Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiyba Hashira - who are these powerful and colorful Demon Slayers
They are the best of the best at killing demons.
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In the world of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, everything falls into a hierarchy. The demons have the Upper and Lower Ranked among themselves, while the Demon Slayer Corps have the powerful Hashira. These unique and skilled fighters are the backbone of the Demon Slayers and are capable of almost superhuman feats of strength. If you’re wondering who each of the Hashira are as we approach the highly anticipated Demon Slayer season four, we’ve got you covered.
What are Hashira in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba?
The Hashira represent the best and strongest members of the Demon Slayer Corps. Each one is capable of holding their own against an Upper Ranked demon through the use of skilled swordsmanship, powerful breathing techniques, and an unbreakable will to defeat the demons that threaten humanity.
Hashira are assigned to specific regions within Japan, gathering intelligence on demon activities in the area and honing their skills. They are also sent on missions when lower-ranking members of the Demon Slayer Corps are unable to complete it or if it is too difficult for anyone else to handle. Each Hashira has mastered a specific Breathing Style, sometimes one that is unique to them such as Serpent Breathing or Love Breathing.
There are two ways to become a Hashira in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. The first is to slay 50 lesser demons or a single member of the Twelve Kizuki. The other way to become a Hashira is to be taken as a Tsuguko to a Hashira and be trained as their successor. Both paths are long and difficult, which explains why there are only nine Hashira at the start of the Demon Slayer anime.
Demon Slayer Water Hashira Giyu Tomioka
The first Hashira that we see in the anime is the Water Hashira, Giyu Tomioka. He spots the recently transformed Nezuko attacking her brother and resolves to kill her, but decides to show mercy on her when she refuses to kill Tanjiro. Despite his incredible power and skill with Water Breathing techniques, Giyu is surprisingly insecure, lamenting that he is “always the one who must be saved” rather than being able to do the saving.
Demon Slayer Love Hashira Mitsuri Kanroji
Mitsuri Kanroji is an oddity among the Demon Slayer Corps because she didn’t join because of a personal tragedy or for revenge against demons. Instead, she joined to find a man who was strong enough to accept her for her incredible physical strength. Despite her average build, Mitsuri has a remarkably high muscle density, which led to her not being able to find a husband when she was younger. She uses a variation of Flame Breathing called Love Breathing to increase her stamina and strength.
Demon Slayer Serpent Hashira Obanai Iguro
Though he is a quiet figure in the Demon Slayer Corps, Obanai is one of the most skilled swordsmen in the group. His Serpent Breathing technique allows him to fight multiple demons at once and restrict their movements when he needs to. He was born into a clan that would routinely sacrifice newborn babies to a demon in exchange for monetary gain, something that he feels has tainted his blood so deeply that it can only be cleansed by dying at the hands of Muzan Kibutsuji himself. Despite this, he has a close connection with Love Hashira Mitsuri Kanroji.
Demon Slayer Wind Hashira Sanemi Shinazugawa
Our first introduction to the Wind Hashira is a harsh one, as he begins to torture Nezuko to prove that she will revert to her demon instincts when injured. His hatred of demons stems from having to kill his own mother after she had been turned into a demon and killed most of his family. Only his younger brother Genya survived, though Sanemi refuses to speak to him to discourage his brother from following his path into the Demon Slayer Corps.
Demon Slayer Mist Hashira Muichiro Tokito
Muichiro Tokito once lived a peaceful life on a mountain with his twin brother and their parents. However, after his mother died from an illness and his father died trying to get her medicine, the two brothers became distant. Muichiro was a cheerful, kind person, though he lost his memories when a demon attacked his brother. After that, he became cold and harsh to everyone around him, though his skill at killing demons allowed him to kill the Upper Fifth demon during the Swordsmith Village arc.
Demon Slayer Insect Hashira Shinobu Kocho
At first glance, Shinobu Kocho is a cheerful, eager young woman, but that is simply a mask that she wears each day. After her parents and her older sister, the former Flower Hashira, are killed by a demon, Shinobu is shown to have an intense hatred of all demons and believes she will never be happy until each one has been eradicated. Along with her Insect Breathing style, she has a deep knowledge of poisons and their uses, to the point where she has saturated her body with poison to make her dangerous to even the most powerful demon.
Demon Slayer Stone Hashira Gyomei Himejima
In his early appearances in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Gyomei is seen as a pious, emotional giant of a man. Physically towering over the other Hashira, Gyomei is seen as the most powerful member of the Demon Slayer Corps, with physical abilities that have been honed to their absolute peak. Despite his blindness, he can use his heightened hearing to locate people and objects. Despite his appearance, the Stone Hashira can be seen crying at almost any provocation, owing to his deep love of humanity and his fellow Demon Slayers.
Demon Slayer Sound Hashira Tengen Uzui
Despite being trained to lead his ninja clan, Tengen prefers to live his life in a flashy, loud way. His mastery of Sound Breathing allows him to pinpoint enemy locations and deliver devastating blows. He recruits Tanjiro, Inosuke, and Zenitsu to help him locate the Upper Ranked demon in the Entertainment District and to rescue his three wives. At the end of the arc, he retires due to his extensive injuries.
Demon Slayer Flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku
One of the most outgoing and friendly of the Hashira, Kyojuro is also one of the most skilled of the group. During the Mugen Train arc, he is assigned to investigate a demon's presence on the train, only to find that a member of the Lower Ranks has taken it over. Despite his honest and earnest personality, Kyojuro is intense when it comes to battle and is capable of nearly defeating the Upper Three demon single-handedly, though he dies of his wounds shortly after.
Slay on, Demon Slayer. As we prep for new installments of the Demon Slayer anime, here's a survival kit to help you. First, a guide to all the major Demon Slayer characters. Second, recommendations for how (and where) to watch all of Demon Slayer. Third, context of why Demon Slayer is so popular. Fourth, when we think Demon Slayer season 4 is coming out. And also, how Demon Slayer ends (at least in the manga).
And as a bonus, you can watch the full NYCC Demon Slayer panel with the voice cast.
