Towa Higurashi

"The Feudal Era is ahead of us... Setsuna's dreams were stolen there. Don't worry. I promise I'll get them back for you!"

- Towa Higurashi

is the main protagonist and one of the title characters in the anime series Hanyō no Yashahime.

History
Towa and Setsuna were born in Kaede's village and were taken away by Sesshōmaru shortly after birth. Sesshōmaru apparently left them to fend for themselves as a rite of passage because neither Towa and Setsuna know who their father is. Towa and Setsuna lived together in the woods until they were four years old when a forest fire broke out, and Towa was sucked into a time portal to the present era of 2010.

When she awoke, Towa was approached by a man named Sōta Higurashi, who adopted her. Towa grew up having to deal with bullies constantly annoying her. She also became good at sports thanks to her half-demon physiology; winning many trophies.

She is reunited with her sister Setsuna after spending ten years in modern times.

Personality
She has a rowdy personality and gets in fights at school. Towa despises bullies, seeing them as weak people who only target those weaker than themselves. She is very protective and caring toward her adoptive family, especially Mei, whom she sees as a substitute for Setsuna.

Unlike her aunt Kagome, Towa is aware of the danger of having future knowledge in the past could bring. Hence she recovers the bike seat from Kagome's long-lost bike and refuses to leave behind her history textbook.

Towa is aware of the more firmly established gender divisions in modern Japan, and the pressure to look and act more "feminine" occasionally irritates her. However, she has no interest in conforming to those standards, keeping her androgynous fashion style (though she claims this is because men's clothing is more practical for fighting), and never backing down from a fight. (Even her choice of underclothes reflects this, as she chooses sports bras and boxers over feminine versions.) Her adoptive sister Mei is not very happy about this, mainly from concern about Towa getting into trouble and her belief that Towa would prefer not to have to fight.

Towa is soft-hearted and refuses to kill others. Even with Mistress Three-Eyes, she could not bring herself to a fatal blow. During the fight against Jakotsumaru and Tōkotsu, she felt sorry for Jakotsumaru, who had been defeated by Moroha. She also felt guilty about the three of them attacking Jakotsumaru and Tōkotsu, after which Setsuna angrily replied that the two had killed several humans for their bones. Setsuna and Moroha are annoyed several times by Towa's soft-heartedness, believing it will put them in danger. However, Towa doesn't have much of a problem with destroying undead creatures or minor yōkai. Much of this attitude appears to be due to Sōta's influence, whom she promised to not reveal her powers. She is also good at handling children because it reminds her of her adopted sister Mei Higurashi and she smiles a lot than before.

She thus seeks to defeat evil without doing harm to humans. This goal is tested during a battle with the possessed monk Juan, but she succeeds after finding she can absorb yōki.

She seems to have a lively personality, more energetic, and playable. Maybe after meeting Setsuna, her aura has changed, and she was very protective of her, not even minding her attitude just to ask if she was okay.

Much like her paternal half-uncle, Towa exhibits some dog-like behaviors, such as shaking her body free of water after a battle against the demon pond and venom serpent. Or running to Setsuna on all fours to make sure she's okay after the fight with Kyūki was over.

Physical Description
Towa is a young woman of average height with fair skin. She has short white hair with a streak of red in one of her bangs and magenta eyes. As a child, she wears a light purple kosode with a yellow sash. She also walks barefooted and ties her hair in a ponytail.

As a teenager, Towa prefers to wear a male school uniform as she finds it more comfortable to fight in them. The uniform consists of a light grey dress shirt with a red ribbon underneath a white suit with purple accents. She wears matching white pants with a brown belt and brown shoes.

In her dream, she wears feminine clothes consisting of a cream-colored off-shoulder top, a grey long-sleeve shirt partnered with a grey velvet cloth necklace, jeans, and sandals. She also wears a magenta bracelet along with Setsuna.

During the nights of the new moon, Towa's hair becomes black and slightly longer. Her eyes take on a more brown hue to their color. Her hair reverts to its usual color and original length when the moonless nights come to an end, and her eyes regain their magenta coloring.

Powers & abilities
Despite being highly athletic, having grown up in the modern era for most of her life, Towa is the least combat-experienced of the three Half Demon Princesses. She would easily let her guard down and be susceptible to attacks, which initially let her be possessed by a Hitōkon. She was also initially unaware of her status as a hanyō, resulting in her powers not be as developed as either Setsuna’s or Moroha’s.

Despite this, Towa is still shown to be a powerful half-demon in her own right. She was able to land a critical blow to Mistress Three-Eyes, whose strength was increased by two Rainbow Pearls, a feat neither Setsuna nor Moroha could accomplish. While possessed by the Hitokon, who can draw into its host's abilities, Towa can fight evenly with the battle experienced Setsuna.


 * Demonic Power: Being the daughter of an extremely powerful daiyōkai, Towa boasts incredible demonic power, impressing even Setsuna and Moroha. However, having grown up with no one teaching her how to utilize her powers, Towa is unaware of her own abilities and what she could accomplish. It appears that her powers only manifest when she is in a heightened emotional state.
 * Demonic Energy Projection: Towa can strike silently at a distance with thin projections from her fingers.
 * Swordsmanship: Being that swordplay is her main form of combat, combined with the various bokken and shinai in her room, Towa is implied to be proficient in swordsmanship.
 * Demonic Energy Blade: By channeling her demonic power into her broken katana, Towa can generate an energy blade. The blade's size and length can be controlled at will, granting Towa great offensive and defensive abilities.
 * From the tip of her energy blade, Towa can unleash a powerful demonic energy wave in the form of a blue dragon.
 * Demonic Energy Wrap: Towa's can manifest her demonic energy around her opponent and ensnare them.
 * Demonic Energy Absorption: Towa can absorb demonic energy through her energy blade.
 * Experienced Combatant: Towa is very proficient in unarmed combat, able to easily switch between kicks, throws, and elbow strikes. Even while holding her strength, she can still easily defeat a gang of bullies, who were significantly larger and heavier than her, regularly.
 * Enhanced Physical Abilities: Being a hanyō, Towa’s physical abilities are far superior to the average human. As a child, she could jump from a tall tree and land on the ground without injuring herself. As a teenager, she can easily lift up and throw a man many meters through the air with just one hand. She is also capable of jumping incredible heights and leap vast distances. This has earned her a few awards in kendo, athletics, and martial arts.
 * Enhanced Sense of Smell: Being an inu-hanyō, Towa possesses an incredibly acute sense of smell, able to detect a human's presence and/or whereabouts even at far distances. However, having lived in a peaceful modern era for a long time, she wasn't familiar with this skill.
 * Enhanced Durability: Being a hanyō, Towa is far more durable than the average human. A gangster hit her several times in the face with a wooden katana and did not cause any real injuries. She can also withstand demonic attacks and absorb the latent yōki.
 * Enhanced Agility: Towa can quickly jump great heights due to her superhuman strength and dexterity. She is also well versed in climbing and jumping up a building in the city. Her stamina, however, is not as strong, leaving her unable to physically keep up with Moroha or Setsuna on foot.
 * Poison Resistance: Inherited from her father, Towa can resist certain demonic venoms.

Weapons

 * Replica of Kikujūmonji: Towa’s primary weapon. Initially believed to be the real national treasure sword, it was later revealed to be a museum loan. The blade broke during the fight with Mistress Three-Eyes. However, Towa’s ability to create an energy blade from its handle allows her to continue wielding the sword in combat.
 * The sheath of Kikujūmonji: The sheath used to hold the Kikujimonji replica.
 * Silver Rainbow Pearl: Towa possesses the Silver Rainbow Pearl inside her left eye. It appears that many of her abilities are due to the influence of the Silver Pearl, as her left eye tends to glow when she utilizes a new power.
 * Time Travel: Towa could travel back and forth five hundred years between the Feudal Era and modern-day Tokyo, though not by her own doing.

Weaknessess

 * Venom Water: Poisonous water produced by demons has harmful effects on Towa.
 * Hanyō no Yashahime12.jpgNew Moon: Like her paternal half-uncle Inuyasha, Towa loses her demonic powers and state during the night of the new moon. On the night of the new moon, her hair turned black; her eyes turned brown, she lost her yōkai abilities and attributes, and couldn't form an energy blade from her replica of Kikujūmonji. During the night of the new moon before the sun sets, Towa suffered from pre-transformation symptoms, such as losing her acute sense of smell, before eventually turning into a human. While the rest of her body demonstrates physical transformation. Most notably, her hair is a bit longer, and the silver rainbow pearl inside of her left eye won't activate until her demonic powers restore.

Relationships
Sesshōmaru is her biological father, though she seems to have no knowledge of him whatsoever. Nevertheless, as her real blood-related father, Towa still has some form of respect for him, refusing the Tree of Age's request to slay him, except Kirinmaru.
 * Sesshōmaru

Setsuna is her twin younger sister. During their childhood, the two were inseparable and lived happily together. Unfortunately, the two were separated during a forest fire, which resulted in Towa traveling to modern-day Tokyo. Towa loves her younger sister dearly, willing to risk her life in the forest fire to find Setsuna. Even after living in modern Tokyo for ten years, Towa still remembers her sister fondly.
 * Setsuna

The two were reunited ten years later. Towa immediately recognizes Setsuna’s scent and protects her from Mistress Three-Eyes; her anger towards the demon for hurting her younger sister causes Towa to manifest her powers the first time. Though initially happy to be reunited, Towa was sad to discover that Setsuna had no memories of her and how coldly she treats her older sister.

Towa regretted letting go of Setsuna’s hand during the forest fire, which resulted in their separation and causing Towa to feel an immense sense of guilt during her ten years in modern Tokyo. After reuniting with Setsuna, Towa immediately apologizes to her sister, believing that she blames her for what happened that night. The realization that Setsuna lost her ability to sleep or dream only made Towa feel worse. She is now determined to help cure Setsuna of her condition to redeem herself and be willing to leave the modern era's safety.

Towa wants to help Setsuna get her dreams back. But Setsuna is not interested and regularly refuses to help.

Towa wanted to save the monk Juan when he was possessed by the cat yokai while Setsuna and Moroha tried to kill him. Towa said that she grew up in an era of peace, that is where she will return, and that is why she believes in peace. Even after Towa successfully saved Juan, Setsuna was upset and told her that this attitude will one day kill her.

Through a fantasy, it was revealed Towa would like to take Setsuna to the modern age so they can live together, meaning Towa is strongly considering returning to the modern era after recovering Setsuna’s memories back.

Towa hopes for gestures of affection from her sister by cuddling up to her or doing something similar. However, Setsuna angrily rejects any of these attempts and states that she and Towa are not close.


 * Moroha

Moroha is her paternal half-cousin. Towa appears to be on good terms with her, although she would sometimes be annoyed at Moroha's recklessness and lack of manners.

Towa freely shares modern pleasures such as snacks and music with her and has shown an almost motherly side. She helped Moroha make pancakes and worry she would get a stomachache for drinking dirty water. Towa has also established a bit of curiosity toward Moroha’s need for money, information she was not able to get as Moroha quickly changed the topic.

Towa is still unaware Moroha is her cousin, although not really close, yet shares a sense of trust for her. Moroha, on the other hand, knows of her familial relationship and considers both Towa and Setsuna as her friends.

Sōta Higurashi is her adoptive father and half-uncle-in-law, who found her shortly after being transported to the modern era as a child. Though initially frightened, Towa immediately became attached to Sōta after realizing Towa was from the feudal era. Towa loves her adoptive father dearly, affectionately calling him “Papa Sōta.”  Despite being prone to fighting, Towa promises him she will hold back and never use her powers in front of people.
 * Sōta Higurashi

Before she travels back to the feudal era, Towa has one final conversation with Sōta, apologizing for having to cause nothing but trouble for him after he adopted her. When she realizes that he isn’t bothered by it and wishes her well, Towa tears up and hugs her adoptive father.

Mei Higurashi is her adoptive younger sister and half-cousin. The two share a close bond, and Towa is exceptionally protective of her, immediately going to her location after realizing she is crying. She also refrains from fighting in Mei’s presence, knowing that it will make her sad.
 * Mei Higurashi

Despite this, Towa questions whether she cares for Mei because she sees her as a replacement for Setsuna. Nevertheless, when she thought the latter would hurt the former, Towa did not hesitate to point her sword towards Setsuna to protect Mei. She also hugs and promises Mei to return once she restores Setsuna’s memories and ability to sleep, showing that Towa truly loves her adopted sister.

Moe is Sōta’s wife and Towa’s adoptive mother. According to Moe, Towa has always been the center of chaos. Towa has also mentioned that Moe would play the violin for her whenever she would come home after a fight. Towa has a good relationship with her adoptive mother.
 * Moe Higurashi

Inuyasha is her paternal half-demon uncle. Like Inuyasha, Towa is a hanyō. At best, she has only heard stories of him from others.
 * Inuyasha

Kagome Higurashi is her half-aunt-in-law. Towa is aware of Kagome's existence through a photo album, finding her aunt beautiful.
 * Kagome Higurashi

Towa meets Riku when she heads out on her own to look for Mount Musubi and the Dream Butterfly in episode 7. Riku approaches himself to Towa since both of them appear to be lost. Riku initially mistakes Towa as a samurai but later addresses Towa as “hime-sama” meaning princess. Riku also addresses Towa as Towa-sama (Lady Towa). Riku later mentions to Towa that he has difficulties finding his ship, indicating that water is nearby. Towa smells water and afterward leads him to a river. Towa later invites Riku to a picnic with modern food. Riku then introduces himself to Towa as a pirate, saying he doesn’t steal from women, children, or poor people. Towa also receives a stolen katana from Ogigayatsu Hiiragi Danjo from Riku but later ends up being captured as a presumed thief by Yotsume disguised as Sōkyu. Riku immediately seems to have a significant interest in Towa and says in a conversation with Jyūbei that he likes her. Riku is also aware that Towa is Sesshōmaru’s daughter, implying his interest and recognition in Towa. Riku even stated that Towa inherited The Azure Dragon Wave from Sesshōmaru.
 * Riku

Takechiyo told Moroha and Setsuna that Jyūbei believed that of the three of them, Towa was the most reliable and orderly. This annoyed the two girls because they see Towa as a person who is frequently causing trouble.
 * Jyūbei

A tanuki who serves Jyūbei, he acts as a form of transport for Moroha and, at times, for Setsuna and Towa. Takechiyo enjoys the gummies that Towa gives him.
 * Takechiyo

Trivia

 * While it is known that her father is Sesshōmaru, her human mother's identity is so far unknown.
 * Unlike most other hanyō, including her paternal uncle Inuyasha, Towa does not have any obvious physical indicia of being a half-demon, such as dog ears. Her only visibly inhuman trait is her abnormally-colored hair and eyes.
 * Of note, her hair and eye colors are opposite her sister's, as red and violet are opposite ends of the visible spectrum and black and white are polar opposites.
 * Towa's name, like that of her sister Setsuna, is homophonous with a time word, "Eternity." This could allude to the fact that both sisters travel through time.
 * Despite being an Inu-hanyō like her uncle Inuyasha, she and Setsuna seem to age at the same rate as humans. According to Rumiko Takahashi in a Shōnen Sunday Super interview, she explains that half-demons age at the same rate as humans, but that rate steadily decreases once they reach adolescence.
 * Towa is also the name of a character from Rumiko Takahashi's earlier manga, Mermaid Saga. Coincidentally, both Towas has a twin sister.
 * She looks physically similar to Tsubasa Jūmonji from Kyōkai no Rinne, and the name of her weapon, Kikujūmonji (掬十文字), contains the same kanji as his last name (十文字).
 * In Episode 4, Towa is noticeably horrified that she might not be able to get back to the Modern Era with Root Head dead. This shows that despite Towa not fitting in well in the Modern Era, she considers it her home, as she also promised Mei that she (alongside Setsuna and Moroha) would return.
 * In Episode 12, it was implied all hanyōs share the same date for their human transformation, the new moon night. This information contradicts the original manga as it was established all hanyōs have different transformation days. If Towa shares the same day as Inuyasha due to sharing Inu-hanyō blood is still unknown.