Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is a highly anticipated shonen anime recognized for its emotional, tragic, and thrilling storyline and the heartfelt backstories of the characters. From humans to demons, the storyline has a rich narrative with often tragic, heart-wrenching, and overwhelming plots.
The rich and compelling backstories of its characters play a crucial role in shaping the emotional depth of the story. Among the well-crafted backstories of Demon Slayer characters, the backstories of the elite members of Demon Slayer Corps, Hashira, are the most tragic ones. Each Hashira has its past and personal motivation, whether it’s protecting their loved ones or seeking revenge for those whom they have lost.
Each character’s past is perfectly woven into the narrative, driving their motivations and decisions in their battle against the demons. From Tanjiro Kamado’s heartbreaking loss of his family to Nezuko’s transformation into a demon, the series delves into themes of loss, resilience, and the search for redemption.
Table of Contents
Entire Family Wiped Out
The Mist Hashira- Muichiro Tokito
Muichiro suffered the loss of his parents when he was just 10 years old. His parents were extremely kind people. His mother was sick, so he went to bring herbs for her and ended up falling off a cliff and died. On the other hand, soon after his father’s death, his mother also perished. Muichiro was left with his twin brother, however, his twin brother, Yuichiro became bitter and resentful, believing that helping others only brought pain. His mind was filled with negativity to the extent that he even claimed that their parents deserved to die.
Meanwhile, Muichiro remained optimistic and full of positivity. Living with his brother was hard for him as he often felt like his brother hated him and always treated him rudely and with a degrading demeanor.
One day, a demon busted into their house killing Yuichiro. Yuichiro wanted to save his sibling and sacrificed himself. While Muichiro stood in a corner holding his injured brother, the demon claimed that their lives were worthless and no one would come to save him. These words of demon induced the feelings of severe rage for demons.
Muichiro attacked the demon brutally with some of his weapons. His attacks were unstoppable until the demon got burned in the sunlight. On the other hand, Yuichiro’s last words were In his final moments, Yuichiro told Muichiro to live, as he was kind-hearted and deserved to help others. This deep and tragic backstory makes Muichiro’s character arc one of the most poignant in Demon Slayer.
Accused of Killing his Mother
The Wind Hashira- Sanemi Shinazugawa
Sanemi bears the pain of being accused of killing his own mother. Sanemi’s father had a cold and brutal behavior with his kids. His father used to beat him and his siblings and his mother always protected them. She was the only support, Sanemi and his siblings had. She worked day and night to make the two ends meet. One night, while trying to sleep, Sanemi noticed that his mother still hadn’t returned home from work.
Determined to find his mother, Sanemi left His brother Genya and other siblings and went to search for her, urging him to keep their promise to protect the family. Genya had warned his siblings not to open the door, but still, on hearing a bang, they all rushed towards the door thinking that their mother’s back.
In an instant, a demon burst through the door killing all the siblings except Genya.
When the demon tried to approach Genya, Sanemi tackled the demon, but he soon realized the horrifying truth, it was his mother. Faced with this unbearable reality, Sanemi made the ultimate sacrifice, deciding to kill her himself to shoulder the burden of that decision.
Afterward, Genya, in his grief and shock, screamed at Sanemi, calling him a murderer and questioning why he killed their mother, despite their promise to protect their family. This tragic event left Sanemi with an unshakable resentment toward demons, as he could never forgive them for taking his mother and forcing him to make that impossible choice.
Self-Doubt of Giyu Tomioka
The Water Hashira- Giyu Tomioka
Losing a loved one is not easy, and losing two of your dearest people is the purest form of pain. When Giyu was younger, his older sister tried to protect him from a demon and hid him while losing her own life. At the age of 13, Giyu met Sabito. They both had endured the same suffering, their families were killed by demons. The two bonded quickly, becoming best friends as they shared the same tragic past.
During the final selection, Sabito defeated all the demons alone while Giyuu couldn’t even kill one.
When all the candidates were screaming for help, Sabito lost his life but saved Giyu and Giyu was the only one to survive. Since then, Tomioka considers himself unworthy of his position as Water Hashira and thinks that he should’ve died instead. His haori, which bears one side from his sister’s cloak and the other from Sabito’s, symbolizes his devotion to the two people who shaped his life and his ongoing struggle to live up to their legacies.
Kyojoru’s Death
The Strive to become Flame Hashira
Kyojuro Rengoku’s only desire was to make his father, Shinjuro Rengoku proud and continue his family’s legacy as flame Hashira. After his retirement, he was assigned the position of Flame Hashira. Kyojoru’s mother had always taught him to use his talent to protect and help people. However, after her death, Shinjoru became deeply depressed.
To cope with his grief and sorrow, he started consuming too much alcohol. When he discovered Hinokami Kagura and its importance as the mother of breathing style, he fell in love with the art of flame breathing. While learning flame breathing, he neglected his children and started treating them harshly. However, none of this was able to change Kyojoru’s dedication to become a Demon Slayer and he remained committed to his mother’s teachings, always striving to protect others no matter the cost.
Even when Shinjoru couldn’t give Kyojoru the love he deserved, it was clear that Shinjuro cared deeply for his son, as evidenced by the tears he shed when Kyojuro was killed by a demon. Kyojuro’s legacy, symbolized by the ever-burning flame of his spirit, continues to inspire and motivate others, even after his death.
Upper Rank Two Demon’s Ruthlessness
The Insect Hashira- Shinobu Kocho
Shinobu Kocho’s backstory in Demon Slayer is marked by tragedy and a desire for vengeance. Shinobu’s elder sister Kanae was killed by an Upper Rank Two demon, Doma. Shinobu desires revenge. Despite her outwardly cheerful demeanor, Shinobu is constantly battling a raging anger toward demons, which she has to suppress.
Much like her sister, she shares a sense of sympathy for demons and their tragic pasts, a belief Kanae held until her death at Doma’s hands. She smiles outwardly while she has severe hatred for demons, boiling inside her but holds back her rage. In the Infinity Castle, Shinobu will surely encounter Doma.
Though her backstory is tragic, it remains somewhat underexplored, which is why it holds a mid-ranking place among the character backstories in Demon Slayer. Nevertheless, Shinobu’s strength and determination to avenge Kanae provide a driving force for her character.
The Blind Guardian’s Burden of Guilt and Loss
The Stone Hashira- Gyomei Himejima
When Gyomei was introduced in the storyline, the readers were confused as to why there were tears constantly running down Gyomei’s face, but as his backstory was revealed, those tears were justified. He was born blind. He had spent his younger years raising orphans. Those orphans were like a family to him. Despite having little money, he was used to make sure to feed the orphans while starving himself.
As demons lurk in the woods at night, he established a firm rule for all children, to return back to the temple before night. One of those children violated the rule and encountered a demon. In an attempt to save himself, the child revealed the location of other children destroying the wisteria incense that Himejima put up to keep demons away. All the orphans were mercilessly killed by the demon except one. That one orphan hid behind Gyomei.
Gyomei tried to protect her and ended up killing the demon but the child, out of fear accused Gyomei of murder leading him to prison. He was also about to be executed when Kagaya Ubuyashiki rescued him. However, he was left to carry the guilt of not having been able to save the orphans for the rest of his life, a burden that weighed heavily on him.
The Nightmarish Riches
The Snake Hashira- Obanai Iguro
Obanai was born into an extremely rich family. However, his family had accumulated all those riches by stealing leftover goods from those who were killed by the serpent demon, whom they worshipped. His family would offer babies as sacrifices to this demon, and Obanai was the chosen victim.
However, the demon instead of consuming him immediately, took a strange liking to him and spared him to live until he was grown up enough to be sacrificed. Trapped in a small wooden cage, Obanai’s childhood was confined to isolation until he turned 12. At the age of 12, Obanai came face to face with the demon. This encounter was traumatizing as the demon not only wanted to consume him but also wanted him to look like her.
To achieve this, she forcibly widened his mouth by cutting it trying to make it resemble a snake’s. On a fortunate day, Obanai successfully escaped from demon captivity with his only friend, Kaburamaru, who was a snake. The demon was full of rage against Obanai and in anger, she killed the entire family of Obanai, leaving him alive only. However, the demon was eventually slain by the former Flame Hashira, Shinjuro Rengoku, putting an end to the nightmare that had haunted Obanai’s life.
Tengen Uzui’s Escape from Shinobi Clan
The Sound Hashira- Tengen Uzui
By the time of the Demon Slayer era, the once-powerful Shinobi had been wiped out, with Tengen Uzui being the last remaining member. He was born in a ruthless Shinobi clan. He had eight brothers and sisters who were all wiped out due to the tough and brutal training they had to deal with because of their father’s cold-heartedness towards his own family. This harsh upbringing resulted in the death of all siblings of Uzui with him and his younger brother being the last ones to survive.
Despite their shared past, Tengen chose to break free from the oppressive beliefs of his father and the deadly path of the Shinobi. After breaking off from his brother and father, Uzui forged his path and developed a separate set of morals and values. Despite abandoning the Shinobi lifestyle, some parts of Shinobi’s training and mentality linger in his approach to battle, which is visible through his fighting styles, tactics, and remarkable resistance to poison.
Struggling to Fit in the Society
The Love Hashira- Mitsuri Kanjori
Mitsuri’s backstory highlights the struggles she faced for acceptance of her true identity. When Mitsuri was 17 years old, her partner called off their arranged marriage because of Mitsuri’s pink and green hair. According to him, Mitsuri had unnatural hair and he didn’t want his kids to inherit such genes. As a child, Mitsuri was extremely strong, she could easily lift boulders and loved eating. However, she felt she had to suppress these traits to be accepted by society.
To find someone to marry her, she dyed her hair beautiful pink and green hair black. She started pretending to be a weak person, although, she was very strong. She tried to act like she had a small appetite while she had a vivacious appetite.
While trying to fit in the society, she left her home and joined the Demon Slayer Corps. Kagaya Ubuyashiki motivated her to be grateful for the natural gifts she has been granted and ignore those who look down on her. Though her backstory is not as deeply explored as some other characters, Mitsuri’s journey of self-acceptance and her emotional growth remain key to her character arc in the series.
Conclusion
The tragic backstories of the Demon Slayer Hashira add deep layers to their characters, highlighting the immense personal sacrifices and hardships each of them experienced. From the tragic loss of loved ones to the horrors of abuse, betrayal, and guilt, the Hashira’s journeys are filled with sorrow and resilience.
These dark pasts not only shaped their dedication to protect others but also serve as powerful reminders of the heavy burdens they carry. Despite their pain, each Hashira continues to fight, driven by their personal vows, making their stories all the more compelling and poignant. Their sacrifices not only define their strength as warriors but also as individuals who, in the face of overwhelming tragedy, choose to protect humanity and honor the memories of those they loved.
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