It all began with the tragedy that befell Tanjiro and his family... The full account of the cruelty in Episode 1 of "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba"

The subtitle of the first episode of "Tanjiro Kamado, Unwavering Resolve Arc," the beginning of the story, is aptly "Cruelty." Tanjiro, the eldest son of a charcoal-burning family, his mother, and siblings, were living a humble but happy life in the mountains. One day, when Tanjiro returned home after selling charcoal in town, he found his family dead and drenched in blood.

In order to save his sister Nezuko (CV: Akari Kito), who was the only one still warm, Tanjiro carried her on his back and desperately treaded through the snowy mountains. However, Nezuko suddenly "transformed into a demon" and attacked her brother. At that moment, Giyu Tomioka (CV: Takahiro Sakurai), a Demon Slayer Corps member who hunts man-eating demons, appeared and tried to kill Nezuko. Even though she had become a demon, Nezuko was still Tanjiro's precious sister, now his only surviving family member. Tanjiro pleaded in tears, begging, "Please stop... please don't kill my sister... I beg you, I beg you."

As the subtitle "Cruelty" suggests, the unfolding of successive tragedies that befall Tanjiro sparked reactions such as "I was seriously shocked by the sudden annihilation of the family...", "It's really hard..." and "It's too traumatic..." The "crying performance" of Natsuki Hanae, the voice actor who plays Tanjiro, in conjunction with this, gripped the hearts of viewers, making it a "legendary first episode."

The anime series "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba" is based on the manga of the same name by Koyoharu Gotouge, which was serialized in "Weekly Shonen Jump" from 2016 to 2020. Set in the Taisho era, it tells the story of a young boy named Tanjiro Kamado, who fights demons after his family is murdered by them. The TV anime "Tanjiro Kamado: Unwavering Resolve Arc" began airing in April 2019 and quickly became a sensation. The sequel, "Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train," broke records with a total box office revenue of 50 billion yen worldwide. The total global circulation of the original manga has now reached 220 million copies, making it a major hit in the history of Japanese manga and anime.

After the "Unwavering Resolve Arc," the TV anime continued with the "Entertainment District Arc," the "Swordsmith Village Arc," and the "Hashira Training Arc." Now, the story is approaching its final episodes with the production of a three-part film series, "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle Arc." The first installment, "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle Arc Chapter 1: The Return of Akaza," which was released on July 18, 2025, has already surpassed 25.7 billion yen in box office revenue just one month after its release.

(C)Koyoharu Gotoge / SHUEISHA, Aniplex, ufotable