Hashira

Quick Answers

What is the role of the Hashira in the Demon Slayer Corps?

As the most powerful combatants in the Demon Slayer Corps, the Hashira hold authority that is second only to the Corps' leader. They are assigned specific regions to patrol, gather information about demons, and are deployed for special missions unsuitable for lower-ranking members.

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How many Hashira are there in the Demon Slayer Corps?

At the time of their introduction in the story, the Demon Slayer Corps comprised of nine Hashira.

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Who are all the Hashiras in the Demon Slayer Corps?

The nine Hashira introduced are the Water Hashira Giyu Tomioka, Insect Hashira Shinobu Kocho, Flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku, Sound Hashira Tengen Uzui, Love Hashira Mitsuri Kanroji, Stone Hashira Gyomei Himejima, Mist Hashira Muichiro Tokito, Serpent Hashira Obanai Iguro, and Wind Hashira Sanemi Shinazugawa

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Overview[]

Hashira is the highest rank that Demon Slayers can obtain in the Demon Slayer Corps. Those who hold the position are regarded as the most powerful and skilled combatants in the entire organization, protecting humanity against more dangerous threats that cannot be handled by other Demon Slayers.

The Hashira, in accordance with their great strength, hold the highest authority in the organization, second only to the Corps leader, Kagaya Ubuyashiki, and later, Kiriya Ubuyashiki.^[1]

The Hashira are all assigned a specific region that they are required to patrol, usually to gather information about the demons inhabiting said area and to improve their swordsmanship. They are also deployed on missions only if lower-ranking members are unable to complete it.

Each Hashira is the master of a unique Breathing Style, some of which are even created by themselves. Interestingly, swordsmen who can use Flame Breathing and Water Breathing have become Hashira in every era, with no exceptions thus far.^[2]

Joining[]

To be a member of the Hashira, a Demon Slayer must be among the strongest combatants in the entirety of the Demon Slayer Corps. There are two known methods (both extremely difficult) that allow one to prove that they are worthy of becoming a Hashira: the first method is to accumulate a demon kill count of at least 50 as a Kinoe-ranked Demon Slayer, or singlehandedly slay a member of the Twelve Kizuki.^[3][4] Regarding the latter method, it's implied that an individual who's the sole survivor of a group effort to kill a Twelve Kizuki member fits the description, as despite Sanemi Shinazugawa and Masachika Kumeno slaying Lower One Ubume together, only the former became Hashira due to the latter losing his life. The second method is being a Tsuguko of a Hashira, which requires immense talent. Additionally, Tsuguko can only inherit the rank, if their respective Hashira dies or retires.

The effort required to achieve either of these methods requires almost five years' worth of training, though, the talented might take only two or so years to do so.^[3] However, there was one example that was much faster than that; Muichiro Tokito, who managed to rise to the rank of Hashira just two months after joining the Demon Slayer Corps.

Finding Successors[]

Main article: Tsuguko

In some cases, an exceptionally talented Demon Slayer can become the designated successor to one of the Hashira, known as a Tsuguko. To become a Tsuguko, a Demon Slayer can either apply for the position and get accepted, or get scouted by one of the current Hashira .^[3]

Hashira Training[]

Main article: Hashira Training

In preparation for the upcoming confrontation with Muzan Kibutsuji, Kagaya Ubuyashiki ordered that the Hashira conduct special training sessions with lower-ranked Demon Slayers. to improve all the Demon Slayers' physical abilities, overall health, and condition. The Hashira also trained among each other to improve their individual strength and their cooperative attack coordination.

List of Known Hashira[]

• Anime
• Manga

Anime Status[]

Click the 'Manga' tab to reveal the statuses of members as of Chapter 204. Beware of spoilers.

Hashira
Water Hashira Giyu Tomioka	Love Hashira Mitsuri Kanroji	Serpent Hashira Obanai Iguro	Wind Hashira Sanemi Shinazugawa	Stone Hashira Gyomei Himejima
Mist Hashira Muichiro Tokito	Insect Hashira Shinobu Kocho	Flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku †	Flower Hashira Kanae Kocho †
Former Hashira
Water Hashira Sakonji Urokodaki	Thunder Hashira Jigoro Kuwajima	Flame Hashira Shinjuro Rengoku	Sound Hashira Tengen Uzui

Manga Status (Spoiler Warning)[]

Click the 'Anime' tab to reveal the current statuses of members as of where the anime is currently up to.

Hashira
Disbanded
Former Hashira
Flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku †	Sound Hashira Tengen Uzui	Mist Hashira Muichiro Tokito †	Insect Hashira Shinobu Kocho †	Love Hashira Mitsuri Kanroji †
Serpent Hashira Obanai Iguro †	Stone Hashira Gyomei Himejima †	Flower Hashira Kanae Kocho †	Water Hashira Sakonji Urokodaki	Thunder Hashira Jigoro Kuwajima †
Flame Hashira Shinjuro Rengoku	Water Hashira Giyu Tomioka	Wind Hashira Sanemi Shinazugawa

History[]

Within the Demon Slayer Corps, exceptionally strong and highly skilled Demon Slayers were known as the Hashira. After one particular Hashira with flame-colored hair encountered a man named Yoriichi Tsugikuni, who was grieving the death of his wife and unborn child, they were personally taught how to use Breathing Styles. However, not all of the Hashira could not replicate Yoriichi's Sun Breathing techniques and instead opted to create the five fundamental derivatives: Water Breathing, Flame Breathing, Stone Breathing, Wind Breathing, and Thunder Breathing. Additionally, his twin brother Michikatsu Tsugikuni created another derivative in Moon Breathing. Later on, Michikatsu and several of the Hashira gained a mysterious red mark similar to Yoriichi's strange birthmark, which ended up increasing their strength.

However, a trend quickly noted is that none who awakened the mark survived past the age of 25. Michikatsu defected and became the demon Kokushibo to avoid this fate, before murdering the Oyakata-sama at the time. After learning of this, as well as Yoriichi failing to kill the demon progenitor Muzan Kibutsuji and sparing a disloyal demon, the Sengoku Era Hashira banished Yoriichi from the corps. Some even demanded that Yoriichi commit suicide before the new child Oyakata-sama silenced them. It is also known that the Flame Hashira, the very same man who had met and recruited Yoriichi in the first place, recorded a conversation he had with Yoriichi in which he recounted fighting Muzan using Sun Breathing techniques, resulting in the pillar reportedly losing confidence. Although Yoriichi was ousted in disgrace, some Hashira did stay on good terms and kept in contact.

In fighting demons, the Hashira had the highest body count out of anyone in the Corps, with lower-ranked demons being dispatched with ease. Among the Twelve Kizuki, it was a different story; the Lower Ranks usually were not a problem for the Hashira, as evidenced by Lower Five Rui being casually decapitated by Giyu Tomioka, and Lower Four Mukago reportedly fleeing when in the vicinity of a Hashira. Even when given an ample supply of Muzan's blood, the strongest Lower Rank, Lower One Enmu was overwhelmed by Kyojuro Rengoku's attacks. The Upper Ranks, however, were on several occasions mentioned to have killed several Hashira in the past; the weakest Upper Ranks, Upper Six Gyutaro and Daki are mentioned to have killed 14 and 7 Hashira respectively, and Upper Three Akaza openly brags about killing numerous Hashira.

Sakonji Urokodaki and Jigoro Kuwajima served as Water Hashira and Rumble Hashira respectively before retiring and going on to teach students their respective breathing styles. Shinjuro Rengoku would serve as the Flame Hashira, but due to the death of his wife as well as the discovery of Hinokami Kagura, as well as its superiority over all Breathing Styles, the man became a nihilistic curmudgeon and spiraled into alcoholism.

Among the Taisho era Hashira, Gyomei Himejima was the earliest to serve, having known Kagaya since he was nineteen and serving him for eight years till their deaths. By the time Sanemi Shinazugawa became the Wind Hashira, Giyu, Tengen Uzui, and Kanae Kocho had already become the Water, Sound, and Flower Hashira respectively. However, Kanae would be the first of the Taisho Era Hashira to fall after dying from injuries sustained fighting Upper Two Doma. After Kanae's death, her younger sister Shinobu rose to be the Insect Hashira. Shinjuro was quietly retired from being the Flame Hashira due to his alcoholism and uncooperative behavior, and his son Kyojuro Rengoku assumed the position shortly afterward. Mitsuri Kanroji, Obanai Iguro, and Muichiro Tokito would join the ranks as the Love, Serpent, and Mist Hashira, although not in that particular order.

The nine Hashira gathered to trial Tanjiro Kamado for breaking Corps rules by traveling with a demon, that being his younger sister Nezuko Kamado. Most wanted to execute the siblings on the spot immediately, but Kagaya's interference, coupled with Nezuko proving her willpower by refusing to attack Sanemi despite the Wind Hashira antagonizing and flaunting his bloodied arm in front of her, caused the Hashira to willingly or begrudgingly allow the siblings to be spared. That night, they were all called to a meeting where they discussed the skill of lower-ranked Demon Slayers and Tanjiro's historic encounter with Muzan Kibutsuji, with Kagaya ending the meeting by stating that he looks forward to their success.

The second Taisho era Hashira to fall was Kyojuro, who after thwarting Enmu's plot in the Mugen Train, was killed after an intense battle against Akaza, marking another loss for the Hashira. Shortly afterward, the Hashira would lose another member, albeit non-fatally as Tengen retired after being handicapped by Gyutaro. However, this loss was a bittersweet one as, with the help of Tanjiro, Inosuke, and Zenitsu, the Demon Slayers had killed an Upper Rank for the first time in over a century. Later on, when fighting Upper Four Hantengu and Upper Five Gyokko in the Swordsmith Village, Mitsuri and Muichiro awakened a mysterious mark, increasing their strength tenfold. Both Hashira managed to survive their encounters, another major victory as not only were two Upper Ranks defeated but both Hashira were in a condition where they could keep on fighting.

After the events in the Swordsmith Village, Amane Ubuyashiki held an emergency Hashira Meeting. She informs the Hashira that since Nezuko Kamado was able to conquer the sun, Muzan will go after her and the time for an all-out battle against him and the demons is approaching soon. Since Demon Slayer Marks started appearing after Tanjiro unlocked his first, she requests the Hashira to train themselves to unlock their marks and that any Demon Slayers with marks regardless of their status must participate. The Hashira agree, but Amane reveals to them the caveat of the Demon Slayer Mark's curse. Gyomei then announces to the other Hashira that he has a proposition on how to tackle Amane's request.^[5] Sharing the idea of a training program, he requested every Hashira to set the contents of their training and get their preparations done for it.^[6] Gyomei later privately agreed to use Kagaya as bait to draw in Muzan, due to foreseeing the arrival of the demon.

After training several Demon Slayers, the Hashira sans Gyomei were called into an emergency summons at the Ubuyashiki Mansion due to hearing of an intruder, only to witness the mansion explode, which unbeknownst to them, was a plan to ambush and weaken Muzan. After arriving on the scene and being told by Gyomei that the intruder was the progenitor of demons himself, the Hashira attempted to attack but were plunged into the Infinity Castle. Inside the demon's lair, the split Hashira would encounter and battle the remaining Upper Ranks: Shinobu fighting Doma, Giyu and Tanjiro clashing with Akaza, Obanai and Mitsuri contending against the new Upper Four Nakime, and Gyomei, Sanemi, Muichiro, and Genya Shinazugawa facing off against Kokushibo. During these battles, Giyu, Gyomei, and Sanemi would awaken their marks for the first time.

Meanwhile, the retired Hashira were on the homefront with Sakonji caring for Nezuko, while Shinjuro and Tengen served as bodyguards to Kiriya Ubuyashiki, who had assumed his father's role. The only retiree not present was Jigoro who had committed suicide earlier after hearing his pupil defected to the demons. Despite winning every single battle against the Upper Ranks, the Hashira suffered two more losses in Shinobu, who was killed and absorbed by Doma in a successful gambit that had her be eaten in order to poison the demon, and Muichiro who when stabbing Kokushibo with a Bright Red Nichirin Sword, was cut in half via a stray crescent moon blade from his Blood Demon Art.

After Muzan kills Nakime, the Infinity Castle collapses and ascends to the surface, with all contenders ending up in a city. The following was a long and arduous battle against Muzan, in order to stall for time so the demon could die to the sunlight. Obanai was the last Hashira to have awakened his mark for the first time. During the final battle against Muzan, the Hashira would suffer several grievous injuries including Giyu losing an arm, Obanai being blinded, Gyomei losing a leg, and Mitsuri losing her arms. In time however, Muzan was finally able to be killed by the sunlight, but the price of victory came at a hefty cost. Mitsuri and Obanai died from their injuries, while Gyomei passed away either due to his injuries or the curse of the Demon Slayer Mark taking effect. After a brief scuffle in which Tanjiro was temporarily turned into a demon, the threat was finally over.

In the wake of the final battle, Kiriya summoned the only surviving and active Hashira, Giyu and Sanemi. Since the demonic threat was annihilated, the Demon Slayer Corps and by extent the Hashira was left obsolete and officially disbanded.

In the modern era, the surviving former Hashira have descendants still living in the current day, in Tenma Uzui, Giichi Tomioka, Sanehiro Shinazugawa, and his relative that resembles Genya. As for the Hashira that fell in battle or presumably remained celibate, all would be reincarnated: Muichiro as an infant with a twin brother, Shinobu and Kanae as students at Sekirei Women's Academy (no indication that they are related), Gyomei as a kindergarten teacher, Mitsuri and Obanai as a married couple that own a restaurant, Sakonji and Jigoro as elderly shogi buddies, and Kyojuro as the direct descendant of his brother, Tojuro Rengoku.

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

• The character for Hashira (柱 (はしら) , Hashira^?) consists of nine strokes, which is said to be the reason for there being nine Hashira at the start of the series.^[7]
• All of the Hashira have Destroyer of Demons (惡 (あっ) 鬼 (き) 滅 (めっ) 殺 (さつ) , Akki Messatsu^?) engraved on their weapons.
  • Shinobu has Evil Demon (惡 (あっ) 鬼 (き) , Akki^?) engraved on the right side of the blade, and Destruction (滅 (めっ) 殺 (さつ) , Messatsu^?) engraved on the left side due to her sword's structure.^[8]
• Although not fully touched upon, it is hinted that a Hashira can retire whenever they want to.
• As the Hashira are a separate group of elite slayers, they have their own symbol on the back of their hand. These symbols correlate to what Breathing Style they are associated with.
• Of the nine Taisho era Hashira introduced, only four of them use a standard Nichirin Katana, those four being Kyojuro Rengoku, Giyu Tomioka, Sanemi Shinazugawa, and Muichiro Tokito.
• The Hashira with the biggest appetite is Mitsuri Kanroji, and the one with the smallest appetite is Obanai Iguro. Obanai can go about three days without eating.
• The Hashira are the only people in the Demon Slayer Corps with golden buttons on their uniforms instead of silver.
• The Hashira can get paid how much they want.

Rankings[]

Height[]

The following is the Hashira ranked in terms of height.

Weight[]

The following is the Hashira ranked in terms of weight.

Arm Wrestling[]

The following is the Hashira ranked in an arm wrestling competition.^[9]

Tanjiro Kamado was said to be ranked between Muichiro and Obanai.

Running Speed[]

The following is the Hashira ranked in terms of running speed.^[10]

Openness[]

The following is the Hashira ranked in terms of openness.^[10]

Kindness[]

The following is the Hashira ranked in terms of how easy they are to talk to.^[11]

References[]