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Zenitsu and Gyomei: Let’s take a look at how these seemingly unrelated characters are connected in the animanga series Demon Slayer.
Demon Slayer, despite its simplicity, has plenty of layers when we look at the story. The characters are complex, and the motifs tend to be connected to one another. During the initial stages of the story, it might seem like two elements are unrelated. However, as the story progresses, a deeper connection is revealed. This has happened in the story and this time it involves Zenitsu and Gyomei Himejima.
These two characters barely even interacted in the series. However, fate connected them in the story. One is a coward who eventually redeems himself, while the other is the strongest Hashira in the series. Those who haven’t watched all the seasons might not be aware of the connection. However, manga readers are quite aware of Zenitsu’s connection to Gyomei Himejima.
In fact, the very element that connects these two characters is another person in the animanga series. The person in question played a significant role in shaping both the aforementioned characters’ lives. The net result may have been positive, but the mysterious person in question is unanimously hated by the community.
The Dot That Connects Zenitsu and Gyomei Himejima in Demon Slayer
As mentioned earlier, Zenitsu and Gyomei Himejima are connected through a character in the anime and manga series. That person is Kaigaku. This character has not been introduced in the anime series yet. However, manga readers are well aware of this character and everything that he has done since he was a little child. Gyomei Himejima took care of orphaned children in a temple. Kaigaku was one of the children present there. The temple had Wisteria incense along the perimeter to prevent demons from entering the place at night.
Kaigaku stepped out at night despite being asked not to. He encountered a demon and froze in fear. The young boy agreed to allow the demon to enter the temple grounds in exchange for his life. He was responsible for all the deaths that took place during that fateful day. This was also the time when Gyomei got a glimpse of his monstrous strength.
Kaigaku also happened to be Zenitsu’s upperclassman. He trained under Jigoro Kuwajima and became a demon hunter. However, he encountered Kokushibo at some point after Daki and Gyutaro’s defeat. The coward decided to accept Kokushibo’s offer and became a demon hunter. This is how both Zenitsu Agatsuma and Gyomei Himejima are connected in the Demon Slayer series.
All the People That Kaigaku Hurt in Demon Slayer
Kaigaku is one of the worst characters in this series. He has hurt a lot of people, and he had no redeeming moments in the animanga series. As mentioned earlier, he was responsible for all the deaths that took place in the temple. He disobeyed orders and stepped out at night. When he encountered a demon, he proceeded to inform the demon about the other children’s whereabouts. He even put out the Wisteria incense and allowed the demon to enter the temple grounds.
There were six children in total, of whom four died. Gyomei quite literally punched the demon till sunrise. Kaigaku was responsible for the deaths of four orphaned children who stayed with Gyomei Himejima. Following that, he trained under Jigoro Kuwajima and became a demon hunter. He learned the Thunder Breathing Technique and proceeded to become a demon after encountering Kokushibo. Jigoro Kuwajima took his own life to atone for his sins. He felt responsible because his student became a demon. Since Kaigaku became a demon, he must have consumed human flesh at some time. However, Zenitsu killed Kaigaku in the Infinity Castle arc.
Kaigaku’s Role in Demon Slayer
Kaigaku plays the role of a minor antagonist. Koyoharu Gotouge does a brilliant job of writing antagonists in this series. Viewers sympathize with some and absolutely detest others. Kaigaku falls in the second category, as the entire fanbase hates him unanimously. He lacks conviction, takes the easy way out, and refuses to take accountability for his actions. There is no sense of honor.
It gets worse when he puts on a tough exterior. He pretends to be better than Zenitsu, which isn’t really the case. Kaigaku is a minor antagonist who Zenitsu kills with little to no difficulty. The fight is extremely short, showcasing just how powerful Zenitsu is. Kaigaku as a character united all viewers, helping them rally behind Zenitsu Agatsuma during his most defining moment in the animanga series.
Why Do People Hate Kaigaku in Demon Slayer
People’s hate for this character ultimately boils down to his personality. Kaigaku didn’t receive much screen time in the series. However, he managed to irritate the entire fanbase with whatever little time he got. His actions killed children who did nothing wrong. Furthermore, Gyomei was imprisoned because of a misunderstanding. This was also Kaigaku’s fault at the end of the day. His own teacher killed himself because of his actions.
His interaction with Zenitsu in the Infinity Castle arc was the final nail in the coffin. He was brash, and rude, showed no remorse for Jigoro’s death, and continued to berate Zenitsu. Kaigaku felt that he was superior to Zenitsu because he mastered all Thunder Breathing techniques except for the first one. Kaigaku consistently displayed poor behavior, and there wasn’t a single moment in the manga that elicited a positive reaction. This is why fans hate Kaigaku in the Demon Slayer series.
Conclusion
Kaigaku is one of the most irritating characters to watch on screen. He didn’t receive much screen time. However, he managed to unite the entire fanbase against him. There aren’t many viewers who missed his presence in the anime. However, fans loved seeing Zenitsu absolutely obliterate Kaigaku in the manga. Witnessing Ufotable bring that fight to life will be a groundbreaking moment in anime history.
Kaigaku was a part of Zenitsu’s best moment in the series. In that regard, fans were glad to have him in the anime and manga series. Furthermore, his personality only stoked the flames of hatred. He is one of the most despicable characters in the series, with absolutely no redeeming qualities.
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