Episode 34 (Hanyō no Yashahime)

Battle on the New Moon, Part 1
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Episode information
Rōmaji	Kessen no Saku (Zenpen)
Nihongo	決戦の朔（前編)
Opening	ReBorn
Ending	Transparent World
Airdates
Original Airdate	December 4, 2021
English Airdate	October 9, 2022 (Toonami) January 21, 2022 (Simuldub)

Battle on the New Moon, Part 1 is the thirty-fourth episode of Hanyō no Yashahime, and the 10th episode of the second season titled "The Second Act".

Synopsis

1. The new moon has come once again, with Setsuna experiencing what is is to be fully human for first time ever.
2. With a defenseless Towa traveling with Riku and Rion, Zero uses the opportunity to abduct Towa, delivering her to where she and Nanahoshi are waiting for her and the intense enduring sorrow the now powerless Half-Demon Princesses possesses to this day.
3. Hachiemon tells Moroha and Takechiyo how Inuyasha, Kagome Higurashi, Miroku and Sango all defeated the Full Moon Raccoon Dog all those years ago.

Summary

Moroha, Takechiyo and Hachiemon are on their way to recover Moroha's shortbow and arrows from the rogue raccoon-dog Shōgen Mamiana and take shelter in a cave. In an inn, Setsuna is hauled up as she experiences what is like to be fully mortal for the first time in an entire decade. Her already long black hair hair growing to nearly reach her caves and her eyes turning from purple to brown. Knowing how useless she is, Setsuna gives Hisui written instructions on how to deal with the demons that have come for.

While building a hang guilder, Hachiemon tells Moroha the story about how the Shōgen and Full Moon Raccoon Dog, the guardian spirit of the whole tribe, were defeated by Inuyasha and Kagome Higurashi, Miroku and Sango. Inuyasha had used the Wind Scar against Shōgen, giving him the scar on his forehead. With help from Hachiemon, Kagome had managed to immobilize the Full Moon Raccoon Dog in a pillar of mighty spiritual power and have him fully absorbed within a scroll which was later strengthened somewhat with Miroku's help.

Wanting information on how to put an end to this feud, Takechiyo has Takamaru find either Miroku or Sango, to ask just how Shōgen and his demonic magic were defeated. Meanwhile, an equally powerless Towa expresses her deep concerns over her twin sister finally experiencing the effects of the new moon since her Dream Butterfly was cut down. However, she is kidnapped and taken to Nanahoshi's mansion, where Zero attempts to use what she has learned from seeing Towa's memories within the Silver Rainbow Pearl that the Half-Demon Princess has had within her left eye for fourteen whole years to help Nanahoshi further his own power by feasting on Towa's enduring sadness and unpredictability.

Characters in Order of Appearance

• Moroha
• Takechiyo
• Hachiemon
• Takamaru
• Shōgen Mamiana (Appears in a flashback)
• Kikunosuke (Appears in a flashback)
• Full Moon Raccoon Dog (Appears in a flashback)
• Riku
• Towa Higurashi
• Rion
• Yukinyudo (First appearance)
• Kirara
• Nanasuke
• Kohaku
• Hisui
• Setsuna
• Nanahoshi
• Zero
• Miroku (Appears in a flashback)
• Sango (Appears in a flashback)
• Kagome Higurashi (Appears in a flashback)
• Inuyasha (Appears in a flashback)
• Jyūbei (Appears in a flashback)

Trivia

• This New Moon based episode takes place on the same date as a New Moon.
• Detective Conan, specifically Phantom Thief Kid is referenced while Moroha prepares the hang glider.
• The origin of Shōgen Mamiama's scar is revealed as Inuyasha had used the Wind Scar to leave the scar on his forehead.
• We learn why Takechiyo was left in Jyūbei's care, as seen in "The Dream-Gazing Trap".
• It is revealed that Setsuna's hair almost grows to her feet when temporarily human, somewhat like Rapunzel from the German fairy tale but also from the 2017-2020 animated show of the 2010 Disney film Tangled.
• It is is shown that Kagome Higurashi had utilized an unusually strong sealing arrow to imprison the Full Moon Raccoon Dog, similar to her daughter's Heavenly Arrow Barrage attack. A pillar of great spiritual power appeared to encase the guardian of the Raccon-Dog Tribe's castle and seal him inside a scroll worth Miroku's own ever strengthening Buddhist/spiritual powers.
• Miroku had expressed his desire to have his powerful Wind Tunnel again, "since he fight against" the Ne no Kubi one year ago.
• Towa finally learns that Riku is Kirinmaru's incarnation, since Rion witnessed the battle.
• The creatures Yukinyudo talks to are similar to the ones Byakuya summons in "In Pursuit of Naraku".
• Since Tōtetsu got the information from Konton about Towa's weakness on the night of the New Moon on Episode 21, it is unknown that Zero also has the information from Konton about Towa's weaknesses too.
• Zero intends to absorb her seven Rainbow Pearls and regain her full demonic strength and abilities only as a last resort. She is quite intrigued by Towa's memories within the Silver Rainbow Pearl, which means that she has indeed glimpsed the modern era. She desires for Nanahoshi draw strength on Towa's depression, just as the Flower Prince had done so with Inuyasha in "Flowers Drenched in Sadness".
• Miroku is shown to be highly uncomfortable with the "distract with beautiful women" tactic used by the enemy; makes sense as he and Sango are married with three children during the flashback. Shows how much his devotion to Sango grew over the years.
• Sango toss Hiraikotsu with Inuyasha following it with the Wind Scar, much like the co-op technique from the PS2 video game Secret of the Cursed Mask.

Errors

• After Sango throws Hiraikotsu (lacking the useful demonic energy-shattering ability it had acquired since "Sango's Feelings, Miroku's Resolve") and Inuyasha attacks with Wind Scar, Sango is seen carrying Hiraikotsu, like she never threw it.
• When Hachi was telling Moroha and Takechiyo about the story that took place over a decade ago, it was an over exaggeration. At that time, Moroha, Towa and Setsuna were still toddlers. However Inuyasha and Kagome were around at the time. The story must've happened before the girls were even born.