Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is a popular manga and anime series that follows the adventures of Tanjiro Kamado, a young boy who becomes a demon slayer after demons slaughter his family.
One of the series’ mysteries is the connection between Tanjiro and Yoriichi Tsugikuni, the legendary demon slayer who created the Sun Breathing, the original and most powerful breathing style.
Tanjiro resembles Yoriichi, wears the same hanafuda earrings, and inherits the Sun Breathing through his family. Many fans have wondered if Tanjiro and Yoriichi are related by blood and their bond’s significance.
Are Tanjiro and Yoriichi Related by Blood?
The short answer is no; Tanjiro and Yoriichi are not directly related by blood. Yoriichi died long before Tanjiro was born, and he had no children. His wife and unborn child were killed by demons when he was young, and he never remarried or had any other descendants. However, Tanjiro is related to Yoriichi in another way: through his friend Sumiyoshi Kamado.
DEMON SLAYER spoilers‼️⚠️
Something that bothers me is the fact that Tanjiro, who isn’t related to Yoriichi Tsugikuni looks more like him than Muichiro who is literally a DESCENDANT of Michikatsu Tsugikuni ‼️ & it just hit me that boa Muichiro was cleaved in two by his own kin💀 pic.twitter.com/RUvsJdShFd— 𝓐𝓲𝔃⛩️ (@pkA1Z) June 9, 2023
Who is Sumiyoshi Kamado?
Sumiyoshi Kamado is Tanjiro’s distant ancestor, who lived 500 years ago in the Sengoku era. As a child, he was a poor farmer rescued by Yoriichi from a demon attack.
Since then, Yoriichi has often visited Sumiyoshi and taught him about the Sun Breathing and the Transparent World, a state of perception that allows one to see the flow of life in all things. Sumiyoshi was one of the few people who could understand Yoriichi.
He was born with a mark on his forehead that gave him extraordinary abilities and isolated him from others. Sumiyoshi and Yoriichi became close friends, and Yoriichi entrusted him with his hanafuda earrings, made by his mother as charms when he was thought to be deaf. Sumiyoshi passed down the earrings and the Sun Breathing to his descendants, who eventually became the Kamado family.
What is the Significance of Tanjiro and Yoriichi’s Connection?
Tanjiro and Yoriichi’s connection is more than a coincidence or a plot device. It symbolizes their shared destiny and role in the fight against Muzan Kibutsuji, the progenitor of all demons. Yoriichi was born with the power of Sun Breathing to defeat Muzan, but he failed to do so because he hesitated to kill him when he had the chance.
He also failed to stop his twin brother Michikatsu from becoming a demon and joining Muzan’s ranks as Upper Rank One Kokushibo. Yoriichi died with regrets and considered himself a failure for not fulfilling his mission.
Tanjiro inherited Yoriichi’s power and will through Sumiyoshi’s lineage and his compassion and kindness. Tanjiro is the one who can complete what Yoriichi started: to end Muzan’s reign of terror and free all demons from his curse.
Tanjiro is also the one who can reconcile with Kokushibo, who still harbors resentment towards Yoriichi for being superior to him in every way. Tanjiro and Yoriichi are connected by their sun-like souls, which shine brightly in the dark world of demons.
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Tanjiro’s and Yoriichi’s Powers and Skills
Tanjiro Kamado
Tanjiro, the series’s main protagonist, joins the Demon Slayer Corps after Muzan Kibutsuji, the leader of the demons, slaughtered his family. His sister Nezuko was turned into a demon but retained some of her humanity thanks to Tanjiro’s protection. Tanjiro aims to find a way to turn Nezuko back into a human and defeat Muzan and his minions.
Tanjiro’s powers and skills include:
- Total Concentration Breathing: A technique that allows Tanjiro to enhance his physical abilities by breathing in a specific way. He learned this from his master Sakonji Urokodaki, who trained him for the Final Selection exam to become a Demon Slayer. Tanjiro can use this technique to increase his strength, speed, endurance, reflexes, and senses. He can also maintain this state even in sleep, which is rare among Demon Slayers.
- Water Breathing: A breathing style that mimics the flow and form of water, allowing Tanjiro to perform various sword techniques that create water-like effects. He learned this from Sakonji, a former Water Hashira (a high-ranking Demon Slayer). Tanjiro can use ten forms of Water Breathing, each with a different name and function. For example, he can use Water Surface Slash to cut through an enemy with a single swift strike, or Water Wheel to spin his sword in a circular motion.
- Hinokami Kagura: A breathing style that mimics the dance of the fire god, allowing Tanjiro to perform various sword techniques that create fire-like effects. He inherited this from his father, Tanjuro, who taught him a ritual dance he performed yearly during the winter solstice. Tanjiro later realized that this dance was a breathing style that originated from Yoriichi Tsugikuni, the first user of Sun Breathing (the original and most powerful breathing style). Tanjiro can use thirteen forms of Hinokami Kagura, each with a different name and function. For example, he can use Raging Sun to unleash a barrage of fiery slashes, or Clear Blue Sky to create a dome of flames.
- Demon Slayer Mark: A mark that appears on Tanjiro’s forehead when he pushes himself beyond his limits, granting him enhanced abilities and access to the Transparent World (a state where he can see the weak points of his enemies). He awakened this mark during his fight against Gyutaro, one of the Twelve Kizuki (the strongest demons under Muzan). The effect resembles a flame with three dots above it, similar to Yoriichi’s.
- See-Through World: A state where Tanjiro can see the flow of blood, muscles, bones, organs, and emotions of his enemies, as well as their weak points. He achieved this state after mastering Total Concentration Constant and Hinokami Kagura. This allows him to fight more effectively and precisely against demons.
Yoriichi Tsugikuni
Yoriichi is a legendary Demon Slayer who lived nearly 500 years ago during the Sengoku era (the Golden Age of Demon Slayers). He is the strongest Demon Slayer in history and the inventor of breathing styles. He was born with extraordinary physical abilities and a mark on his forehead that granted him access to the Transparent World.
He also created the first-ever breathing style that would later become Hinokami Kagura. He fought against Muzan and almost killed him with a single strike, but Muzan managed to escape with severe injuries.
Yoriichi’s powers and skills include the following:
- Demon Slayer Mark: A mark on Yoriichi’s forehead since birth, granting him unparalleled physical abilities and access to the Transparent World. He was the first to have this mark, which resembles a sun with three dots above it.
- Transparent World: A state where Yoriichi can see everything clearly and accurately, including the flow of blood, muscles, bones, organs, emotions, life force, and weak points of his enemies. He was born with this ability and could use it proficiently without any effort.
- Unparalleled Swordsmanship: Yoriichi is the most skilled swordsman ever, wielding his sword with incredible speed, precision, and power. He could cut through anything with ease, even the most brutal demons. He could also perform flawless sword techniques without any wasted movements or openings.
- Sun Breathing: A breathing style miming the sun, the natural enemy of demons, allowing Yoriichi to perform various sword techniques that create sun-like effects. He made this breathing style by observing the movements of nature and animals and refining his breathing and swordsmanship. He could use thirteen forms of Sun Breathing, each with a different name and function. For example, he could use Sunflower Thrust to pierce through an enemy with a powerful thrust, or Dragon Sun Halo Head Dance to create a dragon-shaped aura of flames.
- Bright Red Nichirin Sword: A unique Nichirin sword that Yoriichi possessed could change its color from black to bright red. The blade could burn the demons and prevent them from regenerating when it turned red. Yoriichi’s sword was said to be the strongest and unmatched by any other.
