Hello, I’m KENTA, a Japanese manga enthusiast. Do you have close friends with whom you share a deep bond? I mostly read manga at home, so I don’t have many friends! Haha. If I had to say, manga is my friend! In this article, we’ll delve into the true relationship between Tanjiro and Muichiro that wasn’t revealed in the main storyline. The two became much closer after their joint battle in the Swordsmith Village Arc, and their interactions are beloved by fans. We’ll also explore some behind-the-scenes stories that will make you love the Tanjiro and Muichiro duo even more, so please read to the end.
Behind-the-Scenes Insights from the Novel “One-Winged Butterfly”
First, let’s introduce some behind-the-scenes stories from the Swordsmith Village Arc that weren’t revealed in the main storyline. These special behind-the-scenes insights are only disclosed in the novel “One-Winged Butterfly.” After the Swordsmith Village Arc, the story quickly moved into the Hashira Training Arc without covering the recent events in the village, which left many fans curious.
In “One-Winged Butterfly,” we see a heartwarming story depicting the friendship between Muichiro, who regained his memories in the Swordsmith Village Arc, and Kotetsu. Fans of Muichiro and Kotetsu will find this story essential. Though they initially had a rocky relationship, they ultimately have good chemistry.
The novel begins with a scene featuring a conversation between Muichiro and Himejima after the Infinity Castle meeting. This scene already shows significant changes in Muichiro’s demeanor. Regaining his memories has made Muichiro much more gentle and approachable.
Himejima, who learned from the meeting that those who manifest the Demon Slayer Mark die by age 25, was concerned about 14-year-old Muichiro. Therefore, he spoke with Muichiro after the meeting to check on him. How has Muichiro changed?
When Himejima asked Muichiro if he was okay, considering the grim future awaiting him due to the Mark, Muichiro responded, “Please take care of Mitsuri Kanroji and Iguro-san.” Before regaining his memories, Muichiro showed no interest in others, so this was a significant change.
When Himejima asked why he mentioned Iguro, Muichiro replied, “Because Iguro-san likes Kanroji-san.” Most of the Hashira had probably noticed the mutual feelings between Kanroji and Iguro, but it was surprising that Muichiro, who seemed indifferent, had also picked up on it.
Himejima was shocked by Muichiro’s statement and said, “You have changed.” As someone who observes others closely, Himejima was both surprised and pleased by Muichiro’s transformation. Given their age difference, he was particularly concerned about Muichiro.
At this point, Muichiro recalled the words “It will be fine, Tokito-san,” bringing the story back to before the meeting. These words suggest that the two made some kind of promise.
Episodes from the Swordsmith Village Arc
After the battle in the Swordsmith Village Arc, Muichiro, who had regained his memories, visited the grave of Tetsuido, the swordsmith who originally crafted his sword. Tetsuido had always cared for Muichiro, who felt misunderstood by others before regaining his memories. Therefore, Tetsuido was an important person to Muichiro.
During his visit, Muichiro also checked on Kotetsu, who was diligently repairing Yoriichi Type Zero. Muichiro had damaged one arm and severed its head, completely destroying it.
The damage to the head allowed Kotetsu to find the hidden blade, but the complete destruction of the doll was a significant blow. Kotetsu was understandably upset, as he had treasured the doll.
Seeing this, Muichiro apologized, saying, “I’m sorry, it’s my fault.” Muichiro had wanted to apologize to Kotetsu ever since regaining his memories. When they first met, Muichiro had been harsh and forcefully taken the doll, but regaining his memories made him feel guilty for how he had treated Kotetsu.
Of course, Kotetsu didn’t blame Muichiro, who had risked his life. However, he expressed disappointment that he couldn’t fully repair the doll. The exterior could be fixed, but the internal mechanisms, especially the movement, were beyond his expertise.
Muichiro, having fought the doll, proposed, “I remember how it moved, so let’s fix it together.” This was a wonderful suggestion, showing their improved relationship. As they started repairs, Mitsuri arrived in the village and, seeing them working together, commented, “You became friends.”
Mitsuri, who had seen Muichiro’s past behavior, was delighted to see him getting along with Kotetsu. Kotetsu, feeling honored, said, “To be friends with the Hashira Tokito-san…” Muichiro casually responded, “Yes, we’re friends,” surprising Kotetsu. Considering their initial interactions, being called a friend by Muichiro was astonishing.
Muichiro then sincerely apologized for his past behavior, bringing tears to Kotetsu’s eyes. Initially, they had a difficult relationship, but Kotetsu was moved by Muichiro’s genuine apology and the fact that Muichiro had risked his life.
Both Muichiro and Kotetsu felt saved by each other. Their initial animosity made the current warmth between them even more touching. As Muichiro and Mitsuri left the village, Kotetsu promised, “I’ll definitely fix it, so please come back for training.” Muichiro replied with a gentle smile, “Let me know when it’s done.”
The Relationship Between Tanjiro and Muichiro
With an understanding of Muichiro after the Swordsmith Village Arc, let’s dive into the detailed relationship between Tanjiro and Muichiro. While the Muichiro and Kotetsu pairing is endearing, the Tanjiro and Muichiro pairing is also fascinating.
To put it simply, both Tanjiro and Muichiro are connected to the Breath of the Sun. Tanjiro’s use of the Hinokami Kagura, or the Dance of the Fire God, is well-known, but Muichiro uses the Mist Breathing technique.
So why is Muichiro connected to the Breath of the Sun? It is revealed in the final battle that Muichiro is a descendant of Upper Moon One, Kokushibo. Kokushibo’s brother, Yoriichi, was the original user of the Breath of the Sun. When the Tokito brothers were visited by Amane in the Swordsmith Village Arc, she mentioned that they had potential because they were descendants of Yoriichi, the origin of all Breathing techniques.
While Kokushibo is the direct connection, Kokushibo and Yoriichi were blood-related brothers, so Muichiro also carries Yoriichi’s blood. Before becoming a demon, Kokushibo had a wife and children, whose descendants eventually led to Muichiro.
Meanwhile, Tanjiro is the only person in his generation who can use the Breath of the Sun. Despite having no blood relation to Kokushibo or Yoriichi, Tanjiro’s ancestor, Sumiyoshi, was taught the Breath of the Sun by Yoriichi.
Sumiyoshi wasn’t a Demon Slayer, but he memorized the Breath of the Sun’s forms perfectly and passed them down as the Hinokami Kagura in the Kamado family. This is why Tanjiro, who has no blood connection to Yoriichi, can use the Breath of the Sun.
The Shared Trait of Red Eyes
We’ve explained how Tanjiro and Muichiro are both connected to the Breath of the Sun. Now, let’s explore the shared trait of red eyes that hints at their relationship. While their connection isn’t explicitly stated in the story, subtle hints are hidden in the depiction.
One scene to note is when Muichiro sees Tanjiro’s father in the Swordsmith Village Arc. Despite having no blood relation, Tanjiro and Muichiro’s father are strikingly similar. Muichiro, recalling his past, remembers his father’s red eyes, similar to Tanjiro’s.
Muichiro explicitly mentions, “He had the same red eyes as you,” referring to his father. This suggests that the red eyes might signify something deeper, such as a connection to the Breath of the Sun.
Red eyes are mentioned again in the Entertainment District Arc during Nezuko’s transformation. The song sung by Tanjiro and Nezuko’s mother mentions “red eyes.” Given that red eyes are mentioned twice, they likely hold significant meaning.
In the Kamado family, only Tanjiro has vibrant red eyes, similar to his father, Tanjuro. This implies that red eyes might be a sign of those who can use the Breath of the Sun. Despite being a descendant of the Breath of the Sun, Muichiro has blue eyes, possibly due to his use of Mist Breathing instead.
Red eyes seem to signify the ability to use the Breath of the Sun, as seen in Yoriichi. While Tanjiro and Muichiro’s relationship is becoming clearer, let’s look at the upcoming Hashira Training Arc focusing on Muichiro.
Training with the Mist Hashira
Muichiro’s training involves speed training. Despite regaining his memories, Muichiro is still harsh, and the general Demon Slayers are struggling. Muichiro’s calm demeanor and harsh words make him intimidating. However, he is very kind to Tanjiro, showing a stark contrast in his behavior.
Tanjiro’s strength is part of the reason, but Muichiro’s personal feelings also play a role. It will be interesting to see Muichiro’s gentle side towards Tanjiro. The current Hashira Training Arc covers only a few pages in the manga, so the anime will likely expand each episode significantly.
Given this pacing, each Hashira’s training will probably get one episode, making the Muichiro arc rich in content. Since Tanjiro and Muichiro share common traits, there might be more hints about their relationship.
The Uzui arc revealed thoughts not covered in the manga, suggesting that Muichiro’s arc might delve into his relationship with Tanjiro. Personally, I hope the novel-exclusive stories from the Swordsmith Village Arc are included.
Kotetsu is a significant figure for Muichiro and an irreplaceable boy protected by Tanjiro’s mentor, Rengoku. There might be interactions between Tanjiro, Muichiro, and Kotetsu related to Rengoku. To smoothly transition into the battle with Kokushibo, the story about the first Breath of the Sun user, mentioned by Amane, should be explored further.
What did you think? Did you gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between Tanjiro and Muichiro Tokito? At MangaZamurai, we publish analysis articles about Japanese manga for readers worldwide. Please check out our other articles too. You might discover something new. Stay tuned for the next update!
