The Overwhelming Presence of Rengoku! The Now-Rare “Hashira Meeting” as All Nine Hashira Assemble in "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba"

Episode 22 of the anime "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Tanjiro Kamado, Unwavering Resolve Arc" features the moment when Kyojuro Rengoku (voiced by Satoshi Hino) first speaks. For fans who know the harsh developments that follow in "Demon Slayer," the sight of all the elite swordsmen of the Demon Slayer Corps—the Hashira—gathering together is emotionally stirring, and at the same time, tinged with a sense of poignancy.

In previous episodes, the Water Hashira, Giyu Tomioka (voiced by Takahiro Sakurai), and the Insect Hashira, Shinobu Kocho (voiced by Saori Hayami), had already appeared. However, in episode 22 of the "Tanjiro Kamado, Unwavering Resolve Arc," the Sound Hashira, Tengen Uzui (voiced by Katsuyuki Konishi), the Love Hashira, Mitsuri Kanroji (voiced by Kana Hanazawa), the Mist Hashira, Muichiro Tokito (voiced by Kengo Kawanishi), the Stone Hashira, Gyomei Himejima (voiced by Tomokazu Sugita), the Serpent Hashira, Obanai Iguro (voiced by Kenichi Suzumura), the Wind Hashira, Sanemi Shinazugawa (voiced by Tomokazu Seki), and the Flame Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku, also appear, bringing all nine Hashira together.

The reason for the full assembly of the Hashira is the trial of Tanjiro Kamado (voiced by Natsuki Hanae), who broke the Corps' rules by defending a demon. This episode features the first spoken lines for many of the Hashira, with Rengoku loudly declaring, "Defending a demon is an obvious violation of the Corps' rules! We can handle this ourselves! We should decapitate both the demon and him!"

At this point, Rengoku was critical of Tanjiro, but many fans were deeply moved by his later exploits and his death after the fierce battle in "Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train." With the release of "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba The Movie: Infinity Castle - Chapter 1: Akaza Returns," the sight of the nine assembled Hashira carries even more emotional weight, knowing the trials that lie ahead.