Tanjiro Kamado is the main protagonist of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, a popular manga and anime series by Koyoharu Gotouge. He is a kind-hearted and determined young man who becomes a demon slayer after his family is slaughtered by demons and his sister Nezuko is turned into one. Tanjiro’s goal is to find a way to turn Nezuko back into a human and to defeat Muzan Kibutsuji, the progenitor of all demons.
One of the most intriguing aspects of Tanjiro’s character is his ability to use the Sun-Breathing technique, the original and most powerful of all breathing styles in Demon Slayer. The Sun-Breathing technique was created by Yoriichi Tsugikuni, a legendary swordsman who lived hundreds of years ago and was the only person who ever came close to killing Muzan. Yoriichi was born with a mark of a sun-breather on his forehead and could see into the transparent world, where he could observe the flow of life energy and predict his enemies’ movements. He also wore a pair of hanafuda earrings that resembled the sun.
Tanjiro inherited the Sun-Breathing technique from his father, who taught him a ritual dance called Kagura that he performed every new year. The dance was actually a way of passing down the Sun-Breathing technique through generations without attracting Muzan’s attention. Tanjiro also inherited the hanafuda earrings from his father, which he wears as a charm.
But how are Tanjiro and Yoriichi related? Are they descendants of the same bloodline? The answer is no. Tanjiro and Yoriichi are not directly related by blood, but they are connected by fate and friendship.
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The Connection Between Tanjiro and Yoriichi
Tanjiro is the descendant of someone who knew Yoriichi personally and was a good friend of his as well. Sumiyoshi was rescued by Yoriichi when a demon threatened his life. Since then Yoriichi often met him and they became close acquaintances. Sumiyoshi would often watch Yoriichi perform the Sun-Breathing technique and memorize the moves properly.
Yoriichi also gave Sumiyoshi his hanafuda earrings as a gift, telling him that they were made by his mother who prayed to the sun gods for him to be able to hear. He also told Sumiyoshi that he had no direct descendants, as his wife and unborn child were killed by demons. He entrusted Sumiyoshi with his legacy and hoped that he would pass it on to someone worthy.
Sumiyoshi did as Yoriichi wished and taught his son Suyako the Sun-Breathing technique and gave him the hanafuda earrings. Suyako then passed them on to his son Tanjuro, who passed them on to his son Tanjemon, who passed them on to his son Tanjuro (Tanjiro’s father). Thus, the Sun-Breathing technique and the hanafuda earrings were preserved in the Kamado family for generations.
The Similarities Between Tanjiro and Yoriichi
Tanjiro and Yoriichi share many similarities besides their ability to use the Sun-Breathing technique and their possession of the hanafuda earrings. They both have kind and compassionate personalities, as they value human life and try to help others in need. They both have strong determination and courage, as they face overwhelming odds and never give up on their goals. They both have a strong sense of justice and morality, as they fight against evil and injustice.
They also share some physical traits, such as their dark hair color, their facial features, and their eye color (although Tanjiro’s eyes turn red when he uses his demon slayer mark). Many characters in Demon Slayer have remarked on how Tanjiro resembles Yoriichi, especially Muzan, who trembles in fear whenever he sees Tanjiro’s face or hears his voice.
However, there are also some differences between Tanjiro and Yoriichi. For example, Yoriichi was born with a natural talent for swordsmanship and Sun-Breathing, while Tanjiro had to train hard to master them. Yoriichi was also more solitary and reserved, while Tanjiro is more sociable and friendly. Yoriichi died with a sense of failure and regret, while Tanjiro achieved his goal and lived a happy life.
The Legacy of Tanjiro and Yoriichi
Tanjiro and Yoriichi are both heroes who left a lasting impact on the world of Demon Slayer. Yoriichi was the first and greatest demon slayer who created the Sun-Breathing technique and inspired other breathing styles. He also wounded Muzan so severely that he could never recover his full strength. He was revered as a legend by the demon slayer corps and feared by the demons.
Tanjiro was the one who finally fulfilled Yoriichi’s wish and defeated Muzan once and for all, ending his reign of terror and freeing the demons from his curse. He also saved his sister Nezuko and restored her humanity. He was honored as a hero by the demon slayer corps and respected by the demons.
Tanjiro and Yoriichi are connected by way of being chosen to wield Sun-Breathing, but Yoriichi died long after his wife and child had died, meaning he had no direct descendants. In the Demon Slayer manga’s final chapter, Yoriichi and his family have been reincarnated and are seen in the deep background of a panel as Tanjiro’s own descendants celebrate their lives. This implies that Yoriichi and Tanjiro are spiritually linked by their shared destiny and friendship.
Is Tanjiro related to Yoriichi? The answer is no, but they are more than just strangers. They are comrades, allies, and brothers in arms who fought for the same cause and shared the same dream. They are the sun-breeders who brought light to a dark world.
