Tanjiro Kamado is the main protagonist of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, a popular manga and anime series. He is a kind-hearted boy who becomes a Demon Slayer after his family is slaughtered by demons and his sister Nezuko is turned into one. He inherits the Hinokami Kagura, a mysterious Breathing Style that resembles the Sun-Breathing, the original and most powerful of all Breathing Styles. He also bears a striking resemblance to Yoriichi Tsugikuni, the creator of Sun-Breathing and the strongest Demon Slayer in history. But is Tanjiro related to Yoriichi? And what is the connection between them?
Who is Yoriichi Tsugikuni?
Yoriichi Tsugikuni was a Demon Slayer who lived nearly 500 years ago during the Sengoku era, also known as the Golden Age of Demon Slayers. He was born with a Mark of a Sun-Breather on his forehead, a sign of his extraordinary talent and power. He was able to see into the Transparent World, where he could observe the flow of life energy and muscle movements of living beings. He was also able to use the Thirteenth Form of Sun-Breathing, which transcended the limits of human strength and speed.
Yoriichi was the inventor of Breathing Styles, which are techniques that allow users to enhance their physical abilities by imitating natural phenomena or animals. He taught Breathing Styles to other Demon Slayers, but none of them could master Sun-Breathing, not even his own twin brother Michikatsu, who later became a demon and joined the Twelve Kizuki as Kokushibo, the Upper Rank One.
Yoriichi had a fateful encounter with Muzan Kibutsuji, the Progenitor of Demons and the main antagonist of the series. He defeated Muzan in an instant with his flawless swordsmanship, but he hesitated to kill him because he wanted to ask him a question. This gave Muzan a chance to escape, and Yoriichi considered himself a failure for letting him go. He also regretted that his brother became a demon and that he could not save his wife and unborn child from being killed by demons.
Yoriichi lived a long and lonely life, wandering around the world in search of Muzan. He died peacefully at an old age, surrounded by his friends Sumiyoshi Kamado and Suyako Kamado, who were descendants of his wife’s family. He gave his hanafuda earrings, which were made by his mother as charms when he was thought to be deaf, to Sumiyoshi as a token of gratitude.
Tanjiro is not a direct descendant of Yoriichi, but he is related to him through Sumiyoshi’s bloodline. Sumiyoshi was a friend of Yoriichi who was rescued by him from a demon attack. They often met and talked about various things, such as their families, their dreams, and their views on demons. Sumiyoshi admired Yoriichi’s strength and kindness, and Yoriichi appreciated Sumiyoshi’s honesty and courage.
Sumiyoshi married Suyako, who was a distant relative of Yoriichi’s wife Uta. They had children and grandchildren who inherited their features and personalities. One of their descendants was Tanjuro Kamado, Tanjiro’s father, who taught him the Hinokami Kagura dance and gave him the hanafuda earrings that he received from his ancestors.
Tanjiro inherited not only the physical appearance and accessories of Yoriichi, but also his spirit and will. He has a strong sense of justice and compassion for both humans and demons. He also has a natural talent for swordsmanship and Breathing Styles, especially Sun-Breathing. He is able to use some of its forms, such as Rengoku (Flame), Honoikazuchi no Kami (Flame God), and Nijunisai (Twenty-Second Form). He also awakened the Mark of a Sun-Breather during his fight with Akaza, the Upper Rank Three.
Tanjiro’s connection to Yoriichi is not only genetic but also spiritual. He has seen visions of Yoriichi in his dreams, where he learned more about his life story and his techniques. He also felt Yoriichi’s presence during his battles with Muzan and Kokushibo, where he received his guidance and encouragement. Tanjiro is the successor of Yoriichi’s legacy and mission: to defeat Muzan and end the curse of demons.
Conclusion
Tanjiro Kamado is not directly related to Yoriichi Tsugikuni, but he is his distant relative through Sumiyoshi Kamado’s bloodline. He also inherited his appearance, accessories, spirit, and will. He is the wielder of Sun-Breathing, the most powerful Breathing Style that Yoriichi created. He is the one who can fulfill Yoriichi’s dream of living a peaceful life with his family in a world free of demons.
