Rikuchan Blog #2: Hanyo no Yashahime Recommendation

The anime community is extremely excited this fall season because the very old and loved series InuYasha is finally getting a continuation of the story. Hanyō no Yashahime (The Half-Demon Princess) is the title of this anime-only spin-off series which focuses on Sesshōmaru’s twin daughters, Towa and Setsuna, as well as Inuyasha’s daughter, Moroha. The anime started airing on October 3, 2020, and while I haven’t started watching it yet, I’m ecstatic to see one of my favorite fictional worlds make a return.

Rumiko Takahashi, the author of the original InuYasha comics, is not writing the story of Hanyō no Yashahime. However, she was involved in the project and designed the main characters. In typical Rumiko Takahashi fashion, there seem to be a lot of strong, female characters, which is something I always liked about her writing. I’m interested to see how both Inuyasha and Kagome’s characteristics of tenacity and kindness will manifest in their daughter Moroha, as well as how Moroha might be unique in her own way. Sesshōmaru was always defined in two ways. At times he was unbelievably cruel and cold-hearted, and at other times he was shockingly gentle and noble. I wonder if we might see these opposites mirrored in the twins, Towa and Setsuna.

I want to wait for all of the episodes to be released before I begin watching Hanyō no Yashahime, but to be honest, it’s difficult to wait with all the excitement. I have always enjoyed anime that are set in Sengoku Period Japan-like worlds, and for some reason, I love fantasy stories that involve demons and half-demon characters (like Ki Metsu no Yaiba). Yōkai are an interesting part of japanese mythology, and I enjoy seeing them portrayed in anime with fun, likeable characters. How about you? Are you a fan of the InuYasha series or other works by Rumiko Takahashi? Will you be watching Hanyō no Yashahime?