Kirara

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Kirara (雲母, pronounced as Kilala in the English dubbed anime) is a character in the manga and anime series InuYasha.

Kirara (small) as portrayed in the anime series

Kirara is the nekomata yōkai companion of Sango, the yōkai exterminator (退治屋, taijiya) that hails from a mountain village of other exterminators. Despite her yōkai blood and appearance, she is fiercely loyal to Sango and her friends and has been in Sango's family for generations. She has taken a particular shine to Shippō, keeping the young kitsune company when her presence is not required in battle, and she has aided InuYasha on occasion by teaching him how to wield his sword, the Tessaiga. Kirara is a formidable opponent, and she displays her strength and agility on several occasions. She also seems to have an unusual resistance to poison and is able to pass through certain kinds of barriers.

Kirara usually appears as a tiny feline no larger than a kitten with white fur, various black markings, large red eyes, and two tails, but her true form is a large tiger-like yōkai-cat. She has long, saber-like fangs and the fire that wreaths her legs and tails. She is also able to fly in her real form and can easily carry three people on her back.

It is strongly hinted at in the anime (but not in the manga) that Kirara, or one of her ancestors, was at one time the companion of Midoriko, creator of the Shikon no Tama (The Jewel of the Four Souls). As the taijiya village was built near the site of the legendary battle between Midoriko and the yōkai that nearly consumed her, this is a logical assumption.

Trivia

• The name Kirara is a rarely-used feminine personal name that translates roughly to "cloud-mother". The kanji used for Kirara (雲母) is normally pronounced "yunmu" which means "mica" or "isinglass", and the "kirara" comes from the Japanese sound effect for a jewel or stone glittering.
• In the English dub, her name is pronounced "kee-LAH-lah." This is because the Japanese language does not have separate "R" and "L" sounds, instead having a slightly trilled "R" that falls somewhere in between. This language difference often causes confusion in translation.
• Oddly enough, in spite of the pronunciation chosen, the name is still spelled "Kirara" in the English dub.
• It should be noted that although Kirara has the appearance of a nekomata, she does not exhibit the traditional traits of such, which normally include feeding on carrion, shapeshifting into human form, and necromancy.

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