Three reasons why Kimetsu no Yaiba is famous all over Japan [Demon Slayer]

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Have you ever heard of the manga titled "Demon Slayer"(Kimetsu no Yaiba)? It is a very popular manga in Japan.

Demon Slayer is an action-adventure manga set in the Taisho era of Japan and depicts the battle between man-eating "demons" and the demon-killing squad "Demon Slaying Corps" against them. The main character, Kamado Tanjiro, fights with the demons in order to find a way to turn his younger sister into a human again.

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As a fan, I'm going to thoroughly explain why "Demon Slayer" continues to captivate readers! Here are the three reasons why "Demon Slayer" is popular in Japan.

Demon Slayer popularity surpasses One Piece

Demon Slayer is currently taking the publishing industry by storm.

Sales have increased dramatically since the TV anime began airing in April 2019. Cumulative sales were 4.5 million copies in March 2019 in Japan before the TV anime aired. In September 2019, just before the end of the TV anime, it had sold 12 million copies, and by February 2020, it even exceeded 40 million copies.

Even these numbers can be considered modest given its actual popularity. This is because from last fall to the beginning of the year, bookstores across Japan run out of "Demon Slayer" and shelves were empty. If there had been enough of the book, it would have sold even better.

Three reasons why Demon Slayer captivates readers

The theme is family love

This manga's unwavering theme is "family love". Because love is "universal" for any generation of any race, you are drawn to the story of the "family love". Also, Nezuko who has become a demon draws a lot of sympathy for the story. You will be fascinated by a story that begins with deep love, but not with hatred or ambition.

And the great thing about this manga is that it also takes the perspective of the "demons". The story focuses on the pasts of the demons (the story of their "family" when they were human) who are attacked by the main protagonist. Just like Nezuko, all demons once were human. When they were human, they too had their own loving families.

There are many forms of "family love". Some demons have lost their family members while others have been misunderstood and neglected. This manga portrays a universal family love but also makes you think about the diversity of love. It is a story of family love that will touch your heart.

Demon Slayer recreates the Taisho Era

Especially at the beginning of the story, there is a great loss for Tanjiro, whose family was killed by the demon, and his sister, Nezuko, also becoming a demon. Tanjiro's conflict of "I have to be strong" is portrayed in the manga, which casts a dark shadow over the story. The existence of the demon also spreads fear among the villagers in the story. This manga reminisces decadent and nihilistic Japan of the Taisho era (1912-1926), a time of social unrest. It's amazing how the atmosphere that surrounded the Taisho era of that time is recreated in this fantasy manga.

For example, in the scene where when Tomioka Giyu, a demon hunter, tries to kill his younger sister, Nezuko, who has been transformed into a demon, Giyu says these words to Tanjiro.

Never leave yourself defenseless in front of an enemy!「生殺与奪の権を他人に握らせるな」

These are the words that encouraged Tanjiro to be strong and prepared to live in a world where demons are rampant. Without giving in to fear and sorrow, Tanjiro has to protect what is important to him. You can sympathize with the loss for Tanjiro, but you can also feel the compassion of the heroic courage that pushes him forward.

So, while affirming his anxiety and sorrow for the heartless world, he tries to lives strongly. The dialogues in this manga are always tender and strong, and they are so emotional and poignant.

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Demon Slayer is about restoration

The main character of the manga, Tanjiro, had his family killed by a demon, and his sister, Nezuko, the only survivor, was bitten by the demon and turned into a demon. Imagine if someone was in the same situation, he would try to get his family's "revenge" by slaying the demon that killed his family. But not Tanjiro.

Rather than resenting the demon, Tanjiro is motivated by the possibility of saving his sister. Because of his pure and straightforward nature, this story is a story about the "restoration" of the family. After all, Tanjiro is the protagonist a shonen manga hero should be!

Tanjiro's sincere and gentle nature does not change in the face of the demons. He speaks kindly to the demons, even if he is the one who attacked his family and sister.

As mentioned before, demons have their backgrounds and some have painful pasts. Tanjiro tries to understand their suffering. He is often scolded by other demon hunters, that "demons don't need sympathy". But he does not change his stance. His kindness is what makes him so appealing as a human being.

The companions who join him in his adventures are all unique characters, such as Agatsuma Zenitsu, who joined the Demon Slayer Corps, and Inosuke Hashibira, who is also a member of the same squad.

Zenitsu and Inosuke are influenced (more or less) by the personality of Tanjiro, and they naturally work together. (The interaction between the three is pictured in comical scenes, so you'll have to read the manga to find out for yourself...!

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I guess it's always the straightforward, bottomlessly pure guys like Tanjiro that attract people...

At the end

We will receive strength to live for tomorrow by sympathizing with how he rises up from the depths of despair and continues to fight to save his sister and protect humans from man-eating demons.

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I would like everyone in Japan and the world to read Demon Slayer manga.

The manga "Demon Slayer" is a must-read for people like this!

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I hope you'll enjoy the world of this adventure tale that will continue to captivate everyone!

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