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犬夜叉 [Inuyasha] #6

Inu-Yasha : A Feudal Fairy Tale, Vol. 6

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Horror meets samurai history when Kagome is transported back in time to the feudal era. Accidentally releasing a legendary doglike demon, she sets off a sequence of supernatural events that ultimately resurrect her former incarnation and lead her on a hair-raising underworld adventure.

190 pages, Paperback

First published May 18, 1998

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1221 people want to read

About the author

Rumiko Takahashi

1,581 books2,132 followers
Rumiko Takahashi (高橋留美子) was born in Niigata, Japan. She is not only one of the richest women in Japan but also one of the top paid manga artists. She is also the most successful female comic artist in history. She has been writing manga non-stop for 31 years.

Rumiko Takahashi is one of the wealthiest women in Japan. The manga she creates (and its anime adaptations) are very popular in the United States and Europe where they have been released as both manga and anime in English translation. Her works are relatively famous worldwide, and many of her series were some of the forerunners of early English language manga to be released in the nineties. Takahashi is also the best selling female comics artist in history; well over 100 million copies of her various works have been sold.

Though she was said to occasionally doodle in the margins of her papers while attending Niigata Chūō High School, Takahashi's interest in manga did not come until later. During her college years, she enrolled in Gekiga Sonjuku, a manga school founded by Kazuo Koike, mangaka of Crying Freeman and Lone Wolf and Cub. Under his guidance Rumiko Takahashi began to publish her first doujinshi creations in 1975, such as Bye-Bye Road and Star of Futile Dust. Kozue Koike often urged his students to create well-thought out, interesting characters, and this influence would greatly impact Rumiko Takahashi's works throughout her career.

Career and major works:

Takahashi's professional career began in 1978. Her first published story was Those Selfish Aliens, a comedic science fiction story. During the same year, she published Time Warp Trouble, Shake Your Buddha, and the Golden Gods of Poverty in Shōnen Sunday, which would remain the home to most of her major works for the next twenty years. Later that year, Rumiko attempted her first full-length series, Urusei Yatsura. Though it had a rocky start due to publishing difficulties, Urusei Yatsura would become one of the most beloved anime and manga comedies in Japan.

In 1980, Rumiko Takahashi found her niche and began to publish with regularity. At this time she started her second major series, Maison Ikkoku, in Big Comic Spirits. Written for an older audience, Maison Ikkoku is often considered to be one of the all-time best romance manga. Takahashi managed to work on Maison Ikkoku on and off simultaneously with Urusei Yatsura. She concluded both series in 1987, with Urusei Yatsura ending at 34 volumes, and Maison Ikkoku being 15.

During the 1980s, Takahashi became a prolific writer of short story manga, which is surprising considering the massive lengths of most of her works. Her stories The Laughing Target, Maris the Chojo, and Fire Tripper all were adapted into original video animations (OVAs). In 1984, after the end of Urusei Yatsura and Maison Ikkoku, Takahashi took a different approach to storytelling and began the dark, macabre Mermaid Saga. This series of short segments was published sporadically until 1994, with the final story being Mermaid's Mask. Many fans contend that this work remains unfinished by Takahashi, since the final story does not end on a conclusive note.

Another short work left untouched is One-Pound Gospel, which, like Mermaid Saga, was published erratically. The last story to be drawn was published in 2001, however just recently she wrote one final chapter concluding the series

Later in 1987, Takahashi began her third major series, Ranma ½. Following the late 80s and early 90s trend of shōnen martial arts manga, Ranma ½ features a gender-bending twist. The series continued for nearly a decade until 1996, when it ended at 38 volumes. Ranma ½ is one of Rumiko Takahashi's most popular series with the Western world.

During the later half of the 1990s, Rumiko Takahashi continued with short stories and her installments of Mermaid Saga and One-Pound Gospel until beginning her fourth major work, InuYasha. While Ran

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
Profile Image for Krystal.
2,191 reviews488 followers
August 8, 2022
I am a sucker for more Inuyasha x Kikyo story. Plus hellooooo Miroku!

I really love when this goes deeper into the past, and how it affects Inuyasha. I like to see his layers.

Miroku is a total scumbag but for some reason I adore him a little. Feminist me hates me for this, but what can ya do.

The series really gets deeper with this volume so it's a bit of a turning point, I think. It's been all fun and games up to this point but now we start to see a bit more of the darkness running through the series. I like it a lot.
Profile Image for Sesana.
6,270 reviews329 followers
May 16, 2012
There's actually quite a bit going on here. The Kikyo cliffhanger is resolved (of course, her storyline isn't near done yet), Miroku gets added to the family, and Naraku is revealed as the real Big Bad of the series. Quite a lot of story for one volume. Miroku was never my favorite out of the InuYasha family, and I know that I would really dislike him in real life, but he can at least be funny.
Profile Image for Ilaria Massariol.
448 reviews15 followers
May 26, 2025
e anche miroku si è aggiunto alla compagnia ❤️‍🩹 i disegni sono pazzeschi sempre
Profile Image for Joseph.
544 reviews11 followers
September 26, 2022
This one introduces the monk guy. I only caught scattered episodes of this on adult swim in the early 2000s so I never knew what his deal was until now. Anyway, when does the boomerang lady get here!!

The bit about the painter was cool. I like that it still feels like Takahashi is having fun and just telling the stories she wants to tell within the world of Inuyasha.
Profile Image for Vanessa Kay.
916 reviews21 followers
January 25, 2017
*This review is for the series as a whole with 4.5 out of 5 stars*

This series is absolutely the longest series I’ve ever read so far, with a total of 56 volumes containing 559 chapters. Yeah right? I grew up watching anime and when I stumbled to this one, I instantly got hook. I’m so in love with this anime that I have the complete anime series in my possession. Yep! It occupy mostly the memory of my external drive haha sucker I know. And it’s just now that I finally had the courage to read its manga. I started reading this last December but had a 1 week off because of the Holiday until finally I finished it!

This story is about this modern Japanese girl, Kagome, that was pulled from her own time and went to feudal Japan. It is where she met the half yokai (supernatural monster in Japanese folklore) or also called Hanyou, Inuyasha. Two opposite personalities that were forced to travel together because of the Shikon Jewel or the Jewel of Four Souls.

Kagome (female lead) is so much fun and a wonderful heroine. If she’s a real person, she could be my hero. And Inuyasha on the other hand is such an awesome badass that thinking about him hurts. And as a couple, they sure are mind blowing. After writing this review, I’ll definitely re-watch the anime hehe.



Speaking of which, Inuyasha is a bad boy. But he’s the awesome kind of bad boy with humor and with a touch of dumbness at the same time. When he first met Kagome, I swear he could really be a great pain in the ass and is a straight-up a-hole. And as the story progresses, he became this kind of awesome person without losing his bad boy image ofcourse. And when it comes to Kagome, he sure is kind of protective and I love their usual bantering. It could get annoying sometimes but mostly entertaining lol, especially when Kagome really gets angry at him.



His character is so realistic too. Behind the bad boy image is the guy who lost his first love and when she returned, he’s torn between her and Kagome. Which to be honest, made me kind of mad at him. Well, I’m 100% with Kagome and I totally hate Kikyou. But after reading the manga, I still don’t like her, but she is kind of likeable now especially when she saved Kohaku. And also Inuyasha’s inner battle with his demon blood and his human heart, and you know what’s awesome about it? It’s because it’s only Kagome who can make him back to his senses, isn’t that just sweet?

(I was a bit teary-eyed when the Spider youkai were after them and he got bitten while he’s in his human form. And speaking of human form, he sure still rock it even with black hair minus the cute doggy ears. Then he lay on Kagome’s lap and told her that he love her scent even if he told her otherwise before. They’re in the middle of a dangerous situation but because of that, it became kind of romantic and unforgettable scene for me.)

Kagome on the other hand is a typical female lead. She started as a helpless girl until they found out about her being the reincarnation of Kikyou which was Inuyasha’s first love and the strongest Miko in the feudal Japan. I love how she became badass as the story progresses. Kikyou may be the first woman Inuyasha loved, but it is Kagome who really changed Inuyasha as a person. Plus, did I tell you how many times she saved Kikyou? Also, even how many times she got hurt because she’s Inuyasha’s first love, her heart remains pure.

I have to be honest, there’s some point in this series that totally got my nerve and made me flipped. That’s mostly about Inuyasha being torn between Kikyou and Kagome and how many times he chose Kikyou over Kagome. I mean, that’ quite of cruel really. But even that’s the case, I learn to outgrow it simply because he still travels with her, plus, once in a while they have their own moments. And speaking of moment, I need to step ahead and point out the lack of kissing scenes between them. In anime there’s quite a lot, but in manga, almost none. Yeah right?

As they travel, their group of two grows into a group of 6 where they met the kitsune Shippou, the monk Miroku, cool Sango and her cute Kirara.

Shippou is a cute Kitsune (fox) yokai that specializes in making pranks which he mostly use to Inuyasha lol. At first, they both hate each other and argues which is kind of funny lol. But as they both travels together, their relationship improved. He is really adorable and so attached to Kagome.

Miroku – A playboy and pervert who loves caressing women’s butt. But his proposal to Sango was pretty sweet.

Sango – a really tough cookie. I love her character and the fact that she can man handle guys. And her relationship with Miroku was so kawaii.

(Quite cliche eh? Inuyasha and Kagome fell in love with each other and Miroku, Sango with each other too. Well, IDC haha. I just love their group.)

Kirara – is a cute yokai that transforms into a ferocious beast during battles. Plus, he flies!

With a very long series, a long list of character isn’t a surprise at all. But what’s really hard with manga or anime is to get familiarize with the character’s names. But as for my favorites or the ones that totally got my attention here’s my list. (I’m being mean today, so I’m not going to add Kikyou in my list, blee)

1. Number one in my list is Sesshoumaru. I never thought I’d say this, but I’m one of those really annoying fangirls who love him. Deym! When I first saw him in the anime, I’ve got to say that there’s something dangerous about him. Inuyasha has this bad boy image, but Sesshoumaru is on the highest level. I really hate him at first. Unlike Inuyasha, he really is living the bad boy life. He’s rude, full of pride and all things bad. I specifically hated how he keeps on stealing their Father’s memento, Tessaiga, that is originally given to I But everything changed when he met Rin, and then we got to find out about Tenseiga and everything about it. Then, it just happens, I love Sesshoumaru. And then I came to the part about Meidou Zangetsuha, I feel so sorry for him. Huhu, and then after that my admiration for him intensified. He made me feel so many emotions, I almost cried because of him. It will take too much writing if I’ll enumerate the things that made me love Sesshoumaru so I’ll just let these images speaks for itself.


2. Well, obviously, it’s Rin. I love her character simply because she’s the reason why Sesshoumaru became compassionate, which is also the reason how he was now able to use his healing sword T And I love her teasing with Jaken. I love how the boring team of two grows and became lively because of her.Honestly, at first, I’m one of those fans that ships Rin to Sesshoumaru. But after I read the manga, I realized how absurd that is. I don’t know, but I think Jaken is right. Sesshoumaru is like a father to Rin in a strange way, and he sure is a great one.

3. Kagome’s family, her mother, younger brother Shouta, grandpa including their cat Buyo. I thought it’s going to be a big shocker when they met Inuyasha, but end up petting him like a pet dog lol. They’re all touching Inuyasha’s ears haha. Well, that couldn’t be help lol especially if he has that adorable doggy ears.


4. Kouga – The moment he was introduced in this series, I can’t stop laughing. He’s the third party between Inuyasha and Kagome and I can’t really stop laughing whenever I remember the scene where he boldly said that he loves Kagome and he’s determine to make her his woman. Well, after what Kagome went through because of Kikyou, I can’t help but send Inuyasha a dirty sign. Blee!

5. Miyouga – The coward flea. He’s some sort of the guy who knows it all, well, not totally all but mostly about Inuyasha and his father. I wish this series was able to show something about the past especially about Inuyasha’s father and mother. Well, it did actually in the anime.

6. Totosai – The swordsmith who forged Tessaiga and Tenseiga due to Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru’s father’s request. I would have love it more if they included a back story of him too.

7. Kaede – Kikyou’s younger sister. A strong lady who would probably live another 50 years the way she’s going.

8. Kohaku – The younger brother of Sango. For a young age, he’s been through a lot. But I’m happy how he was able to regain or fight for his humanity after what Naraku did to him.

9. Jaken – Originally, I didn’t have the intention of adding him in this list but looking back, I have to say that he made my whole reading experience so enjoyable too. He’s Sesshoumaru’s companion. He’s arrogant and even pitiful sometimes especially when he receives death glare or punches from Sesshoumaru when he’s pissed but he is mostly funny especially when Rin joined the group.

10. Naraku – For the ultimate cunning supervilain, I guess he quite deserve to be in this list lol. He’s a hanyou like Inuyasha. He’s the reason why Kikyou died 50 years ago and is the reason why Kikyou and Inuyasha had a rough past.

When I think about it, this is obviously a typical adventure anime/manga. For an adventure stories, the idea of different set of individuals forming a group while traveling is quite cliche too, let alone falling in love with each other! But what sets this story different from others is on the adventures each characters went through. When I though it’s the end and the ideas are already sucked out dry from the author, we then introduced to a new unexpected scene. I’ve been watching anime and they all gave me the same reaction. And what is that? It’s astonishment. We might already encountered the story’s plot before, but the twists and turns, the scenes, the lines are so unique. I can’t count how many times I said out loud “I didn’t expected that!” while reading this series.

All we’re covered too. I love that each characters has their own background covered, so we all got the chance to really know more about them and where they come from. I love that each characters have the chance to stand out and we’ve got to see how they matured with each chapters. As the title goes, without watching the anime, I really thought this series would only revolves around Inuyasha, well, it kind of does since each characters have a connection with Inuyasha. But what I like to say is that the author didn’t made a selfish decision to just make Inuyasha the hero all the time. We’ve got the chance to see the weaker side of him, the annoying one, the part where others from the group became the hero and saved him, and ofcourse the funny and dense Inuyasha which is my favorite.

As I said, this series has a total of 559 chapters so it will absolutely take us a lot of time if I talk about the adventures the group encountered one by one. So to make it short, I’ll just “kind of share” my favorite chapters from this series. Before I decided to read this manga, I have a lot of favorite scenes from the anime, mostly? Well, all of them we’re from Kagome and Inuyasha. But after reading the manga, I have to say that my favorite scenes were from Sesshoumaru (Inuyasha’s youkai brother). The first one was when he met Rin (human girl) and resurrected her. I really love how little by little he changed from this full mean badboy image to a compassionate one. He’s still a badboy but when he’s with Rin, dayum, I just can’t help but squeal in delight. And another favorite scene was when he went inside the meidou (a place where the living are not suppose to go) to save Rin. It’s also the most touching scene ever because of how he discarded his sword tenseiga (his father’s memento) because it can’t save Rin. Like dang! (just zoom the image to read the lines)










For my rating, I’m detracting a half star. It really is painful but I guess I really need to. It’s because even with the 559 chapters, it failed to tell us an introduction of what really is a yokai or hanyou or everything about those so-called monster. I mean, it’s been 50 years after that the story resumed but Sesshoumaru look as fabulous as ever and so is Inuyasha. I mean, if Inuyasha and Kagome will live together as man and wife, Kagome will age and Inuyasha would still be looking the same? The slowness of the villains too is quite so-so but I understand that to make this series long. Also, about crossing time through the well, in its first few chapters, we’ve got to find out that it’s the Shikon Jewel that connects the two worlds, but I remembered after Naraku seized all the shards of the Jewel, Kagome was still able to go back to her world. That really is kinda confusing though. And lastly, the epilogue. Dang! Sango and Miroku had their three little angels, how come Inuyasha and Kagome didn’t have atleast 1 son or daughter?! Oh well, I guess you can’t really have all.

You might be wondering which one of the two I love, manga or anime, I have to say that I love both. All the scenes from manga can be seen in anime, but what’s great with anime is that there’s some new scenes added to it. So if you’re planning to read the manga, I would highly recommend watching the anime too.

I would highly recommend this series, if you’re down for a good solid adventure and a kickass heroine with a sexy demon badboy. It’s often hilariously funny and the drawing is so lovely. It’s just simply awesome.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

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Profile Image for StrawberryShojo.
275 reviews41 followers
January 5, 2021
This volume makes a lot of important plot points that will have consequences for the rest of the series. So definitely do not skip this volume. We get to see the conclusion of the Kikyo-related cliffhanger of the last volume and finally get a glimpse at the series big bad.
Profile Image for LogFanJams.
115 reviews2 followers
April 16, 2022
Better than I thought it was gonna be, also it gets props for have a really good one page spread and Miroku is introduced
Profile Image for K.
1,371 reviews1 follower
May 4, 2024
This felt like such a filler volume
Profile Image for Gillian Brownlee.
795 reviews21 followers
June 18, 2024
I like the addition of Miroku, even though I don’t love his determination to harass every woman he meets. But his story is intriguing, and I look forward to seeing how he uses that void of his.
Profile Image for Rachel.
157 reviews
December 5, 2024
4.5 ⭐️

Geez, whenever Kikyo is involved my thoughts just run away from me.


If the transition from InuYasha, Vol. 4: Lost and Alone to InuYasha: Flesh and Bone felt a little choppy, the transition from volume 5 to InuYasha, Vol. 6: Wounded Souls is very smooth and picks up right where we left off. That is one benefit of splitting an arc between two volumes, and it works as long as the cliff-hanger is in the right spot.

In addition to naturally continuing from where the last volume left off story-wise, this volume also continues to explore the themes and ideas that were introduced (those being: death, souls, reincarnation, and identity + Inuyasha's guilt + the emerging overarching story). Through Kikyo, it introduces another theme: the false dichotomy of demon/youkai and humans, with demons = evil and humans = good + pure. She believed that if Inuyasha had used the Shikon Jewel to become human, the jewel would have been purified and ceased to exist.

What is really emphasized by Kikyo in this section is that she has basically been reduced to pure malice. She grips to "life" within a "body of bones and grave dirt" with her hatred, or at least that's how Urasue and Kaede see it. It's as if what she suppressed during life is all that remains. "That girl who was once a pure miko...will become a monster of pure malice..." But is that really true? Kagome awakens and fights to take her soul back (yes, Kagome!), but does that make the one soul divide into two bodies? Is Kikyo really only made up of hatred while the rest of the soul returns to Kagome? There is no exact answer or science to this matter, but it will be something to continue to explore.

Regardless, the last volume posed the question of whether or not Kagome is her own person and here we get a continuation of the answer. Kagome herself declared that she is not Kikyo or just a reincarnation, and now others see Kagome wasn't "just a cast-off shell without a soul" when Kikyo was resurrected and Kaede (our local source of wisdom) observes that Kagome is "a strange child...Even Kikyo-onee-sama's powerful soul could not win against Kagome. [She]...is not just a mere reincarnation." Inuyasha remains a little confused and conflicted about the Kikyo-Kagome situation ("But...your soul..."), but even he expresses relief that "it's the same old Kagome" when she reawakens from reclaiming her soul ("What's this? I felt relieved when I saw Kagome's smile.")

The whole resurrection almost feels like a moment of closure for Inuyasha at first. We can't forget that he's basically been in a coma for 50 years and what happened with Kikyo was only a few weeks ago in his mind. With the brief return of Kikyo, he learns the truth about what happened when she "betrayed" him. This clues him in to the emerging overarching story and villain ("Somebody made Kikyo and I hate each other...who and for what purpose?) and also gives him the motivation to get revenge and avenge Kikyo. He is weighed down by guilt and feels responsible for Kikyo's fate, yet he tells her "Kikyo...you can't go on like this...you should return to Kagome" and in addition to being relieved that Kagome awakens as herself and not Kikyo, he thinks "It's over, Kagome. Rest in peace, Kikyo" when it seems Kikyo has truly died. It feels like he is moving on and has begun to untangle Kikyo and Kagome in his mind, even if the whole reincarnation aspect of Kikyo/Kagome's soul remains confusing. It's the start of getting closure and he will try to take that further by avenging Kikyo and seeking justice for her.

But psych! Wouldn't it be nice if this were all fully true? Inuyasha might be moving on, but the shell of Kikyo remains–she didn't actually die–and won't let him.

"I detested you at the moment of my death...my soul cannot move beyond that...as long as you live, I cannot rest!" It's almost like whoever orchestrated the fall-out and betrayal between Kikyo and Inuyasha messed with how the story was supposed to go. Or if not that person, then Kagome disrupted the tragic fate of two lovers. Kikyo is stuck in the moment of betrayal and wants to return her and Inuyasha to their prior fate. Even when Inuyasha explains that he didn't betray her, she can't move on. She's frozen in time like Inuyasha was when she sealed him to the tree. And while she didn't want to be dragged from death, now that she has been reawakened, she clings to what remains of her soul and the semblance of life it gives her.

Inuyasha tells Kikyo to return the rest of her soul to Kagome. He wants her to find peace and save her from the fate of being a "monster of malice." But to this Kikyo says: "Are you asking for this body to die? Returning to that girl means that I will lose myself. Inuyasha...that's what you wish for, isn't it?" Kikyo sees Inuyasha's expression of care in this moment as him telling her that he wants her to die and that he prefers Kagome, but she declares "I will not die...I will only die when you die!!" This is just such a...fascinating direction to take this character. And compared to the brief glimpse of her we got previously and in flashbacks, she does feel different! There was a girlish quality to her before and now that hatred is really taking over. That doesn't mean that she really is just a shell filled with a soul made of malice, but she explores the averse effects of suppressing parts of yourself and being reduced to a pure, perfect figure. Her love and anger get all tangled too with her sort of staking a claim on Inuyasha and wanting them to have their tragic lovers fate. I don't blame her for being upset that her supposed reincarnation is getting to live the life she wanted to have with Inuyasha.

What seemed like closure is just the beginning. Rumiko Takahashi basically asserts that a reincarnated soul is its own person (and identity comes from more than just one's soul), but there are a lot of remaining unanswered questions regarding these ideas. And what felt like a satisfying conclusion is actually opening things up in more ways than one. Even with Inuyasha getting some temporary closure, the whole experience leaves him questioning what he wants ("even if I collect together the shikon jewel and become full youkai...what then? If I become a youkai, would my heart become stronger as well...? Would I forget about Kikyo?...would my mind no longer be disturbed by anyone...?")

What we can see is that Inuyasha wants to belong and to be loved, but what he has been through has made his direction unclear. He was rejected as a hanyou and so wanted to become a full demon. Then he met Kikyo and considered becoming human to be with someone who cared about him and who he cared about in turn. When he thought she betrayed him, he again latched onto the idea of becoming a full demon and tried to convince himself that he hated/didn't care about humans. Kagome's entrance into his life again challenges how he perceives himself and the world, but as he started to find belonging with Kagome, he still believed Kikyo betrayed him. He remained in denial about his care for Kagome and humans, claiming to want to be a full demon. Now he knows the truth about the past, so everything is again shaken up. He has been somewhat freed from his resentment of Kikyo and humans, so it is time to re-evaluate. But it is easier to zero in on a new enemy, whoever is responsible for what happened 50 years ago, and revenge rather than looking inward. The question of what Inuyasha wants for himself has now been blown open for further exploration. He's confused and conflicted!

On that intense note, we get Miroku! With his introduction we get to see that he is not the greatest person but even he has his morals and lines he won't cross. He's a mix of selfish and caring, not to mention, of course, a lecher. His lecherous ways provides a little nudge for Inuyasha and Kagome, with Inuyasha expressing jealousy and possessiveness, in addition to protectiveness. Kagome too, experiences some jealousy. Now that she knows more, she can't help but compare herself to Kikyo. Aside from contributing to character and relationship development, it's clear that Miroku could be an asset to the group with his physical and spiritual abilities. And with Miroku's backstory and driving force, we get more information about the big bad and overarching story aka the introduction of Naraku.

Naraku provides Inuyasha with an answer to his question of "what is my goal?" as he determines he will find Naraku and kill him "for you, Kikyo!" This aligns nicely with the goal he was already working towards–collecting the jewel shards as Kagome concludes they are bound to run into Naraku if they keep collecting the shards. This also aligns Inuyasha ands Kagome's goal with Miroku's, so it only makes sense for them to travel together. Inuyasha's jealousy gets in the way of this for the time being, instead setting Miroku up as his competition and leading Inuyasha to try to constantly prove that he is better than Miroku (and we essentially get a dick measuring contest but Inuyasha is way more invested in the outcome than Miroku). After some more serious chapters, this provides some good comedic moments.

After everything with Kikyo, I feel like the Master Painter arc really reaffirms Inuyasha and Kagome as a team (while adding to their group) and two people with growing affection for each other. It is in a way a return to form while also inching things forward (this seems like a Takahashi staple). And it is so much better than in the anime, hello! This episode/arc really did not do it for me when I watched it, so I was actually dreading having to read it but it was executed in a much more interesting and enjoyable way. And again, building off of what came before with Kikyo, it challenges her false dichotomy because yeah, the Shikon Jewel shard exacerbates the painter's bad traits but this guy was fucked up from the start, which isn't really highlighted in the anime. As a villain, he brings back some of that classic horror that was perhaps more prominent in the beginning of the manga.

In addition to the human painter being aligned with evil, Inuyasha is again shown to be aligned with good when he opts to spare the painter and then tries to save him. This shows Miroku the goodness of Inuyasha as well ("And Inuyasha, too...He may not look it, but he is a good fellow.") But as Kagome says–"too bad Inuyasha doesn't see it himself." Even if he denies it, others can see the good in Inuyasha, and his perception of self is and will be a crucial part of his arc. In a way, Inuyasha fights and destroys as a way or protecting and saving.

"Mercy! I swear I'll never understand you humans!"
"Inuyasha. You could have slain him had you wanted to. But you did not. That is mercy."
(hello callback to when Kagome and Nobunaga get Inuyasha to spare the lord when fighting the toad demon in InuYasha, Vol. 3: Good Intentions but now he doesn't it more of his own volition).

Lastly, can't forget the Kagome highlight with her being able to pick up and instantly purify a tainted jewel shard. We love to see it! I think Kagome is underestimated, but as she shows throughout this arc, she is kind and smart and has some serious spiritual powers.
Profile Image for Kasimachi.
6 reviews
December 4, 2014
This book is really hearth braking mostly for Inuyasha because his first love and killer Kikyo is brought back to life with kogome's soul by a witch.And now she is forced to fight Inuyasha to the death because of her past thoughts of Inuyasha attacking her from the back which was Naraku disguised as Inuyasha to trick Kikyo to blaming Inuyasha for taking the jewel and breaking their trust.Part of Kogomes soul goes back to her and Kikyo is left with a little soul;From then on she uses soul collecters which are demons who take human souls but she only takes human souls of thoses who are about to die not the fit and health.Now still Inuyasha thinks about Kikyo as He,Kogome,Meroku,Sanjo,Kirara and shippo continue their journey to find all the shards of the sacred jewel
Profile Image for Mir.
4,974 reviews5,331 followers
November 28, 2015
This started with the Kikyo cliffhanger story from band 5. At first I felt like my interest waned a bit after that. Miroku didn't seem like a very interesting new character, and maybe I had read these too close together... But then as always it got more complex that I had expected and some important plot points were introduced.
Profile Image for Hermione Black.
502 reviews5 followers
April 13, 2023
hermio

Il numero precedente si era interrotto sul più bello, in un momento interessante per la storia finalmente che si focalizzava sulla trama: Inuyasha incontrava Kikyo che l’aveva imprigionato e si ripresenta sottoforma di spirito evocato. I due capiscono che ci sono state delle incomprensioni ma lo spirito di lei non riesce a darsi pace e torna in Kagome abbandonando il corpo che era stato creato da quella fattucchiera e se ne va per i fatti suoi, così. A quanto pare le idee erano finite e si ritorna al solito tran tran. peccato perché finalmente entravamo nel vivo della storia senza i soliti combattimenti ma anzi c’era anche la storia d’amore di Inuyasha e Kikyo, invece niente.

La seconda metà di questo numero si occupa di un monaco ladro che cerca i frammenti della sfera e che ovviamente incontra Inuyasha e il suo gruppo. C’è subito tensione perché Kagome è l’oggetto del desiderio del monaco creando le solite scenette demenziali.
Questo monaco tra l’altro sta cercando un demone che gli ha lanciato una maledizione proprio cinquant’anni fa quando Inuyasha è stato imprigionato.

Naraku è il demone in questione, ha lanciato una maledizione alla famiglia del monaco. Il monaco racconta ad Inuyasha che Naraku è in grado di trasformarsi in chiunque voglia e Inuyasha capisce che in quel giorno è stato Naraku a ingannare lui e Kikyo tendendo loro una trappola trasformandosi in Inuyasha facendo sì che lei lo ritenesse traditore e che dunque lo combattesse con tutta la sua forza imprigionandolo. Dunque è colpa di quel demone se Kikyo è morta e Inuyasha si ripromette di vendicarla. Dunque lui e il monaco motivo hanno un obiettivo comune.

L’interessante trama principale viene smaltita in una pagina e poco più poi si ritorna alla monotonia.
La squadra ora con anche il monaco che si è unito deve combattere il demone di turno che è stato risvegliato da un pittore. Una vicenda veramente splatter e disgustosa, il tutto raccontato suscitando noia e confusione.
Non mi annoio facilmente nelle letture ma questa sta diventando pesante!


Il numero poteva anche essere migliorato dalle parentesi sulla storia di base ma ho trovato una donnola due cavalli e una gallina morti: no non ci siamo!
648 reviews
December 19, 2024
The images of Miroku's wind tunnel in action are especially incredible. And I enjoyed the ukiyo-e homages in the painter story.

I love the Kikyo imagery too, but I cannot stand her as a character. I get it - he grew up not knowing love, so he was too naive to see that she didn't give it to him either. But let's face facts: if she really loved him, she wouldn't have asked him to change and become weak for her. Love accepts you as you are. She patronises and controls and punishes him. If she had her way, she'd just be killing off one more demon, but manipulating him to choose it - it's selfish.

And being a powerful witch with experience with demons...if she really loved him, she wouldn't have immediately accepted Naraku's illusion. Kagome would have been in disbelief and insisted he was possessed or a double or something. Even in the real world, if my husband turned on me like that overnight, I would get him checked by doctors, not instantly think, 'I guess he was evil after all,' and vow to hate him even from the afterlife.

Come on, Inu, you can do so much better than that.

It's such a weird idea, too, being hatefully jealous of your own reincarnation. I was thinking about it and, okay, so Kikyo is now just the lingering hate, the unfinished business. Kagome takes everything else back, so it's like she's moved on and left the hate behind. InuYasha, though, is so stuck in the past. I guess he literally was, through that binding spell that kept him on the tree for 50 years. The whole world has moved on, but he's stayed still, not ageing, a perpetual child. It feels like a symbol for PTSD.

Kagome goes back almost like the soul knew there was that unfinished business to take care of. She returns and releases him, and then the whole thing is her trying to get him to move on. In so many ways, he's still stuck to that tree, nailed there not just by Kikyo but his family. He needs to take Kagome's hand and grow up and away from all that - move into the present. If he married her, he'd finally have a family who accept him. Her family are remarkably laidback about the whole thing.

Come off the tree, Inu. You can do it.
Profile Image for Katie Thompson.
268 reviews2 followers
March 24, 2023
Miroku!!! I love the intro for Miroku it is amazing! Rereading this again it just occured to me how tragic Miroku and Sango's relationship is. And especially how it will soon progress. As all the relationships and characters in Inuyasha are just AMAZING. But my thoughts that come to mind with these two, relate in how they swap places eventually in terms of how they start the journey. Miroku starts out here trying to kill Naraku to save himself and fight for a future, when Sango gets introduced her sole reason to continue living is to destroy Naraku for revenge. Afterwards the vows she will kill herself to join her family. Naturally this changes when Kohaku is revealed to be alive, but still. As the series progresses they begin to change places, while Sango finds more will to live, with her hope and love for Miroku causing her to want to kill Naraku and live for the future, Miroku becomes more resigned with the likely conclusion that he will die from the battle or at the very least he must push Sango away because he doesn't want his death or a potential baby to hurt her. which is why he constantly flirts with every girl he meets despite loving her. RUMIKO TAKAHASHI IS JUST A GENIUS FOR THIS STORY!!!
Profile Image for Stephen.
1,478 reviews3 followers
January 31, 2025
Last volume (#5) left us on a cliffhanger, and it gets concluded in this volume which is nice...if a cliffhanger goes on too long to me it loses its luster. This volume makes a point to give us a bunch of insight which I would have thought Rumiko Takahashi would hold onto a bit longer before revealing, but as I have mentioned in other reviews, Takahashi is a master storyteller, so I am sure she has the perfect balance of revelations versus new plot twists. You do feel like the creator is having fun making this series and it translates to the reader...at least in my opinion. A brand-new character is introduced and brought into the tight nit team...but nothing happens easily. Entertaining and engaging InuYashi continues to entertain.
Profile Image for Cruz Sanchez.
27 reviews
February 4, 2025
Las ilustraciones en este tomo me parecen de las mejores hasta ahora, como pinta la tinta y los onis rumiko me parece hermoso, la única crítica q puedo hacerles a este y a los tomos anteriores es q todavía no demuestran nd de las habilidades de kagome, solo se nos dice q es especial y q tiene un alma fuerte, para mi se queda corto.

Ademas aparece miroku q es mi personaje favorito y se nos devela la existencia de naraku, el ser q en teoría mata a kikyo y sella a inuyasha.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Susanne.
398 reviews
August 15, 2018
At the end of the last volume Kikyo comes back to life.
In this volume we find out some details about her and Inu Yasha's past- but there are still a lot of open questions
And the gang gets a new companion.
My personal highlight is the development of the relationship between Inu Yasha and Kagome.
Profile Image for Leeann.
549 reviews18 followers
September 25, 2023
This is such a great manga. We get to meet Miroku who is a monk and a Buddhist as well as a pervert.
Inuyasha and Kagome have to team up with him to get some of the shards as well as to help save a princess.

We also get to know more about the dangers that they will have to face latter, because of what happened to Miroku's father.

I am very excited to start the next volume.
Profile Image for Bee (BacchusVines).
2,138 reviews15 followers
September 6, 2018
At least Kikyo goes away for a while.

AND WE GET MIROKU! And the name of our super-villain! HA.

I really love the story of how Naraku came to be, and this volume introduces a new character effected by his curses. Plus, lecherous monk adds to the humor!
Profile Image for Alexis.
2,459 reviews
January 7, 2023
I can't help but be massively amused by the 16th century monk who sees a bike that a time traveling girl brought from the 21st century and does not think "what kind of torture device is this?" but rather uses it as a getaway vehicle while abducting said time traveling young girl.
Profile Image for Reyna Maria.
539 reviews2 followers
February 8, 2023
[4.5 estrellas]

Kikyo me desagrada mucho, pero me entristece que Inuyasha haya perdido todo por culpa de Naraku.

El capítulo del pintor es 50% aburrido 50% interesante, por eso decidí ponerle 4.5 estrellas a este volumen.
Profile Image for Jaimie Passmore.
33 reviews1 follower
September 28, 2025
The introduction of Miroku was amazing. I forgot how much of a menace he was at the beginning. I could be forgetting but I didn’t realize Miroku was the one to tell them about Naraku. It has been years since I watched the anime.

The illustrations in this one was just phenomenal
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Legosi.
275 reviews2 followers
December 25, 2025
miraku um querido demais! ele pedindo pra fazer filhos com kagame e Hilário os sentimentos do inuyasha por ela tbm tao se aflorando mas dd forma diferente da Kikyo que ainda ta vagando pela terra feudal lá
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