There are many types of anime for every kind of viewer. Shonen is an anime made for a younger male audience that commonly features a young male protagonist. Demon slayer happens to be one of them, now who is Tanjiro?
Kamado Tanjiro is one of the main characters in Kimetsu no Yaiba; the plot sets on his journey to fight demons and exact revenge for the death of his family while also trying to turn his sister back into a human.
In this article, we will be tackling facts and information about the protagonist of the series, but first, let’s learn the background and intention of the character written by Koyoharu Gotouge:
Who is Tanjiro?
Tanjiro Kamado (竈門 炭治郎,) is the main character in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba.
The name kamado comes from the word for a traditional stove powered by charcoal; both the stove and the name come from Korea. This charcoal-related name refers to the family’s job, as we see that Tanjiro goes to sell charcoal in the nearby towns to get money for his family.
This is called an occupational surname. The name suggests the family’s occupation, which is an excellent foreshadowing once you learn that Tanjiro dominates the Dance of the Fire God technique aside from the Water Breathing style.
Tanjiro grew up on a mountain alongside his younger sister Nezuko and the rest of his siblings and mother.
Out of all of the siblings in the Kamado family, Tanjiro is the oldest. All his family and village members love him, and the feeling is reciprocated.
We learn that the death of his family (except for Nezuko) at the hands of a demon called him to join the demon-killing corps in hopes of becoming a demon slayer. However, we must mention his primary intent is to turn his sister Nezuko back to her human form since she’s the only survivor of the attack.
Tanjiro possesses distinctive traits:
- Dance of The Fire God
- Water Breathing
- Developed Sense of Smell
His nose is so good that it can distinguish hidden emotions in people; it has sensory perception, giving him an upper hand in battle and the story.
Tanjiro inherited his ability to see through from his father, which means he can see an opponent’s move before they make it. Some think it is unfair, but it gives the character an edge.
Personality Type
Even though empathy is a protuberant trait for many male shounen leads, Tanjiro takes his empathy to another level.
His unwavering kindness, the stubborn character that is Tanjiro, is seen showing even the most sadistic demons his most heartfelt sendoff after he brutally murders them. Of course, this an oddly balanced quality that some believe is the reason some of the demons can find peace in the afterlife, which makes you love the character even more,
The fifth style of breathing technique is the merciful reign of a dry day, a beautiful name for a style used by Tanjiro. It involves him beheading his opponent out of mercy and respect when they willingly surrender; it demonstrates his compassion and empathy when fighting.
Strength
Tanjiro is very strong from the beginning of the series, going as far as almost hitting the water hashira Giyu Tomioka while protecting Nezuko in the first episode. (The Hashira are the highest-ranking members of the demon slayer corps)
Later he surpasses his trainer’s expectations; Sakonji trained Tanjiro for the demon corp final selection exam without really thinking Tanjiro would make it; he set a goal that exceeds what he thought were Tanjiro’s abilities;
He told him to cut through a big rock with a sword, which seemed impossible; once again, Tanjiro managed to split the boulder twice his size.
Granting him the trainer’s blessing, he goes on to complete the final selection exam and kill lower moon six, making him an almost unbeatable opponent.
However, his power does come to roadblocks during the anime, involving other characters for support.
When mentioning some adjectives and characteristics that affiliate with Tanjiro, we could highlight the following;
- Tanjiro is a calculative risk-taker; unlike some beloved anime characters such as Naturo, he manages to be daring but not reckless.
- Tanjiro is presented as one of the most lovable guys you’ve ever met; his unyielding kindness is also a powerful fuel to his anger. No matter how strong their enemies are, Tanjiro stands tall and never wavers. He always reminds them of their humanity.
- If anything, we must say that Tanjiro is the best brother; his dedication to protecting Nezuko and his hunger to turn her back to a human are ongoing themes in the series.
Tanjiro’s Breathing Technique; Dance of The Fire God
In the story, humans have adopted techniques to give them a fighting chance against demons. Demon slayer corp uses breathing styles or breath styles; this increases the human’s limits. The method controls oxygen in their blood, increasing their physical strength and agility equal to a demon.
The water breath style is the technique used by Tomioka and his sensei Sajonki.
Most of the character’s blade colors correspond with their breath style; in Tanjiro’s case, although he was taught the water breath style, his blade is black; this is because Tanjiro’s innate ability corresponds to the old breath style more specialized in his family breath style which Tanjiro’s adopted by heritage.
During Tanjiro’s first interaction/fight against a demon moon, he realized that the Breath of Water style wasn’t cutting it since his sword broke and didn’t allow him to use his water breath technique.
Once all seemed lost during the fight against the upper moon, Tanjiro saw the first breathing style he witnessed, the Dance of the Fire God, which, alongside the Hanafuda Earrings, has been passed down throughout the generations.
We learn in the manga that the Dance of the Fire God is the first breathing technique ever and that all other forms are derived from it.
It’s essential to highlight Tanjiro’s possession of the breathing technique since we were introduced to a flashback. The demon king Muzan Kibutsuji was shown on the ground, defeated by a breath of the sun user, showing the extent and potential of his power.
Tanjiro is the last of the sun breathers, the last of his lineage of the ancient breathing style passed down; he is the last of his kind. Even though he only displays these talents when he is on edge, losing or dying, he can still tap into them.
One detail throughout the story that will help you put the pieces together about the first breathing technique is that Nichirin blade used by the demon slayer in the demon-killing corp, translates to sun blade, hitting at the ordering of the breathing technique “Sun breathing.”
Why Did Tanjiro’s Sword Turn Black?
A black blade is a sign of unlucky, but a black blade is from a sun-breathing user; the idea that it’s a terrible omen comes from sun-breathing being related to awakening the Demon Slayer Mark. It is said a Demon Slayer with this mark only lives to 25; this is all foreshadowed when Tanjiro gets his blade.
Conclusion
Tanjiro is a protagonist that has been given a built-up progression throughout the story, achieving the level of being able to battle alongside pillars; this character is a true testament to perseverance. From its gorgeous animation style to a compelling story, Demon slayer, alongside its protagonist Tanjiro has captivated all audiences with its life lessons underlined throughout the episodes; this character is resilient.
