The story of Demon Slayer delves into the tragic pasts of its characters, bringing forth heart-wrenching moments. Among them, here are the 10 backstories that are particularly saddening.
Tanjiro, the protagonist of Demon Slayer, is on a quest to save his sister Nezuko from a dark curse. After their family is brutally attacked by a demon, Nezuko becomes one herself. In order to reverse the transformation and bring his sister back to humanity, Tanjiro enlists in the Demon Slayer Corps, even though the task seems almost impossible. This dark fantasy anime has gained worldwide popularity for its gripping storyline.
The series boasts endearing characters, captivating antagonists, a blend of action and comedy, and a compelling plot. The world is fraught with tragedies as the characters strive to conquer their challenges in pursuit of a greater cause.
Demon Slayer certainly lives up to its reputation as a dark shonen, with its inclusion of harrowing backstories. Please note: this article contains spoilers from the manga.
10. Giyu Tomioka
The current installment of Demon Slayer, Season 4, will uncover Giyu’s heartbreaking backstory. After his sister sacrificed herself to save him from a demon, Giyu was burdened with overwhelming guilt. In addition, he received training from Urokodaki alongside his fellow student Sabito.
During his fight with the hand demon, Giyu was rendered unconscious. When he regains consciousness, he learns that Sabito had sacrificed his life in the battle. This realization only deepens Giyu’s feelings of unworthiness to become a Hashira. To honor the memories of the two most significant individuals in his life, he continues to wear his half-half haori.
9. Muichiro Tokito
After experiencing a traumatic event in his past, Muichiro developed severe insomnia. However, during his intense battle with Gyokko, his memory of the past was restored. Muichiro and his older twin brother, Yuichiro, were left with only each other after their parents passed away. Recognizing their potential as descendants of Michikatsu Tsugikuni (Upper One Kokushibo), Kagaya and his wife Amane kindly offered to bring them into the Demon Slayer Corps.
Despite their pleas, Yuichiro was firm in his decision to protect his brother. Tragedy struck once again when the brothers were attacked by a demon, resulting in Yuichiro’s death as he bravely defended Muichiro. The traumatic event caused Muichiro to lose all his memories, which is why his eyes appeared vacant until his memories were restored.
8. Yoriichi Tsugikuni
Yoriichi Tsugikuni, known as the Progenitor of Sun Breathing, is widely regarded as the most powerful character in Demon Slayer. His story is also one of the most heart-wrenching in the series. He was born into a noble family as the younger twin, but was rejected by his father due to a distinctive birthmark on his face. During that era, twins were seen as a bad sign.
Despite his special talents, Yoriichi’s older twin brother Michikatsu felt inferior to him. This led Michikatsu to join Muzan and become a demon. Yoriichi faced criticism from the other demon slayers, causing his world to crumble. His already difficult situation was made worse when his pregnant wife was killed by a demon while he was away.
Despite possessing immense strength, Yoriichi lived a solitary life filled with regret. At the age of 85, he was reunited with his demon brother. Despite feeling sorry for him, Yoriichi attempted to engage in combat. Tragically, he succumbed to old age and passed away, leaving Kokushibo to grapple with remorse for his actions.
7. Demon Slayer: Kanao Tsuyuri
Despite her parents’ abuse and attempts to drown her and her siblings for even the smallest mistake, Kanao was forced to endure extreme poverty. Tragically, she would sometimes wake up to discover that her siblings had passed away during the night.
After Kanao’s parents sold her as a slave, she stopped talking and crying and eventually lost the ability to think for herself. Fortunately, Kanae rescued her and raised her as her own sister. However, her struggle to express her emotions and think independently lingered for a significant period of time.
Character Profile: Gyomei Himejima
During the Hashira Training, Gyomei shares his backstory with Tanjiro. He reveals that he once cared for orphans in a temple, but one of them disobeyed the rules and came face to face with a demon. In a desperate attempt to survive, the child led the demon to the temple, showing no hesitation in sacrificing Gyomei and the other children.
Despite Gyomei’s efforts to protect them, four children tragically lost their lives. Despite his blindness and weak body, he tried his best to shield them, but they all fled except for one who was too young to escape. Gyomei felt that his disabilities made the other children not trust him. Despite his best efforts, the children ultimately met their demise, but Gyomei managed to defeat the demon and save the remaining child.
Despite being falsely accused of causing the deaths of the children, Kagaya was able to rescue him. Ever since then, Gyomei had lost trust in children. However, as he lay on his deathbed, he came to the realization that the children had actually fled in order to seek help for his well-being. They believed him to be vulnerable and in need of protection.
Right Uzui
Tengen was brought up in a Shinobi Clan that placed little value on human life. The training was brutal, resulting in the deaths of three of his siblings before they even reached the age of 10. Additionally, his other siblings were compelled to fight and eliminate each other while blindfolded.
Despite being the only ones to survive, Tengen and his younger brother were not exempt from the trauma of the ordeal. Both their father and brother held onto the belief that killing innocent people was necessary for their clan’s survival. However, Tengen rejected this ideology and made the decision to leave the clan with his wives and become a demon slayer.
4. Sanemi Shinazugawa – Demon Slayer Character
Sanemi’s intense animosity towards demons originates from his past experiences. After his abusive father was murdered in a grudge-fueled attack, he took on the responsibility of caring for his mother and younger siblings as the eldest child. However, tragedy struck when his mother was transformed into a demon, causing her to turn on her own children and commit horrific acts of violence.
Despite Sanemi’s intentions to protect Genya, the latter was already traumatized and held him responsible for everything. This caused the brothers to go their separate ways, with Genya making desperate attempts to reconcile with his older brother. Nevertheless, Sanemi continued to reject him.
Despite starting to kill demons on his own, he eventually joined the Demon Slayer Corps after encountering Masachika. Sanemi had always believed that Genya disliked him, but their misunderstanding was only resolved when Genya passed away.
Meet Gyutaro
In the second season of Demon Slayer, viewers were able to learn more about the pasts of both Tengen and Uzui. Gyutaro, who was raised in the Entertainment district, faced daily challenges due to his appearance. He was constantly tormented by his abusive mother and bullies, and his lack of basic necessities forced him to survive by eating vermin found on the road.
Gyutaro’s sister Daki was considered beautiful, which greatly benefited his life. He had a strong affection for her and was devastated when she was killed by one of her admirers. It was then that Douma approached them with an offer to transform them into demons. With no other choice, Gyutaro accepted the offer without hesitation, and for the next century, they lived as demons.
Obanai Iguro
Obanai is the only Hashira who despises demons more than Sanemi. He comes from a family that worships a female demon with snake-like features, and they have a history of sacrificing newborns and relatives in exchange for wealth or valuable items.
Despite being the first boy born in his family in years, Obanai was immediately locked up in a cell on the day of his birth. Little did he know, a female demon had taken an interest in him and planned to devour him once he reached a certain age. To make him more closely resemble a demon, his family even went as far as cutting his mouth wider.
Despite eventually running away, Obanai’s family was still killed by the demon out of spite. If it weren’t for the previous Flame Hashira, Shinjuro Rengoku, coming to his rescue, Obanai would have also met the same fate. However, even after being saved, Obanai’s fear of women persisted, and he could only interact with Mitsuri without feeling afraid.
He comes
Surprisingly, Akaza’s backstory in Demon Slayer is even more sorrowful than the others. The Infinity Castle Arc reveals his past, when he was known as Hakuji and resorted to stealing in order to pay for his father’s medications. In order to spare his son from being labeled a criminal, Akaza’s father tragically took his own life.
After being banished from his village, he found refuge in a dojo. He became involved with the dojo master’s daughter, but their happiness was short-lived as tragedy struck once again. The dojo’s rivals poisoned the well, resulting in the deaths of both the dojo master and his fiancee.
Despite single-handedly defeating all of them, Hakuji could not withstand the intense pain. Upon learning of the incident, Muzan sought him out. Overwhelmed with grief, Hakuji made the difficult decision to give up his humanity and become a demon.
For those seeking more information about the franchise, we have details on what you need to know before watching Demon Slayer Season 4, including the episode schedule and the identity of the strongest Demon Slayer.
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