Japanese names of characters from “Inuyasha”

Image by: Inuyasha comic 1 ©Rumiko Takahashi／Shogakukan

What is the story?

Inuyasha is a popular manga series written and illustrated by Rumiko Takahashi. Inuyasha is about a fight over the sacred jewel called the ‘four souls jewel’ (四魂の玉 read Shikon no Tama) which gives power to demons and grants any wish. A middle school girl called Kagome falls into a well and travels back in time to the Sengoku era where she meets a half-dog demon Inuyasha. Inuyasha and Kagome set off on an adventure looking for the pieces of the ‘four souls jewel’ which are scattered all over Japan.

Image by: Inuyasha Yomigaeru Monogatari official website ©Rumiko Takahashi／Shogakukan・Yomiuri TV・Sunrise2009 ©DAEWON MEDIA CO., LTD.

What is the Japanese title of Inuyasha?

Inuyasha(犬夜叉) is the exact title of the original version. The title comes from the main character’s name and most of the focus is on him.

What are the meanings behind the characters’ names?

In Japanese culture, names have significant meanings that are supposed to represent you as a person. Names can be expressed in hiragana, katakana, and kanji. Let’s find out the meanings of some names of characters in Inuyasha.

Inuyasha（犬夜叉, Inuyasha）

Image by: Inuyasha Yomigaeru Monogatari official website ©Rumiko Takahashi／Shogakukan・Yomiuri TV・Sunrise2009 ©DAEWON MEDIA CO., LTD.

Inuyasha is half-dog and half-demon. He was trapped on a tree with a holy arrow until Kagome freed him. ‘Inu’(犬) means dog and ‘Yasha’(夜叉) means demon. With dog ears and a fluffy tail you can easily tell that he is half dog, Kagome is able to control him by saying “sit” because of the magical necklace around his neck.

Kagome (カゴメ, Kagome)

Image by: Inuyasha Yomigaeru Monogatari official website ©Rumiko Takahashi／Shogakukan・Yomiuri TV・Sunrise2009 ©DAEWON MEDIA CO., LTD.

She is the daughter of the Higurashi shrine and lives with her grandfather, mother, and younger brother. Kagome(カゴメ) means weaved basket and it is also the name of a traditional Japanese game. She was revealed to be Kikyou’s reincarnation and brought the ‘four souls jewel’ back in the Sengoku era.

Kikyou（桔梗, Kikyō）

Image by: Inuyasha Yomigaeru Monogatari official website ©Rumiko Takahashi／Shogakukan・Yomiuri TV・Sunrise2009 ©DAEWON MEDIA CO., LTD.

Kikyou (桔梗)  is a powerful priestess guarding the ‘four souls jewel’ and is the one who trapped Inuyasha on the tree. After the long battle against the demons, she succeeded in destroying the ‘four souls jewel’ but died in exchange. Kikyou (桔梗) means bellflower.

Shippou（七宝, Shippō）

Image by: Inuyasha Yomigaeru Monogatari official website ©Rumiko Takahashi／Shogakukan・Yomiuri TV・Sunrise2009 ©DAEWON MEDIA CO., LTD.

Shi (七) means seven, however, if you would want to say the number seven by itself you would say Shichi or Nana. On the other hand, Pou(宝) means treasure. Shippou is a little fox demon and is a scaredy-cat (or should I say fox.) He joins Inuyasha throughout his journey.

Sango (珊瑚, Sango)

Image by: Inuyasha Yomigaeru Monogatari official website ©Rumiko Takahashi／Shogakukan・Yomiuri TV・Sunrise2009 ©DAEWON MEDIA CO., LTD.

Sango(珊瑚) means coral. Sango is a demon slayer whose family was killed by Naraku. She joins Inuyasha to avenge her family.

Kohaku (琥珀, Kohaku)

Image by: Inuyasha anime official website ©Rumiko Takahashi／Shogakukan・Yomiuri TV・Sunrise

Kohaku (琥珀), Sango’s kind little brother. He was possessed by Naraku and killed his family. He died after but was saved by the power of the ‘Four soul jewel’. Kohaku (琥珀) means amber.

Sesshoumaru (殺生丸, Sesshōmaru）

Image by: Inuyasha Yomigaeru Monogatari official website ©Rumiko Takahashi／Shogakukan・Yomiuri TV・Sunrise2009 ©DAEWON MEDIA CO., LTD.

He is Inuyasha’s older half-brother. Unlike Inuyasha he is fully demon, this is because both his parents are demons and Inuyasha’s mother is a human. Sesshou (殺生)  means kill, or cruel and Maru (丸) is circle. Like his name, he doesn’t hesitate to kill anything, especially humans. 

Naraku (奈落, Naraku)

Image by: Inuyasha anime DVD 6 cover ©Rumiko Takahashi／Shogakukan・Yomiuri TV・Sunrise

Naraku is half-spider and half-demon. He is also after the ‘Four souls jewel’ because he desires to be the most powerful demon.  Naraku (奈落) means hell.

Interesting lines and phrases – Learning Japanese!

Here are some useful phrases from Inuyasha which will help you along with your Japanese studies!

Image by: Inuyasha comic 3 Ep 21 ©Rumiko Takahashi／Shogakukan

EN/ “Such a nice weather”
JP/ 「いい天気ii tenki 」

‘ii’ means good and ‘tenki’ means weather.

 Here are three different types of weathers in Japanese.

‘晴れ’(Hare) = sunny

‘曇り’ (Kumori) = cloudy

‘雨’ (Ame) = rainy

Image by: Inuyasha comic 1 Ep 1 ©Rumiko Takahashi／Shogakukan

EN/ “Sit!”
JP/ 「おすわり！Osuwari! 」

‘Osuwari’ is a word you use when you train your dog how to sit. When Inuyasha misbehaved, Kagome took control of him with this magic word.