InuYasha

[Martinman]

The more I read, the more I realize they really toned down the anime.  I also don't remember Ruyukon having that giant plant in the anime, but I probably just forgot.

[doxiedachsie]

No.  Your memory is right.  In the anime, he wound up with 2 shards (vs. 1 in the manga) and Naraku just would shoot them into his head, without using the enchanted plant seed to torture him as well.

I won't even mention what the anime did to the Ninmenka story. 

[doxiedachsie]

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doxiedachsie wrote:

I've done a little calculation of the passage of time in the manga based on clues given in some of the stories.  When Kagome first went through the well, it was shortly before rice planting time = early spring?  By the time of the Soul Piper, it was summer.  Up to the time of the spider heads, it seemd to be the middle of summer,  judging by the way Nazuna was dressed & the way Kagome was drawn in modern times.  That means about 3 months had passed since the start of the story.  In all that time, Inuyasha was only seen in his human form at the end of that period.  Therefore, we cannot count his appearances as a human to get a reliable estimate of the passage of time.

However, with the first 39-40 chapters covering a period of about 3 months, I cannot believe that the adventures in the next 500 chapters could possibly all take place in less than a year. 

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I just had to bring this forward.  I have found more information about the timing of the piece and wanted to refresh what had been said before.

Rice planting takes place in March; & April is the start of the Japanese school year.   I will expand on this soon and try to provide cites for my source material.  According to my calculations, though, Kagome was ending her 8th grade year when this started & couldn't really have started 9th grade, yet.  It also means her birthday is sometime in early March.

[doxiedachsie]

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doxiedachsie wrote:

There's little argument about that. Simply because they say straight out the 3 years have passed. But they also mentioned time passing in the main story line that indicates three months had already passed by the time of the Spider-head story. That's 3 months in 13 episodes. Is it reasonable to believe that the remaining 154 episodes all happened in 9 months? Also, in 3 months' time, we only get to see Inuyasha turn human only once. That means that not every transformation was shown. Also, they mentioned that it was just before rice planting season (early spring) when Kagome first went to the feudal era. We see the rice paddies flooded; but by the time Inuyasha meets Gatenmaru, they are dried out & the rice is maturing. Then some time later, they are flooded again. That means a year has passed . Also, i don't know how the school year is organized in Japan, but if Kagome started time-traveling in late winter or early spring, the school year was well under way & she wasn't just starting 9th grade. Yet she was near the end of the grade when she went back to take the entrance exam, near the end of the main plot.

The numbers just don't add up unless more time than a year is allowed to have passed during the main plot. (Also, it could be possible that passage through the well messed up the relative timelines and when the well was closed for 3 years, time passed normally on both sides.)

Also, it takes 9 months to make a baby. If the twins looked 2-1/2 to 3 years old, add a minimum of 9 months to that (time to get married, etc.) and we get more than 3 years passing.

Message Edited by doxiedachsie on 03-07-2009 05:52 PM

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Here is the second part of the timeline calculation.

[doxiedachsie]

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doxiedachsie wrote:

I FOUND IT!!!! 

I found the hole in the timeline.  It is in the manga (also in the anime, but not as obvious).  During the Soul Piper episode, Kagome went back to the future to attend Summer School because she had failed so many classes.  The means she was in between 9th & 10th grade!!  That then means that she would attend 10th grade before going to high school.  That means at least another year would have passed until she graduated and another 2 months before she started high school, in addition to the time already spent in the feudal era which was at least 3 months so far. 

That makes at least 1-1/2 to 1-3/4 years for the main story to take place. 

QED

Whether or not this corresponds to the actual Japanese school system is immaterial.  The manga set up this timeline, right or wrong.  If it is wrong, the there is a continuity issue with the manga.  Kagome  was either in 8th grade at the start & 9th grade at the end or she went from 9th to 10th grade; but she was definitely not in the same grade the entire time!

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This was the third related post about the story timeline.

[doxiedachsie]

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doxiedachsie wrote:

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doxiedachsie wrote:

I've done a little calculation of the passage of time in the manga based on clues given in some of the stories. When Kagome first went through the well, it was shortly before rice planting time = early spring? By the time of the Soul Piper, it was summer. Up to the time of the spider heads, it seemd to be the middle of summer, judging by the way Nazuna was dressed & the way Kagome was drawn in modern times. That means about 3 months had passed since the start of the story. In all that time, Inuyasha was only seen in his human form at the end of that period. Therefore, we cannot count his appearances as a human to get a reliable estimate of the passage of time.

However, with the first 39-40 chapters covering a period of about 3 months, I cannot believe that the adventures in the next 500 chapters could possibly all take place in less than a year.

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I just had to bring this forward. I have found more information about the timing of the piece and wanted to refresh what had been said before.

Rice planting takes place in March; & April is the start of the Japanese school year. I will expand on this soon and try to provide cites for my source material. According to my calculations, though, Kagome was ending her 8th grade year when this started & couldn't really have started 9th grade, yet. It also means her birthday is sometime in early March.

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The rice festival story came from:

Japan's naked mud festival ceremony

Reuters

March 02, 2009 12:55pm

posted on news.com.au 

The Japanese school year information came from Sayaka Matsuura's Rocket Japanes cultural newsletter.

[doxiedachsie]

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doxiedachsie wrote:

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doxiedachsie wrote:

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doxiedachsie wrote:

I've done a little calculation of the passage of time in the manga based on clues given in some of the stories. When Kagome first went through the well, it was shortly before rice planting time = early spring? By the time of the Soul Piper, it was summer. Up to the time of the spider heads, it seemd to be the middle of summer, judging by the way Nazuna was dressed & the way Kagome was drawn in modern times. That means about 3 months had passed since the start of the story. In all that time, Inuyasha was only seen in his human form at the end of that period. Therefore, we cannot count his appearances as a human to get a reliable estimate of the passage of time.

However, with the first 39-40 chapters covering a period of about 3 months, I cannot believe that the adventures in the next 500 chapters could possibly all take place in less than a year.

---

I just had to bring this forward. I have found more information about the timing of the piece and wanted to refresh what had been said before.

Rice planting takes place in March; & April is the start of the Japanese school year. I will expand on this soon and try to provide cites for my source material. According to my calculations, though, Kagome was ending her 8th grade year when this started & couldn't really have started 9th grade, yet. It also means her birthday is sometime in early March.

---

The rice festival story came from:

Japan's naked mud festival ceremony

Reuters

March 02, 2009 12:55pm

posted on news.com.au 

The Japanese school year information came from Sayaka Matsuura's Rocket Japanes cultural newsletter.

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Based on all the above, my conclusion that 4 months passed between Kagome's first trip through the well and the adventure with the Soul Piper and Mayu still stands as valid.  The men prepare for rice planting in early March & keep the paddies wet for the first few weeks after the rice is planted.  When the paddies dry out, the rice is in full growth and already ripening seed.  Since the new school year starts in April, Kagome must have still been in the 8th grade when the story started.  I will watch more carefully for time marker clues as the show goes on, but it seems more likely than not that over a year passed while the story was taking place.

[doxiedachsie]

MartinMan, I lost track of where we should be.  Should we have finished the volume with the first half of the Royakan story this week or the one with the second?

[Martinman]

I think we should finish up Ruyukon.  I -think- we will end on 68.

[doxiedachsie]

Thanks.  I just have a couple of chapters to catch up, then.

[doxiedachsie]

It strikes me, once again, at how much more raw the manga is.  The anime only hinted at how seriously Naraku tortured Royakan, sent him mad with pain, & then set up on Inuyasha.  That whole vine growing into his brain thing was brutal.

Also, the link between Inuyasha's insistence that the gang return to Kaede's village and it's proximity to the well was clearer in the manga.  There it was obvious that he only wanted to return in order to send Kagome back to her own time. 

[ChatManMat]

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doxiedachsie wrote:
Thanks.  I just have a couple of chapters to catch up, then.

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Me too.  By the way, when are we supposed to have them read by?

[doxiedachsie]

Hi, Chat,

Technically, Sunday is supposed to be the "deadline". 

[ChatManMat]

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doxiedachsie wrote:

Hi, Chat,

Technically, Sunday is supposed to be the "deadline". 

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Hello, doxie.

Ok, thanks.    :uts that on my list of things to do this week::

[doxiedachsie]

Just a few notes on random observations of the Inuyasha - Sesshomaru battle for Tessaiga:

When Kagome's arrow reversed Tessaiga's transformation, Inuyasha was possibly even more surprised than Sesshomaru.

In contrast to the anime, it was the skin on the human arm from Naraku that was growing over Sesshomaru, trying to absorb him(?), rather than flames from the arm that were threatening to burn him.

In Onigumo's cave, the anime left out a rather significant scene where Naraku had left an image of Kikyo in the cave to torment Inuyasha by accusing him of being responsible for her death by simply existing. That scene explains a lot of the guilt Inuyasha feels over Kikyo's death during future events.

In the manga, Royakan did not have a jewel shard during his first attack on Inuyasha, but did considerable damage anyway. However, Inuyasha continued to fight without passing out as in the anime.

Kagome could not believe that Inuyasha would truly never want to see her again. When she sensed the jewel in the well, she thought Inuyasha had come through and that is why she went back there before leaving for her date with Hojo. Inuyasha's motivation is clearly presented as his desire to not let another woman he knows die.

Also, the anime omitted the scene of Inuyasha coughing at night while Shippo slept because Sesshomaru's poison was still in his system. It would definitely have added to the tension.

Also, Naraku is doubly despicable here by using a plant infused with a jewel shard to both torture and control Royakan for the second attack against Inuyasha.

The manga is definitely much more raw than the anime. The TV producers did a lot of editing for content.

Message Edited by doxiedachsie on 04-16-2009 12:00 AM

[Martinman]

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doxiedachsie wrote:

The manga is definitely much more raw than the anime. The TV producers did a lot of editing for content.

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My guess is that they were trying to make is appeal to girls and younger kids.

[doxiedachsie]

Probably.  I know they were having trouble restructuring the Peach Man episode, even after moving it to introduce Sango.  That's why it didn't air until Season 3.

[ChatManMat]

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doxiedachsie wrote:
Probably.  I know they were having trouble restructuring the Peach Man episode, even after moving it to introduce Sango.  That's why it didn't air until Season 3.

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I'd have to agree.  Inuyasha defiitely has a wider age range in Japan than it has here.  In fact, Inuyasha is used in kids meals and public service messages in Japan!  I bet you're right; they were trying to make it more 'kid friendly.'  Still, can you imagine Inuyasha being watched by kids here in the states?  It is on Adult Swim for a reason.  I can't think of any station that would air Inuyasha in a timeslot for children.  The FCC would be all over that.

[Shippou_Incognito]

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ChatManMat wrote:

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doxiedachsie wrote:
Probably.  I know they were having trouble restructuring the Peach Man episode, even after moving it to introduce Sango.  That's why it didn't air until Season 3.

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I'd have to agree.  Inuyasha defiitely has a wider age range in Japan than it has here.  In fact, Inuyasha is used in kids meals and public service messages in Japan!  I bet you're right; they were trying to make it more 'kid friendly.'  Still, can you imagine Inuyasha being watched by kids here in the states?  It is on Adult Swim for a reason.  I can't think of any station that would air Inuyasha in a timeslot for children.  The FCC would be all over that.

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I recall in either one of Suwa's blogs or mentioned on a board as reported from an convention that the target audience for the anime was the family group, as was Ranma and Case Closed.  It's considered one of the most successful anime adaptations do so as well for the Monday - 7pm time slot in Japan.

Of course it could be aired for an different timeslot here in the states, but it depends on which broadcast tier & as to whether or not it would/how it would be edited.  The standards are different in the states than they are in asia.

Several of the earlier episodes were rejected by the censors in Japan for production.  The peach man episodes suffered the most editing to the degree that it missed the final deadline and is thus out of sequence with it's manga parallel.

 Naki Kinoko!

[doxiedachsie]

In the Chapter called "Naraku" (Book 7, Scroll 3, or serial Chapter 71), its namesake weaves a tale of lies and half-truths to explain his creation while at the same time, torturing Inuyasha emotionally and fostering guilt, anger, and jealousy among our protagonists.  He started by blaming Kikyo, which was half-true.  However, he tried to lay the responsibility on just Kikyo and Inuyasha while almost presenting Onigumo as their victim. 

The following translation is from the Viz volume, copyright R. Takahashi:

"Thanks in great part...  to Kikyo...  because her mystic powers grew weaker by the day...  until they could no longer protect a wounded man against the local demons.  And do you know WHY, Inuyasha?  Because Kikyo fell in love with a certain worthless half-demon - and so lowered herself to the level of a weak, mortal woman!

"And Onigumo...  that overstuffed bundle of evil thoughts...  held base desires for Kikyo within him.

"Within the paralyzed body of the bandit those feelings did nothing but stew and simmer...  and began to boil...  until they drew to him the demons in the air all about...  and so the demons became one.  And Naraku was born."

Every word was designed to stir up Inuyasha's anger against Kikyo and make him feel guilty for even being born.  It was a prejudice he had encountered his entire life, even from his own brother.  It accounts for his insecurities, even now.

But, as usual, Naraku's carefully calculated plan to create malice in the hearts of those around him did not take one thing into account, Kagome.  She had softened Inuyasha and calmed much of the rage he once felt toward Kikyo.  Now, his anger would only be directed at Naraku.

Here is where the lies come in.  Kikyo herself has already said that she died to protect the jewel and to remove it from this world.  She also said that she did not want to meet Inuyasha in the afterlife and was content that all she had the strength to do was bind him.  Naraku's betrayal 50 years ago went awry because of Kikyo.  She did not act completely as Naraku planned.  Yes, she bound Inuyasha, but she did not pray for her own life to be spared.  She had enough sense to not do that.  She would keep the jewel pure and Naraku was thwarted.

However, Naraku has just made Inuyasha, and Kagome, believe that Kikyo chose to die, to follow Inuyasha.  This is something which we know is not true.  Now Inuyasha feels guiltier than ever before over Kikyo's death & is more determined than ever to protect her from Naraku.

Kagome sees the love that once existed, but did not hear Kikyo's words back when she was resurrected.  So she doesn't know that Naraku's words are untrue.  In the long run this will cause her pain and test her resolve repeatedly; but as she overcomes it she will gain the strength to complete her quest.

[doxiedachsie]

Takahashi's ability to put expressions on faces with just a few lines will never cease to amaze me. In the scene where Inuyasha and Kagome are holding vigil for the dead princess and Kagome clings to Inuyasha, the expressions that cross his face are precious.  He is positively panicked.  He blushes.  He's tongue-tied.  He is so flummoxed he can barely ask what she wants.  Then the change to anger, when he gets an answer he didn't expect, is hilarious.  And then, finally, "Do you try to confuse me?"  It's the classic Venus-Mars misunderstanding.

[doxiedachsie]

The chapters in this volume keep repeating one phrase of Inuyasha's again & again.

"I actually did want you near me." 

It's quite an admission, coming from him.  Kagome remembers it when Kikyo asks what is she to Inuyasha, and again when she confronts Inuyasha after saving him from Kikyo.  It's the most he has ever revealed of his feelings for her and it will cause him trouble when he can't decide who to protect. 

It's a shame they cut it out of the anime. 

[PsychoSybil]

You noobs need to stop the BS. You don't know what you are talking about. You are making the old timers look bad. You need to stop it, NOW. IY ended in June 2008. Stop your drivel.  I've seen your posts on IY, they make no sense. You needed to have been there at the time of manga, but you were not. Doxiedchasie, you are the worst offender. You are lacking in your life big time, so you make up for it here?  Totally pathetic. Your life must be pretty boring to have a ton of posts in a matter of months. I would not be proud of this but rather ASHAMED. Stop trying to pretend you are that important, after the fact. Stop your incessant "important" posts because you are not that important. You are not Herbirk or Starks or even Patches.  Give it up! You analyze IY waaaaaaaaaaay toooooo much!  Take it for what it is.. a GD story! Its not REALITY! If your life is lacking in spontaneity that much, then you need to see a shrink b/c obviously you confuse the real with the fantasy. Most of us know the difference. You, on the other hand, are having a problem.  The posts from 2005 are more insightful than yours will ever be. Like I said, GIVE IT UP!! You have 2000+ posts in a matter of moths,  that means your life has become a big fat blur.  Give it up, you need to confront reality and this is not itl You may think you are important, but you are not.  Do it now before you go into the looney bin. Get a hobby. Get a clue. Posting on AS is not something I'd be proud of.

Thankfully, I got a hobby -- restroring and appraising ANTIQUE DOLLS!!!!! Its not FANTASY, but an ABSOLUTE REALITY OF OUR PAST!!! I am RESTORING DOLLS FOR THE NEXT GENERATION -- I AM PRESERVING OUR PAST!!!! WTF ARE YOU DOING??? OUR PLAYTIME IS A REFLECTION OF GENERATIONS PAST!!!

Message Edited by PsychoSybil on 04-20-2009 12:19 AM

[doxiedachsie]

You guys had your fun, now its our turn.  And if the posts are so worthless, why do you say we are making the old timers look bad?

[Shippou_Incognito]

It's too bad that this sentiment is so grand by so many, many on this board.  But it's typical for so many boards on the web, so we really shouldn't be surprised.

I know you don't speak for every "old timer" exactly around here, but there is an aura of this kind of thinking that holds this forum back from it's wonderful potential. 

To you I appreciate you making the effort to express this.  It acknowledges that the sentiment is there.  Most of the so-called "oldtimers" don't have the guts to express how they feel but you did.  Thank you.  

Maybe this will be taken as an opportunity for change.  Here's hoping that it does.

 Please carry on, doxiedachsie.

Kokoro no Kizu!