Tanjiro Kamado is the main protagonist of Demon Slayer, a popular manga and anime series. He is a young man who becomes a Demon Slayer after his family is killed by Muzan Kibutsuji, the first and most powerful demon.
Tanjiro’s goal is to find a cure for his sister, Nezuko, who was turned into a demon by Muzan’s blood. But what about Tanjiro’s status as a Demon Slayer?
Does he ever become a Hashira, the highest rank of the Demon Slayer Corps? And what does it take to become a Hashira in the first place? In this article, we will answer these questions and more. Let’s get started!
What is a Hashira?
A Hashira (柱, lit. “pillar”) is one of the nine most powerful swordsmen in the Demon Slayer Corps. They are the elite warriors who have mastered a specific style of breathing technique, which enhances their physical abilities and allows them to use special sword skills. Each Hashira has a unique title based on their breathing style, such as Water Hashira, Flame Hashira, Insect Hashira, and so on.
The Hashira are also the leaders of the Demon Slayer Corps, who oversee the training and missions of the lower-ranked slayers. They are responsible for protecting humanity from the threat of demons, especially the Twelve Kizuki, the strongest subordinates of Muzan Kibutsuji.
How to Become a Hashira?
To become a Hashira, one of the nine most powerful Demon Slayers, there are two possible ways to demonstrate one’s strength and skill. However, both of them are extremely challenging and require a lot of training and experience.
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The first way is to kill at least 50 demons as a Kinoe-ranked Demon Slayer,
which is the highest rank before Hashira. Alternatively, one can also slay
one of the Twelve Kizuki, the strongest subordinates of Muzan Kibutsuji, the
first and most powerful demon.
These feats are very rare and difficult to achieve, as demons are cunning and powerful foes who can regenerate from most injuries and have various supernatural abilities. -
The second way is to be a Tsuguko of a Hashira, which means being a
successor or an apprentice of a Hashira. This requires immense talent and
potential, as only a few Demon Slayers are chosen by the Hashira to be their
Tsuguko.
A Tsuguko can only inherit the rank of Hashira if their respective Hashira dies or retires.
These feats are extremely difficult to achieve, as demons are cunning and powerful foes who can regenerate from most injuries and have various supernatural abilities. Moreover, the Twelve Kizuki are even more formidable, as they have been granted more blood and power from Muzan himself.
The average time it takes to become a Hashira by either of these methods is about five years, though some talented individuals might take only two years or so.
However, there were two exceptional cases that were much faster than that: Muichiro Tokito and Gyomei Himejima, who managed to rise to the rank of Hashira just two months after becoming Demon Slayers. They are considered prodigies among the Demon Slayer Corps.
Does Tanjiro Become a Hashira?
Now that we know what a Hashira is and how to become one, let's go back to our main question: does Tanjiro become a Hashira in Demon Slayer?
The short answer is: no, he doesn't.
The long answer is: he almost does, but he doesn't get the chance to officially join the ranks of the Hashira.
Let us explain why.
Tanjiro is undoubtedly one of the strongest and most talented Demon Slayers in the series. He has learned two breathing styles: Water Breathing and Sun Breathing. The former is one of the five basic forms of breathing techniques, while the latter is the original and most powerful form that all other forms are derived from.
Tanjiro has also killed several demons throughout his journey, including some of the Twelve Kizuki. He has faced off against Rui (the Lower Rank 5), Enmu (the lower rank 1), Gyutaro and Daki (the lower rank 6), Hantengu (the lower rank 4) and Akaza (the Upper Rank 3). He has also fought against Muzan Kibutsuji himself, along with other Hashira and Demon Slayers.
By all accounts, Tanjiro has met and surpassed the requirements to become a Hashira. He has shown remarkable courage, determination, compassion, and skill as a Demon Slayer. He has earned the respect and admiration of his peers and seniors alike.
However, Tanjiro never officially becomes a Hashira, the closest he comes to becoming a Hashira is when he reaches Hashira-level powers and completes most of the training under Gyomei Himejima. However, by then, the final battle against Muzan Kibutsuji had already begun, and there was no time for formalities or ceremonies.
After Muzan Kibutsuji was defeated by Tanjiro and his friends, there were no more demons left in the world. As a result, the Demon Slayer Corps was disbanded and there was no need for Hashira anymore.Therefore, Tanjiro Kamado never officially becomes a Hashira in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. However, he does achieve his goals of curing his sister and avenging his family.
So, Tanjiro never officially becomes a Hashira in Demon Slayer. He does reach Hashira-level powers and skills, but he does not get the recognition and status that come with it.
What Happens to Tanjiro After the Final Battle?
After the final battle against Muzan, Tanjiro survives, but he is severely wounded and infected with Muzan's blood. He briefly turns into a demon, but he manages to regain his humanity thanks to the intervention of Nezuko and his friends.
Tanjiro then lives a peaceful life with his sister, Nezuko, who has been cured of her demonhood. He marries Kanao Tsuyuri, a fellow Demon Slayer and the Tsuguko (successor) of Shinobu Kocho, the Insect Hashira.
Tanjiro also maintains his friendship with his comrades, such as Zenitsu Agatsuma, Inosuke Hashibira, Genya Shinazugawa, and Kanae Kocho. They all have their own families and descendants, who inherit their names and traits.
Conclusion
Tanjiro Kamado is the main protagonist of Demon Slayer, a manga and anime series that follows his journey as a Demon Slayer who seeks to avenge his family and cure his sister. He is a powerful and skilled swordsman who has learned two breathing styles: Water Breathing and Sun Breathing.
Tanjiro has also killed several demons, including some of the Twelve Kizuki, the strongest subordinates of Muzan Kibutsuji, the first and most powerful demon. He has also fought against Muzan himself, along with other Hashira and Demon Slayers.
However, Tanjiro does not become a Hashira in the series, as he joins the final battle against Muzan before he can be officially promoted. Furthermore, after Muzan’s defeat, the Demon Slayer Corps disbands, as there are no more demons to fight.
Nevertheless, Tanjiro accomplishes his main objectives of saving his sister and ending Muzan’s reign of terror. Tanjiro then lives a happy and peaceful life with his sister, wife, children, and friends.
We hope you enjoyed this article and learned something new about Tanjiro Kamado and his status as a Demon Slayer. If you did, please share it with your friends and fellow fans of Demon Slayer. Thank you for reading!