Inuyasha, the titular character in his anime, is a half-demon half-human creature in feudal Japan. Obviously, this heritage leads to a complicated and relatively dysfunctional family tree. Throughout the show, the audience is introduced to various members of Inuyasha's family, living, dead, and impersonated. Each encounter reveals just a bit more about our protagonist but an overarching understanding can be hard to come by.
Staged in a feudal Japan that is plagued by demons and magic, Inuyasha must team up with Kagome, a modern-day reincarnation of his love Kikyo, in order to collect the fragments of a sacred gem that has been shattered. Inuyasha begins this journey wanting nothing more than to use this gem to attain full demon status and shed his human heritage. However, he and Kagome both learn that it is his unique ancestry that allows him to be as powerful as he already is.
Inuyasha
Inuyasha is the son of the greater demon Toga and the human woman Izayoi. He was born shortly before the demise of his father and was therefore raised by his mother. Unfortunately for Inuyasha, she died while he was still young, but Inuyasha still credits/blames her for his affection for humans.
Toga
Toga was also known as the Lord of the Western lands and a great yokai. He was a massively large dog demon who was known to kill 100 in a single blow. He had two great swords forged as gifts for his two sons from his fangs. Each of these swords was granted special powers tailored to his children. He was mortally wounded in battle but managed to save his mortal lover Izayoi and newborn child, who he named Inuyasha.
Izayoi
Izayoi was known as a great beauty among mortals. This is presumably what attracted Toga in the first place. Together they had a single son, Inuyasha. She was the only human in Inuyasha’s childhood who was not cruel to him due to his demon blood and wept on the day that she had to explain to him what a half-breed was. She left Inuyasha with a single keepsake in the form of her makeup that he later gifts to his lovers.
Sesshomaru and his branch of the family
Sesshomaru is Inuyasha’s half-brother and a full demon. He and Inuyasha are often at odds with one another, largely due to Tessaiga the sword being left to Inuyasha and Tenseiga being left to Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru views his blade as being useless since it can only heal the living and harm the dead, whereas Tessaiga is a blade rumored to have felled 100 in a single stroke. Their relationship is that of brothers, often fighting, occasionally helping.
Sesshomaru’s mother is another yokai and the first mate of Toga. It is believed that Inuyasha has never met her. Sesshomaru eventually marries a human named Rin, much to the surprise of Inuyasha who has always known his half-brother to hate humans. Together the two of them have two daughters Towa and Setsuna. Inuyasha also has very little contact with the two of them due to his half-brother’s meddling.
Kagome
Kagome is the reincarnation of Kikyo, Inuyasha’s first love. Kagome is from the modern era but finds herself in feudal Japan. Both Kikyo and Kagome are the guardians of the Shikon no Tama, a sacred gem that is sought by demons the world over. Only the two of them are able to resist its corruption and repurify it. Over time her contact with Inuyasha turns into love and eventually they get married and have a daughter named Moroha. Kagome has a family in the modern age that quickly welcomes Inuyasha, he shows obvious affection for them but his interactions are limited. Her mother considers him to be another son, and her younger brother has obvious hero worship for Inuyasha. Eventually, when Kagome chooses to live the rest of her life in feudal Japan with Inuyasha, she does so with the blessing of her family.
Moroha
.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=1500&dpr=1.5)
Inuyasha finds his relationship with Moroha to be something of a mirror of his father’s relationship with him. Shortly after her birth, he must send her away for her own safety. Sesshomaru then traps Inuyasha and Kagome so that they miss out on Moroha’s childhood. Eventually, she seeks them out and there is a tearful reunion.
Having demon parentage, even if it’s only one of the parents, leads to some estranged family for Inuyasha. As demonized as he is, his true heart lies within his human half likely due to an upbringing with his human mother. Beyond Inuyasha’s demon background, much of his more influential family comes from humans and his found family that begins with Kagome. She leads him down a path toward finding his true self and connecting with the human heart that truly guides him.