Demon Slayer’sprotagonist,Tanjiro Kamado, achieved some of the most impressive feats in the series.He killed every demon who stood in his path, including eventually Lord Muzan,the progenitor of all demonswho was assumed to be too strong for anyone to defeat previously.
Tanjiro’s growth throughoutDemon Slayerwas stellar to witness, butsome fans took issue with the factthat although Tanjiro is one of the most accomplished members of the Demon Slayer Corps,he never became a Hashira.Although it could technically be argued that Tanjiro is physically and mentally equipped to be a Hashira after everything he experienced, the reality is that reaching that status was never his primary goal or focus anyway, making it unnecessary for his journey.
Tanjiro Never Wanted to be a Hashira
Unexpected Tragedy Forced Tanjiro Into Pursuing This Path as a Demon Slayer, He Didn’t Choose It on His Own
Arguably,Tanjiro never wanted tojoin the Demon Slayer Corpsin the first place.His decision to become a demon slayer was motivated by absolute necessity, not a deep, innate desire to pursue that career specifically. Before the events ofDemon Slayer,he worked as a coal burner, and seemed satisfied with his simple, straightforward job that allowed him to support himself and his family. However, one day, upon returning from work, he found his family dead, and realized that Lord Muzan, a demon, was the guilty party who had murdered all of his loved ones and left him with indescribable pain.
Demon Slayer’s Best Hashira Proves Tragic Backstories Aren’t Always Necessary in Anime
While most of the Hashira in Demon Slayer have a violent, tragic backstory, one of the Hashira became a Demon Slayer for realistic reasons.
Nezuko was still alive thankfully, but Muzan transformed her into a demon too, and Tanjiro felt absolutely hopeless upon realizing that his only surviving relative was subjected to such a fate. When he discovered that joining the Demon Slayer Corps would offer him a slim chance of restoring his sister’s humanity, he leaped at the opportunity. Had this tragedy not occurred though, it seems very unlikely that Tanjiro would have ever just woken up one day and decided to become a demon slayer.His choice was purely inspired by his commitment to saving his sister’s life,so he did what he had to to help her.
Tanjiro’s Primary Goal is Simply to Save Nezuko
Tanjiro may be successful as a demon slayer, butso many of his achievements stem from his unwavering motivation to turn Nezuko human again.He derives his strength and willpower from his promise to protect his younger sister, which is a noble inspiration. However, under ordinary circumstances, Tanjiro may not have been as willing to fight this hard to pass the Final Selection and to kill demons. It would have been much easier for him to choose another career path, but Nezuko’s life depended on her brother taking action, so Tanjiro stepped up to save her when everyone else viewed restoring her humanity as a hopeless dream.
10 Best Demon Slayer Moments Between Tanjirou & Nezuko That Prove Why Their Bond Is So Unbreakable
Tanjirou and Nezuko Kamado’s sibling bond is the heart of the show, and they always have each other’s backs.
Although Tanjiro is skilled at his job, he does not necessarily take pleasure in killing demons, and oftentimes sheds tears for the demons that he recognizes are victims of Muzan’s cruelty themselves. He is one of anime’s most empathetic protagonists, and although he always ensures demons receive justice for killing humans, it is hard on Tanjiro emotionally to end the life of another living creature.Tanjiro does not seem like a character best suited for a ruthless job like a Hashira,and without the goal of saving Nezuko in mind, he likely would not thrive on that particular career path.
Tanjiro Respected the Hashira but Never Wished to Be One
Demon Slayer’s Story Showed No Signs That Tanjiro Was Ever Intentionally Pursuing a Hashira Career Path
Ultimately, Tanjiro’s primary goal was simple: turn Nezuko human again and keep her from being harmed by another demon or a human before that point. He never considered being a Hashira or wished he could achieve that milestone as a demon slayer. Although he admired the Hashira and showed them immense respect for the sacrifices they make daily to protect humanity from demons,Tanjiro never showed any signs that he was hoping to join them in the future.Had he wanted to become a Hashira, he likely could have pursued that path, but it was never really on his radar.
There’s One Reason Tanjiro is Demon Slayer’s Real Hero, & It’s Not What Fans Think
Instead of strength or courageousness, there is a very unique quality that sets Demon Slayer’s hero Tanjiro apart from other shonen main characters.
There are two waysto become aDemon SlayerHashira: kill 50 demons or defeat one of the Twelve Kizuki alone. Tanjiro did not achieve either of these requirements, but these were never his objectives anyway. Once he took down Muzan, with the help of countless other demon slayers, andbrought back Nezuko’s humanity, Tanjiro’s work was complete.Many fans sometimes complain about the simplicity of Tanjiro’s character, but he is one of the easiestshonen characters to understand and connect with, because all he really wants throughout the entire story is to ensure Nezuko’s safety.
Tanjiro’s Motivation Makes Demon Slayer Different From Other Shonens
Whereas Other Protagonists Focus On Being the Best, Tanjiro Just Wanted to Save His Sister
Tanjiro’s simple goal differentiatesDemon Slayerfrom a lot of other shonen series out there. In many other popular shonen series, likeOne Piece, Jujutsu Kaisen,andMy Hero Academia,for example,the protagonist or other characters are spurred forward by an overarching goal of becoming the “best,“whatever that means in their respective world. Deku wanted to be the number one Pro Hero, while Luffy wanted to find the One Piece and become the Pirate King. When compared to these other protagonists, Tanjiro is very different, because he is not motivated by reaching external achievements like these.
10 Best Demon Slayer Episodes
Demon Slayer is acclaimed as one of the best modern shounen anime, and these episodes prove it.
As long as he managed to save Nezuko, Tanjiro would have been happy. The records he shattered as a demon slayer were certainly a nice bonus, but his goal was never surpassing everyone else or proving his own strength. Tanjiro was content with his old life and might never have been a demon slayer had horrific circumstances not forced him to. He was just an average person who took the necessary action to save his one surviving family member, and for that reason,it would not make sense forDemon Slayer’sTanjiro Kamado to become a Hashira.
