InuYasha's Father: Inu no Taisho?

Definitely the western lands of Japan. The entire basis of Inuyasha is that it is a "feudal fairytale" that takes place in FEUDAL Japan. However, the author of the manga implied that her design for Sesshomaru (who succeeded his father as Lord of the West) had some subtle Chinese influences. While this may be the case, it only suggests that these influences exist because Western Japan is so close to the mainland. The territory they rule is still part of Japan. This is proved often in the show but one example is during the Panther Devas arc. The Panther Devas invaded from the East and attacked a large territory they called the West, part of which included Kaede's village, which we know is in Japan. Throughout the series, the protagonists wander across this land and never do we see anything other than traditional Japanese influences (when looking at houses and villages and such).

To answer the debate going on above, Inu no Taisho was not the official ruler of the West (as in he didn't have a palace or crown like a normal king would) but was recognized as the strongest being in the territory and therefore given the title of "Lord of the West". He was a well-intentioned and noble leader that other demons could rely on and when he died, that responisbility (and title) was passed on to Sesshomaru. Though Sesshomaru is often seen wandering the territory rather than "ruling" it, it is shown that other demons rely on him when the territory is threatened (like when he defended them from the Panther Devas). Both Inu no Taisho and Sesshomaru did more protecting than lawmaking of the land. In the world of demons, strength and the ability to fight were far more respected than political power.

So. I searched a little and found this forum (link below): "There is no "western lands" that Sesshoumaru rules. He is just a wanderer. But if you want to know where it is, one can only surmise that this is referring to a region in the western part of Japan (along the shores of the East Sea). I don't know what it was that brought the fans to believe that Sesshoumaru or his father ruled any lands. I think "lord" stemmed from yet another incorrect translation of Viz from "sama" which is just a suffix used to show respect to someone.

Also, much of the geography in Inuyasha is fictional, so it's all really an anything-goes thing. But if you want to keep to naming real places, this link (http://www.stat.go.jp/English/data/handbook/map1.h... here seemed to have names of a few mountains and some rivers. I think it's pretty simple enough, but it's probably from modern-day Japan.

Debatable.

I would guess what they meant was that a certain portion was the 'territory' of the father. It wasn't really a actual landmass that he owned. Simply saying, that once you entered this certain space, you were bound to get into a big fight with him if you tried to start something, because he was around that place the whole time.

So you either respect him and get out of the way, or battle to the death because he was highly regarded.

Hmm.. I would guess that they mean Japan, but it can go either way.

"The Westen Lands" are more of a domain that belongs to the great dog demon. They call him the Supreme Ruler, so I'm thinking he conquered all those that were more powerful than him and he protected the land that he obtained.