Despite being one of the most powerful Upper-Moon Demons in Demon Slayer, Daki met her demise during the Entertainment District arc when Zenitsu and Inosuke worked together to defeat her. Her final moments with her brother were undoubtedly tragic, but there may be an even more heartbreaking meaning behind the existence of the Upper-Moon Demons.
Despite being known by various names as a demon and an Oiran, Daki’s birth name from her human life was Ume, which in kanji translates to a disease in Japanese.
It was revealed by Gyutaro that Daki’s nickname was derived from the illness that took their mother’s life. This revelation was unsettling, considering the indirect manner in which the disease was referenced in her name.
Demon Slayer: Exploring the Significance of the Name ‘Upper Moon Six Demon Daki’
Similar to all the demons in Demon Slayer, Daki was once a human before she transformed into a demon.
She was born in the lowest castle of the Entertainment District, where oirans and courtesans who had reached a certain age or lost their value in the eyes of most customers were sent to retire.
Despite the fact that Daki’s mother was an abusive person who often took out her frustration on Daki and her brother Gyutaro, the identity of their father remained a mystery throughout the series. It was later revealed that he was one of their mother’s clients. After their mother attempted to kill Daki, Gyutaro and his sister fled their home and struggled to survive on the streets, barely making enough to get by.
Despite her children’s struggles, their mother’s occupation as a courtesan in the Entertainment District ultimately led to her death from syphilis. Despite this, Daki’s striking appearance allowed her to achieve a higher status in the upper castles of the district, where her brother Gyutaro worked as her collector.
The flow of their daily routines was disrupted when one of Daki’s customers insulted Gyutaro in her presence, leading her to retaliate by stabbing him in the eye.
Despite Gyutaro’s assistance, she was still burned as a result of her actions and their chances of survival became slim. Nevertheless, they encountered the Upper Moon Demon Douma and were ultimately transformed into demons.
In Demon Slayer, Daki’s human name is Ume (kanji: 梅うめ). While the literal translation of her name is plum, it also holds a different meaning in another style of kanji. Ume can be represented by the kanji 黴ばい毒どく, and is pronounced as ‘Baidoku.’
The Japanese term ‘Baidoku’ is equivalent to the English word ‘syphilis,’ the disease that her mother passed away from due to transmission through se*ual contact. Gyutaro had previously revealed that Daki shared the same name as the illness that claimed their mother’s life. However, due to a lack of knowledge about kanji among the international fanbase, this fact remained a mystery.
Shiraume: The Possible Hidden Meaning Behind the Nickname
Daki’s beauty was so enchanting that adults would instantly be drawn to her and shower her with valuable gifts. This earned her the nickname Shiraume, which is a combination of her name and the word for “white plum”in Japanese. In Japanese culture, white plum blossoms symbolize purity.
Despite the popularity she gained as one of the most renowned Oirans in the Entertainment District, it is possible that her nickname was chosen to conceal the unpleasant connotations associated with her disease. This could have been the true motivation behind her choice to adopt a new nickname.
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- Demon Slayer: What was the reason for Gyutaro’s decision to conceal himself within Daki’s body?
- Did Daki have romantic feelings for Muzan Kibutsuji in Demon Slayer?
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