TV-Series
Description
Kaede is the elderly village priestess who lives in the small village near the Bone-Eater's Well, and she is the younger sister of the renowned priestess Kikyō. As a child, Kaede lost her right eye in an incident involving a demon. In the anime, the injury occurred when Kikyō shot an arrow at a demon that was attacking Kaede, causing debris to pierce her eye. She now wears an iron tsuba, a sword guard, as an eyepatch. In her youth, she bore a striking resemblance to her sister, but in her old age, her long gray hair is tied back in a ponytail, and her face is marked with wrinkles. Her traditional miko attire, consisting of a white jacket with red hakama, is identical to the clothing Kikyō once wore.
Kaede is a kind and patient woman who is deeply respected by the villagers and the members of Inuyasha's group. She often provides important advice and background information to assist Inuyasha and his companions on their journey. Though she is generally gentle, she can be serious and aggressive when the situation calls for it. Inuyasha is frequently annoyed by her and calls her an old woman, but he does listen to her counsel when necessary and will not hesitate to protect her from a threat. Having witnessed the tragic events surrounding her sister and Inuyasha fifty years prior, Kaede carries a deep, contemplative understanding of their circumstances, though she still ponders the mysteries of the sealing arrow Kikyō used.
In the Final Act, Kaede continues to serve as a guide and mentor. She is present during Kikyō's final death, seeing the soul collectors and the spirit of her sister, who comes to bid her a heartfelt farewell. Using the last of her strength, Kikyō apologizes for the pain she caused, leaving Kaede in tears and deeply moved. Following the defeat of Naraku, a time skip of three years shows that Kaede has taken Rin into her village to help her become accustomed to living alongside other humans. During this period, Kaede is also actively training Kagome to become a full-fledged priestess, teaching her to strengthen her spiritual prowess and healing skills. Her wise counsel remains essential to the group; for instance, she explains the nature of the good and evil spirits within the Shikon Jewel, Naohi and Magatsuhi, and theorizes that Magatsuhi sealed Kagome's powers out of fear.
Kaede's key relationships are central to her role. Her bond with her deceased sister, Kikyō, is the most significant, shaping her past and her duties as a priestess. She is the first person from the feudal era to encounter Kagome, recognizing her immediately as Kikyō's reincarnation. Kaede is the one who places the Beads of Subjugation on Inuyasha, giving Kagome the power to control him with a spoken word. Her relationship with Inuyasha is complex; while he respects her wisdom, he often lashes out at her, but he has protected her since she was a child when he saved her from Mistress Centipede. Over time, her relationship with Kagome deepens into a teacher-student bond as Kagome chooses to live permanently in the feudal era. She also serves as a guardian figure to Rin, providing her with a home and human connection.
Kaede possesses considerable spiritual power as a priestess, though she is not as powerful as her sister was in her prime. Her abilities include great spiritual awareness, allowing her to sense demonic auras and see things normally invisible to humans. She is capable of using sutra magic to ward off demons and can conjure large barriers to protect the village, though this effort places great strain on her aged body. Kaede is also a master archer, wielding a bow and arrow with skill and accuracy despite her missing eye. She can charge her arrows with spiritual power to create sacred arrows, enhancing their effectiveness against demons. Additionally, it was Kaede who cast the subjugation spell on the beads she placed around Inuyasha's neck. Her high intellect and decades of experience make her a valuable source of knowledge, and villagers and the group alike often come to her for advice on both practical problems and emotional matters.
Kaede is a kind and patient woman who is deeply respected by the villagers and the members of Inuyasha's group. She often provides important advice and background information to assist Inuyasha and his companions on their journey. Though she is generally gentle, she can be serious and aggressive when the situation calls for it. Inuyasha is frequently annoyed by her and calls her an old woman, but he does listen to her counsel when necessary and will not hesitate to protect her from a threat. Having witnessed the tragic events surrounding her sister and Inuyasha fifty years prior, Kaede carries a deep, contemplative understanding of their circumstances, though she still ponders the mysteries of the sealing arrow Kikyō used.
In the Final Act, Kaede continues to serve as a guide and mentor. She is present during Kikyō's final death, seeing the soul collectors and the spirit of her sister, who comes to bid her a heartfelt farewell. Using the last of her strength, Kikyō apologizes for the pain she caused, leaving Kaede in tears and deeply moved. Following the defeat of Naraku, a time skip of three years shows that Kaede has taken Rin into her village to help her become accustomed to living alongside other humans. During this period, Kaede is also actively training Kagome to become a full-fledged priestess, teaching her to strengthen her spiritual prowess and healing skills. Her wise counsel remains essential to the group; for instance, she explains the nature of the good and evil spirits within the Shikon Jewel, Naohi and Magatsuhi, and theorizes that Magatsuhi sealed Kagome's powers out of fear.
Kaede's key relationships are central to her role. Her bond with her deceased sister, Kikyō, is the most significant, shaping her past and her duties as a priestess. She is the first person from the feudal era to encounter Kagome, recognizing her immediately as Kikyō's reincarnation. Kaede is the one who places the Beads of Subjugation on Inuyasha, giving Kagome the power to control him with a spoken word. Her relationship with Inuyasha is complex; while he respects her wisdom, he often lashes out at her, but he has protected her since she was a child when he saved her from Mistress Centipede. Over time, her relationship with Kagome deepens into a teacher-student bond as Kagome chooses to live permanently in the feudal era. She also serves as a guardian figure to Rin, providing her with a home and human connection.
Kaede possesses considerable spiritual power as a priestess, though she is not as powerful as her sister was in her prime. Her abilities include great spiritual awareness, allowing her to sense demonic auras and see things normally invisible to humans. She is capable of using sutra magic to ward off demons and can conjure large barriers to protect the village, though this effort places great strain on her aged body. Kaede is also a master archer, wielding a bow and arrow with skill and accuracy despite her missing eye. She can charge her arrows with spiritual power to create sacred arrows, enhancing their effectiveness against demons. Additionally, it was Kaede who cast the subjugation spell on the beads she placed around Inuyasha's neck. Her high intellect and decades of experience make her a valuable source of knowledge, and villagers and the group alike often come to her for advice on both practical problems and emotional matters.