The world of Inuyasha is filled with powerful yokai and other supernatural forces, but even the human characters can be impressive. Many of them are monks, priestesses, and even yokai slayers. Humans can still have some connection to sacred powers they can use to their advantage, but exactly who counts as a human in the Inuyasha series can be complicated.
Hanyo, like Inuyasha himself, are hybrids created from a union between humans and yokai. They are usually thought of as the children of humans and yokai. Furthermore, hanyo and humans can have children themselves, like Inuyasha's daughter, Moroha. However, humans can also fuse with yokai. Naraku was created in this fashion.
10 Kagome's Grandfather Can At Least Sense Danger
Usually referred to as "Grandpa Higurashi," Kagome's grandfather is the current owner and caretaker of the Higurashi ancestral shrine. Much of Grandpa Higurashi's early life, including his given name, remains shrouded in mystery.
Grandpa Higurashi has blessed and sealed various supernatural objects but doesn't seem to have much supernatural power himself. Spiritual objects Grandpa makes are usually ineffective. For example, Inuyasha is shown resisting Grandpa's seals on the Bone-Eater's Well. Grandpa does have something of a "sixth sense," however, being able to sense upcoming danger.
9 Rin Has Sesshomaru In Her Corner
Rin is an orphan girl who becomes Sesshomaru's companion. Rin is a survivalist, skilled in foraging for food or whatever else she needs. In fact, Rin has overcome death itself on more than one occasion. Early on, Sesshomaru revived Rin after she was killed by wolves.
A second time, Rin was killed by the atmosphere of the Underworld and revived by the Meido Stone. Because of this, Rin does not fear death. After becoming Sesshomaru's wife, Rin is willing to sacrifice her life to protect her daughters. Sesshomaru ultimately saves Rin by placing her in a sleep-like stasis in the Tree of Ages.
8 Izayoi Was A Strong & Protective Mother To Inuyasha
Izayoi was a mortal princess who won the heart of the Inu no Taisho, also known as Toga, and the two eventually became Inuyasha's parents. Similar to Rin, Toga once revived Izayoi after her first death, but her second passing was permanent.
Though shrouded in mystery, Izayoi was shown to have a strong character, once fleeing a fire in the snow after giving birth. Izayoi was also a loving mother who regularly protected Inuyasha as best she could. Inuyasha even noted he only saw his mother cry once in his life.
7 Death Has A Transformative Effect On Kohaku
Kohaku is Sango's younger brother and was similarly trained to fight yokai. Early on in the series, however, Kohaku is killed during a mission. Naraku eventually revives with the boy as his minion using a Shikon Jewel shard. However, Kohaku is able to regain his memories and take control of his body again.
The only thing keeping Kohaku alive is the shard, and he is ultimately killed when Naraku removes it. Fortunately, Kohaku is given another chance at life by Kikyo's spirit. By the sequel series, Kohaku has grown confident enough to train others to fight yokai.
6 Kaede Is A Powerful Priestess In Her Own Right
The priestess Kaede is Kikyo's younger sister. In the years since her sister's passing, Kaede has developed great spiritual prowess, both in actual power and spiritual awareness. Famously, Kaede is also the one who places the beads of subjugation on Inuyasha. Despite this, Kaede's powers aren't as strong as Kikyo's were.
With age comes wisdom, and Kaede has developed into a strong, advisory figure to the characters. However, as Kaede is only human, age has taken its toll on her body, too. Creating a spiritual barrier appeared to weaken her physically. However, Kaede is still shown as a capable fighter.
5 Miroku Is A Powerful Monk Who Makes Use Of A Family Curse
Miroku is a travelling hoshi, or monk, who is plagued by a family curse. Naraku cursed Miroku's paternal grandfather with the wind tunnel: a vaccum in the palm of his hand that eventually consumes the victim. The curse is also hereditary, having killed Miroku's father.
Despite this, Miroku has some control over his own wind tunnel thanks to prayer beads. Miroku can use the void to his own advantage in battle, but doing so brings him closer to the tunnel consuming him. Besides this, Miroku has great spiritual power. With his line of work, Miroku also possesses the Shakujo Staff and powerful talismans.
4 Sango Is A Skilled Warrior, Complete With A Nekomata Steed
Sango is a yokai taijiya, which is a sort of yokai slayer or exterminator. Sango was the only teenage girl in her village to be a yokai taijiya, suggesting she was something of a prodigy. Thanks to her training, Sango is in peak physical condition with honed senses. Sango is also trained to be an expert in demonology, weapons, and even toxicology.
Being only human, Sango has a plethora of weapons at her disposal. As a yokai taijiya, Sango is also trained to co-exist and even bond with benevolent yokai. Sango greatly showcases this with her nekomata companion, Kirara.
3 Midoriko Is The Source Of The Shikon Jewel
In life, Midoriko was an extremely powerful priestess, having effectively brought about the Shikon Jewel's creation. In life, Midoriko was said to be as powerful as a hundred samurai. Midoriko was also skilled with a sword in addition to her spiritual powers.
Eventually, Midoriko fused her spirit with a powerful yokai, creating the jewel. Effectively dead, Midoriko's spirit is now imprisoned inside the jewel alongside the yokai. Midoriko represents the purity of the jewel and fought inside it over the centuries.
2 Kikyo Was Powerful Even When She Was Human
Kikyo showed immense spiritual power when she was alive. Even beyond a regular priestess, Kikyo was able to contend against average yokai. It was because of this great power that the Shikon Jewel was entrusted to Kikyo in the first place. Despite this, Kikyo hoped for a normal life, even inspiring Inuyasha to become human. Eventually, Kikyo was killed by Naraku.
The oni witch Urasue revived Kikyo as an undead being. Urasue had hoped to use Kikyo's powers for her own benefit but was ultimately destroyed by her own creation. Kikyo obtain various new abilities after her reanimation, but she was no longer considered human. Kikyo was now a clay doll who fed on the spirits of the dead.
1 Kagome Has Kikyo's Power With Time Travel Thrown Into The Mix
Kagome was born in the modern era, but she really isn't as mundane as the world she lives in. Kagome is both the reincarnation of the priestess Kikyo and was born with the Shikon Jewel inside of her. Kagome's spiritual power is actually equal to Kikyo's and possibly infinite, but she is hindered by a lack of training and the Shikon Jewel's machinations.
Kagome and Inuyasha also appear to be the only characters capable of time travel. Being from the modern era also gives Kagome some advantages, like access to modern medicine and conveniences, like instant ramen. Kagome also has an underestimated intelligence. After all, she's the only character to realize the one wish that will stop the Shikon Jewel's influence.