With the end of Demon Slayer Season 4, Ufotable delivered the most cinematic experience the fandom could have asked for, ending with the Hashiras and Tanjiro’s group entering the Infinity Castle. As our beloved protagonist, Tanjiro Kamado, finally confronts Muzan Kibutsuji and vows to behead the Demon King, viewers are left glued to their screens, anticipating Season 5.
Since the beginning, Tanjiro has won the hearts of many anime fans worldwide, and his journey to save Nezuko and avenge his family’s tragic deaths has been a rollercoaster ride of emotions for the viewers. Despite Tanjiro threatening Muzan’s life, the Demon King merely smirks and dares the protagonist to act. However, there was one Demon Slayer who made Muzan Kibutsji shiver in fear with his mere presence, and it was none other than Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
How Yoriichi Tsugikuni Escaped the Curse That Doomed Every Hashira in Demon Slayer
Yoriichi Tsugikuni is the creator of the Sun Breathing Style and the legendary Demon Slayer, who lived over 500 years ago. Surprisingly, Muzan encountered Yoriichi during one of his ventures, which resulted in the Demon King’s initial experience with fear and fleeing the battlefield. Unfortunately, Yoriichi Tsugikuni always blamed himself for not beheading Muzan and ending the bloodbath.
Yoriichi was the only individual who solely made the Demon King bend a knee and nearly beheaded him, if not for Muzan’s cheap tricks. Koyoharu Gotouge portrayed Yoriichi Tsugikuni as someone so powerful that he never doomed the Sun Breathing creator with the tragic fate of every Demon Slayer mark’s user.
The awakening of the Demon Slayer mark grants the user enhanced abilities and breathing control, which in front may seem thrilling, but ends with a tragic fate.
Every Demon Slayer who unlocks their mark is destined to die at the young age of 25. Yes, it’s an inevitable curse that comes with the enhanced abilities and is every Hashira’s unfortunate fate; however, Yoriichi Tsugikuni wasn’t affected by this curse, despite being born with the mark.
Interestingly, Yoriichi unlocking his mark at birth is itself the secret behind his long life. Gotouge has already revealed that every Breathing Style is inspired by the famous Sun Breathing. This suggests Yoriichi might have mentored many Hashiras leading to the birth of several Breathing Styles. However, unlike Yoriichi, other Demon Slayers didn’t inherit these abilities, resulting in the birth of a tragic curse symbolizing the immense burden the Hashiras endured.
Since Yoriichi was born with a mark, it’s likely his body adapted to the mark’s immense power at birth. This led the strongest Demon Slayer to live till his mid-80s and reminisce about his failed duty to kill Muzan. Yoriichi later died of old age in an intimidating pose during the showdown between his brother, Michikatsu Tsugikuni (Upper Moon 1).
Did Tanjiro Kamado Break Free from the Demon Slayer‘s Tragic Curse?
After defeating Muzan, Tanjiro and his friends continue to live a happy life. Gotouge ensures our beloved protagonist meets a happy ending, especially after the tragic beginning of his journey. However, with Demon Slayer‘s epilogue, every fan is wondering if Tanjiro suffered the same tragic fate as every Hashira who unlocked their mark.
Some theories suggest that the sun-breathing style and Hanafuda Earrings, which were passed down in his family, is the secret behind Tanjiro’s long life. On the other hand, some fans suggest that Tamayo’s antidote might have turned Tanjiro into an average human, nullifying both his Sun Breathing and Demonic abilities.
Demon Slayer is available on Crunchyroll.
