Jaken
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| Jaken | |
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| InuYasha character | |
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| First appearance | "Aristocratic Assassin, Sesshomaru" |
| Created by | Rumiko Takahashi |
| Voiced by | Nagashima Yuuichi (Japanese) Don Brown (English) |
| Profile | |
| Species | Imp Demon |
| Weapon | Staff of Two Heads |
Jaken (邪見? "wicked perspective") is a character in the anime and manga series InuYasha.
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[edit] Overview
Jaken is a small green yōkai who serves the powerful Lord Sesshomaru. Jaken is very loyal to him, primarily out of gratitude for once saving his life but also out of political ambition for himself. Despite this loyalty, Sesshomaru more often than not ignores Jaken's needs and wants. Jaken is not really a fighter, as he tries to avoid situations that might endanger him. And when he does engage in direct battle, it's usually with the company of some other strong yokai to help back up his threats. He is charged with carrying the weapon known as the Staff of Heads (人頭杖, nintōjō). Although he occasionally puts its power to use, it is generally of little use in a fight. He is useful in that he verbally promotes the greatness of Sesshomaru in ways that the aristocratic Sesshomaru would never do himself. Sesshomaru once resurrected Jaken with the Tenseiga when he was killed by Kaijinbo when possessed by Tōkijin.
[edit] History
Jaken was once a lord among similar demons. A battle broke out with another demon tribe when they were trying to defend themselves from being devoured. The leader of the larger demon tribe had Jaken by his neck, when Sesshomaru appeared and told the demon to move for he was blocking Sesshomaru's path. The demon did not heed him and as soon as Sesshomaru repeated himself he used his poison whip and cut the demon to pieces.[citation needed]
Seeing all this, Jaken told his tribesmen to move out of the way. They knelt down before Sesshomaru, creating a path before him. Jaken, captivated by Sesshomaru's power, beauty and a need to repay the life-saving debt, he told his minions to "forget about me" and followed after Sesshomaru.
With perseverance, Jaken finally cracked open the door a little and Sesshomaru told him that if he could use the Staff of Two Heads, then he could become his servant. Of course this is anime only, and may not be true manga wise.
[edit] Abilities
Staff of Two Heads (Nintojo) — Jaken wields a staff which can spit fire from the old man's mouth to incinerate enemies; though he usually needs to slam the bottom of the staff on the ground to trigger this effect. It was also used to locate the grave site of Sesshomaru's father and open a portal to the afterlife. Sesshomaru gave this useful two-headed staff to Jaken when they first met to detect the grave of Sesshomaru's father. The heads are of an old man and a woman. When the woman's mouth screams that means the location being tested is not the grave site. When the old man's head laughs that means the location is the grave site. To open the portal to the afterlife at the grave site, the base of the staff is brought down forcefully on the grave site (which turned out to be a black pearl in InuYasha's right eye). In Buddhist legend, the Nintojo is used by Enma Daiō ("king of hell") to measure the weight of sin in the dead.
[edit] Relationships
- Sesshomaru
- Jaken serves as the comic relief to the deadpan Sesshomaru; his constant worry and poorly-timed complaints often cause Sesshomaru to hit him on the back of the head. Sesshomaru also occasionally walks over Jaken. Jaken looks up to Sesshomaru and is always looking for ways to seek his approval, which inevitably fail. Sesshomaru sends Jaken to perform lesser errands not worthy of his presence. Toward the end of the anime, he explains to Rin that once Sesshomaru has founded his empire, he sees himself becoming the Prime Minister of that empire. Despite his seeming lack of concern for Jaken, Sesshomaru does revive him after he is killed, and in battle will have Jaken stand clear, though as is typical of Sesshomaru he claims this is because Jaken is in the way.
- Rin
- Sesshomaru occasionally leaves Jaken behind to make sure nothing happens to Rin. Jaken is somewhat contemptuous of Rin and her affection for Sesshomaru, as he feels a human is unworthy of travelling with Sesshomaru; despite this (and the fact that he occasionally bad- mouths Rin with little to no shame), Jaken is also protective of Rin and seems to be forming a unique bond with her. Although Jaken wouldn't want to admit it, he probably cares for Rin.
[edit] Notes and references
[edit] External links
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