Here, you will find an alphabetical reference guide to Inu Yasha's characters, items, attacks, and creatures. Srcoll aroung and you can find with you are looking for or learn new things. Thanks to loveofanime for the Help.

B

Bake-, prefix.  This is a prefix indicating demon.  Regular animals can be changed into demons with the power of a shikon shard in their bodies, similar to the Oomukade.

Bakuryuha, attack.  Meaning explosive flowing wave, this is the secret of Tetsusaiga.  It traps the enemy's spirit in the wind scar and makes it flow the opposite way.  Inuyasha uses this very powerful technique against Ryukotsusei to destroy him.

Black Pearl, object.  Where Inuyasha's father chooses to seal up his bones so they will not turn violent.  Unknown to Inuyasha, this pearl is hidden in his eye.  Sesshomaru retrieves it from Inuyasha's eye and succeeds in opening the tomb inside the pearl.  He finds the vast alternate dimension inside the pearl where his father's bones rest.

Bokusen'on, object.  Meaning grandfather wizard nettle tree, the scabbards of Tetsusaiga and Tenseiga were carved from branches of this 2000 year old nettle tree.  The tree tells Sesshomaru why their father chose Inuyasha for Tetsusaiga.

Bone Eater's Well, location/object.  This well coexists both in the Higurashi shrine and in the Warring States period of the past.  In the past, it was used as a dump for the corpses of demons.  It was said that corpses disappeared in a few days, and that's how the well came to be called Honekui (bone eating).  The well acts as a portal, allowing Kagome to travel between modern and ancient worlds.  Only Kagome and Inuyasha have used it for transportation, thus far.

Buyo, creature.  Kagome's household pet from her home in the present.  An ordinary cat.

C

Carrion Crow, creature.  This demon lives on human prey.  Sensing the presence of the shikon no tama, it inhabits  the corpse of the leader of a gang of rogue samurai and kidnaps Kagome.  It swallows the jewel and gains monstrous power, but is killed by Kagome's arrow.  The arrow hits the jewel and scatters it's shards throughout the land.

D

Dokkaso, attack.  Meaning poison flower claws, this is Sesshomaru's basic offensive technique.  The poison in his claws melts the victim.  It is so strong that it can melt Inuyasha's robe of the fire rat.

E

Exorcising Claws of Steel, attack.  Referred to as Sankon Tesso, this is Inuyasha's basic offensive technique where he rips the enemy apart with his claws.  This is used to destroy primitive demons only.

F

Fox Fire, attack.  A mysterious fire emitted by fox-type demons.  It shields from enemy attack.

First day of the new moon, time.  Referred to as Saku no Hi, this is the day of the new moon, also the first day of the ancient calendar month, when Inuyasha looses his supernatural power.  On this day, Inuyasha looks completely human.

Fuko no Jutsu, technique.  Meaning Priestess insect sorcery, this technique comes from Onmyodo (an ancient Chinese religion), in which poisonous insects are thrown together in an urn to kill one another.  The survivor becomes the kodoku (insect poison).  Naraku does the same thing using demons.  He uses the body of the winner to replace his own body, which was injured by Kagome's arrow.

G

Gatenmaru, creature.  This demon, whose name means moth heaven man leads a group of bandits.  He traps Inuyasha and Miroku in a poisonous cocoon.  Inuyasha's power grows, and Gatenmoru and his gang are torn to shreds.

Gokurakucho, creature.  Demon birds with human-like heads and torsos who are constantly fighting with the wolf demon tribe.

Golems, items.  Demon puppets that Naraku controls.  They are made of earth and a bit of Naraku's hair wound onto the doll.  These are used in his place while he is somewhere safe.

Goshinki, creature.  A demon alter ego of Naraku, made from his own body.  His name meaning mind reading demon, he can do just that.  He smashes Tetsusaiga in his battle with Inuyasha, however is killed by Inuyasha when his demon blood takes over.

Grandpa, character.  He is priest of Higurashi shrine and Kagome's grandfather.  He loves to ramble on about the origins of things.

H

Hachiemon Racoon, creature.  This raccoon is threatened, coerced, and overused by miroku.  He changes shape using a leaf, and flies with Miroku riding him.

Higurashi Sota, character.  Kagome's younger brother.  He is easily frightened, but has a big heart.  Sota looks up to Inuyasha as a peer and friend.

Hijin Kesso, attack.  Meaning blades of blood, this is Inuyasha's second basic offensive technique.  He soaks his claws in blood and flicks his hand like a throwing knife to cut his adversary.

Hiraikotsu, weapon.  This is Sango's huge boomerang, used to destroy demons.

Hiten, creature.  His name meaning fly heaven, he is the elder of the thunder brothers and possesses three shikon shards.  He uses lightning attacks, but is destroyed by Inuyasha.

Hojo, character.  A pure hearted boy who is in love with Kagome.  Believing grandpa's fibs about her being sick, Hojo gives Kagome all kinds of remedies as presents.

Hungry Ghost, creature.  Also known as Gaki, these are the messengers from hell to the person who has just died.  Sesshomaru's Tenseiga revives the dead by slashing this messenger.  

I

Inuyasha, character.  A half dog demon who is stubborn and unyielding, and has a hard time expressing his feelings.  Originally in search of the shikon no tama in order to be made a full demon, he falls in love with it's protector, Kikyo, and decides to be made human instead.  Through treachery of Naraku, he is convinced he was betrayed, and attacks Kikyo's village.  He is sealed for 50 years, then is awakened by Kagome and ends up helping her find the shikon shards.

Inuyasha's father, creature.  He is a canine demon holding a castle in Saigoku (Western nation).  Badly injured in the battle with Ryukotsusei, he died leaving his two sons his swords: Tenseiga to Sesshomaru and Tetsusaiga to Inuyasha.  He was said to be very powerful and large.  His tomb was found hidden in Inuyasha's left eye.

J

Jaken, creature.  His name meaning evil sight, this little demon is the familiar of Sesshomaru.  He is saved by Sesshomaru and vows to serve him from that point on.  Sesshomaru lets him stay when he finds he is able to wield the Jinto-jo (two headed staff) which is used to find the grave of Sesshomaru's father.  Jaken's battle skills are poor, and Sesshomaru often ends up saving him.

Jinenji, creature.  His name meaning earth boy, Jinenji is a half demon who grows healing herbs with his mother.  Kagome and co. save him from angry villagers who only see his monster-like appearance, not his gentle and timid nature.  He later provides herbs that save Kirara and Jaken from poison.

Jinki, object.  Meaning human container, these are puppets made by Urasue from corpses and clay.

K

Kaede, character.  Her name meaning maple, she is a priestess who protects the village after her sister Kikyo dies.  She acts like a guardian to Kagome and her group.

Kageromaru, creature.  His name meaning shadow man, he is the alter ego of Naraku and brother of Goshinki.  He usually lives inside the body of Juromaru (beast man), but emerges in battle.  He is killed by Tetsusaiga in battle with Inuyasha/Koga team.

Kagome, character.  Kagome is a human girl from the present, that is drawn into the Warring States age of Japan's past.  Living at the Higurashi shrine, she is the reincarnation of the miko Kikyo.  She discovers she has some supernatural power such as giving her arrows an evil-destroying aura and purifying polluted shikon shards.

Kagome's Bow, object.  Inheriting the ability of archery (with some practice), Kagome uses her bow to shoot sacred arrows which can seal or destroy demons.

Kagura, creature.  A demon alter ego of Naraku, made from his own body.  She manipulates corpses with dance and uses a fan to produce lethal flesh cutting wind.  She seeks escape from Naraku, however can't oppose him openly because he controls her soul.

Kanna, creature.  A demon alter ego of Naraku, made from his own body.  With the appearance of a small, innocent child, she manipulates emptiness, so she carries no detectible demonic aura.  She traps the souls of her opponents in a mirror and controls their psyches.  She can also reflect attacks back on an opponent using her mirror.

Kappa, creature.  River imp that Inuyasha encounters on his way to the castle of the immortal frog.  Kagome's grandfather gives her a mummified kappa hand as a birthday present for good luck.  Kagome feeds it to her cat, Buyo.

Kaze no Kizu, attack.  Meaning "Wind Scar", this is the rift in the flow of demon auras between friend and foe crashing into one another in battle.  It offers the right path for Tetsusaiga to work to maximum effect.  Slashing along the Kaze no kizu is very basic to the mastery of Tetsusaiga.  In his battle with Sesshomaru, Inuyasha succeeds in finding the kaze no kizu by smell.

Kikyo, character.  One of the most powerful miko of her time, she has great supernatural power and a strong will.  She protected the shikon no toma from evil and kept it pure.  She falls in love with Inuyasha, but is killed through Naraku's plot of betrayal.    She is later resurrected, but survives only by ingesting human souls.

Kirara, creature.  Sango's cute pet from the exterminator village.  She is a nekomata, an ancient breed of cat with a split tail and supernatural powers.  She usually takes the form of a house cat, but in battle, becomes a flying demon with huge sharp fangs, surrounded by fire.

Koaru, character.  Her name meaning little spring, she is a girl who sees her first love, Miroku, for the first time in three years.  Miroku had asked her to bear his child.

Kodoku, item.  Insect poison

Koga, character.  His name meaning steel fang, he is a demon that controls a band of man eating wolves.  He has shards of shikon in his right arm and legs.  He is a very fast runner.  He uses Kagome in his battle with the gokurakucho, but falls in love with her, and makes enough passes at her to anger Inuyasha.  As a result of Kagome's influence, Koga becomes more tame and less wild.

Kohaku, character.  His name meaning amber, he is Sango's younger brother, who is killed by archers at Hitomijo castle.  His body is resurrected by Naraku, with a shikon shard in his back keeping him alive.  Kohaku becomes Naraku's minion.  The memory of his father's murder is suppressed, and he remembers nothing of his past.

Kotatsu, creature.  His name meaning red master, he is a painter who picked up a shikon shard on a battlefield and acquired the skill to manipulate the demons he paints.  He looses his life when his own ink absorbs him.

Kumo no Kizuato, object.  Meaning spider shaped scar, this scar on Naraku's back identifies him as Onigumo.  It is the echo of the burns that Onigumo had over his entire body.  Kikyo mentions that the spider shaped scar persists, and cannot be scraped or burned away as long as Onigumo's obsession with Kikyo remains.

M

Manten, creature.  His name meaning full heaven, he is the younger of the thunder brothers.  He shoots plasma from his mouth as a weapon.  He killed Shippo's father.

Mayu, human.  Satoru's older sister, who died in the house fire, cannot leave the world for heaven because she is convinces that her mother hated her and refused to rescue her.  Soul piper nearly takes her to hell.

Metamorphosis, state.  The state of half-demon Inuyasha awakening to his demon blood when his life is in danger.  Because his demon blood is so strong, it attacks his human heart and sends him out of control.  With every metamorphosis, Inuyasha looses a bit of his human heart.

Midoriko, person.  Her name meaning green child, she is a priestess of great power.  Fighting a legion of demons, she uses the last of her strength to merge the souls of the demons into hers, which became the shikon no tama (jewel of four souls).  Her mummified body is found in the village of the exterminators.

Miroku, character.  This rogue Buddhist monk inherited a battle against Naraku that his grandfather began.  He has a wind tunnel in his hand, put there by Naraku's curse.  The tunnel grows, and will eventually swallow him.  Like his ancestors, he is a womanizer.

Mukade Joro, creature.  This mistress centipede demon was responsible for taking Kagome into the Warring States period.  She was seeking the shikon no tama she sensed in Kagome.  She is killed by Inuyasha.

Mu'onna, creature.  Meaning un mother, she is a demon born of the unappeased souls of mothers who lost their children in the war.  She appears to Inuyasha, pretending to be his mother.

Mushin, human.  His name meaning dream mind, he is Miroku's foster father, charged with taking care of Miroku when his father is swallowed up by the wind tunnel in his hand.

Myoga, creature.  His name meaning invisible divine help, this old flea demon was the keeper of the false grave of Inuyasha's father.  He has vast knowlege and a keen sense of danger, often departing to a safe place before battle begins. 

N

Naraku, character/creature.  His name meaning hell, he is made up of the various demons that consumed the body of the evil minded Onigumo.  Onigumo's obsession with Kikyo made Naraku a half demon.  He seeks the shikon shards and constantly plots treachery towards Inuyasha's group.  He is the true enemy of each of the member's of Inuyasha's group.  He creates four alter ego demons of himself, named Kagura, Goshinki, Juromaru, and Kageromaru.

Nenju, object.  These are prayer beads.  Kaede makes a necklace out of them to control Inuyasha with.  Inuyasha can't remove the necklace on his own.  Kagome's "sit" command triggers the power of the necklace and subdues Inuyasha.

O

Oomukade, creature.  Meaning giant centipede, this is an ordinary centipede that becomes a monster with the help of a shikon shard.  It is easily beaten by Sango's boomerang.

Ookamakiri, creature.  Referring to a giant mantis which seduced Miroku, disguised as a noble princess.  Swallowed up by Miroku's wind tunnel, it cuts the tunnel bigger.  It also has a sister.

R

Rin, character.  Rin is a young human girl who is almost killed by Koga's wolves, but is brought back to health by Sesshomaru when he uses his Tenseiga to save her.  Thereafter, Rin tags along with Sesshomaru.

Robe of the Fire Rat, object.  Also called Hinezumi no koromo, this is Inuyasha's red cloak, which is woven from the fur of the fire rats.  This robe is stronger than armor, and remains intact through both fire and slicing attacks.

Ryukotsusei, creature.  His name meaning dragon bone spirit, this dragon-like demon was trapped by the claws of Inuyasha's father.  It was awakened by Naraku.  Inuyashe fights his father's old foe, and ends up mastering Tetsusaiga's Bakuryuha (explosive flow destruction) technique to beat it.

S

Sango, character.  Her name meaning coral, she is the only survivor of the exterminator village.  Naraku uses her to attack Inuyasha by convincing her that he is responsible for destroying her village.  However, after she finds out that Naraku was really the cause, she joins Inuyasha's group to seek revenge for her family.  Her weapon is the Hiraikotsu (boomerang).

Sesshomaru, character.  His name meaning destruction man, Sesshomaru is Inuyasha's half brother, a full dog demon.  He is covetous of Inuyasha's Tetsusaiga and often attacks Inuyasha in brotherly quarrels.  He himself possesses two swords: Tenseiga (natural fang), which can preserve lives of the weak, and Tokijin (demon fighting god), which he makes from Goshinki.  Known for his power and ruthlessness, Sesshomaru shows a little of a heart when he lets the little human girl Rin tag along with him as well, and seems to have a soft spot for her after saving her life.

Shikon no Tama, object.  Meaning the jewel of four souls, this jewel was created by the priestess Midoriko from her own soul and those of her demon attackers.  Used by a demon or villain, it makes the owner more evil; used by one with a clean soul, it purifies him/her.  It increases the demonic power of evil things, and is stronger for evil when stained with blood and treachery.

Shinidamachu, creature.  Meaning Soul collector, these demons carry the souls of dead girls.  They collect the souls as energy for Kikyo to maintain her body once she is resurrected.

Shippo, character.  His name meaning seven treasures, he is a young fox demon who joins Inuyasha's group after his father is killed.  He is mature for a youngster, however still gets scared and is not very formidable power-wise, as most of his techniques deal with toys and tricks.  He uses three different types of sorcery: shape shifting, signs, and illusions.

Spirit shield, defense.  This aura or kekkai is a field of demonic power that can be used as defense or to hide a presence.  Tetsusaiga's scabbard has such a shield to absorb attacks.  Also Naraku uses one to hide the location of his castle.

Steel Bees, creatures.  The stings of these demon bees are deadly enough to kill even Inuyasha.  Inuyasha borrows their honey to repair Tetsusaiga, which was bent almost in two in the battle with the thunder (Raiju) brothers.

T

Taijiya no Sato, location.  Meaning demon killer village, this is the village of people who exterminate demons professionally, and Sango's home town.  It was here that the Shikon no tama came into the world.  The village was destroyed by Naraku's plot.

Tenseiga, weapon.  This sword, whose name means natural fang was forged by Totosai and left to Sesshomaru by his father when he died.  Although it is not an offensive weapon, it is very powerful.  It has the power to heal as well as bring back the dead by destroying gaki.

Tetsusaiga, weapon.  This sword was left to Inuyasha by his father when he died.  It was made from his father's own fang, and was hidden inside the tomb within Inuyasha's eye.  It's original purpose was to guard Inuyasha's mother, a human.  As such, it works best when Inuyasha is defending humans. It also has the power to restrain Inuyasha's metamorphosis.

 Tokajin, creature.  This was the peach man who, impatient to achieve wizardhood, eats his master's body.  He uses sorcery to put Inuyasha and his group in trouble.  Kagome's arrow removes the shikon shard from his belly and sends him to his death.

Tokijin, weapon.  This sword, whose name means demon fighting god, belongs to Sesshomaru.  It is a powerful offensive sword with an aura of hate all it's own.  Kaijinbo  carves this sword from the fang of Goshinki over three full days.

Totosai, character.  His name meaning sword ceremony preparer, he is the demon sword smith who forged Tenseiga and Tetsusaiga.  He is selective about his clients, and travels on a three eyed cow.  He gives Inuyasha advice at times.

U

Urasue, creature.  This ogress steals the bones of Kikyo and uses them to resurrect her.  However, Kikyo is of the dead, and needs to ingest sols to stay 'alive'.

V

Venom Wasps, creatures.  Referred to as saimyosho, these are the venomous wasps commonly used by Naraku.  They are effective against Miroku's wind tunnel because he is poisoned when he takes them in.  They also act like intelligence operatives for Naraku, spying on Inuyasha's group and seeking out shikon shards.

W

Wacdonald's, location.  Kagome and her friends hang out at this burger place after school.  A spoof on MacDonalds, perhaps?

Y

Yokai, term.  Meaning demon, this is used to describe various monsters in the series.  Demons were a part of ordinary life in the medieval period.

Yura of the Demon Hair, creature.  She is the daughter of a demon, seeking shikon shards.  She manipulates humans using the hair of the dead.  The hair also slices lethally.  Her sword cuts only flesh and bone, without damaging hair.  She uses soul transfer (tamautsushi) to transfer her soul into a comb, residing in a scull.  This makes destroying her body useless.