If you are a fan of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, you might have noticed that two characters share a similar mark on their foreheads: Kokushibo and Tanjiro. But who are they and what is the meaning of their marks? Are they related by blood or by fate? In this article, we will explore the connection between these two characters and reveal the truth behind their marks.
Who is Kokushibo?
Kokushibo is a major antagonist of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. He is a demon affiliated with the Twelve Kizuki, holding the highest position, Upper Rank One. He is also the oldest and strongest demon alive, having survived for nearly five centuries.
But before he became a demon, Kokushibo was a human named Michikatsu Tsugikuni. He was a former Demon Slayer and the older twin brother of Yoriichi Tsugikuni, the strongest Demon Slayer that ever existed. He was also the ancestor of Muichiro Tokito and Yuichiro Tokito, two members of the Demon Slayer Corps.
Michikatsu was a talented swordsman who aspired to become a samurai. However, he was always overshadowed by his twin brother, who was a prodigy in everything he did. Michikatsu developed a breathing technique called Moon Breathing, which he derived from Yoriichi’s Sun Breathing. He also acquired the Demon Slayer Mark, a mysterious symbol that appears on the body of some Demon Slayers and grants them enhanced abilities.
However, Michikatsu was not satisfied with his power and became jealous of his brother. He also feared the curse of the mark, which would kill him by the age of 25. He abandoned his family and joined the Demon Slayer Corps, hoping to surpass his brother and outlive the curse.
But his ambition led him to a dark path. He was approached by Muzan Kibutsuji, the first and most powerful demon, who offered him eternal life and strength in exchange for becoming a demon. Michikatsu accepted the offer and betrayed his comrades, killing many Demon Slayers in the process. He changed his name to Kokushibo and joined Muzan’s Twelve Kizuki.
As a demon, Kokushibo retained his mark and his breathing technique. He also developed a Blood Demon Art that allowed him to manipulate his blood into blades. He became obsessed with finding strong opponents and eliminating anyone who threatened Muzan’s supremacy.
Who is Tanjiro?
Tanjiro Kamado is the main protagonist of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. He is a kind-hearted and courageous boy who became a Demon Slayer after his family was slaughtered by Muzan Kibutsuji. The only survivor was his sister Nezuko, who was turned into a demon but retained her human emotions.
Tanjiro’s goal is to find a way to turn Nezuko back into a human and to avenge his family by killing Muzan. To do so, he trains under Sakonji Urokodaki, a former member of the Hashira, the elite group of Demon Slayers. He learns Water Breathing, one of the five main breathing techniques derived from Sun Breathing.
Tanjiro also has a keen sense of smell that allows him to track demons and detect their weaknesses. He also has a scar on his forehead that he received when he saved his brother from boiling water as a child.
However, Tanjiro’s scar changes shape and color during his battles with demons. It becomes bigger and redder, resembling the mark that Yoriichi Tsugikuni had. Tanjiro also develops his own Demon Slayer Mark during his fight with Upper Rank Six demons Daki and Gyutaro. His mark grants him increased speed, strength, and endurance.
Tanjiro’s mark also allows him to access Hinokami Kagura, a dance that he learned from his father as a tradition of their family. Hinokami Kagura is actually another form of Sun Breathing, the original breathing technique that Yoriichi created.
Kokushibo and Tanjiro are not related by blood. They belong to different families and have no direct ancestors in common. However, they are connected by fate and by their marks.
Kokushibo’s mark is inherited from his twin brother Yoriichi, who was the first person to acquire the mark and the creator of Sun Breathing. Yoriichi’s mark was a manifestation of his talent and his will to protect humanity from demons.
Tanjiro’s mark is activated by his training and his determination to save his sister and defeat Muzan. Tanjiro’s mark is also influenced by his lineage, as he is a descendant of Sumiyoshi, a man who was saved by Yoriichi and learned Sun Breathing from him. Sumiyoshi passed down Sun Breathing to his descendants as a way of honoring Yoriichi.
Therefore, Kokushibo and Tanjiro share the same mark because they both inherited Sun Breathing from Yoriichi, either directly or indirectly. Their marks represent their connection to the origin of the Demon Slayer Corps and their role in the final battle against Muzan.
However, their marks also represent their contrast. Kokushibo’s mark is a symbol of his envy and his corruption. He became a demon to surpass his brother and to escape death, but he lost his humanity and his purpose in the process. He became a monster who killed countless people and betrayed his own kind.
Tanjiro’s mark is a symbol of his love and his courage. He became a Demon Slayer to protect his sister and to restore her humanity, but he never lost his compassion and his morals in the process. He became a hero who saved countless lives and inspired his allies.
Conclusion
Kokushibo and Tanjiro are two characters who have the same mark on their foreheads, but have different paths and destinies. They are not related by blood, but by fate and by their marks. Their marks are derived from Sun Breathing, the original breathing technique that Yoriichi Tsugikuni created. Their marks also reflect their personalities and their choices. Kokushibo’s mark is a sign of his jealousy and his evil, while Tanjiro’s mark is a sign of his kindness and his good.
