Kagome Higurashi

Kagome Higurashi (日暮 かごめ, "Birdcage (first name), Sunset (family name)") is the

modern-day reincarnation of the feudal era miko, Kikyō, and is the main female protagonist of the series. She was unknowingly born with the legendary Shikon no Tama inside her body until the day of her 15th birthday, when a yōkai pulled her into her family's sacred well, taking her roughly five hundred years back in time, and later extracted the newly reborn gem from her. After she accidentally shattered the jewel into hundreds of fragments that disperse all throughout Japan. Kagome, along with Inuyasha, had to recover all the shards of the Jewel before they fall into the evil influence of Naraku.

Background

Kagome is the firstborn child and only daughter of Mr. Higurashi and Mrs. Higurashi. She was named after the sparkling light her mother saw (the Shikon Jewel itself) when she was born.

When Kagome was five years old, Mr. Higurashi died in a car accident which had left his daughter and wife, who was already pregnant with Kagome's brother, without any support. So, Kagome's mother moved her family to the Higurashi Shrine, where Grandpa Higurashi lived.

Personality

Kagome's heart is pure and kind, always rich and sometimes uncontrollable, which is strangely similar to Inuyasha's lack of self-control. Because of her empathetic nature, she never hesitates to help out those in need of it, treating all with warmth and respect. Even if she doesn't say a word, her feelings are easy to read due to her honest expressions, which cause those around her to soften in tough situations and be honest as well. The only dark part that Kagome ever had was her secret jealousy over Inuyasha's feelings towards her past life, but she eventually learns to be at peace with it and let go. Even with this, she wasn't without her flawed, quirky and immature side, which is typical of her age.

Kagome was never afraid to voice her mind about what is "right" and what is "wrong," making her somewhat opinionated and stubborn. She eventually learnt to not see the world in black or white, becoming the one others turn to when they need emotional support or advice as she can be direct and make hard but valid points, even to a friend. Still, Kagome is unforgiving of anyone who opposes her sense of justice until they stop, even when there was large difference in power. This was shown when she nearly killed Naraku out of her disgust and fury towards his evil, manipulative nature and had wanted him destroyed as much as her companions since then.

Although she was just a modern girl for most of her life, Kagome was strangely unfazed by the horrors, violence, and death in the Warring States era because of her strong spirit. Her reckless courage is known to "always be in full force", being impulsive and jumping into potentially dangerous situations without wait for help. Though she is usually calm and compassionate, Kagome has a hidden violent side to her when her short temper is brought into play. Inuyasha tends to be the cause due to his blunt, ill-mannered nature which she rarely tolerates nor has the patience for, clashing with her own immaturity and frequently in use "Sit!" on him (especially in the anime), which she almost never regrets (although mentally does at times) or apologizes for unless it was by accident and doesn't really seems to mean it. She was often disgusted towards Miroku's lecherous ways and didn't hesitate to criticize him, but became resigned towards it over time as she knows he was never going to change.

When she is involved in battles, Kagome uses her knowledge to the fullest and analyzes the situation to the best of her ability, unlike Inuyasha who most of the time just recklessly jumps in and acts instinctively. Even when backed into a corner, she figures out solutions and dares to execute it, often producing unexpected good results. Though she doesn't have particularly great cunning as Miroku does, Kagome's words are somehow able to move others and instill confidence as well as almost unconscious obedience due to her cheerful, positive character. She can also be slightly manipulative at times, as she would smoothly tell Koga what he wanted to hear despite they were lies, and it had the desired effect.

In the Warring States Era infested with evil spirits, Kagome gradually becomes a sort of conduit between humans and demons. With her ability to make people feel accepted and at ease despite their suffered misfortune, she could befriend Jinenji (accepting his half-demon nature and being one of the first to show kindness to him), Miroku (refusing to let him be alone after learning of his Kazaana), Sango (showing sympathy toward her after Sango's family was murdered and Kohaku was forced to become their worst enemy's subordinate), Shippo (doting on him, to point of being his mother figure), and mostly Inuyasha (breaking the tension between them despite he was gravely wounded, untrusting, and accustomed to loneliness). As Inuyasha is poor at expressing himself without pride, she uses her insight to interpret his feelings and more gentle side, though she could get exasperated with his rudeness and tactlessness.

Although she didn't know much about the Warring States era at first and people kept calling her Kikyo's reincarnation because of their striking resemblance in appearance and power, Kagome felt no fear and often handled the pain it brings on her in the best way she can. She stayed strong and took pride in her current life, being outraged at both Inuyasha (at first) and the dark priestess Tsubaki for seeing her only as a "Kikyo's look alike." Kagome has saved helped Kikyo and saved her life on several occasions and vice-versa, both for the fact that it was the right thing to do, their admiration for each other, and accepting Inuyasha's feelings towards both of them.

Kagome is clumsy in love and shows to almost never able to hide her feelings, even when she wasn't fully conscious of it. Her curious school friends always coerced her into reporting her love life and could guess what was going on from her facial expressions, despite not wanting or trying to tell them anything. At first, Kagome's relationship with Inuyasha was simply companions on a journey who constantly quarreled with each other. As she came to understand both his physical and emotional reliable strength and his surprisingly vulnerable side, little feelings of love began to grow inside her which only grew stronger over time. All she wants for Inuyasha is for him to be happy. However, Kagome becomes hurt by what Inuyasha says and does to protect Kikyo, but was even more hurt by the jealousy she felt in her heart because of it. It was her first time falling in love and the first time she had ever felt genuinely bitter over something. Despite her envy, she refused to leave his side even if meant her pain, which surprised her friends. Whatever the case, Kagome keeps watching over Inuyasha and is always a source of comfort. She heals him when he is tired and embraces him when he is emotionally hurt by his uncontrollable demon side or his tragic past.

Appearance

Kagome is a beautiful young woman who has somewhat pale skin, and a slender yet curvaceous figure with well-toned thighs. She has long, wavy black hair, with a noticeably grey outline which is sometimes portrayed as blue, and big blue eyes (brown in anime). Because of her beauty and attractiveness, Kagome was one of the main targets for Miroku's comical lecherous tendencies, although overtime he focused more on Sango.

Kagome usually is always seen wearing her green and white school uniform, also known as sailor fuku. It is a common style of uniform worn by female middle school and high school students. A red ribbon is tied in the front and laced through a loop attached to the blouse. On other occasions, Kagome is seen wearing other outfits that are a combination of different sweaters and skirts.

At the Feudal Era, Kagome sometimes has been seen wearing the same outfit that Kikyō and Kaede wear, which is a traditional miko red outfit. When she first wore this outfit, Inuyasha told Kagome to undress (or in other words "change into something else") because she looked like Kikyō.

Abilities

Immense Spiritual Power

Kagome's most noteworthy ability is the infinite amount of spiritual power hidden within her. Her high-level spiritual power is equal to that of the priestess Kikyō, who has defeated numerous demons. However, as she hasn't had any formal training as a priestess, her skill in attacking with her bow and her technique in modifying her spiritual power are somewhat lacking. It is also revealed that her innate spiritual powers and abilities were initially sealed by Magatsuhi, the evil will of the Shikon Jewel, out of fear. After Magatsuhi was destroyed by Sesshōmaru's Tenseiga, Kagome's spiritual abilities were released to their full and maximum potential, enabling her to gain complete access to much stronger abilities she never knew she possessed. Even before her powers were unsealed, Kagome was able to pass through most spiritual shields, resist the effects of curses and illusions, and could sense evil demonic auras to some extent. Kikyō also once showed Kagome how to fuse the sacred jewel shards together through prayer.

Spiritual Energy Projection

Kagome can concentrate spiritual energy in the palms of her hands for defensive purposes. Kagome demonstrated this when she unconsciously released her hidden spiritual power after encountering a demon for the first time, and Mistress Centipede's arms consequently dropped like those of a wax doll. However, she has not yet been able to properly use this power consciously.

Spiritual Reflection

If her opponent is less powerful than her, Kagome can attack without using her own spiritual power and instead return her enemy's released spiritual power back at them. As Kikyō did before her, Kagome has successfully reflected a curse back at Tsubaki, who unleashed a shikigamiserpent on Kagome.

Illusion and Demonic Energy Immunity

Simply being near demons' auras causes damage to people's minds and bodies; thus, normal humans cannot go near or touch demonic power sources. However, Kagome, with her strong spiritual power, is unaffected by demonic energies. By nature, Kagome doesn't easily succumb to negative feelings (e.g. dread and fear) and this nullifies the illusion powers of Mu-on'na and Naraku.

Purification Abilities

Kagome can purify malevolent forces, such as demonic energies or miasma, by sending out pure spiritual power. Kagome constantly releases pure spiritual power unconsciously, but its effects are more powerful when concentrated through tools such as her arrows.

Spiritual Awareness

An obvious side-effect of her high-level of spiritual power, Kagome is able to perceive or sense things that are otherwise normally undetectable to ordinary humans (e.g. ghosts, spirits, and demonic or divine auras[36]). Kagome's eyes also have the power to see where shards of the Shikon Jewel are hidden and she can even sense their presence to some degree.

Time Travel

Kagome could travel back and forth five hundred years between the Feudal Era and modern day Tokyo through an ancient well called the "Bone-Eater's Well”. Only she and Inuyasha were ever able to freely pass from one time to the other. While originally Kagome needed some remnant of the Sacred Jewel to traverse time through the Bone-Eater's Well, she, at least once, was able to do so without it.

Time Barrier

According to Princess Kaguya, Kagome has an unusual spiritual energy aura that does not go along the flow of time itself, making her immune into any time-stopping spell.

Psychic Link

Kikyō and Kagome seemed to have the ability to communicate telepathically towards the end of Kikyō's life. They first spoke mentally when Kagome was about to shoot her sacred arrow at a corrupted Sacred Jewel and once more when Kikyō was dying in Inuyasha's arms in the Final Act.

Experienced Archer and Marksman

After learning from Inuyasha that she had been an archer in her previous life, Kagome decided to take the same path. While initially not as skilled as Kikyō was, Kagome's travels throughout a warring country helped shape her into a fair marksman and skilled archer.

Skilled Swimmer

TBA

Yashahime Princess Half Demon (Anime)

Six months later, following her nineteenth birthday, a landslide occurs that sets free the Ne no Kubi a root demon that fought with Kikyō and was sealed by her and so Ne no Kubi was battled and fought Kagome and her friends, and she tells Inuyasha that he needs to trust her more as she does him.

A little over three years later, Kagome became pregnant. The night of Towa and Setsuna's birth (which was also the night of a lunar eclipse), she encountered Riku, who warned her of the Grim Comet that appears once every five centuries, and of Lord Kirinmaru's destiny to destroy her own unborn child once he awakened from his slumber. Kagome subsequently passed this information on to Sesshōmaru.

Not long after Sesshōmaru and Inuyasha dealt with the Grim Comet, Kagome gave birth to Inuyasha's quarter-yōkai/three-quarters-human daughter named Moroha. However, shortly after the birth of their daughter, Sesshōmaru briefly joined forces with the awakened Lord Kirinmaru apparently to kill Inuyasha and Moroha, but he seemingly was actually on their side, as they were warned about Kirinmaru's attempt to kill them and able to prepare: Kagome gave Moroha the Beni as a parting gift before having Hachi take the baby somewhere safe. Before Kirinmaru could attack them, Sesshōmaru saved her and Inuyasha by gouging the Black Pearl from Inuyasha's right eye before proceeding to send them both to the Border of the Afterlife. Although trapped in Tōga's tomb, fortunately it is eminent that she and her husband will eventually be released by Sesshōmaru, as Jaken stated that her husband's Meidō Zangetsuha ability will be needed in the future.

Fourteen years later, she finally gets a glimpse of her grown daughter as she was passing through the strong demonic-spiritual barrier of Mount Musubi. She is proud at seeing her child safe and sound.

Months later, she is used as leverage to coerce Moroha to bring Akuru's pinwheel to Kirinmaru.

Relationships

Moroha

Moroha is Kagome and Inuyasha's only daughter. However, shortly after Moroha’s birth, Kagome sent baby Mohora for safety, also giving Moroha the Benias a farewell gift, as she and Inuyasha faced off against Sesshōmaru and Kirinmaru. As a result, Moroha grew up alone and knew nothing about her parents. Kagome loved her daughter dearly and was saddened to be separated from her. As Moroha enters the barrier of Mount Musubi while finding Towa and Setsuna, she enters the Border of the Afterlife where her grandfather's tomb as Kagome surprised that the Tessaiga is shaking means that her daughter is near and they saw her that she's grown up.

Knownable Relatives

• Mr. Higurashi (Father/dead)
• Mrs. Higurashi (Mother)
• Sota Higurashi (Little Brother)
• Moe Higurashi (Sister in law)
• Mei Higurashi (Niece)
• Grandpa Higurashi (Grandfather)
• Inuyasha (Husband)
• Moroha (Daughter)
• Sesshomaru (Older Half Brother in law)
• Rin (2nd Sister in law)
• Setsuna (Half Niece)
• Towa Higurashi (Half Niece)

Trivia

• While Kagome's given name is only written in hiragana as かごめ, based off the stated meaning presented in the series, it is almost certainly derived from the kanji 籠目, (lit. "basket eye"), which refers to a "kagome lattice" (an arrangement of interlaced lath triangles whereat each point two laths cross has four neighboring points) and a kind of lattice-style woven basket used as a birdcage, a nod to the children's game, "kagome kagome" (かごめかごめ), similar to Blind man's buff, which refers to a 'bird' trapped in a cage. This a metaphor for the fact that for most of her life, the full extent of Kagome's spiritual powers were sealed away at birth by Magatsuhi, the evil incarnation within the Shikon Jewel, and her future capacity to know where her "target" is. According to the anime, Kagome's mother named her "Kagome" as in a 'kagome mon' (籠目紋), a Star of David-like crest that appears at the intersection of patterns throughout a kagome lattice. Her full name, which uses the characters for "evening" and a star shape, could plausibly be interpreted as "Evening Star", i.e. the planet Venus.
• In the beginning of the Manga, in 1997, the franchise's Mangaka creator, Rumiko Takahashi, originally drew Kagome wearing socks from the Japanese school fashion fad, "Kogal", but shortly into the series, Kagome's socks became normal. By the events of end of the Manga, in 2008, Kagome was shown with a flip-phone cellphone model from 2008.
• In the Latin American Spanish dub version and the European and Brazilian Portuguese dubs, Kagome's name was changed to Aome and Agome, respectively, due to Kagome sounding too similar to the expletive verb "cagar", which means "to defecate" in both languages, though her name was left unchanged in the Castilian (European) Spanish and Catalan dubs.
• In the Filipino Dub, the subjugation chant or spell "Sit!" is called "Dapa!" meaning "Flounder!".
• According to Rumiko Takahashi, in the end, Kagome's spiritual power was stronger than Kikyō's; albeit, most of Kagome's powers are currently undeveloped. Why, however, is never elaborated-upon, as they're supposed to be incarnations of the same soul, their spiritual powers should be the same.
• Kagome has a weakness for anything cute, whether if it's a demon or otherwise, which has been shown in both the anime and manga.
• Despite having to stated in Movie 3 that she hates to fight, she would never leave Inuyasha to fight alone.
• Both Kagome's and Kikyō's looks are based on a previous character of Takahashi's, Mana, from Mermaid Saga.
• Slight differences are present between Kagome's physical appearance in the manga as opposed to the anime. Namely, Kagome physically resembled Kikyō more so in the manga than in the anime. Also her eyes are normally colored blue-grey in the manga, while in the anime they are brown.
• She often wore her high school uniform. In the guidebook book for the InuYasha series - InuYasha: Zusetsutaizan Ōgikaiden, Rumiko Takahashi explains that Kagome wore her high school uniform because she enjoyed the latest style. Apart from that, her high school uniform was easy to wash.
• In the Final Act's first theme song, the ending shows Inuyasha and Kagome with the red thread of fate attached to their pinky since they are destined to meet. In the Japanese culture, it is thought to be tied around the little finger/pinky finger.
• Kagome possess similar traits with Akane Tendo from the Ranma ½. Her physical appearance is also similar to Akari Unryu from the same show.
• In the latest and newest OVA in Urusei Yatsura (for celebrating It's a Rumic World 30th anniversary), during Summer Festival Lum and Ataru Moroboshi appear to enjoy the fireworks. Soon, Ataru starts behaving perverted towards young ladies who also participate the Summer Festival. Kagome is the one of them, wearing her yukata and keeping her distance from Ataru. She even thinks that Ataru is one of Miroku's descendants.
• In the series of The Holy Pearl, a character for which Kagome serves as inspiration is named Ding Yao.
• Her Japanese voice actress, Satsuki Yukino, later voiced Rinne Rokudō's grandmother Tamako from Rin-ne, which is another Takahashi's work.
• In the Live Action Play where she was portrayed by Erika Mabuchi, she had short hair and wore a yellow school uniform.
• Nanoka Kiba from Rumiko Takasahi's current manga series work Mao is a girl who shares trials with Kagome - as both were time travelers and accompanied by Mao and Inuyasha who motivates from vengeance.

According to the Databook:

Voice Actresses

• Japanese : Satsuki Yukino
• English : Moneca Stori (original), Kira Tozer (The Final Act)