Character Analysis
(Avoiding Spoilers)
Living… in Japan, during the Taishō era (1912-1926). Tanjiro himself is from a rural village, where he and his family lived in a small house in the woods, away from most other residents of the area. Tanjiro supported his mother and numerous younger siblings by making money as a charcoal seller. Given his remote upbringing, Tanjiro is surprised by modern technologies that he hadn’t had the chance to encounter before joining the Demon Slayer Corps, such as electric lights and trains.
Profession… Demon Slayer. Tanjiro travels all around Japan slaying demons, driven by his overwhelming compassion for others. They are fighting an uphill battle against demons. Even for the Hashira, the top nine most powerful members of the Corps, some fights against demons require every ounce of their skill and attention. For a Slayer like Tanjiro, who begins at the lowest rank of Mizunoto, every encounter with a demon has the chance to turn deadly, spurring him to train to become stronger.
Interests… hanging out with his friends. Thankfully, Tanjiro has friends by his side to motivate him and help him train, fellow Corps members Inosuke and Zenitsu. They are becoming reliable friends in and out of combat.
Relationship Status… single. Tanjiro seems to be too focused on his goals to interest himself romantically with anyone. He is completely dedicated to becoming a stronger and more skilled Demon Slayer. Because of his brutal training regiment, it seems that Tanjiro has little time for anything else.
Challenge… finding a way to revert his sister, Nezuko, back into a human. Confronted by the top brass of the Demon Slayer Corps, the Hashira, for sparing the life of his demon sister, Tanjiro is left to plead his case for why Nezuko should be allowed to live. While some Hashira are willing to hear Tanjiro out, others want to immediately kill Nezuko. When faced with this disregard for his sister’s life and his determination to cure her, Tanjiro boldly confronts a Hashira named Sanemi Shinazugawa and tells him, "If you can't tell the difference between good demons and bad ones, then you don't deserve to be a Hashira!” Showcasing not only Tanjiro’s devotion to his sister but also his compassion for demons, Tanjiro takes a stand against overwhelming odds to protect those who rely on him and to stand for what he believes in.
Personality… kind, loyal, and respectful. He’s even compassionate to the demons he faces in battle, often praying over their bodies after he defeats them. Tanjiro feels an unshakable responsibility to help everyone around him, especially those who cannot help themselves. Even when at odds with other members of the Demon Slayer Corps, Tanjiro is rarely disrespectful and often transforms dismissive attitudes from those who outrank him as motivation to train harder and to improve himself.
