Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” is a Japanese manga series created by Koyoharu Gotouge. Serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump from February 2016 to May 2020, the series follows Tanjiro Kamado, a teenager who becomes a Demon Slayer after his family is slaughtered and his sister, Nezuko, is turned into a demon.
Set in Taishō era Japan, the story revolves around the Demon Slayer Corps, a secret organization that has fought demons for centuries. Demons possess supernatural abilities and can only be killed by sunlight, decapitation with Nichirin weapons, or wisteria flower poison. Demon Slayers use Breathing Styles for combat, with the most powerful members known as Hashira.
Tanjiro trains to become a Demon Slayer and seeks a cure for Nezuko. Along his journey, he meets allies like Zenitsu and Inosuke. They face powerful demons, including the Twelve Kizuki, elite demons serving the main antagonist, Muzan Kibutsuji. Tanjiro unlocks the “Hinokami Kagura” Breathing Style and learns of his connection to Yoriichi Tsugikuni, the creator of the “Sun Breathing” style.
The story culminates in a battle against Muzan, where Tanjiro transforms into a demon but is saved by his friends. Muzan is defeated, and the Corps disbands. Tanjiro, Nezuko, Zenitsu, and Inosuke return home, and in a modern-day epilogue, their descendants live in a demon-free world.
Gotouge drew inspiration from works like JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Naruto, and Bleach, aiming for a bright, normal character in a dark setting. The series’ title, “Kimetsu no Yaiba,” was shortened from “Kisatsu no Yaiba” for simplicity, with “yaiba” meaning “blade.”
“Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” has been highly successful, with over 150 million copies in circulation by February 2021. The anime adaptation, produced by Ufotable, received widespread acclaim, with the film “Mugen Train” becoming the highest-grossing anime and Japanese film of all time.
