So, I was re-watching one of the best anime of all time, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, with a friend of mine(his first time) in this quarantine season. Now, I could go on and on about the outstanding animation and the fabulous storyline, but we all know that, right?
The thing that piqued his interest was, Tanjiro’s keen sense of smell was able to link Kibutsuji Muzan’s scent with the murder of the Kamado family back then.
“Why would the Demon King get down from his throne to kill a mere family out in the mountains,” he asked me. So, I decided to answer this question filled with mystery for the anime fans — Who killed Kamado family? Which demon was it? Was it Kibutsuji Muzan himself?
1. Quick Answer
To put it simply, the massacre of the Kamado family was no mere demon attack, but an intentional attack.
Kibitsuji Muzan, in search of the “perfect demon,” killed Kamado family and turned Nezuko into a demon due to her Breath of Sun user lineage.
2. Why the Kamado Family?
The fascinating and mysterious history associated with Tanjiro’s family along with the unique abilities that Nezuko and Tanjiro display — makes it undeniable that their blood is special.
Hints relating to the Kamado family and their deaths have been dispersed over the course of the story.
Tanjiro being a Breath of the Sun User, his sword’s color, the art of the Dance of the Fire God, Nezuko’s ability to forsake human oriented-diet, and withstand the sun — they all amounted to a greater truth.
It is no coincidence that Tanjiro’s ancestor was associated with the first Demon Slayer, Yoriichi, a Breath of the Sun User. Therefore, it can be ruled that the death of Tanjiro’s family was no mere killing — it was intentional.
3. Why Kibutsuji Muzan Killed Tanjiro’s Family?
So who did it? It is the demon who is threatened by their very existence, Kibutsuji Muzan.
Muzan’s history with Yoriichi is quite astounding. Muzan sees the Hanafuda earrings as a symbol of threat to his existence which he clings to. The Kamado family having a tradition of passing down Hanafuda earrings is no innocent factor.
Muzan’s encounter with Tanjiro showcased Muzan’s reaction to anyone associated with Yoriichi and the Breath of the Sun Users.
The Kamado Family’s background is interlinked with the Breath of the Sun Users — enough to make the overly cautious Muzan kill them.
Muzan being the perpetrator is supported by Tanjiro’s great sense of smell. Upon picking up Muzan’s scent, Tanjiro is able to quickly identify that his scent was present during the scene of the murder.
4. Why Nezuko?
Tanjiro’s fate can simply be his luck and Muzan’s lack of awareness of the family’s size. But, why was Nezuko made a demon? The answer is Kokushibo.
As we all know, Muzan was in search of people who can withstand sunlight when turned demon — the Perfect Demon.
Kokushibo managed to stay the Upper Moon Demon One for centuries – in this case, his abilities can be addressed in light of his family background, i.e, the Breath of the Sun Users.
Muzan’s decision to make Nezuko a demon may have arisen from an experimental view — which has been fruitful. Nezuko can withstand the sun — something that Muzan has longed to achieve for centuries.
5. Old Theory: Kokushibo’s Role
A few months back, before the revelation, there was another theory going around. I think it is worth mentioning so here it goes.
If not Muzan, the only contender would be the Upper Moon One, Kokushibo.
It was revealed that Kokushibo is the twin brother of Yoriichi. For someone so high up on Muzan’s army, he must have a vast amount of Muzan’s blood present in his system.
Although this theory had several plot holes as to how Tanjiro didn’t pick up the rest of Kokushibo’s scent along with no insight on Kokushibo’s motives.
6. About Demon Slayer
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Koyoharu Gotoge. Its publication in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump began in February 2016 with 19 collected tankōbon volumes released as of present.
In a world filled with demons and demon slayers, Kimetsu no Yaiba follows the lives of two siblings Tanjiro and Nezuko Kamado. They persisted after a great tragedy — the murder of their family at the hands of a demon. Their hardship does not end there, as Nezuko is barely spared to live as a demon.
As the oldest sibling, Tanjiro vows to protect and cure his sister. The story traces the bond of this brother-sister or better yet, demon slayer and demon combo against the odds of an arch antagonist and the society.
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