree about Naraku being asexual! He has no true form so he can not have a specific gender. He did appear before Miroku's grandfather as a woman. Also, didn't Naraku only have two female incarnations? He's had eight total (depending on if you count the baby after he was split), and I think all but Kagura and Kanna have been male.    

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Hm I wonder if anyone knows it was in 16th book that Kanna also has the spider-shaped scar. Miroku asked Naraku "~, I'm asking you Kanna has the spider-shaped scar like Kagura, too.", and Naraku answered "Yes,~." That's because Kanna&Kagura was born from him, Naraku. To add, this event was that Inuyasha got his attack, Kaze no Kizu, because of Kanna. It's 42th in Animation.

I think the spider-shaped scar means just that Naraku is related with spider. But I can't guess Byakuya also has the scar…Unless he shows his back

>>Davidk

Noooooooooo~If they are male, they are really abnormalities!(they put on the female clothes, Kimono) What's the body shape of Kagur…(-hey) kuku but if Kagura&Kanna are male or asexual really, it's…OTL;; Clamp, the 4 Manga writers group comes to my mind…

>>Starks

I'm amazed for a lot of emoticons&comments(wow there's many emoticons that uses the 3th finger hahaha)

Anyway, What're the name&origin Manga of your avatar? He's nice.

  

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@KagomeKagome: Np. Though you lost me with the Kanji. The lit. translation makes sense. What is that in roomaji?  

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You know what's funny about all of this talk about Naraku and his gender…even when he took on the form of a woman in the days of Miroku's grandfather, he was still referred to as "he".  I don't know if Japan has gender nuetral language like here in America, but why didn't Miroku refer to Naraku as "it? He must be a male then regardless of what he shapeshifts into.  

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Well, regardless of whatever gender Naraku is, next week's chapter preview looks exciting.  

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I think Naraku is a genius because even though most of his offspring have been male, the females have certainly taken their roles to greater extremes.  The males have all been deliciously violent, but the females play more psychological games rather than just being involved in physical combat.  Their relationships with Naraku, Sess and even Inuyasha and co. were multi-level.  Maybe they just drew more sympathy, who knows.  I wish there were more female counterparts to juice things up!  And as far as feminine looking males, I loved Jakotsu, adds more mystery and character to a rather dull warrior we've seen ten times over.  That's just my opinion.

  

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Well, I think Naraku wants to be referred to as male, so let's respect that.  These reincarnations of Naraku are they just all parts of Naraku's personality?  Was there an innocent child such as kanna in him, or a person striving for freedom above all else (Kagura) in him.  Ah…Naraku, Freud would have a field day.

As far as the drag queen type characters, they seem to appear in other series as well.  I don't understand the appeal…is it sexual?  Are we just supposed to laugh at how ridiculous they are?  Does anyone know? To me, it seems rather gross…I mean they basically draw a woman's face (usually an attractive one) and a womanly body but then say its a guy.  Disturbing…that being said Jokotsu's snake sword was the coolest weapon in whole inu series! 

  

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Hey, a gender confused super villian is a little bit different than I am used to. I think it makes Naraku more then a A-typical bad guy. 

Jakensama, I do agree. I have seen shows where I thought the ppl were girls and found out that they were guys…….I thought what in the world is going on here. It is a little far out compared to American comics though. You certainly are not going to see any gender crossing on Super Friends (not sure if they still play that cartoon) or anything similar. My neice had a show called Appleseed/Gravitation (not sure which one it was)I liked the music. But I said something about one of the gals looking/acting a bit mascline, found out that it was supposed to be a guy…….Lmao. So much for being able to tell if it is a girl or a guy just by looking or listening. 

I am really not sure what we are supposed to think. I guess you will think what you want about any show. If it is some sort of attempt at reducing prejudice, a reflection of society as the author sees it, an attempt at reaching a larger fan base…….or just for kicks and grins.

I can't say that I have read enough on the background, if any exists, on any show to know if its' creator had any intent behind some of the more controversial characters.

  

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When I first started watching the anime, I thought Shippou was a girl! It took me till the stone flower episode to realize it was a he. The bow is what got me. How many little boys where a bow in there hair? I mean really!  

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Sorrel: I wonder how much of it is reflective of japanese society and culture?  The thing is these types of characters seem to occur in manga/anime directed towards children, rather than "serious" anime/manga more geared towards adults.  What is the significance of this?  As of this author in particular…remember she created Ranma 1/2 which is probably the king of gender issues/confusion…etc.    Anyhow yeah we aren't going to see anything like that in american cartoons/comics…remember the purple teletubby controversy?

DavidK: Yeah, Shippou threw me off for a while.  Didn't he even go in the hot springs with kagome and sango sometimes?  That plus the bow, not to mention the voice..(in the anime)…

  

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Jakensama: Shipou did try getting into a hot spring with Kagome! I think it was the episode/chapter where they met Miroku. I started watching well after that episode though, and didn't catch that until they reran the early episodes.    

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 On the chapter: Hmmmmmm…Naraku sure seems to like messing with innocent shrine maidens…I've always tried to read his actions on the matter, it left me wondering are his intentions with Hitomiko business-based to destroy Kagome or symbolic for his victory over Kikyo and his intended destruction of her reincarnation?  Hehehehe…I'm hoping for the latter *does a fan-girl swoon* Anyway, her reactions to the spiderweb I'm very interested to see… and she must have some ridiculous background if Naraku's webs were able to affect her so.  Meh…Naraku you manipulative jerk…

I'd like to give my 2 cents on Naraku's gender…

He reproduces asexually… thanks to the wonders of shikon science…

But Onigumo obviously intended for his newly formed body to reproduce… ahem…sexually. *smirks at Kikyo and gets pinned to a tree with an arrow*

I remember him saying (VIZ translation, I take Latin, not Japanese) "give me a body…a man's body," before being…erm…consumed.  (I'm sure modern day medical facilities would not let patients do that…)

And I've drawn conclusions from obscure little phrases like that for the entirety of my Inuyasha obsession.  I swear by it!  (Although if something really confuses me I look towards other opinions in the texts meaning…and get more confused)

Also, I've always held the opinion that Naraku's already complex mind would be overloaded if he had the issue of deciding which gender he was.  No doubt that the female youkai he absorbed are trying to convince him of otherwise .  …maybe that's why he looks so girly…

  

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AFAIK, Naraku and Musou are eunuchs…
  

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Jakensama: Look closer at Jakotsu's figure. It's hardly a woman's, and I'm not talking about his lack of breasts. He's one of the most muscular men in the cast as far as build goes. Far more than the leader of the group, Bankotsu, and of course the rather lanky InuYasha. Jakotsu is not a drag queen, nor is he transgendered. He is merely a crossdresser. And in actuality, homosexuality amongst mercenaries and soldiers was quite common. He's a bit over the top of course, and the sadomasochistic tendencies are very abnormal. This is obviously done to make his character fresh and unique, as well as funny. However, his inclusion does reflect culture.

Make-up and elaborate clothing in the case of Byakuya and Jakotsu both could easily be reflective of their comedic and theatrical nature, as for the most part (except for a few spans of time), only men were involved in theater- playing the parts of both genders. Homosexual trysts were extremely common in theater as well.

Aside from that, characters in anime are drawn overly feminine at times to reflect the bishounen fans. Girls like pretty boys and it's a common thing, so you have the entire cast of most shoujo looking vaguely like women. Sesshoumaru is a true bishounen, and I've had to convince more than one non-fan he is male.

And for Shippou to bathe with the girls isn't unusual. Little boys bathing with older women isn't too unusual. There's even a big joke about it in Detective Conan. The lead female, Ran, bathes with little 'Conan.' The problem is of course that Conan is in fact her would be boyfriend Shinichi, who has been trapped in the body of a child.   

  

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Was Jakotsu homosexual or was he a cross dresser who liked to murder and torture men? I always figured he was, and sublimated his homosexuality into a desire to kill. Still other then Hakudoushi, he and Bankotsu are my favorite IY villains.  

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Come to think of it… Why is Naraku still evil?

He's eliminated Kikyou, the primary source of his anger. Why not just lay low, stop the evil stuff, and settle for a 99% complete jewel?

  

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Haro:

1.  Yes of course the fangirls like pretty boys, but do they like ones that are also portrayed as homosexual and act more like women than men?  I mean if you are a girl attracted to Byukaya isn't that about the same as being attracted to another girl?

2.  Yes for a long time men were the only ones in theater, however this is because woman were looked down upon as inferior.  Also these men who played women in plays didn't go about there everyday lives as women or think of themselves as women, they were actors telling a story.    I fail to see why this old historical fact would be relevant to these overtly feminine characters in manga.  I doubt a reference to old theater practices is the author's intention.

3. Homosexual behavior does sometimes happen to soldiers or inmates in prisons…only in environments where there are none of the opposite sex available for a very long time.  However this doesn't mean the person becomes actually homosexual, (like jakotsu), as he would still much much rather be with a woman. Also we are talking about the fuedal era…I think a band of ruthless mercenaries can find and rape or coerce peasant woman, I doubt one would go on to where make up, and be so openly gay.  Also am I wrong but wasn't Bankotsu (being more than a formidible match for Inu despite being only a human) the strongest of the "seven" he was their leader and easily wielded a sword that would take the strength of three men.  He also appears fairly buff in the upper body…while Jakotsu though fairly ripped doesn't have much muscle mass, arms are rather skinny.

4. Well I guess Japanese boys are lucky (especially if like shippou, they have already developed a taste for the opposite sex) if they get to bathe with older women that are not related to them, but what about shippou's bow?

5. Historical aspects aside, what is the intention of the author to put men so feminine that you think they are women.  More importantly why are these character types so frequently found in anime and manga…who is the fan base? If it was meant to be comedic, wouldn't it more ridiculous it was a really macho type guy with basso voice in women's clothes? 

  

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The use of makeup has long been thought of as evil in Japan, esp when used by men outside of theater.

It is a form of concealment, and is still considered somewhat evil. Ronald McDonald is one example, of McDonald's. He isn't used to promote McDonald's because of the use of makeup. I do believe that characters that display makeup in the series of Inuyasha is a reflection of this more then anything. Shippou and his bow, I have to admit I thought he was a little girl at first as well. However I do think RT intended on him just looking cute more then looking gay.

Even in Japan today it is more unusual for a family to bath apart then together. Most families shower and only use the bath to soak, when using a bath tub. The water is then saved to use for other things…such as laundry (no wasting allowed). When soaking in a hot spring however the whole family, regardless of age bathes together. Even strangers all bathe together. There are hot springs, both natural and artificial ones, that do allow for a person to soak in either all female or all male settings or even alone. These are few and far between. It is due to the influence of western culture, not historical that these exist at all. 

  

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Also these men who played women in plays didn’t go about there everyday
lives as women or think of themselves as women, they were actors
telling a story.    I fail to see why this old historical fact would be
relevant to these overtly feminine characters in manga.

I did not mean that they are involved in theater. I meant that the makeup was likely just to add to their showiness, in a theatrical manner.

Yes of course the fangirls like pretty boys, but do they like ones that
are also portrayed as homosexual and act more like women than men?

I don't really see how Byakuya acts like a woman, outside his appearance. Why not? Some people are gay, what's wrong with them being gay in fiction as well?

Homosexual behavior does sometimes happen to soldiers or inmates in
prisons…only in environments where there are none of the opposite sex
available for a very long time.  However this doesn’t mean the person
becomes actually homosexual, (like jakotsu), as he would still much
much rather be with a woman.

 This is quickly steering into territory I'd rather not enter. Jakotsu didn't become gay, he just is. There are going to be bonafide gay men in those groups, not all of them would much rather be with a woman. All that aside, male prostitution (Jakotsu is NOT one, but hear me out) was NOT unheard of in ancient Japan. For many actors in theater, the other part of their job was to be prostituted towards customers. If you think all the men that paid to have this are just desperate for women, that's not the case. They could always find a female prostitute.

  Also am I wrong but wasn’t Bankotsu (being more than a formidible
match for Inu despite being only a human) the strongest of the "seven"
he was their leader and easily wielded a sword that would take the
strength of three men.

You're right that he's a more dangerous warrior and a bigger match for IY, but his build is still very lanky. I am not saying Jakotsu is stronger than Bankotsu and did not intend that at all. I'm saving that Jakotsu has a more masculine figure, and thicker muscles, which he does. We do see Bankotsu naked. He doesn't have near the meat on him as  Jakotsu. He's not as lean as IY, but he is lean, especially in the upper body/arms. Yeah, I don't know how he handles that weapon either.

 Historical aspects aside, what is the intention of the author to put
men so feminine that you think they are women.  More importantly why
are these character types so frequently found in anime and manga…who is
the fan base?

Who is the fanbase? I would imagine anyone who just happens to like the character. I am not inherently biased towards that character type, but I do love Jakotsu. I think he's great. A better question imho is, why not? Usually these characters are a lot of fun and end up very popular. In Japan, they also have the bishounen aspect that appeals to girls. Take off Jakotsu's makeup and his pretty clothes, and he's just a traditional bishounen. But to fans who aren't bishounen fans, there's just the fact that the character is entertaining and thus likable.  That aside, I would think that in a cast as absolutely enormous as InuYasha, it would only be appropriate to have one homosexual character. That's just a reflection of their presence in society.

If it was meant to be comedic, wouldn’t it more
ridiculous it was a really macho typer. e guy with basso voice in women’s
clothes?

 Could you take that villain seriously? Jakotsu, despite the comedic moments with him, is a dangerous and formidable opponent. Once he gets truly serious, he's not that funny anymore. It becomes a real battle.

Sorrel: You may very well be right on the makeup thing. Naraku wears it too. xp  

  

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Concerning Jakotsu:
He *would* be gay if he were mentally healthy enough to be. Since he was a sociopath and sadist, I don't think it's fair to lump him in with your normal homosexual population. He was a nutjob who prefered to pray on dudes. I hope this distinction makes sense.
That aside, I really enjoyed his character.

On this chapter:
It seems everyone is really excited about it, but I'm just not into it. And, yeah, it seems Hitomiko was drawn a bit "mannish." It also seemed like she had a ritzier costume than other miko we've come across.  

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Pliny: I would disagree. He IS gay, that's why men are his prey of choice, and I would heavily imagine he's known of his attraction to men far before he became the sadomasochistic mercenary he was in the series. No of course he's not lumpable with the normal homosexual population, and if he were heterosexual you wouldn't lump him with them either. 

Although technically, that societal designation  of 'gay' or 'straight' had not come into being way back then.

 
…There's this scene during the final battle with IY and Jakotsu where IY is talking to him and says, "I just can't get a straight answer out of you." I don't know if RT was going for a play on words there (of course IY wouldn't intentionally make that wisecrack as the words 'stra or it was the translator, but either way I LOLed. 

  

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**IY wouldn't know it as the words 'straight' or 'gay' hadn't come into use in that context back then.

It cut out part of my statement. Huh.
 

  

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I agree let's not go into the "are people born gay or do they become gay" which is a hugely debated issue, I personally believe the latter is true (we studied the phenomenon extensively in psychology) however this issue is outside Inuyasha.

I would have to say the fan base of cross dressing characters are mostly women, for either being attracted to them or just being amused.  Most guys don't find a guy acting or dressing as a woman as funny as they would find it disturbing or disgusting.   

Yes having one homosexual character in a large character cast may be reflective of society, but cross dressers are quite rare in comparison.  I doubt the homosexual community would feel good about a character like Jakotsu.  (besides being a cross dresser who acts like a woman, he is a cruel sadist and kiler).

  

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Jakensama: While they aren't the most popular character types amongst males, I have met several (heterosexual) male fans that like Jakotsu quite a lot. 

 And I can't speak for the entire GLBT community of course, but most (actually every single, but of course I can't speak for the ones I haven't met) homosexual fans of InuYasha I've come across on the internet and in real life got a pretty big kick out of Jakotsu. So he's a villain? Yeah, but most characters in IY are. Plus, Jakotsu is a villain that's intended to be presented as likable and entertaining, as opposed to say… Renkotsu (although I like him as well). To be honest the villains far outnumber the 'good' characters, because they have to have someone to fight.
 

  

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Wasn't Jakoutsu the first openly gay character RT has created?  I only seen bits and pieces of Ranma, none of some of her other works save Maison Ikkoku (there were no gay characters in that one).  

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Don't even get me started on Ranma… That whole series based itself on the ideals of pansexuality…
  

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NP2: Yes, he is. There are a lot of jokes in previous series regarding it, but Jakotsu is the first openly gay character.  

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Ah, Renkotsu the baldness stereotype at work.  As far as more villains and heroes in Inuyasha what is interesting is that in the regulars (characters not from one shot arcs) there are many degrees of good and bad.  Yes Naraku is pure evil, and the Inu squadron is pretty much pure good and Rin are probably pure good but the rest of the characters lie in between (Sess, Jaken, Kouga, Byukuya, Kikyo (when she was alive), etc.)

Oh yeah to comment on a previous comment of yours Haro…Byukuya's facial expressions are very womanly…not to mention how he fleed immediately (oh my I don't want to die) when Sess arrived to help Kohaku…nothing about Byukuya's behaviors, actions, or mannerisms seem masculine.  Don't forget the Naraku tentacle eye molestation thing. 

  

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Yeah, they don't scream masculine. But I don't see how they're feminine either. Androgynous maybe. How is Naraku tentacling his eyeball feminine? I can't imagine any guy wouldn't find having that happen to them disgusting. I would say that saying him fleeing the battlefield is a feminine thing is pretty unfair to women. I think his facial expressions only seem particularly feminine because he has makeup.   

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Haro: The fact that he allowed Naraku to do that to him, is feminine.  I'm not saying that all women would flee a battlefield.  However men in general will face and fight even if the opponent is far stronger.  Obviously there are cowardly men (Naraku for one), but generally fleeing a fight or battle is considered womanly.  (I know this seems unfair, but this is the general view) Byukaya fled without even trying to fight…can you imagine any of the other male characters in Inu universe doing the same (besides Naraku of course)?   

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Jakensama: I also don't see how that is feminine. Naraku isn't someone you can really say no to. If he wants to use your eyeball to watch a battle, and you're his underling, you let him. If you want to keep your life.

 I'll just agree to disagree on the battlefield thing. The women of InuYasha don't flee and run from the battlefield, and face their foes quite bravely even if the foe is stronger. Kagome and Sango have both displayed wills of steel and an absolute refusal to back down when faced with a stronger opponent at several points. Is that masculine of them?  I don't consider fleeing a battle 'womanly,' nor women more cowardly.

 Most males in the series don't run from the battlefield because they're oneshot characters who don't need to return for another battle later on, so they can be killed now. The only reason Byakuya runs is because RT doesn't want to kill him off right now. The characters against Naraku don't run because it wouldn't be very heroic to have your leads fleeing the battlefield.
 

  

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…And the only female characters I can remember actively running from the battlefield are Kagura (who needed to be kept alive just like the other detachments that have run, Hakudoushi is male and did so) and Tsubaki, who fled after being defeated. Tsubaki could not be killed by the Inu-tachi because she's human, and RT never has them do that.   

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Triple comment- Oh and Sesshoumaru has fled IY's fights more than once, seeing that he's been defeated.

 Byakuya running from that battlefield means nothing. Byakuya doesn't 'stand strong and fight' because he is not fighting for himself, but as an errand boy for Naraku. There would be no reason for him to risk his life in a battle he's not even interested in. That's not cowardice, it's him not putting his life on the line for something he doesn't even care about.  

  

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Haro:

1. Its not the only time Byakuya fled, he almost always flees from battle…Hakudoshi rarely fleed unless he was about to be destroyed.  The reason fleeing or not fighting is considered "womanly" is because women will do this more often than men.  If you look at crime you will find women are assaulted or victimized far more often than men, the reason why (which has been verified by research) is 1st obviously women are on average smaller and physically weaker than men…2nd Women are much less likely to fight back. 

2. Sess has fled, but only after some battle or after being defeated…he never has run in terror without even drawing his sword.

3. Yes the women in the Inu gang are brave, and as I said I am not trying to say all women act this way or that…only what is typically considered male and female.  You have to admit men are in general considered more courageous especially in regard to physical confrontations than women.  Fleeing a fight is a complete no no as far as being a man is concerned.  It is acceptable with women.

  

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I can't remember the chapter, but I distinctly remember Naraku ordering Byakuya to not engage anyone in battle, and I remember Byakuya not being thrilled about the order. I could be wrong about this though. If I have remembered this correctly then Byakuya is under orders to flee. I think this during the Meioju arc.   

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DavidK: You are right about that first battle.

 
Jakensama: Okay, right. Byakuya leaving a battle he's not even interested makes him womanly. More like smart, as he left because Sess threw him an attack that he didn't know how to combat. Standard Naraku protocol would be that he then reported the attack to Naraku, which is if anything just doing his job. I think we're just not going to agree on this. I think your assault analogy doesn't hold water at all. And actually Sess had fled twice. Also, Sess STARTED those fights and fled when he was matched.

  

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Alright if he was under orders by Naraku, then he could just be following orders since he seems loyal to him.  However the analogy was just given to show that fleeing from physical confrontations is more common in women than men (to show why I thought it rather feminine to flee from battle as Byukaya did.  

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I wonder what RT has in store for Byakuya. She hasn't even shown what type of offensive abilities he has. I wonder what he can do with that sword, it seems to big to be for show. And yes, I know how Freudian that sounds.  

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Hi everyone.

I have been lurking here for a little while, and have decided to join in.  Like a lot of you, I became interested in Inuyasha through the anime. I have read the chapters that pick up where it ended, but I am still catching up with the ones that preceded the conclusion of the animated version.  I hope you will all forgive me if I make a mistake now and then because of that, or continue to spell names the same way as was done in the anime.

I have some interest in Japanese culture, history, and hobbies, but I don't speak the language. Because my screen name is gender-neutral, I'll let you know that I am female.

  

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I'm a bit disturbed by the discussion surrounding the word "womanly" in relation to fleeing battles. Like Haro said, the women of this anime have proved time and time again that cowardice or fear do not rule their decision to face opponents stronger than they face. I am sure no offense was meant…but this statement:

 You have to admit men are in general considered more courageous especially in regard to physical confrontations than women.  Fleeing a fight is a complete no no as far as being a man is concerned.  It is acceptable with women.

This might be an obtuse judgement.  Perhaps women are indeed portrayed as more delicate or easily broken by fear at the large, he-man oppressor, ten times their size. But, I do believe that "womanly" or no…people flee battles they do not think they can win out of shrewdness or cleverness…not necessarily out of fear. Isn't that what Naraku does every single time? Flees to reboot, strengthen, to later reattack with a greater force…Not trying to compare Byakuya with Naraku…yet, I'm not sure this discussion of "womanly" and fleeing battles is a fair assessment…despite cultural assumption.

Because if we take the whole argument into account…Jakotsu was perhaps one of the bravest characters in the series…always trying to find battles…always trying to pick fights with Inuyasha…and even in his death, unafraid. Yet he is probably just as feminine looking etc as Byakuya is (this might be opinion). Personally…I also thought Bankotsu also looked a bit girlish. Or if you look at other Anime, such as Fullmetal Alchemist or Blood Plus…both Edward Elric and Hagi look very feminine…etc…

I'll stop…i forgot what I was even posting for.

  

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Hitsugaya, it's "ookami kaminoke".  

And I apologize, I'd get in on the discussion, but everything I would say has been said already.  Plus, I'm working on some fanart/fanfiction gifts for a friend on Deviant Art/Livejournal, so I'm hella busy.

Ah, Ranma.  And Lum.  If someone read just these three manga (including IY on this) and none of RT's other works, they'd wonder if RT has some serious sexual hang-ups or something.
 

  

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Quick Edit to above post:

And when I refferred to Ed and Hagi…I also was implying that though they are feminine, they are some of the bravest, impulsive, aggressive, and martial of the characters present in their series.

  

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I am treading on dangerous ground…Ok I was only trying to show why I think Byakuya is feminine in behavior (beyond the cross dressing, make up), but some of my remarks do appear as sexist.  It is just that Byakuya flees from battle always…he has that sword which has never been drawn, not to mention he is supposed to be the most powerful of Naraku's servants.  The manner in which he flees shows more out of fear, than cleverness though he seems quite intelligent.  However if he was ordered to never engage in combat I guess debating this flee battle issue is pointless.  Also I should rephrase, it is just fleeing battle (especially without ever engaging) always is considered unmanly rather than womanly.  Byukuya's facial expressions are feminine as well, I don't know I just think RT should have made Byukuya a woman.  Why draw a woman but then call it a man?   

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Yeah…I hear you Jakansama…I would like to see the guy actually go all out rather than glimpse his back as he escapes. There is still a lot we all are waiting or wanting to see from this series…I guess its why we are all still here!  

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When he first showed up, I was surprised to see Byakuya act differently than the other incarnations. The extent of Byakuya's abilities may not yet have been fully revealed. We'll have to wait and see if there is anything more to him. I find Byakuya kind of fun, and it doesn't bother me that he doesn't fight. His statement to Sesshoumaru that went something like "Hey, don't blame me. It's just my job." was hilarious.

Perhaps Naraku intentionally made Byakuya less aggressive so he would be more more compliant and less independent. Other than Kanna, Naraku's other creations have all been very aggressive. These aggressive ones were disobedient or downright treacherous, except for Goshinki, who was killed before we had a chance to learn much about his personality.

As far as Byakuya's "prettyness" goes, maybe he is being drawn this way to appeal to a certain segment of the female fan-base, but isn't there a tradition in many mythologies where supernatural beings in human form are described as being either too beautiful or too grotesque to actually be human?

  

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All the time. Especially in Anglo-Saxon, Druid, and even older Brittish accounts. "Faerie" was not a little pixie…but a very perilous dimension of existence between the supernatural and the physical haunted by wise and dangerous spirits. These Spirits really were so beautiful they were ugly =) Which in many cases, could also imply both male and female in gender depending on who they wanted to trick or what mood they were in at the time someone stumbled across them. It was actually quite creepy and alarming. I can imagine that this also existed in Japanese mythology…though I am not very familiar with it.  

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Jakensama:

1- The reason we have not seen many big fights with Byakuya is because his powers aren't really of the hack and slash nature that Kagura and Hakudoushi were. He works with illusions, which basically means it is not so much him fighting as the illusions he creates. Kouga has a sword he did not draw until very late in the series. Sword fighting is not what Byakuya does. As weird as it is, a character having a sword at their hip doesn't make them a swordsman. Also, regardless of how many times he flees battle- that does not make him feminine which is why I am boggled it was even brought up and why people were debating against it. And additionally, several male characters have been pointed out as doing the same thing.

2- I do not recall him being called the most powerful of Naraku's detachments, although if he was, please clarify. I would disagree and say that is Kanna. She can kill within an instant, and there's really no escape. The only reason she is not such an asset is because Kagome can counteract her. But Kagome being able to counteract her is an extremely unusual situation. Otherwise, it's all Kanna.

3- Why draw a woman but then call it a man? 

Because why adhere to traditional gender and sexuality stereotypes when designing your characters? Personally, A+ to RT for not doing so.

Also, Byakuya is not a crossdresser. That is a man's outfit, completely. Sesshoumaru's fluff though, is a feminine garment piece. I am not saying he is a crossdresser of course, but it confuses me that someone could fault Byakuya for looking a woman and not (earlier at least) manga Sesshoumaru. I have met so many people who thought he was a girl.

Elise96 and Tanuki are also right, I think.

  

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Haro: Sess's fluff is supposed to be his tail, so it is hard to fault the character for that.  As far as Byakuya feminine or not, it is not like we could prove it either way so just drop it.  It is all subjective, also I think guys look at the gender stereotypes different than women in general.  As far as applauding RT for the character design of Byakuya I find it hard to do so.  He seems to be the least inspired of Naraku's incarnations…he looks so much like Kagura (look at a picture of both side by side), so just deciding to make the character a male doesn't automatically garner an A+ for originality in my opinion.  The abilities of Byakuya on the other hand do seem interesting.  

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I don't think Sesshoumaru's fur boa is his tail.  A few days ago, I read the manga chapter where Sesshoumaru transforms into a giant dog and Inuyasha hacks off his foreleg. In those drawings he has a mane of longer fur across his shoulders and chest that looks like his "Fluffy."  So, I believe it is actually part of his pelt, and a sort of connection to his animal form.

  

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i honestly dont see any indication that sesshomaru or byakuya are in any way feminen, or supposidly cross dressers. they are both whereing mens garments. and niether come acrost as acting like women. where did that even come from its like it was pulled out of thin air. even if their had some small little inderect evidance of a maybe possibility of any of those charactors being feminen or gay what douse that have to do with the over line of the story. nothing. i think with conversations like this we are lossing track of whats important. this has nothing to do with the deeper meaning, were missing the point. i thought this whole comment section was to discuss literary elements. not to lose complete track of the point. this is not the first time something like this has happend where we lose sight of whats important and lose focus of the meaning. it happend not to long ago when about im going to guess about a little more than 2/3 of a comment page was used for talking about charactors clothing and how often kagome changes her outfets. i think we need to realize whats important here. i dont mean to affend anybody, but i fell that sometimes some of us have a tendancey to get off track and sway off topic and i fell that maybe it needs to be brought to some peoples attention. and this is not a critisisum some of the people who get a bit carried away or sway a little off track are people who i often agree with or have great respect and value their oppinions.  

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Alexis: I do not think Sess is feminine, although I do think in appearance he looks as much like a 'woman' as some of these other characters like Byakuya. I only used Sess as a counterexample. "If Byakuya is a crossdresser and feminine, then by that logic Sesshoumaru should be as well."

Jakensama: I would disagree. Byakuya does not look that much like Kagura. Pointy ears, dark, hair, make up and bangs. However, a large chunk of the youkai cast has all of those. More like a fusion of Jakotsu and Abi-hime, imho. Regardless of, his personality is original. He's wisecracking and clever, and provides a lightness to the manga that some of those battles really needed. Also, his powers are extremely creative.  That aside, I was not applauding her for his design. I was commenting that it's awesome that RT bucks gender stereotypes. Androgynous characters are cool, I think. It is neat that Byakuya's gender and sexuality are completely irelevant to his character.

As for Sesshoumaru's fluff. I was, as I said, providing a counter. All I meant to say was that if Byakuya is a crossdresser, so is Sess. It is a tail, but it's not attached at the rear. It's not attached at all so I don't know why he couldn't carry it around it around. It IS however, living and is in a sense part of him I suppose.  This is according to the character book by RT. Regardless, I am not holding it against him, as I wouldn't hold it against him no matter how he dressed. Sesshoumaru could traipse around in a dress and I would not care and it would not influence my opinion on his character negatively. If anything I'd find it amusing. But there is nothing feminine about Byakuya's garments, is all I was trying to say.

And I am also okay with ending this.

  

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Well Alexis is right this argument has been overly drawn out, plus it doesn't have anything to do with the storyline, so ending it is a good idea.    

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Welcome to the boards, Tanuki!
Ta-ta-tanuki!
Sorry 'bout that. But welcome! ^_^  

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Kagome haters are gonna love chapter 508…

^_^ 

  

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