Tanjiro Kamado (竈門炭治郎) is the main character in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. He is a member of the Kano Demon Slayers Corps and joined this organization with the aim of finding the person responsible for murdering his family and turning his sister into a demon.
I promise you that your big brother will protect you, whatever the circumstances! – Tanjiro Kamado to Nezuko Kamado, Episode 1.
Appearance Tanjiro Kamado
Tanjiro is a young man with a lightly tanned complexion and an athletic build. He has tousled black hair with burgundy tips, combed back to clear his forehead, and large dark red eyes with white pupils that appear lighter around the bottom of his irises. He bears a scar on the upper left of his forehead, the result of protecting his younger brother from a falling brazier. Initially, this scar looked like a simple scratch, but during his fight against the Hand Demon in the final selection, it evolved into his demon-killing mark. It’s worth noting that his hands are visibly rougher than those of someone his age, due to his intensive training under the tutelage of Sakonji Urokodaki. Tanjiro bears a striking resemblance to his ancestor Sumiyoshi, sharing the same facial structure, eyes and hairstyle, although Sumiyoshi’s hair is longer, reaching about shoulder length and tied in a ponytail behind his head.
At first, Tanjiro wears a black and sea-foam green checked haori over a white dress and black pants. He sometimes wears a turquoise scarf and can be seen with circular white bands wrapped around his calves. He also wears a pair of hanafuda earrings, adorned with a white and red flower. His hair is usually tied back in a ponytail or bun; when training with Sabito and Makomo, his hair grows to reach his shoulders.
At the final selection, Tanjiro wears a blue cloud-patterned jinbei-style kimono and black pants, almost identical to Sakonji’s outfit. He retains his hanafuda earrings, but his hair is cut very short and has remained at this length ever since. Like all other apprentices trained by Sakonji, Tanjiro wears a fox mask hand-carved by his master on the left side of his head. The mask features red accents around the eyes and ears, as well as spots at the corners of the mouth. In the upper right-hand corner of the mask, there is a sun-shaped design that probably symbolizes his forehead scar.
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Once he becomes a demon slayer, Tanjiro wears the standard demon slayer uniform, consisting of a dark brown gakurane jacket, white belt, baggy pants extending into tabi socks, zōri with red suspenders and strips of white cloth wrapped tightly around his calves, all covered in his trademark plaid haori. On his back, he carries a large wooden box (donated by Sakonji Urokodaki) in which his sister sleeps when they travel during the day.
During his second encounter with Muzan Kibutsuji, he is wounded in the right eye in Infinity Castle. As the battle progresses, Tanjiro suddenly collapses and his wound begins to form a large lump over his right eye due to the poison inflicted by Muzan. Later, when Tanjiro wakes up, Muzan describes him as “repulsive”. Later in the battle, Muzan cuts off his left arm.
After being turned into a demon by Muzan, Tanjiro is able to heal the growths on his face as well as regenerate his lost arm and other small wounds. He develops eyes with slit pupils, fangs and flame-shaped markings on his left forehead and right jaw, similar to those of Kokushibo. He also sports a third, smaller flame-shaped mark running down the right side of his head to his eyebrow, acquired after overcoming his weakness to sunlight. His scar transforms into a flame mark, similar to a permanent demon-slayer’s mark, which lengthens and becomes the largest of the three marks. All three marks point vaguely towards his nose, although only his scar mark reaches it. He retains his blood-stained Demon Slayer Corps uniform, with one sleeve torn off where his arm was severed, but loses his checkered haori and the Nichirin blade attached to his hip.
.After regaining his human form, Tanjiro loses the ability to see out of his right eye, whose iris is now a dull pink-gray and the pupil black instead of its original white. His left arm, regenerated as a demon, now takes on the appearance of an aged, wrinkled and skeletal arm, and he loses all feeling below the elbow, preventing him from moving it from the shoulder down.
Personality Tanjiro Kamado
Tanjiro has a benevolent nature and has been described by others as having very gentle eyes. He shows great determination and doesn’t give up once he has a goal in mind, as evidenced by his relentless quest to find a cure for Nezuko. Although he’s strong enough on his own, Tanjiro doesn’t hesitate to ask for help when he needs it. He’s very protective of his friends, but even more so of his younger sister. However, despite his kindness and understanding, Tanjiro has a limit to his tolerance and feels disgust at rudeness and cowardice. He easily loses his temper at Zenitsu Agatsuma’s constant complaining and becomes angry at Inosuke Hashibira’s barbaric actions.
Tanjiro’s most remarkable attribute is his ability to empathize with anyone, including demons, which often causes him to hesitate before delivering the final blow. This hesitation can sometimes be a disadvantage, as it allows some demons to take advantage of his understanding nature to recover and continue the fight, although this is rare. However, as his years of service progress, Tanjiro becomes more calculating and strict in his decisions. His courage to protect the weakest drives him to confront his enemies with respect and dignity, whether facing benevolent people or malevolent demons.
Under Tanjiro’s rather kind and friendly exterior lies a person driven by a growing anger and thirst for vengeance. This side of his personality comes to the fore when Tanjiro faces Muzan for the first time, ready to draw his sword and attack him. When Muzan manages to escape, Tanjiro lets out his frustration and declares that he will be the one to kill Muzan. In another situation, when the demon slayers have their necks snapped by the Mother Spider Demon’s sons, Tanjiro lets loose a perceptible anger that even Inosuke feels. This side of Tanjiro is fully revealed after Muzan’s speech in which he compares himself to a natural disaster. Tanjiro retaliates by calling Muzan “a creature that shouldn’t exist”.
As a demon, Tanjiro seemed devoid of spirit, as most are after their transformation. He acted like a wild beast, attacking anyone within his reach without hesitation. Even his friends and comrades were not safe. The only exception was Nezuko, whom he refused to harm, even after tasting her blood, which could be a sign that he was struggling against his transformation. His hostility towards demon slayers could also be due to the influence of Muzan’s desire to kill all demon slayers on his mind.
Skills and powers Tanjiro Kamado
Early on in his journey, despite not being part of the Demon Slayer Corps, Tanjiro managed to take Giyu Tomioka, the Hashira of Water, by surprise. After beginning his training in the breath of water, he demonstrated his ability to take on several demons, including the lower Rank 6, Kyogai. When he recalled the Hinokami Kagura, a dance he learned from his father as a child, Tanjiro revealed that he could have defeated the Lower Rank 5, Rui, had he not been decapitated by the latter earlier. After awakening his demon-slaying mark and continuing his training, Tanjiro proved his ability to stand up to higher Ranks, such as Akaza, to the extent that Giyu compared his strength to that of a Hashira. Despite being poisoned by Muzan and having a mysterious vision of his ancestors, Tanjiro managed to fight Muzan alone, the latter having previously defeated the five remaining Hashira, as well as Zenitsu and Inosuke. Muzan felt uneasy towards Tanjiro due to the similarities between the latter and Yoriichi.
Natural abilities Tanjiro Kamado
- Improved sense of smell: Tanjiro possessed an improved sense of smell even before he began his sword training. His sense of smell is developed enough to detect the “interval line” – the slight pause in an enemy’s movement that allows him to find an opening to attack – and to distinguish species and estimate their approximate position. After training in this technique as a demon hunter, Tanjiro acquired the ability to perceive emotions and track objects, humans and demons over long distances. During his training with Yoriichi Type Zero, Tanjiro developed the ability to predict his opponents’ movements thanks to his sense of smell, which enables him to react faster than the “interval line”.
- Fighting ability: this characteristic of Tanjiro’s was noticed by Giyu during their first meeting, when Tanjiro cleverly devised a plan to attack Giyu by surprise by charging towards him without showing that he was unarmed, and knocking Giyu down with an axe he had previously thrown into the air. Although the attack failed, Giyu was very impressed with Tanjiro’s plan, especially given the fact that Tanjiro was a beginner at the time.
- Increased strength: after his training on Sagiri Mountain, Tanjiro developed increased strength and speed, which he put to good use. He was seen leaping twice his height over the Hand Demon, who had killed Sakonji’s disciples, during the final trial. His forehead is also reputed to be exceptionally strong, as he managed to wound Sanemi Shinazugawa, the Wind Hashira, and briefly stun Gyutaro, a higher Rank 6.
- Huge speed: Tanjiro is able to keep up with Akaza, an incredibly fast Demon and Superior Rank 3, on their second encounter. After awakening his demon-slaying mark, Tanjiro’s speed has increased even further.
- Exceptional reflexes: after awakening his demon-slaying mark, Tanjiro develops extremely sharp reflexes. He easily manages to dodge and counter Daki’s attacks, even in his weakest form, without her being able to inflict injury.
- Nichirin blade crimson red: During his second confrontation with Muzan, Tanjiro acquires the ability to dye his Nichirin blade crimson red, which hinders demon regeneration.
- Transparent World (透すき通とおる世せ界かい Sukitōru Sekai): like his father, Tanjiro has developed the ability to foresee his opponents’ attacks while showing no fighting spirit or bloodlust, making him impervious to those who can detect them. In this state, his movement intuition and dodging speed increase considerably.
- Demon Slayer’s Mark: Tanjiro awakens his mark for the first time during his fight against Gyutaro, top rank 6, then again during his clash against Hantengu’s divided forms, top rank 4. Later, the mark reappears in his rematch with Akaza, top rank 3. In this marked state, Tanjiro’s strength, speed and reaction time increase considerably. In his fight against Akaza, after gaining access to the Transparent World in addition to his demon-slaying mark, Tanjiro moves so fast that he slices off Akaza’s head before the latter can even react, a move that would have killed Akaza had he not overcome his vulnerability to decapitation by Nichirin’s blade. However, it should be noted that Akaza’s detection ability was based on the perception of his opponent’s fighting spirit, and Tanjiro showed no fighting spirit in this attack. The disadvantage of this marked state is that Tanjiro can only access it on rare occasions, and he can only use it for a very short time as it exhausts his body, as demonstrated in his battles against the higher ranks.
The art of the Tanjiro Kamado sword
Water Breathing (水の呼吸 Mizu no kokyū): Tanjiro was introduced to this technique by Sakonji, the water Hashira preceding Giyu. By controlling his breathing rate, he is able to increase the amount of oxygen in his blood, which increases his strength and agility to rival that of a demon. Tanjiro has now mastered full concentration breathing, which further enhances his core strength, speed and endurance. By focusing on the precision of his breathing, he is able to stop the bleeding caused by his wounds. Thanks to this increased strength and his ability to detect the “interval line”, Tanjiro is able to use ten different fighting techniques:
- First form: Water surface cut (Form I: Minamo giri) – The swordsman generates enough power to make a powerful single concentrated cut.
- Second form: Water Wheel (Form II: Mizu guruma) – The swordsman jumps and spins vertically forward in the air while launching a fluid attack in a circular motion.
- Second Improved Form: Lateral Waterwheel (Form II Kai: Yoko mizu guruma) – A variant of the second form, the Waterwheel, which uses horizontal rotation.
- Third form: Fluid dance (Form III: Ryūryū mai) – The swordsman swings his blade at his opponent in such a way as to imitate the movement of waves on the surface of water.
- Fourth form: Striking Tide (Form IV: Uchishio) – The swordsman makes multiple consecutive slashes while twisting his body in a fluid manner, reminiscent of a powerful tide.
- Fifth form: Blessed Rain after Drought (Form V: Kanten no jiu) – A “benevolent sword strike” that eliminates the target with little or no pain. Used when the enemy surrenders.
- Sixth form: Whirlwind (Form VI: Nejire uzu) – The swordsman turns his upper and lower body violently, creating a whirlwind slicing through anything nearby. Can be used in the absence of soil, and if used underwater, can generate a large whirlpool that sucks in and slices through anything nearby like a giant blade.
- Fluid Whirl (Form VI: Nejire Uzu – Ryūryū) – A combination of the third form, Fluid Dance, and the sixth form, Whirl. The swordsman uses the foot movements of Fluid Dance and the swirling rotation of Whirlwind to perform an all-around attack on the opponent, creating a vicious, swirling stream of water to deflect projectiles from multiple angles.
- Seventh form: Piercing Raindrop (Form VII: Shizuku hamon tsuki) – A fast, precise dagger-like attack. The fastest water breath technique.
- Seventh modified form: Piercing Raindrop – Curve (Form VII: Shizuku hamon tsuki – kyoku) – A modification of the technique that strikes in an arc from an angle to minimize impact on a moving target.
- Eighth form: Cascade basin (Form VIII: Takitsubo) – The swordsman slices vertically at the target.
- Ninth form: Water splash (Form IX: Suiryū shibuki) – Reduces the time and area needed to land, allowing the user to move without limits. Ideal for fighting in places where there is no solid grip.
- Ninth modified form: Water splash – Tumultuous (Form IX: Suiryū shibuki – ran)
- Tenth form: Constant flow (Form X: Seisei ruten) – A continuous attack that gains power with each rotation, creating a deep gash.
Hinokami Kagura (Sacred Fire Dance): passed on to Tanjiro by his father. This breathing technique enhances the user’s strength and endurance. The dance consists of 12 sequences repeated from sunrise to sunset. However, there is an unknown 13th form which is obtained by chaining the sequences one after the other, as the techniques are supposed to be connected like a circle in the Flame Dance. It is then confirmed that Hinokami Kagura is identical to Breathing the Sun.
- Dance (Enbu): An attack concentrated in a single slash.
- Flash Dance (Enbu Issen): Tanjiro combines Zenitsu’s Thunderclap Flash with his Waltz by pumping air through his entire body, concentrating it on his legs, and releasing it while finishing with a blazing slash. This technique enables him to outmaneuver Genya Shinazugawa and Nezuko, as well as catching the fleeing Hantengu, although it’s not as fast as Zenitsu’s thunderclap.
- Clear blue sky (Heki-ra no ten): An attack similar to the “Water Wheel” where Tanjiro rotates his body to create a 360-degree slash.
- Furious Sun (Retsujitsu kōkyō): Tanjiro unleashes two horizontal slashes to defend against frontal or lateral attacks.
- False rainbow (Gen’nichi kō): Tanjiro uses this technique to evade attacks using high-speed twists and rotations. It works particularly well against enemies with good vision, as they will attack an image of him rather than his actual body.
- Firewheel (Kasha): Tanjiro uses this technique quickly in conjunction with False Rainbow to attack the enemy while he is distracted.
- Burning Os, Summer Sun (Shyakkotsu en’yō): A circular notch that defends against impending frontal attacks.
- Sunflower thrust (Yōkatotsu): A single thrust attack with the sharp blade.
- Solar heat mist (Hirin Kagerō): Tanjiro charges towards his opponent with a flaming blade to slash.
- Sunset transformation (Shayō Tenshin): Tanjiro spins in the air to deliver a powerful, flaming reverse slash.
- Beneficial Radiance (Kiki Onkō): Tanjiro spirals into the air to deliver a powerful slash to those below.
- Dragon Solar Halo Head Dance (Nichiun no Ryū Kaburimai): Resembling a dragon, the user spins in circles to dodge enemy attacks, then slashes the target several times. This technique was first used by Tanjiro in conjunction with Nezuko’s Blood Demon Art Blood Burst to increase its effectiveness. In his second battle against Muzan, he is able to use this technique without Nezuko’s help.
- Dance of Flames (Enbu): A two-strike combo that begins with a vertical slash followed immediately by a horizontal slash.
- Thirteenth form (Jū San no kata): the user continuously sequences the twelve forms of the breathing style in repetitive succession to increase the precision and agility of his movements. This form was created specifically to kill Muzan, as the repetition of the twelve forms is intended to destroy Muzan’s twelve vital organs (7 hearts and 5 brains) which move freely inside his body thanks to his ability to change form.
Breathing hybridization
During his fight against Gyutaro, the sixth-highest rank, Tanjiro managed to fuse the breathing techniques of water and Hinokami Kagura. This enabled him to dramatically increase his speed for a brief period and execute attacks that possess the characteristics of both breathing styles.
Demon abilities
Thereafter, Tanjiro is transformed into a demon by Muzan Kibutsuji, in a last-ditch attempt to survive after being killed by the Demon Slayer Corps. Muzan hoped to pass on his feelings and abilities to Tanjiro, deeming him capable of fulfilling his heritage and becoming the true immortal king of demons. Although Tanjiro quickly regained his humanity thanks to Tamayo’s humanizing drug, the power he demonstrated during this brief period as a demon seems to be at least equivalent to that of a high-ranking demon, if not Muzan himself.
Yushiro later declared that, in terms of biological potential, Tanjiro’s potential to evolve as a demon was far superior to that of his sister, who was the first demon to develop resistance to sunlight, and even to that of Muzan.
Enhanced regeneration: Tanjiro possessed an impressive regeneration capacity, comparable to that of a higher rank. After his transformation into a demon, he instantly healed all wounds sustained in his battles against Akaza and Muzan. He also reduced the effects of Muzan’s poison on his face and regenerated damage caused by sunlight, all within seconds. According to Giyu, Tanjiro’s regeneration speed and resistance to sunlight made him virtually invincible.
Resistance to sunlight: After his first transformation, Tanjiro was initially sensitive to sunlight like any ordinary demon, but he soon developed resistance to its effects. He was soon able to move around in broad daylight without suffering any damage. This ability may be linked to the fact that he shares the blood of Nezuko, a demon who conquered the sun, and his abilities seem to stem from this. Giyu claimed that Tanjiro’s immunity to the sun, as well as his enhanced regeneration, made him virtually invincible.
Resistance to crimson-red nichirin blades: according to Giyu, Tanjiro’s immunity to sunlight also gave him resistance to crimson-red nichirin blades.
Shape-shifting: like Muzan, probably due to his blood heritage, Tanjiro showed slight transformation abilities. He can grow spine-like protrusions on his back, which transform into blade- and whip-like tentacles, greatly increasing his attack range. However, due to his state of mind, Tanjiro has not demonstrated the same mastery of these transformations as Muzan.
Blood Demon Art (血けっ鬼き術じゅつ Kekkijutsu?) :
Shockwave: Like Muzan, and probably due to his blood heritage, Tanjiro’s screams can generate a powerful shockwave. This technique is powerful enough to throw Zenitsu, Inosuke and Goto into the air, blowing them apart, with only Nezuko able to cling to it.
Energy beam: Tanjiro is able to fire a beam of energy from his mouth. This technique is powerful enough to create a small crater. However, when a human Nezuko placed her hand in front of her mouth, she escaped with a hand injury, although Giyu noted that Tanjiro wasn’t trying to harm her.
Tanjiro Kamado’s battles
Arc of final selection:
Tanjiro Kamado and Nezuko Kamado against Giyu Tomioka
Tanjiro Kamado and Nezuko Kamado against the temple demon
Tanjiro Kamado versus Sabito
Tanjiro Kamado versus the hand demon
Arc of the first mission:
Tanjiro Kamado and Nezuko Kamado against the swamp demon
Asakusa Arch:
Tanjiro Kamado, Nezuko Kamado, Tamayo and Yushiro against Susamaru and Yahaba
Arc of the Tsuzumi mansion:
Tanjiro Kamado versus Kyogai
Tanjiro Kamado versus Inosuke Hashibira
Mountain Natagumo Arch:
Tanjiro Kamado and Inosuke Hashibira against the spider demon (mother)
Tanjiro Kamado and Inosuke Hashibira against the spider demon (father)
Tanjiro Kamado versus Rui
Arc of the infinity train:
Tanjiro Kamado and Inosuke Hashibira against Enmu
Arc of the entertainment district:
Tanjiro Kamado and Nezuko Kamado versus Daki
Tanjiro Kamado and Tengen Uzui against Gyutaro
Arc of the blacksmith village:
Tanjiro Kamado, Nezuko Kamado, Genya Shinazugawa and Mitsuri Kanroji against Hantengu
Hashira training arch:
Tanjiro Kamado versus Sanemi Shinazugawa
Infinity Castle Arch:
Demon slayers versus Muzan Kibutsuji: Part 1
Tanjiro Kamado and Giyu Tomioka versus Akaza
Sunrise countdown arc:
Demon slayers versus Muzan Kibutsuji: Part 2
Tanjiro Kamado versus the demon slayers
Trivialities
- His first name, Tanjiro, is made up of the kanji for “coal” (炭 tan), “heal” (治 ji) and “son” (郎 rō), which is also a common masculine suffix. The first kanji of his surname, Kamado, translates as “traditional Japanese wood- or charcoal-fired stove/furnace” (竈 kama), while the second kanji means “door” (門 do).
- The second character in his first name could also refer to “exorcism” (退治 taiji), in connection with the elimination of Demons.
- Here are Tanjiro’s popularity rankings in the polls:
- Tanjiro ranked first in the first popularity poll with 6,742 votes.
- Tanjiro ranked fourth in the second popularity poll with 9,045 votes.
- Tanjiro shares the same Japanese and English voices as Sieg, the protagonist of Fate/Apocrypha.
- When Tanjiro lies, he can’t keep a straight face due to his honest nature.
- Tanjiro inherited his broad forehead from his mother.
- Inosuke gave Tanjiro many incorrect nicknames, such as Gonpachiro Kamaboko, Gengoro Shakariki, Tontaro Itadaki, Kanjiro Anago, Tangoro Hamado, Jangoro Amado, Monjiro, Kentaro and Souchiro.
- Tanjiro is one of the few characters to have changed appearance with a Nichirin sword.
- Apparently, Tanjiro is able to understand what the birds are saying.
- Tanjiro has been dubbed “the most polite man in Kimetsu Academy”.
- The people Tanjiro corresponds with are Sakonji, Senjuro, the ladies in the entertainment district, Giyu (who never replies) and Tengen. <Tanjiro is impervious to tone of voice.
- Tanjiro is the lead singer of the group “Stylish Scruffy Democracy” made up of Zenitsu (shamisen and songwriter), Inosuke (taiko drums) and Tengen (harmonica). Their first song, “Exploding skin and the melancholy of modern smell”, gave everyone who heard it a feeling of dizziness and constant nausea.
Quotes from Tanjiro Kamado (Kimetsu no Yaiba Wiki):
- (To Muzan Kibutsuji) “Muzan Kibutsuji! Wherever you go, I promise you won’t be able to escape me! No matter how far you go! I’ll follow you to the ends of hell, and my blade will be the last thing you ever see! I’ll never forgive you for what you’ve done!”
- (To Kyogai) “I can’t forgive you for killing.”
- (To Rui) “The bond between Nezuko and me cannot be broken! Not by anyone!”
- (To Giyu Tomioka) “To assuage the regrets of those slain, to prevent further victims from appearing, I will relentlessly wield my blade against the Demons, that’s a fact. But I will not crush the pain of being a Demon. Nor those who regret their actions. Because the Demons were human. Because they were humans like me.”
- (To Sanemi Shinazugawa) “If you can’t tell the good Demons from the bad, you should stop being a Hashira!”
- (To Enmu) “Don’t carelessly make your way into people’s dreams! I won’t forgive you.”
- (To Zohakuten) “Stop acting like a victim after killing and devouring all those people! You’re sick. Absolutely unforgivable. Evil demon… !! I’ll cut your head off right here and now!”
- (To Akaza) “The strong protect the weak. The weak then become stronger and help those weaker than themselves. This is the law of nature.”
- (About Muzan Kibutsuji) “I’ve never felt such coldness towards a living being before. My stomach churns with hatred. This is the first time, and it’s directed at you, Muzan Kibutsuji.”
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