Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba 鬼滅の刃
- Published on : 20/12/2022
- by : bryan@japan-experience.com
©Febrero Veinticuatro, flickr
A mutual and eternal hunt: Slayers against Demons!
A true phenomenon of the new manga/animated generation, Demon Slayer is a staple of Japanese pop culture. First published in 2015, Demon Slayer, or Kimetsu no Yaiba in Japanese, quickly made a name for itself on the Japanese scene before conquering the international scene. Today we introduce you to this manga whose popularity has exploded in recent years.
Dive into 20th century Japan: the story of Demon Slayer
The story of Demon Slayer begins around Tanjiro Kamado, a young coal merchant of the Taisho era (between 1912 and 1926 in Japan). As a rumor circulates about a man-eating demon, Tanjiro, who returns from a nearby village, finds his entire family brutally murdered.
Although unconscious, Nezuko, one of his younger sisters, is the only survivor of the attack. While Tanjiro tries to save her by taking her to a doctor, Nezuko wakes up and attacks him: the young girl has turned into a demon. A family fight then follows, which ends when a slayer named Giyu Tomioka, intervenes to defend Tanjiro and fulfill his role as a demon slayer.
When this newcomer is about to kill the young Nezuko, Tanjiro intervenes, swearing that he can help her to come to her senses. The latter finally recognizes him and shows emotions and softening, characteristic of human traits.
With both himself and his sister spared, Tanjiro embarks on a new quest: to find the killer demon so that his sister can become human again. To achieve this goal, he must become a slayer, a Demon Slayer!
Tanjiro Kamado, main character
©Demon Slayer, flickr
Tanjiro, Zenitsu and Inosuke
©Demon Slayer, flickr
Tanjiro and Nezuko
©Lee Phan, flickr
Giyu Tomioka
©Demon Slayer, flickr
During this emotionally charged adventure, Tanjiro meets various characters, most of whom are reluctant to let a demon live. He can nevertheless quickly count on the major support of two atypical companions: Zen'itsu, a fearful slayer on the edges and Inosuke, a wild slayer that one can only notice!
The representation of new codes of action-adventure in shonen
The work of mangaka Koyoharu Gotoge, symbol of the new generation of the action-adventure genre in shonen, relies on new codes that mark a break with some older manga.
This type of story in shonen have long perpetuated this cliché with a male main character surrounded by a few weak female characters who often rely on him. Demon Slayer has reversed this trend! Although the main characters are all male, female secondary characters are present and have nothing to envy to their counterparts.
To name a few, Shinobu Kocho, who plays a pillar role (the highest rank of slayer in the Demon Slayer universe) and her disciple Kanao Tsuyuri are characters whose power surpasses that of some of the male characters. In the enemy camp, fans recently discovered Daki in the Entertainment District arc. To summarize without spoiling, Daki quickly became known as a demoness whose power is both titanic...and deadly!
Shinobu Kocho
©Demon Slayer, flickr
Kanao Tsuyuri
©Demon Slayer, flickr
Shinobu Kocho
©Demon Slayer, flickr
Finally, Demon Slayer is a manga from which a certain darkness is expressed. The complexity and the darkness of the characters make the work credible and coherent, where nothing is completely clear-cut. The demons, who act under the order of the main antagonist Muzan Kibutsuji, often show a certain sadism or a great interest for violence. Behind these behaviors, however, lies real suffering, even hatred for the human race: many demons were once human, with lives punctuated by abuse, hatred and regret.
This nuanced universe, where the bad guys are as much victims as the good guys, is one of the main reasons for the success of Demon Slayer!
An outstanding work of animation, which contributes to the success of the anime
At a time when the world has become digitalized and every book and manga has an animated adaptation, it is important to stand out among all these concepts.
The studio ufotable has taken up the challenge with the anime Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. The visual experience is unique and contributed to the international success of the work.
Beyond the simple visual of the characters which is already of a very rare quality, the breaths, the sword movements, the changes of emotions in the eyes are perceptible and very realistic. The animation reaches its peak with the fighting techniques: a 3D effect gives a certain realism, as if the techniques were an extension of the characters' bodies.
The techniques of water, fire or electricity have a very particular animation that reminds a mixture of Japanese prints and special effects. Demon Slayer is a real visual marvel, an animation symbol of a new era, which is surely one of the best in the anime universe today.
In numbers :
In 2019 and 2020, Demon Slayer was the best-selling manga in Japan. With more than 150 million copies sold for 23 volumes, the manga has quickly made a name for itself on a global scale.
In addition to the successful anime series, Kimetsu no Yaiba has been invited to the big screen with a movie released in October 2020 in Japan: "The Infinity Train". A real tidal wave at the cinema, it even dethroned Miyazaki's famous film, Spirited Away, which was the biggest success of the Japanese box office since 2001! 32.5 billion yen of receipts and 24 million spectators... figures worthy of major blockbusters.
We are now impatiently waiting for season 3 of his anime adapting the arc of the Blacksmiths Village, which should start airing in spring 2023.
Visit Demon Slayer in Japan
It is always interesting to be able to find references of a work in its country of origin. This is the case of Demon Slayer, which has helped to increase tourism in some places. Kamado is the family name of the main character, Tanjiro Kamado, but also the name of different shrines in Japan!
Since the fans have made the connection, these shrines are experiencing a great wave of popularity.
Among them, there is mainly the Kamado-jinja located in Dazaifu in Fukuoaka prefecture in Japan. Built in 673 during the Tenji era, it is a Shinto shrine listed as a national historic site. Today, fans take the opportunity to leave tributes to Demon Slayer, because of its name shared with the hero of the manga.
Address : Kamado Shrine, Fukuoka, 883 Uchiyama, Dazaifu, Fukuoka
To find out more about the must-see places to visit, discover our special circuit dedicated to manga and traditions !
