Tanjiro Kamado is the main protagonist of Demon Slayer, a popular manga and anime series. He is a kind-hearted boy who becomes a demon slayer after his family is slaughtered by Muzan Kibutsuji, the first and most powerful demon. Tanjiro’s goal is to find a way to turn his sister Nezuko, who was turned into a demon, back into a human.
Tanjiro’s journey leads him to discover the Breath of the Sun, the original and most powerful breathing technique that allows him to fight against demons. The Breath of the Sun was created by Yoriichi Tsugikuni, a legendary swordsman who was the only one who could rival Muzan in strength. Yoriichi was born with a mark of a sun-breather on his forehead, which gave him extraordinary abilities and a connection to the Transparent World.
Many fans have wondered if Tanjiro and Yoriichi are related by blood, since they share some physical similarities, such as their hair color, eye color, and earrings. They also both have marks on their foreheads, although Tanjiro’s mark only appears when he activates his sun-breathing. Moreover, they both inherited the Breath of the Sun from their ancestors, who learned it from Yoriichi himself.
So, how is Tanjiro related to Yoriichi? Is he a direct descendant of the original sun-breather? Or is their connection more coincidental than genetic? Let’s find out the truth behind the sun-breathers.
Contents
The Friendship Between Yoriichi and Sumiyoshi
The answer to the question of Tanjiro and Yoriichi’s relation lies in the past, when Yoriichi was still alive. Yoriichi lived in a time when demons were rampant and breathing techniques did not exist. He was born with a natural talent for swordsmanship and could see into the Transparent World, where he could observe the flow of life energy and movements of his opponents.
Yoriichi had a twin brother named Michikatsu, who was jealous of his abilities and resented him for being favored by their family. Michikatsu eventually became a demon and joined Muzan’s Twelve Kizuki as Kokushibo, the Upper Rank One. Yoriichi dedicated his life to hunting down Muzan and his followers, but he failed to kill Muzan when he had the chance, due to his curiosity about Muzan’s origin.
Yoriichi also met a man named Sumiyoshi, who was a friend of his wife. Sumiyoshi was a poor woodcutter who lived in the mountains with his wife Suyako. One day, he was attacked by a demon while collecting firewood, but he was saved by Yoriichi, who happened to be nearby. Yoriichi recognized Sumiyoshi as a kindred spirit and decided to visit him often.
Sumiyoshi was fascinated by Yoriichi’s swordsmanship and asked him to teach him the Breath of the Sun. Yoriichi agreed and showed him the twelve forms of the breathing technique. Sumiyoshi memorized them by heart and practiced them every day. He also received Yoriichi’s hanafuda earrings as a gift from him.
Yoriichi and Sumiyoshi became close friends and shared their stories and dreams with each other. Yoriichi told Sumiyoshi about his twin brother who became a demon and his mission to kill Muzan. Sumiyoshi told Yoriichi about his family and his wish to live peacefully with them.
However, their friendship was cut short when Yoriichi died of old age. He left behind his sword in a shrine for his descendants to inherit. Sumiyoshi mourned his friend’s death and vowed to pass on his teachings to his children.
The Legacy of the Sun-Breathers
Sumiyoshi was the ancestor of Tanjiro’s father, Tanjuro Kamado. Tanjuro inherited the Breath of the Sun and the hanafuda earrings from his forefathers, who learned them from Sumiyoshi. He also inherited a dance called Hinokami Kagura, which was based on the twelve forms of the Breath of the Sun.
Tanjuro taught Tanjiro the Hinokami Kagura when he was young, but he did not tell him about its true origin or purpose. He told him that it was a dance to honor the sun god and protect them from evil spirits. He also gave him the hanafuda earrings as a charm.
Tanjiro did not know that he was learning the Breath of the Sun until he met Sakonji Urokodaki, his first mentor as a demon slayer. Urokodaki recognized Tanjiro’s breathing technique as similar to that of Yoriichi, whom he revered as the strongest swordsman in history. He told Tanjiro that he was using the Breath of the Sun, which was the source of all other breathing techniques.
Tanjiro also did not know that he had a mark of a sun-breather on his forehead until he met Gyomei Himejima, the strongest pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps. Himejima noticed Tanjiro’s mark and told him that it was a sign of a chosen one who could wield the Breath of the Sun. He also told him that Yoriichi had a similar mark, which was actually a burn scar from his mother.
Tanjiro finally learned the truth about his connection to Yoriichi when he met his spirit in the afterlife. Yoriichi appeared to Tanjiro when he was on the verge of death after fighting Muzan. He told him that he was proud of him for carrying on his legacy and thanked him for being his friend’s descendant. He also gave him his sword, which was hidden in the shrine for centuries.
Tanjiro used Yoriichi’s sword to deliver the final blow to Muzan, who was weakened by the sun. He fulfilled Yoriichi’s wish to end Muzan’s reign of terror and free the world from demons. He also freed his sister Nezuko from her demon curse and restored her humanity.
Tanjiro survived the battle and lived a long and happy life with his friends and family. He passed on the Breath of the Sun and the hanafuda earrings to his descendants, who continued to honor Yoriichi and Sumiyoshi’s memory.
Conclusion
Tanjiro is not a direct descendant of Yoriichi or related to him by blood. The similarities in their appearance, earrings, and sun-breathing technique are coincidences or results of Yoriichi being close friends with Tanjiro’s distant ancestor, Sumiyoshi. Yoriichi gave his earrings and sword to Sumiyoshi and taught him the sun-breathing forms, which were passed down to the Kamado family. Tanjiro is the first Kamado to manifest the mark of a chosen sun-breather, which resembles Yoriichi’s burn mark.
Tanjiro and Yoriichi are connected by their friendship, their fate, and their spirit. They both share a kind heart, a strong will, and a noble goal. They both faced unimaginable hardships and tragedies, but they never gave up hope or compassion. They both fought against Muzan and his demons, but they also sought to understand them and their origins. They both wielded the Breath of the Sun, but they also respected and learned from other breathing techniques.
Tanjiro and Yoriichi are not related by blood, but they are related by soul. They are the sun-breathers, the chosen ones who can bring light to the darkness.
