As the last bastion of humanity against the demons skulking in the night, the breath-powered warriors of Demon Slayer belong to an association devoted to the eradication of Muzan Kibutsuji's legion of monsters. Among the demon slayers are the Hashira, elites who stand near the top of the hierarchy as the strongest fighters in the Demon Slayer Corp. When they're first introduced, they are depicted as nigh-undefeatable powerhouses.
Unfortunately, death is an inevitability for all demon hunters — not even the Hashira, as strong as they are, are safe from an early grave. Those who watched the Mugen Train Arc are already painfully aware of the Flame Hashira's death, but he was not the last of them to perish in Demon Slayer. As the manga drew to a close and Muzan Kibutsuji was placed on the ropes, various Hashira began to drop like flies in the face of the demon lord and his strongest champions.
Updated on May 8, 2024, by Ajay Aravind: The Demon Slayer manga may have ended in 2020, but anime fans can expect to see a lot more of their favorite demon slayers on screen. The anime's fourth season, the Hashira Training Arc, will release on May 12, 2024, following the success of the eponymous movie. Although only one Hashira has been killed in the anime until now, many of them are going to perish in the ultimate battle against Muzan. As such, we've updated this article highlighting every Hashira death in order of occurrence.
1 Kanae Kocho Was Killed By Doma Long Before Demon Slayer Begins
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One of the first named human deaths outside Tanjiro's family, Kanae Kocho was Shinobu's older sister and predecessor. Soft-spoken and kind but by no means a pushover, Kanae met her untimely end at the hands of a high-ranking fiend, Doma, the second-highest-ranked member of the Upper Moon demons and one of the strongest Demon Slayer characters.
Not much is known about Kanae aside from what the story tells the audience, but just because she didn't have much presence in the story doesn't mean her death had no impact. In fact, Kanae's death catalyzes Shinobu's journey and drive to become a demon slayer. This is because Kanae breathed her last breath while in Shinobu's arms, infuriating the latter so much that she never lets go of her vengeance.
2 Jigoro Kuwajima Was Heartbroken After His Student Turns Evil
The mentor is one of the most beloved tropes in all of fiction; most shonen protagonists have one. Just like how Tanjiro had Urokudaki, Zenitsu had Jigoro Kuwajima, the former Thunder Hashira. The old warrior had two known disciples: Zenitsu and Kaigaku. The former would go on to become a formidable demon slayer, while the latter goes down a much darker path.
In fact, Kaigaku eventually became a demon and accepted Muzan's invitation to replace the recently defeated Gyutaro & Daki, making him the new Upper Moon 6. Wracked with the shame of having lost a pupil to evil, it's later revealed that Kuwajima died by suicide. Where his death shows up on the timeline is hazy, but readers can reasonably assume that it happened shortly before Zenitsu set off to attend the Final Selection.
3 Kyojuro Rengoku Is Killed By Akaza After An Explosive Battle
Kyojuro Rengoku wasn't the first Hashira to appear, but he was certainly one of the most memorable. His stand-out design, powerful techniques, simple but relatable philosophy, and signature catchphrase made him an instant favorite when he stepped onto the scene. Flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku's death takes place at the end of the Mugen Train Arc, leaving fans heartbroken.
During his battle with Akaza, the Upper Moon Three, Rengoku manages to keep the villain on his toes for quite some time, further demonstrating the Flame Hashira's tactical brilliance. Although Rengoku ultimately suffers a fatal blow, he demonstrates to Akaza the might of the Demon Slayer Corps. The Flame Hashira may not have had a lot of screen time, but he spends every second of it proving that anyone can aspire to greatness.
4 Shinobu Kocho Is Killed By Doma, But Not Before Weakening Him
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When the Demon Slayer Corps take the fight directly to Muzan Kibutsuji, everyone is well aware that the chances of them surviving are slim. However, even those odds aren't enough to deter the demon slayers, especially Shinobu, who finally has a chance to take revenge on Doma for slaughtering her sister Kanae.
Shinobu and Doma's fight is one of the first battles to commence when the heroes infiltrate Muzan's castle, and it's a brutal one. The fight ultimately ends with Shinobu's defeat. However, the Insect Hashira had always known that Doma was most likely going to consume her entire body, which is why she had an extremely heavy dose of Wisteria poison flowing through her veins. As such, Shinobu manages to weaken the Upper Rank 2 just enough for Kanao and Inosuke to reenter the battle.
5 Muichiro Tokito Is Cut To Pieces By His Own Ancestor
Although he's only 14 years old, Muichiro Tokito is a man of action. His mist-based techniques are swift and mesmerizing. That may sound like he's meant to play support, but he's actually one of the best swordsmen in the Demon Slayer Corps. Muichiro is technically skilled enough to fight on par with the Upper Moon One, who used to be a swordsman himself.
While infiltrating the castle, Muichiro teams up with Genya, Sanemi, and Gyomei to square off against the overpowered Kokushibo. It takes all four of them just to stand a chance against this formidable monster. Muichiro embeds his Nichirin blade in Kokushibo's body before receiving a fatal injury from the demon. Although the Mist Hashira doesn't survive the encounter, his sword glows red and burns the Upper Rank 1 from the inside.
6 Mitsuri Kanroji Succumbs To Her Injuries In Obanai's Arms
An instant fan favorite, Mitsuri Kanroji made her combat debut during the Swordsmith Village Arc, outfitted with her tricky Love Breathing techniques. While she seems like a meek supporter, Mitsuri is not someone to be underestimated. In fact, her Love Breathing is rooted in Flame Breathing, with Kyojuro Rengoku being her mentor.
During the Infinity Castle Arc, she teams up with Obanai to take down Nakime, Muzan's samisen player, who alters the layout of the castle. The pair manage to overcome the demon and help Tanjiro face off against Muzan, but that's where her story ends. While she does survive to see the end of the battle, she ultimately succumbs to her injuries from both battles, dying in Obanai's arms. Manga fans were utterly devastated to see Mitsuri go, especially given what happened soon after.
7 Obanai Iguro Fights Until The Last Breath Leaves His Body
Obanai is possibly one of the least established characters, so this Hashira's death probably doesn't hit as hard for fans. That said, he has a sizable manga fanbase because he spends what little spotlight he has revealing how much strength and kindness he's hiding under all those bandages. As the Serpent Hashira, Obanai has access to a unique array of techniques and abilities.
Similar to Kanroji, he fights Nakime and fights until his last breath helping Tanjiro take out Muzan. He dies mere moments apart from Kanroji, swearing that they'll get married and live a better life should they ever meet again in the future. As promised, both Obanai and Mitsuri find each other when they're reborn. Their reincarnations have opened a diner together, where the descendants of other characters often visit.
8 Gyomei Himejima Suffers Major Damage And Eventually Dies
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Gyomei Himejima is the strongest of the Hashira in terms of physical prowess as well as the most unique in terms of fighting style. He's the only combatant who fights with blunt weapons instead of blades. During the infiltration, Gyomei's strength was a major boon to the Demon Slayer Corps, enough to turn the tables on Muzan during the final stretch of the battle.
In fact, it is the Stone Hashira who first recognizes Muzan's unique biology, allowing his allies to fight the Demon King with greater attack precision. While the killing blow isn't shown, it's very evident by the end of the fight that Gyomei suffers major damage throughout the ordeal. When the dust settles, Gyomei passes away from his injuries, greeted in the afterlife by the orphans he had raised. The Stone Hashira's courageous death would be remembered by the survivors for the rest of their lives.
