Who killed Kanae in Demon Slayer? Shinobu’s sister’s death, explained.

Who killed Kanae in Demon Slayer? Shinobu’s sister’s death, explained.

Among the many significant backstories in Demon Slayer, only a handful were thoroughly explored, including the tragic death of Kocho Shinobu’s sister, Kanae. As soon as Tanjiro Kamado met Shinobu, it was made known to the viewers that Kanae was killed by a demon, igniting Shinobu’s deep-seated animosity towards them. In the later arcs, it is revealed that the culprit behind Kanae’s death was Douma, the second Upper Moon.

Despite his infamy among the fandom, Doma’s reputation persists due to his callousness and ruthlessness in pursuing his selfish desires. This includes his involvement in the death of Kanae during one of her missions, which continues to haunt Shinobu and fuels her desire for revenge. In preparation for the day she can exact revenge on Douma, Shinobu has even stockpiled various poisons for that specific moment.

Please be aware that this article contains spoilers for the series.

Explaining the Death of Kanae, the Former Flower Hashira of Demon Slayer

Kanae and Shinobu in a flashback in the anime (Image via Ufotable)
Kanae and Shinobu in a flashback in the anime (Image via Ufotable)

As previously mentioned, the individual who caused the death of Shinobu’s sister was Douma, the second Upper Moon. Prior to the events of the series, Kanae, who was the Flower Hashira at the time, encountered Douma one night and engaged in a deadly battle with him. Unfortunately, she was unable to emerge victorious.

Despite Douma’s intent to deliver the final blow and end her life, the rising sun forced him to flee, leaving Kanae to bleed out. Fortunately, her sister Shinobu stumbled upon her in this dire state. In her last moments, Kanae spoke about Douma and urged Shinobu to leave the Corps and live a normal life with their adoptive sister, Kanao. However, Shinobu, who would become the future Insect Hashira, rejected this idea and instead sought revenge for her sister’s death.

Shinobu’s Vengeance Against Douma in Demon Slayer

Douma in the anime (Image via Ufotable)
Douma in the anime (Image via Ufotable)

During the Infinity Castle arc, Shinobu and Douma cross paths when the heroes plan to infiltrate Muzan’s main hideout. While there, Shinobu discovers Douma consuming some of her human followers, leading to a fierce confrontation between the two and even prompting the Upper Moon to mock the Hashira about Kanae’s death.

Despite using several poisons, Shinobu’s efforts are fruitless as Douma’s regenerative abilities and developing antibodies render them ineffective. Overwhelmed, Shinobu meets her demise, with her younger sister Kanao appearing in the final moments of her life, mirroring the events with her older sister Kanae from years ago.

Despite not being able to personally kill Douma, Shinobu was able to finally achieve her revenge through Kanao. With the help of Inosuke Hashibira, they were able to take down the Upper Moon and avenge both Shinobu and Kanae. Their adopted family member, the little girl they rescued, played a crucial role in this act of vengeance.

The Death of Douma in Demon Slayer

Kanae, Kanao, and Shinobu in a flashback of the anime (Image via Ufotable)
Kanae, Kanao, and Shinobu in a flashback of the anime (Image via Ufotable)

As Douma battled with Shinobu, Kanao took over and displayed even more impressive fighting abilities than her older sister in their fight against the Upper Moon. Inosuke, fueled by his resentment towards the demon who had killed his mother when he was an infant, joined Kanao and provided assistance in defeating their foe.

Kanao employs her Final Form: Equinoctial Vermilion Eye, trading her eyesight for the ability to perceive things in slow motion and exploit a weakness in Douma. With the assistance of Inosuke, they successfully behead the demon by taking advantage of his exhaustion from the prolonged battle, which caused his final attacks to lack precision.

Concluding Remarks

Throughout the series, Douma’s actions played a pivotal role in both Shinobu and Kanao’s journeys, leading up to their ultimate resolution in the final arc of Demon Slayer. This highly anticipated battle had been brewing for years, as the characters of Douma and Shinobu’s intense animosity towards demons had been gradually developed over time.

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