Bankotsu

Bankotsu (蛮骨, Ban Hone) is the leader of the Shichinintai. Both the youngest and strongest member of the group, he carries the halberd Banryu. Bankotsu is a skilled mercenary and has killed many people; he retains a sense of honor and compassion, but only for his six companions.

After his resurrection, Bankotsu uses Banryu to kill everyone in the surrounding area. The scent of blood draws Inuyasha's group to engage in battle until Naraku summons the Band of Seven back to him. During the fight, Banryu is damaged by Inuyasha's "Kaze no Kizu" attack, but it gains the ability to deflect that attack after Bankotsu repairs it with the Jewel shards Renkotsu stole from Kagome. After learning that Renkotsu murdered Jakotsu for his Jewel shards, Bankotsu kills Renkotsu for his betrayal. With seven fragments in his body and two in his halberd, Bankotsu heads off to destroy Inuyasha.

In the manga, Inuyasha gradually cuts the Shikon Jewel shards out of Bankotsu's body as the battle progresses until Bankotsu is cut in two, with Naraku stripping the remaining half of its Shikon shard. In the anime, Bankotsu slays 1,000 yōkai and kills 1,000 humans with Banryu, transforming it into a demonic weapon that projects its wielder's hatred as powerful yoki. However, this proves to be his downfall as Inuyasha reflects this attack with the Bakuryūha, defeating Bankotsu and shattering Banryū.

Name Meaning
Bankotsu's name comes from two kanji (蛮, "ban"; 骨, "kotsu"), and is translated as "Barbaric/Brute Skill". Though when both "ban" and "kotsu" are put together, it means, "Reckless Courage."

Weapon
Banryu: Nicknamed Bankotsu's "companion," Banryu is a giant halbred that, after being empowered by the shards of the Shikon Jewel, can manipulate lightning. In the series of episodes that compose the the Band of Seven arc, Bankotsu uses several Jewel shard fragments from his dead comrades Mukotsu and Kyokotsu, as well as two that one of Renkotsu stole from Kagome, to strengthen his own power and that of his Banryu. The strengthened Banryu is shown to able to effectively deflect Inuyasha's Kaze no Kizu attack. The strength of Banryu, enhanced wth the Shikon Jewel Shards, is seemingly equal to that of the Tessaiga. In the anime, Bankotsu, desiring yoki, made a wish on his Banryu, vowing to kill both 1,000 yokai and 1,000 humans, so that it would gain demonic powers. It refers to the legend that, if a human were to ever kill 1,000 yokai, they would gain powers that yokai possess.

Upon slaying his 1,000th demon, Bankotsu's Banryu transformed into a powerful, demonic sword that could project the master's hatred into a powerful, destructive energy. Much like the nature of Sesshoumaru's Tokijin, as noted by Inuyasha. Because of this transformation and the gaining of a demonic aura, Inuyasha was able to use the Bakuryūha which shattered Banryu and defeated Bankotsu. Bankotsu's most well known ability is being able to wield Banryu skillfully. Aside from that, he also seem to posses superhuman strength as seen in episode 110, when the lord mentions that the sword was heavy enough that three strong men were required to lift it. He also posseses great endurance, speed and agility.