Rumiko Takahashi
When Rumiko Takahashi began the series, the only ideas she had were Inuyasha being sealed by Kikyo and his sword being a relic from his father, everything after that was thought up on a weekly basis. Inuyasha's name simply comes from the fact that he is part dog ("inu" in Japanese) and part "yasha". According to interviews with Rumiko Takahashi, the style for his clothing was based on "priest's garb" of the Sengoku period.