TheRumicWorld.com

Inuyasha The Final Act Episode 19

Narasu Rebbapragada — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:21:00 -0800

Facing your demons takes on a whole new meaning in "Kohaku's Shard," episode 19 of Inuyasha The Final Act. Wow, what a cliffhanger! Thank goodness for the scenes from next week, or else I'd be a nervous Nellie waiting to find out how Kohaku fares.

The episode starts off lightly, with another one of Inuyasha's hilarious efforts to participate in Kagome's modern-day life. (Talk about tasting the rainbow…) But quickly we're knee deep in danger on the other side of the well, as Magatsuhi rears his deviously ugly head, Sesshomaru handles a trickster, and Rin and Miroku suffer the consequences. There are a couple more things that I'm not even going to dare to give away, or else I'd suffer the consequences.

Watch the episode. Things are really heating up on Inuyasha The Final Act.

Sisters

Narasu Rebbapragada — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 11:41:00 -0800

Chapter 37 of RIN-NE really set some wheels in motion. Will Ageha figure out who her sister's boyfriend is? Will Ageha save her from him? Will she figure out Rinne's relationship to said boyfriend?

You'll have a couple of weeks to think about how the story will play out, since RIN-NE is taking a short break. Chapter 38 will be posted on February 24.

The bond that Ageha has to her sister is touching, so even though she's a little high-strung, we can understand where she's coming from. We can also admire the lengths to which she'll go to help her sister. Hopefully, Rinne won't get caught in the middle. The expression "Don't shoot the messenger" comes to mind. We'll just have to wait and see.

Do any of you have siblings who you'd save from the Damashigami bossman? And who are your favorite manga siblings? Let us know.

RIN-NE Chapter 37 Live Now!

Narasu Rebbapragada — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 10:46:00 -0800

Ageha, the shinigami, tells Rinne about what happened to her sister and why she holds such a grudge against one damashigami in particular. Ageha's nemesis unfortunately is someone Rinne knows quite well, but he'd better not let that slip. And what will Sakura make of Ageha's appearance?

Read RIN-NE chapter 37 now!

He's the Cheesiest!

Mike Montesa — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 10:45:00 -0800

I gotta say that I like the direction of this current plot with Ageha in chapter 37. It looks like it’s already shaping up to be a huge misunderstanding followed by an explosion of zaniness. And even though Sabato is the antagonist in RIN-NE, I really like him — he’s got this sleazy used car salesman sort of smarminess and cheesiness that appeals to me on some level (I love the postcard image of him and Ageha’s sister). I wonder what that says about me?

— Mike Montesa, RIN-NE editor

Inuyasha Volume 44 and Wolves

Annette Roman — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:27:00 -0800

Volume 44 of Inuyasha is full of surprising twists and turns as Inuyasha and company continue their quest to help the demon sage recover his stolen liver (ewwww, gross!). I won't say much more to avoid any spoilers, but suffice to say you will be surprised!

The rest of this volume is quite tragic. A wolf demon tribe is attacked, and many clan members are slaughtered. A tribe member fights to save his brother's life, and fellow wolf demon Koga joins the battle. These wolf demons are humanoid, but the story got me thinking about wolf hunting in the real world. It makes me so sad to see these magnificent, intelligent, social animals hunted down.

Like the clan of imaginary wolf demons in Inuyasha, real wolves have a complex social structure. The adults mate for life, and packs live, hunt and raise their young cooperatively. Shooting the adults for trophies disrupts these social groupings and breaks pair bonds, thereby jeopardizing all the pack members' chances for survival.

Now it's true that ranchers suffer financial loss when wolves kill livestock. But ironically, hunting wolves can just make the problem worse. Killing adult wolves, who are experienced hunters, pushes the younger wolves to attack livestock because they are easier prey.

And no, I'm not totally opposed to hunting. Many hunters are great conservators of our wild natural land. Deer live a better life wild in the woods than a steer does in a stockyard or a chicken does in a cage. Deer can quickly overpopulate so the whole herd suffers starvation. In that way, shooting and eating deer makes sense to me.

I think the public and our government should support ranchers by helping them with costs to erect "fladry," non-lethal strings of cloth and plastic used in Europe to repel wolves.

And shooting an animal just to stuff its head and stick it on your wall...not so sensible. Furthermore, I don't understand how you can get a rush from shooting fierce wolves...with high-powered rifles from a great distance or after running them to the point of exhaustion with a helicopter! Can't you get the same thrill of the hunt by photographing wild animals or doing target practice in a video game?

If you're interested in learning more about wolves and wolf hunting, check out the short documentary Return to the Wild: A Modern Tale of Wolf and Man as well as the Defenders of Wildlife website and the Center for Biological Diversity website, which has some cool free animal ring-tones too! At least I thought they were cool…until my fellow VIZ Media editors objected to the howling, hooting, and growling emanating from my cell phone...

— Annette Roman, Inuyasha manga editor

Inuyasha The Final Act Episode 18

Narasu Rebbapragada — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 12:42:00 -0800

Today's episode "The Day of Days" (episode 18) was a highly enjoyable surprise. I admit that I assumed that this episode, where Kagome goes home to take her entrance exam, would just be a mild respite before more plot advancement. And it sort of was, but it also had some great one liners like Inuyasha's " I heard she has to fight some kind of weak demon called Entrance Exam."

Classic.

And Kagome, who lacks a cell phone, rationalizes, "I can't get a signal in the feudal era anyway."

More importantly, we see the deepened relationship between Inuyasha and Kagome and some slight foreshadowing of difficult decisions to come.

And we end with a new closing theme song. Feels like winter's over.

More Inuyasha on iTunes

Narasu Rebbapragada — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 10:55:00 -0800

More dubbed goodness hits iTunes this morning. Inuyasha Season 3, Vol. 1 and Inuyasha Season 3, Vol. 2 are available now. That's 27 episodes, including old favorites like "Shippo Gets an Angry Challenge," "The Red Tetsusaiga Breaks the Barrier," and that "Fateful Night in Togenkyo." Check 'em out.

Takahashi Haiku Jam

Narasu Rebbapragada — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:40:00 -0800

It's the weekend. Time to kick back, relax, and write some inspired haiku about your favorite manga creator…Rumiko Takahashi. Think up at least three lines about her Rumic World and write it in the comments field below.

Unfortunately, our comments field doesn't support paragraph returns, so type in the HTML code < br> after each line of your haiku. (Close the space after the first bracket when you include the code in your comment, however.) Or just include an indication where the line breaks, and I'll edit the paragraph returns for you before I post your comment. And yes, if you haven't already noticed, we approve comments before posting them.

Here's my haiku:

Takahashi rocks!
Her characters are awesome.
Can't wait to see more.

Surely, you can do better.
Ready, set, go...

RIN-NE Taking A Short Break

Narasu Rebbapragada — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:30:00 -0800

Just wanted to let you all know that after chapter 37 of RIN-NE goes up next Wednesday (February 3), RIN-NE will not appear in Weekly Shonen Sunday magazine in Japan for two weeks until February 24, when it returns with chapter 38. Since we publish simultaneously with Japan, our RIN-NE publication schedule matches theirs and looks like this:

Date RIN-NE Chapter February 3
Chapter 37February 10
No new chapter
February 17
No new chapterFebruary 24
Chapter 38

I know you're all dying to know what happens next, but don't worry, RIN-NE will continue. Once we pick up again with chapter 38, we foresee no further interruptions (except for the usual holidays and such).

Mike Montesa, RIN-NE editor

RIN-NE Chapter 36

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 10:00:32 -0800

A strange piece of supernatural stationery has students at Sakura's school going missing. Rinne and Jumonji both get a bad vibe off it, and when Rinne follows up on the mystery, he finds himself face to face with an unexpected opponent!

Confessions of Stationery Freak

Mike Montesa — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 9:30:00 -0800

Ever been in a store that sells Japanese stationery? I was browsing through one in San Francisco last weekend. I love Japanese stationery stores. They are all so neat and orderly, and the gadgets are so clever. Have you seen those “all corners” erasers? Amazing. And all the different types of pens, mechanical pencils and other doodads are just nuts. My favorite, I have to say, are the notebooks. I’ve been using these Japanese notebooks ever since university. Some look like fancy journals, so whenever I get a new one, I feel like I’m about to start writing something important.

Well, no, but anyway, mechanical pencils have a part to play in this week’s chapter (36) of RIN-NE. In Japan, they’re called 「シャーペン」(shaapen, or sharp pencil — yeah, a little odd maybe but mechanical pencils are always sharp so I can see where that came from).

By the way, if you’re a stationery freak and if you’re ever in Tokyo, you have to go to Itoya in Ginza: Ten floors of nothing but stationery.

Crimson Red Monkey Butts in Inuyasha

Narasu Rebbapragada — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 13:33:00 -0800

It's been raining nearly nonstop for more than a week now in San Francisco, and while that's not nearly close to the worst weather in the land, I have to say I'm starting to get a little glum. What's the best way to chase the blues away?

Inuyasha on VIZ Anime!

True, the overall story involves a myriad of dramatic action-packed battles between good and evil, but some seriously funny gems are nested in those 167 episodes.

My favorite episode for a good chuckle is episode 88, "The Three Sprites of the Monkey God," recommended to me by my colleague Yo Frank. In this episode, Inuyasha and crew encounter a village, which is being plundered. The locals look to Inuyasha for help. Turns out the plunderers are three little sprites. They are looking for their missing Monkey God. As you might imagine, Shippo takes a shine to the little mini-demons with cute sideburns. Inuyasha does not.

Check it out, and let us know what episodes of Inuyasha you find most funny.

"Moon, moon."
"Monkey butts are crimson red."

Watch the episode below to see what I mean. And don't forget to check out VIZ Anime for more episodes of Inuyasha as well as Inuyasha The Final Act.

Inuyasha Season 2, Volume 2 on iTunes

Narasu Rebbapragada — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:39:00 -0800

Yes! The iTunes Store just got more dubbed Inuyasha episodes. Season 2, Volume 2 is out and ready for download onto your Mac, PC, iPod, or iPhone. This set contains 14 action-packed episodes:

Kagura's Dance and Kanna's Mirror
The Wind Scar Fails
Tetsusaiga Breaks
Kaijinbo's Evil Sword
Sesshomaru Wields Tokijin
Juromaru and Kageromaru
Onigumo's Heart Still Beats Within Naraku
Return to the Place Where We First Met
Kohaku's Lost Memory
That Unforgettable Face!
Inuyasha's Soul, Devoured
The Demon's True Nature
Father's Old Enemy: Ryukotsusei
The Backlash Wave: Tetsusaiga's Ultimate Technique

Inuyasha The Final Act Episode 17

Narasu Rebbapragada — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:14:00 -0800

Jet-propelling the story forward, Inuyasha The Final Act episode 17 "Magatsuhi's Evil Will" pits Sesshomaru against Magatsuhi, the dark side of the Shinkon Jewel. We find out that the Shinkon Jewel has two opposing spirits, the good Naohi and the evil Magatsuhi. The latter appears to be blocking the true power of Kagome, who unfortunately spends a large part of the episode unconscious. Poor girl.

Also in this episode, Sesshomaru comes into his own. He was starting to seem a wee bit sad with neither arm nor sword. I won't spoil that awesome plot point. The only hint I'll give you is that Totosai shows up, which is generally a sign that things are happening.

A Few of Your Favorite Things...

Narasu Rebbapragada — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 12:34:00 -0800

It goes without saying that we love Rumiko Takahashi, or else we wouldn't be here on The Rumic World, but what exactly is it about Takahashi-sensei's work that pulls you in? Is there a particular series, scene or character that reaches out to you? Do you have a specific memory about enjoying Takahashi anime and manga? (See Danielle Forward's "It All Started When...")

For me, it's Mermaid Saga, with poignantly points out human vulnerability. The most horrific of human acts are often driven by emotions that we can all relate to -- fear of death, desire for immortality, refusal to accept the passing of a loved one. Something about those mermaids helps me understand why people do some of the hurtful things they do.

What about you? What about Rumiko Takahashi's work is meaningful to you?

Granny to the Rescue

Narasu Rebbapragada — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 13:44:00 -0800

Spoiler alert! Read RIN-NE chapter 35 first.

Ahhh, I was wondering about that seal. Glad to see Granny step in and save the situation. Even though Rinne's dad would have deserved it, I wouldn't have liked to see Rinne punch him. Seems very un-Rinne like. I am getting more and more interested in Rinne's family dynamic and who's up to what. It's very intriguing.

But did Granny sow the seeds of romance? Guess we'll have to wait and see. What do you think?

RIN-NE Chapter 35 Live!

Mike Montesa — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 10:23:00 -0800

Rinne's battle with his debt-ridden dad Sabato comes to a surprising conclusion as Rinne gets some unexpected help. But winning this round may require Rinne to make an admission he's not even sure of himself!

Read chapter 35 now.

Death, Melancholy and RIN-NE

Mike Montesa — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 10:22:00 -0800

I was out of the office last week to attend a funeral for a family member, and when I sat down today to write this blog entry, I thought of what I’d experienced. I’m not a religious person, but the funeral was quite moving and emotional. I’d like to think that if there is a heaven, then my grandmother is certainly there.

What does this have to do with RIN-NE? Nothing really, but it does get me thinking. Although the stories in RIN-NE take place in Japan and the departed souls that Rinne helps go on to the afterlife and rebirth, death is something that everyone has to face. Different cultures and religions have different beliefs about the spiritual aspect of death, but in the end, it’s all part of how human beings deal with it. There is sadness and loss, yes. But there can also be comfort at the thought of a life well lived.

Sorry if I’m being melancholy. But if I am, I can just read chapter 35 of RIN-NE to cheer myself up!

--Mike Montesa, RIN-NE editor

RIN-NE Chapter 35

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 9:30:48 -0800

RIN-NE Volume 2 Available Today!

Narasu Rebbapragada — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:37:00 -0800

The latest book in Rumiko Takahashi's great new series is available now! In volume 2, Rinne's ghost-busting business takes off as he and Sakura team up to send more wayward spirits on to the afterlife!

Sakura's school seems to have its share of hauntings, but dealing with the ghost of an ancient warrior and a girl who drowned in the school swimming pool are just a warm-up! The strange case of the wandering spirit of a boy who's not yet dead leads to a surprising confrontation with a rival from Rinne's past, and a chase that may leave Rinne trapped in Hell!
Read a free preview of chapter 1 at TheRumicWorld.com, your official Rumiko Takahashi headquarters. Buy the manga online or at your local bookstore.

Inuyasha The Final Act: Episode 16

Ho Lin — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 15:11:00 -0800

We always knew that there was more to Kagome than meets the eye, but episode 16 "Hitomiko’s Barrier" starts to reveal Kagome's true power. Lady Hitomiko makes a connection between Kikyo and Kagome, but we're not sure what that's about. The mystery is still unfolding.

In other news, Naraku yet again underestimates the strength of Inuyasha and the gang. If I were him, I'd be worried. This episode is definitely setting us up for something big soon in Inuyasha The Final Act, so stay tuned.

Read It Now or Weep!

Narasu Rebbapragada — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 12:00:00 -0800

Repeat after me: Manga volume out; online chapters down. When RIN-NE volume 2 hits store shelves on January 19, we'll be removing the corresponding online chapters (10 to 18) from The Rumic World. Chapter 9, the opening chapter of volume 2, will remain on the site.

So read these chapters now if you haven't already. Don't say we didn't warn you. :-)

Inuyasha Fight Club on VIZ Anime

Narasu Rebbapragada — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 15:00:00 -0800

Remember when I asked you to vote for your favorite Inuyasha fight scene a couple of months ago? It wasn't just because I was looking for some flashy action sequences to watch (though I did watch all your nominations). It was to put together a collection of Inuyasha episodes with the best fight scenes. We call it "Inuyasha Fight Club," and you can watch it on vizanime.com. Check out part I. Stay tuned for part II.

RIN-NE Volume 2 Available Next Tuesday

Narasu Rebbapragada — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 11:27:00 -0800

Five days and counting…RIN-NE vol. 2 will be available in stores. Make room on your manga shelf for this action-packed graphic novel. In it, Rinne’s ghost-busting business takes off as he and Sakura team up to send more wayward spirits on to the afterlife!

RIN-NE'S BACK FOR 2010

Mike Montesa — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 9:53:00 -0800

Akemashite omedeto gozaimasu!

Let’s hear it for chapter 34, the first chapter of RIN-NE in 2010! And seeing as how RIN-NE volume 2 will soon be released on January 19, you have two reasons to celebrate!

We have published 34 chapters so far, but there’s still a lot more to learn about Rinne and Sakura, and you'll share many more adventures with them. 2010 should be a good year for RIN-NE!

Now it's time for another Japanese language note. On page 4, Sakura says, “Sa...Ba…To…three…eight…ten.” In Japanese, you can use the words for numbers to form parts of words, in this case “Sa” (san = 3), “Ba” (from hachi = 8), and “To” (which is another way to say “10”. So we get “3, 8, 10” (or 1 and 0). I won’t say why she says this — just go read the chapter!

To name some other examples, there is “4649” (yoroshiku). There is also a department store in Tokyo named “109,” but this number is also a pun on Tokyu (To = 10, kyu = 9), which is the company that owns the store.

Whew, is your head spinning yet?

— Mike Montesa, RIN-NE editor

Inuyasha The Final Act: Episode 15

Narasu Rebbapragada — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 14:00:00 -0800

So much for brotherly love. In the episode "True Heir," Inuyasha and Sesshomaru fight each other for control of their father's heirloom sword Tetsusaiga. A little sibling rivalry wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for Naraku pulling the strings, with the help of his weasly (yet witty) lackey Byakuya. Sesshomaru knows he's being played but is so intent on finding out who Tetsusaiga belongs to that he doesn't care.

In this way Sesshomaru seems a bit human, though his words suggest he'd cringe at that description. He's trying so hard to obtain Tetsusaiga that perhaps he's missing the bigger picture.

Watch episode 15 to see how their fight shakes down, with a plot-advancing ending that you won't want to miss. On a lighter note, Master Totosai's three-eyed ride doubling as a movie projector is a nice touch.

What's Your Favorite Manga Store?

Narasu Rebbapragada — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:44:00 -0800

We often get asked for recommendations on cool places to browse manga and comics in general. Me, I'm lucky. I can browse the stacks at VIZ Media while I'm at work, but on the weekends, I'll also head down to Comix Experience in San Francisco. And of course, there's Kinokuniya in Japantown. (By the way, this is personally where I go. It's not an endorsement by VIZ Media.)

What about you? What's near where you live, where you can go to touch, read, and breathe real manga and comics? Where can you go to get inspired? Let us know. Who knows? One of our other readers might be in your neck of the woods and can check out your recommendation. Oh and if you don't have anywhere you can go, let us know that too.

No RIN-NE Chapter Today. See You Next Week!

Narasu Rebbapragada — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 14:00:00 -0800

Our regular Wednesday schedule resumes for RIN-NE on January 13, 2010 with chapter 34!

Don't forget that you can catch up on back chapters and the characters of RIN-NE while you wait.

Just one more week to wait. Thanks for your patience and thanks for reading RIN-NE.

Inuyasha The Final Act Episode 14

Narasu Rebbapragada — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 14:54:00 -0800

Naraku is one devious dude, but the bright light of this episode is the evidence that he's not infallible. It seems that the more everyone works together, the better chance they have at defeating Naraku. But Naraku is no dummy. He realizes that psychology can be a powerful weapon all its own. Will he be able to get between Sango and Kohaku? Will he be able to exploit the rivalry between Inuyasha and Sesshomaru? He'll sure try. Watch episode 14 "In Pursuit of Naraku" to see his attempts at emotional warfare.

No RIN-NE Chapter Today. See You in 2010!

Narasu Rebbapragada — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 9:00:00 -0800

RIN-NE is on holiday! Our regular Wednesday schedule resumes on January 13, 2010 with chapter 34!

Don't forget that you can catch up on back chapters and the characters of RIN-NE while you wait.

Happy New Year and rest up, because we'll be back with all the high-energy shinigami action and comedy that you can handle in 2010!

--The Rumic World Crew

Inuyasha The Final Act: Episode 13

Narasu Rebbapragada — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 16:19:00 -0800

Inuyasha and Sesshomaru fight together against Shishinki, the Ogre of Death. The battle reveals some surprising backstory and a cool power-up, but not before Sesshomaru has to seriously suck it up when he hears some harsh news about his father and his sword. Even if you're not the biggest fan of Sesshomaru, you'll likely muster up some sympathy for the guy. I don't want to give away the story, so watch episode 13 of Inuyasha The Final Act now and let us know what you think.

Holiday Cheer, Maison Ikkoku Style

Kit Fox — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 12:00:00 -0800

The holidays are an extra-special time for the residents of Maison Ikkoku, so given the season, I thought I’d highlight one of my favorite chapters, which occurs during Christmastime. It’s chapter 11 from the second edition of volume 11.

MI's main character, Godai, has got a ratty sweater on account of all the lovely little darlings at the nursery school where he works constantly rubbing their grubby hands on him. Being ever so thoughtful, his apartment manager (and romantic interest) Kyoko decides to get him a new sweater for Christmas. She plans to hand it to him at the holiday party at the local watering hole Chachamaru.

Much to Kyoko’s chagrin, she arrives at the Godai-less bar and winds up sitting next to a very drunk Ibuki Yagami. And when it looks like Godai might not be able to swing by at all, coquettish coed Yagami totally—and drunkenly—calls Kyoko out. In addition to trying to make her feel jealous, Yagami goes so far as to say Kyoko’s a coward for not being honest about her feelings for Godai, which is a pretty fair point. But is Yagami being just a little too harsh on our lovely landlady? Well, I guess that’s for the readers to decide.

But it’s all good in MI land, and this chapter’s especially fun to read during December. It’s got love triangles, seasonal gift giving, and a healthy amount of merrymaking. 'Tis the season to be jolly and give one of your romantic rivals a piece of your mind indeed.

Black Wagyu Beef

Narasu Rebbapragada — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:46:00 -0800

Must be the holidays, because I am getting hungry. Even reading RIN-NE chapter 33 made me hungry. That was some banquet spread. I'd love to hold a banquet without the money to pay for it, like Rinne's dad did. But alas, such tricks don't work in my world.

I feel kind of bad that the one time Rinne is presented with more food that he can consume, he's way too busy fighting to have time to eat it. That black Wagyu beef sure looks good...and expensive! At Dean & DeLuca gourmet food stores, two 12-oz ribeye steaks are $145! Yikes! You'll have to read the chapter to see who foots the banquet bill.

Speaking of food, what's your favorite Japanese food? Mine, hands down, is sashimi. Oh, and I love cold soba noodles too. Let us know what you like!

Updated! RIN-NE Holiday Schedule

Narasu Rebbapragada — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:00:00 -0800

Happy Holidays from The Rumic World!

The crew from RIN-NE will be taking a longer break than previously announced. We will post chapter 34 of RIN-NE on January 13.

Chapter 33: December 22, 2009 (today)
Chapter 34: January 13, 2010

Our regular weekly Wednesday schedule resumes on January 13.

Thanks for reading RIN-NE!

RIN-NE Chapter 33 Live Now!

Mike Montesa — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 9:53:00 -0800

Rinne and his father Sabato throw down in a battle to decide Rinne's fate! If Rinne loses, he'll have to marry a damashigami girl and inherit Sabato's debt-ridden company. Meanwhile, Rokumon brings Sakura a very interesting message from a very odd...person?

Read chapter 33 now.

A RIN-NE Goodbye to 2009

Mike Montesa — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 9:30:00 -0800

Well here we are, at the last chapter of RIN-NE for 2009. Whew! It's been eight months since we launched Rumiko Takahashi’s latest manga series, and the time has gone really fast! So far we’ve published 33 chapters simultaneously with Japan — a first in manga publishing. It’s been a real challenge to say the least, but I hope you readers are enjoying getting a story that's being delivered about as fast as it possibly can.

I’m looking forward to seeing how Rinne’s "beef" with his dad (Did I say "beef"? Ahem…) plays out down the line. And just what is the story with Rinne’s mom? As we roll into 2010, rest assured that there will be more adventures with Rinne and Sakura (and Rokumon and Tsubasa and all the rest)! Thanks for your support, and I hope you keep reading RIN-NE!

Changing gears here, people in Japan often use personal seals (stamps, chops, etc.) to “sign” important official documents such as bank loans or contracts. The Japanese word for it is 「印鑑」 (inkan). They use signatures too, of course, but the personal seal is very common. I even used to have one when I lived there. I won’t say what this is concerning to avoid spoilers, but keep this language lesson in mind as you read RIN-NE.

So that’s it for RIN-NE for 2009! I hope you all have a good non-denominational, non-sectarian holiday (in other words, Merry Christmas!) and a Happy New Year (or oshogatsu)! See you next year!

Inuyasha The Final Act: A Lighthearted Episode 12

Narasu Rebbapragada — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 13:57:00 -0800

Given how serious and wistful the last few episodes have been, I am glad for the feel-good humor and sentiment of episode 12 "Sango's Feelings, Miroku's Resolve." The seemingly drunk Master of Potions had some questionable personal-space boundaries for sure, but he rose to the occasion with a pretty cool test when Sango and Miroku needed him. We get to see Inuyasha acting pretty silly, not that he'd admit it. Plus, we learn a little bit about Sango's weapon Hiraikotsu and basically get some much-needed emotional respite before what's sure to be an action-packed adventure in episode 13 of Inuyasha The Final Act.

Starting Today: Free Anime on VIZANIME.COM!

Narasu Rebbapragada — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 12:24:00 -0800

We've been dying to tell you about it, and now we finally can! VIZ Anime, the official video streaming site for VIZ Media, went live today. We're launching with 11 shows, including Inuyasha, and Inuyasha The Final Act. You'll still be able to watch these shows on ShonenSunday.com/anime and Hulu.com of course, but VIZ Anime brings them all together in one destination. You'll find lots and lots to love.

This beta site is just the beginning, so stay tuned for new shows of every genre as well as new site features. Our goal, since we're evil little devils, is to dry out your eyeballs and blow your mind while you watch hour after hour of the most imaginative anime around.

There's no better way to get to know the site than to dive right in. Enjoy, come back often, and tell your friends about vizanime.com. Have fun and thanks for watching.

— the VIZ Anime Team

More Than Demons: Inuyasha Vol. 43

Annette Roman — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:00:00 -0800

Inuyasha volume 43 hit stores on December 8! Have you checked it out yet? I'm always amazed at how Rumiko Takahashi keeps her story fresh and raises thought-provoking issues, no matter how long her series run. Inuyasha is far from a "demon of the week" title, even though its cast of characters does encounter a new demon weekly! What makes Takahashi's manga special is that each new demon's traits, actions, and impact on the other characters provides thought-provoking insight...

Inuyasha volume 43 features two conjoined demons, Kinka and Ginka. This pair has been battling endlessly into adulthood, and for some reason (no spoilers here), neither one can vanquish the other. This leads to a bizarre love-hate relationship — a desire to prevail offset by a grudging respect for the other.

What a dilemma, to be so closely tied to the one you must destroy to survive! In the fantasy world of Inuyasha, that's just the way demon evolution works. Kinka and Ginka don't have the option of finding a way to live in peace together. This seems like a situation that has no parallel in our lives...but yet I do see some similarities to our real world.

For example, there are species of parrots that lay two eggs. When the eggs hatch, the stronger sibling soon pushes the weaker one out of the nest to its doom. (In the case of some endangered birds, rescue organizations snatch one of the siblings in time and raise it in the wild elsewhere.) This is evolution's way of giving the parents a better chance at hatching at least one chick. Apparently, these birds can't raise two chicks to maturity if they both hatch successfully.

Kinka and Ginka's relationship also reminds me of nations divided by ethnic or religious differences. The two sides fight on and on for supremacy or for their very identity. But ironically, sometimes individuals on both sides of the conflict have so much in common, it's impossible for outsiders to tell them apart.

I heard a story once about a program that brings the members of two conflicting cultures to the U.S. for graduate studies. After a year, the students are given the option of meeting in New York City for a big powwow combined with a sightseeing vacation. The result? They discover that in a host country where they are both foreign they have much more in common with each other than they realized.

I'll leave it to you to draw symbolic parallels with the next demons to appear in Inuyasha volume 43: Numawatari, the swamp demon, and the villager's mother, who turns into a horrible snake-like demon. (Actually, my mum does that sometimes when I displease her. Hmm...)

--Annette Roman, Inuyasha manga editor

63% Off the Inuyasha Season 6 DVD Boxset

Narasu Rebbapragada — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 11:43:00 -0800

Happy Friday, Inuyasha fans! We've got a huge sale going on the Inuyasha Season 6 DVD Box Set. It's 63% off the list price. The Season 6 box set includes episodes 127 to 146 as well as a cool special feature on yokai called "Down the Well: Inside the Feudal Fairytale." In an entertaining and gorgeous segment, you'll find out that yokai are more than just demons.

(12/18/09 4:02pm post updated)

Subtitling Difficulties with Inuyasha The Final Act

Narasu Rebbapragada — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:44:00 -0800

Dear Viewers,  
We're currently experiencing some technical difficulties with the subtitles in episode 11 of Inuyasha The Final Act. We're working to solve the problem as quickly as possible. Thanks for your patience in the meantime. We'll see you next Monday for episode 12.

  Thanks for your support, 
VIZ Media

Buy 3 Manga, Get 1 Free

Narasu Rebbapragada — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 12:53:00 -0800

Whether you're looking to fill some holes in your existing manga collections or to get in on some newer series, now might be a good time to do so. VIZ Media is offering a "Buy 3 Get 1 Free" sale on manga volumes that cost $9.99 or less. You can choose from more than 1700 books available in the Holiday Special section of store.viz.com. You'll see the discount during the checkout process.

To see if a book you want to buy qualifies for the promotion, head to its product page on store.viz.com and look for the Product Promotions section that reads, "This item is eligible for our 4-for-3 promotion." You'll need to choose four books that qualify for the promotion. Books available for preorder do not qualify for the discount.

Happy holidays and happy manga reading!

Multi-Medium RIN-NE

Mike Montesa — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:00:00 -0800

There's no new RIN-NE chapter this week, so I’ll take advantage of my editorial privilege to rattle on about some other stuff.

Today I got my three advance copies -- what we call “threebies” -- of RIN-NE volume 2 (top right), which goes on sale January 19. Seems like I just turned this over to the printers yesterday…hmm. Well, here it is!

The production schedule for RIN-NE is very fast-paced, and I’m always busy with it, but at least I’m up to date with the latest events in the story. With some other series I work on, I have to wait (just like you) if they’re not serialized in one of the many Japanese manga magazines. Well, most manga are serialized so I don’t have to wait that long, but anyway…

This is my copy of Shonen Sunday (bottom right), the Japanese manga magazine where RIN-NE is originally published. This volume contains RIN-NE chapter 31. My copy of the next volume, which contains chapter 32, is probably somewhere over the Pacific right now. (Chapter 32 is the latest chapter on The Rumic World.) Obviously, I don’t need the print copy except for reference, since I get the finished digital files ahead of the actual magazine street date. As I said, production on RIN-NE is very fast-paced. Right now, I’m working on chapter 33, which goes online on December 22. This will be the last chapter of 2009.

So what’s in store for Rinne and Sakura next year? Your guess is as good as mine!

-- Mike Montesa, RIN-NE editor

No RIN-NE Chapter Today

Narasu Rebbapragada — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 9:00:00 -0800

RIN-NE will be on a holiday schedule for the remainder of the month, with no new chapter on December 16, chapter 33 on December 22, and no new chapter again on December 30.

December 16, 2009: No new chapter
December 22, 2009 (Tuesday): Chapter 33
December 30, 2009: No new chapter

Regular Wednesday schedule resumes in 2010!
January 6, 2010 (Wednesday): Chapter 34
January 13, 2010 (Wednesday: Chapter 35
And so on...

Don't forget that you can catch up on back chapters and the characters of RIN-NE while you wait.

Happy Holidays and rest up, because we'll be back with all the high-energy shinigami action and comedy that you can handle in 2010!

--The Rumic World Crew

Kanna Made of Stone?

Narasu Rebbapragada — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 12:44:00 -0800

Spoiler Alert! Watch the episode first! By now you know that Inuyasha The Final Act has moved to Mondays. This week's episode, "Kanna's Gravestone," sheds light on one of the most tragic characters in the series.

A demon created by Naraku, Kanna is Kagura's sister. She holds the uncanny ability to absorb her opponent's power and throw it back at him or her. In this case, she absorbs the powers of the Tetsusaiga and uses it against Inuyasha. The blows are so hard that Inuyasha's demon side comes out -- a scary sight for the others on his team. Luckily, Tetsusaiga and Inuyasha are smarter than Naraku realizes.

But back to Kanna. She's not meant to have any emotion, but maybe she does. The viewers who commented on Hulu express the tragic situation best.

"That was such a sad episode!!! poor Kanna. I think that she thought since death was Kagura's freedom it would be her only way too. If she couldn't feel anything, then why would she be sad over Kagura or have her demon pick her a flower?"-- Bunny Landers on Hulu.com

"Man, what a miserable existence Kanna had. I can't imagine what it's like being a mindless drone showing blind loyalty to such a villain only to be rewarded by being tossed to the side in a suicide mission without even having the understanding of having the emotion to live. I can't even wrap my head around it. It's almost like creating her was a bigger tragedy than killing her." -- Ryan Nurmi on Hulu.com

What do you think? Do you think Kanna's life was lived in vain? Do you think it's possible to completely lack emotion? Let us know.

What's Your Favorite Tetsusaiga Power?

Tauri Miller and Narasu Rebbapragada — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 14:19:00 -0800

How awesome is Inuyasha's sword Tetsusaiga? Inuyasha's father carved it from his own fang, and it can be used only to help humanity. We meet this unusual weapon in Inuyasha episode 6, and it continues to evolve in Inuyasha The Final Act. Which power of Tetsusaiga is your favorite?

A. Wind Scar, which slays a 100 demons in one stroke.

B. Backlash Wave, which takes the energy from opponents' attacks and sends it back at them.

C. Red Tetsusaiga, which breaks through barriers.

D. Adamant Barrage, which sends spears of adamant (diamond) at an enemy.

E. Dragon-Scaled Tetsuaiga, which steals demonic energy and cuts demon vortexes

Let us know. Comment below!

A Trip Back Down the Well

Tauri Miller — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:00:00 -0800

Inuyasha, which aired on Cartoon Network in 2002, has been one of my favorite anime series ever since I was in high school. I was really sad when the anime ended in 2006, and I found out the end of the series was never produced in Japan. Honestly I felt a little cheated after following the show for four years. Fortunately, after three years and a little nudging from the fans, YTV finished the anime series. And thus, Inuyasha The Final Act was born.

Back in high school when I started watching Inuyasha, I never would have dreamed that seven years later I’d be working on producing the final chapters of the series in Inuyasha The Final Act. Where was that in my 10-year plan? Let’s see: Graduate high school, get into a sweet college…subtitle anime?

When they told me that I was going to be working on Inuyasha The Final Act, my jaw almost dropped to the floor. I basically told my boss, “So you want me to assist in the production of the subtitles, effectively allowing me to watch the episode before anyone in America? Umm…Yeah!”

Despite the fact I hadn’t watched Inuyasha in a number of years, the moment I started the first script, it was like I had never stopped. All the characters, weapons, and story arcs came flooding back in a Deathnote-like montage of images. I’m telling you it was epic.

I love that I can watch the characters I saw back in high school and still connect with them. I dare say that I may connect with them even more now that I’m older. We’ve all been through the slings and arrows of relationships, so it’s easy to relate to the characters’ development throughout the show. I know that some of you readers out there are dealing with the same problems that Inuyasha and the gang are going through.

Maybe you’re a Sango, trying to tame that playboy or playgirl. On the other hand, maybe you're a Kikyo; you just can’t let go of that one person you’ve always loved. Perhaps you’re like Kagome, in love with someone whose ex comes back from the dead and still has feelings for the other person. Well maybe that last one’s a stretch, but you get the point. Though Inuyasha takes place in a different setting, the problems are the same as the ones we experience.

The relationships aren’t the only thing I get a kick out of. I also appreciate the fast-paced action sequences that make Inuyasha and Inuyasha The Final Act so fun to watch. I really enjoy the character’s development in terms of their battle styles and weapons.

My favorite episode in Inuyasha will always and forever be episode 52 "The Demon’s True Nature." Inuyasha’s demon blood awakens while he’s inside a poison cocoon. After Inuyasha bursts free, he mercilessly slays a load of bandits, and faces off with Sesshomaru. This episode is part of a small story arc in which Inuyasha struggles between relying on his previously dormant demon powers, or relying on the sword that had been by his side the whole time. There were lots of amazing moments in this period; from the first time he transforms in episode 43 "Tetsusaiga Breaks", until he overcomes it and learns the Backlash Wave in episode 54 "The Backlash Wave: Tetsusaiga's Ultimate Technique." I like to call this mini-arc "The Demon-Blood Saga."

The characters and the story have all developed brilliantly. To me, both series combined (Inuyasha and Inuyasha The Final Act) is about the characters growing together and pushing forward to accomplish their goals. When you see the first episode of Inuyasha, you wouldn’t think that a girl falling down a well would lead you into a world of fantastic battles and what seems like an endless struggle against evil. I look forward to seeing the end of this epic series in Inuyasha The Final Act; while at the same time I lament losing the characters I came to know and love in Inuyasha. We’ll have to see what happens in the end.

See you at the finish line!

--Tauri Miller, Digital Entertainment Assistant, VIZ Media

Inuyasha The Final Act To Stream Mondays

Narasu Rebbapragada — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:31:00 -0800

Schedule change, folks! New episodes of Inuyasha The Final Act will now stream Mondays instead of on Saturdays on ShonenSunday.com/anime and Hulu. That change starts with the upcoming episode, which will be available this Monday, December 14. That means no episode Saturday, December 12.

See you on Monday!

RIN-NE Holiday Schedule

Narasu Rebbapragada — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 12:00:00 -0800

(Updated: 12/22/09 4:42pm PST)

RIN-NE will be on a holiday schedule, with no new chapters appearing until January 13.

December 9, 2009 (today): Chapter 32
December 22, 2009 (Tuesday): Chapter 33
January 13, 2010: Chapter 34

Regular weekly Wednesday schedule resumes on January 13.

Happy Holidays from The Rumic World crew!

RIN-NE Chapter 32 Live; See Holiday Schedule

Mike Montesa — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 10:23:00 -0800

Rinne searches frantically for Sakura and Jumonji, lost in the halls of the Damashigami Company HQ. Jumonji might be able to handle himself, but where's Sakura? And will Rinne's deadbeat dad maneuver Rinne into a no-win situation?

Read chapter 32 now!

Update: RIN-NE will be on a holiday schedule for the rest of the month.
December 9, 2009 (today): Chapter 32
December 16, 2009: No new chapter
December 22, 2009 (Tuesday): Chapter 33
December 30, 2009: No new chapter
January 6, 2010 (Wednesday): Chapter 34
Regular Wednesday schedule resumes in 2010!