In the world of anime like Demon Slayer, it is not uncommon for the main characters’ parents to be absent or away from the picture for several reasons related to the plot. Demon Slayer goes in a different direction from this as we are shown many parental figures for many characters, including Tanjiro and Nezuko’s father, Tanjuro Kamado.
As we see with Tanjiro and Nezuko, with the two siblings sharing close ties with each other, Tanjiro can quickly lose his calm demeanor if her safety is threatened. The close bond that Tanjiro has with Nezuko is further extended by his other siblings and parents, who serve as the driving force in his mission to cure Nezuko and fight off demons as a member of the Demon Slayer Corps.
Although both manga readers and anime-only fans have already gotten a glimpse of Tanjiro’s dad, Tanjuro Kamado, you might be wondering if there’s any backstory that needs to be discussed. Who is Tanjiro’s dad? And was he also a demon slayer?
Tanjiro’s Relationship With His Father, Tanjuro Kamado
Tanjiro was born into a considerably low-income family that relied on their livelihood of being coal burners to get by in their daily lives. He was incredibly close with his five siblings and would often help them or go to the extra length to ensure they were happy.
His close relationship and bond with his siblings were similar to his bond with his parents, as he shared a strong family bond with his father and mother. Tanjiro’s father, Tanjuro, was already long dead before the story of Demon Slayer began, long before his family was slaughtered by Muzan, leaving only Tanjiro and Nezuko alive.
Even after death, Tanjuro continues to inspire Tanjiro throughout his journey as a Demon Slayer, which later proved to be essential for Tanjiro’s personal growth and development. He became the foundation of Tanjiro’s ability and mastery of the Sun Breathing Style, which he could pass down and teach him at an early age.
Tanjuro taught the Hinokami Kagura to Tanjiro, which was later revealed as the original Sun Breathing style. This breathing style is a part of the Kamado family as they perform the ritual every new year, offering the Fire God a dance from sunset to sunrise without rest.
Both father and son bear a striking similarity with one another, especially with their identical appearances. This is most likely a trait from the Kamado family, which is shared with their Demon Slayer mark on both of their foreheads.
Was Tanjiro’s Father a Demon Slayer?
As of the writing of this article, the Demon Slayer anime is currently ongoing, with only the last few story arcs left to cover until the series ends.
The manga has already concluded for some time now, and unfortunately, it doesn’t shed too much light on Tanjiro’s father’s past before he married and had Tanjiro and his siblings.
Fortunately, we know certain details about his character and his time with Tanjiro via the flashbacks during Tanjiro’s encounter with one of the Lower Rank Moons. We learn that Tanjuro was a normal person and not a Demon Slayer for most of his life despite having unusually close ties to the practice and profession.
Despite not being a Demon Slayer himself, Tanjuro is shown capable of becoming one and can easily keep up with things stronger than him despite his illness. His strength and speed are best demonstrated by his ability to quickly slay a bear threatening him and his children.
Despite not being a Demon Slayer and simply being a coal burner, Tanjuro is implied to be capable of using the Sun Breathing Style due to having practiced and mastered the Hinokami Kagura ritual dance.
His proficiency with this ritual allowed him to dance from dusk to daybreak without showing signs of fatigue and illness despite his condition, weak physique, and the cold surrounding area they lived in.
His ties with Demon Slaying end here, as he was never considered a Demon Slayer or was shown to be hunting down demons actively. Other characters also don’t make any noteworthy comments regarding Tanjiro’s father and lineage before discovering that the Hinokami Kagura dance was actually the Sun Breathing Style.
Tanjuro played a vital role in the story not only as Tanjiro’s father but also as the person who was able to keep the secrets of the Sun Breathing Style alive by passing down the Hinokami Kagura dance to Tanjiro alongside Yoriichii Tsugikuni’s original hanafuda earrings, just as his ancestors did, with the Kamado family’s long tradition eventually becoming the foundation for Muzan’s eventual defeat several hundred years later.
Also Read: Does Tanjiro Become a Hashira?
