Tsubo Tsukai (壷使い, つぼつかい, "Hive Handler") was a yōkai who utilized a strange urn, Kokochu, to control Miroku's guardian, Mushin. He was used by Naraku to kill Miroku through Mushin.
History[]
He confronted Mushin in the storeroom of his temple and possessed him with his Kokochu urn. Miroku had stopped by the temple earlier to get Mushin to repair a small nick in his Kazaana after sucking in a mantis yōkai. The possessed Mushin approached Miroku just as he began to feel the effects of the medicine he drank just before. Mushin told him to sleep and pulled out a cleaver from behind his robes. Miroku awoke just as Mushin was about to cut off his head and was able to dodge it just in time, but his left shoulder was injured as a result. He realized that Mushin was possessed after seeing him exhale a type of vapor and tried to get away, but the medicine made it hard for him to move. He dodged another of Mushin's attacks and crashed through the wall onto Hachiemon outside of the temple. Miroku retrieved his staff from Hachi and blocked Mushin's knife with it. Hachi then created a smokescreen to use as a cover for his and Miroku's escape.
Hachi returned with Inuyasha and the rest of his friends to rescue Miroku. Mushin appeared before Inuyasha and warned him that he would be punished for disturbing that sanctity of his temple. Everyone could see the vapor behind exhaled by Mushin. Myōga explained that Mushin was under the control of Tsubo Tsukai and that obtaining its urn would free him from being controlled if was placed near him. Tsubo Tsukai was confronted by Kagome and Sango, but was able to escape their attacks. Inuyasha battled Mushin, who was still under the possession of Tsubo Tsukai, but was eventually able to knock him out. Inuyasha rushed to Miroku's aid and was able to destroy all of the attacking yōkai by using the true power of the Tessaiga for the first time. Tsubo Tsukai tried to escape the temple, but was killed by Sango's Hiraikotsu in mid air. They then obtained his urn and were able to free Mushin from the possession.
Physical description[]
He has gray skin with long ears and a small mouth. He has a pair of big red eyes.
Outfit[]
He wears a blue kimono that looks similar to those worn by a shintō priests. He also wears a brown hakama, and a tate-eboshi over his head.
Powers & Abilities[]
Weapons[]
- Kokochu (蠱壺虫, ここちゅう, "Poison Pot Insect"): An urn that hold his yōkai worms. He is able to possess people by controlling the worms within the Kokochu. People who are possessed by it exhale a type of vapor.
Manga vs. Anime[]
- In the anime, he reveals his identity to Miroku after his initial attempt to kill him using Mushin.
- In the anime, he explains that Naraku has ordered him to kill Miroku in exchange for a Sacred Jewel shard. This is not stated in the manga.
- In the manga, he is first confronted by Kagome and Sango in the storeroom of Mushin's temple while they use smoke to try and flush him out. In the anime, he is confronted by the two of them while he is on the roof of the temple.
- In the anime, Shippō is seen catching the Kokochu after he is killed by Sango's Hiraikotsu.
Media appearances[]
| Naraku | |
|---|---|
| Incarnations | Kanna • Kagura • Goshinki • Kagerōmaru • Jūrōmaru • Musō • Infant • Hakudōshi • Byakuya • Akagane |
| Rejected parts | Unnamed incarnation • Hair monster • Eye monster • Onigumo (reabsorbed) • Kugutsu • Kodoku |
| Allies | Saimyōshō • Tsubo Tsukai • Sesshōmaru (formerly) • Jaken (formerly) • Ryūkotsusei • Tsubaki • Hakushin • Shichinintai • Salamander • Entei • Abi • Tekkei • Mōryōmaru (formerly) • Gorai • Mirror demon • Magatsuhi • Demon of the Shikon no Tama |
| Enemies | Inuyasha • Kagome Higurashi • Kikyō • Miyatsu • Miroku's father • Miroku • Sango • Kirara • Kohaku • Kōga • Ginta • Hakkaku • Kai • Shinta • Sesshōmaru (currently) • Kaguya • Mōryōmaru (currently) • Hōsenki I • Hitomiko • Kansuke • Kaede • Midoriko • Shippō • Jaken (currently) • Rin • A-Un • Janis |
| Locations | Onigumo's cave • Naraku's castle • Mount Hakurei • Naraku's cave |
| Miscellaneous | Shikon no Tama • Kazaana • Onigumo's cave • Naraku's castle • Mount Hakurei |