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Who is Akaza in Demon Slayer? Explore this fearsome demon’s origins, role in the series, strengths and abilities, and final fate.
Demon Slayer, a series following the struggles of heroic fighters against bloodthirsty demons, has an abundance of compelling characters. Akaza is one such figure, considered by many in the fandom to be the best-written character in the series. While initially appearing as a hated antagonist, he soon overturned opinions through his backstory and conclusion in the Infinity Castle Arc. So, who is Akaza in Demon Slayer?
Akaza is the Upper Rank Three Demon in Muzan’s forces, having been responsible for killing Rengoku and sharing a rivalry with Tanjiro. He was responsible for the first major death in the series and remained relevant right until the very end. Here is a closer look at this character.
Who Is Akaza in Demon Slayer?
Ranked third in Muzan’s Twelve Kizuki, Akaza is one of the most powerful and dangerous demons in the series. He is known for his intense, no-nonsense personality that is always on the lookout for strong opponents.
Unlike other demons, Akaza doesn’t rely completely on his Blood Demon Art. Rather, he is a dedicated martial artist who takes pride in his style. He abhors weak individuals but shows respect to those with power. Consequently, he is willing to turn them into demons if desired, preventing their death.
Akaza may seem just like the other evil demons, but he is unique. He has an immense hatred for humans due to his past. At the same time, he is driven by the positive influences he had as a human. This prevents him from eating women, even though it would greatly enhance his powers.
How Did Akaza Become a Demon?
Akaza’s past is a tale of immense tragedy that devastated every fan. As a human child called Hakuji, his days were filled with hardship and suffering. This was because his father was extremely sick, and Hakuji couldn’t afford his treatment.
Unfortunately, when stealing from people to pay for medicine, Hakuji was caught by the Magistrate and punished. His father got word of this and killed himself to prevent his son from committing crimes.
This left Hakuji broken, as he went around picking fights with others aimlessly. Right when he seemed too far gone, a martial artist named Keizo beat him up and took him to his dojo. He convinced Hakuji to become his disciple and take care of his unwell daughter, Koyuki.
Though initially reluctant, Hakuji carried out his duties faithfully. He learned his master’s Soryu Style martial arts and inherited the dojo. Keizo revealed that his daughter had fallen in love with Hakuji, and the boy shared the same feelings for her.
Right when everything was going right in Hakuji’s life, disaster struck. When he had gone to his father’s grave to inform him of his upcoming marriage to Koyuki, members of a rival dojo poisoned Keizo and Koyuki. This caused their deaths, leaving Hakuji enraged.
Hungry for revenge, Hakuji brutally murdered every member of the rival dojo with his bare hands. This event was so vicious that it caught Muzan’s attention. The Demon King met Hakuji, offering to give him his blood and make him part of the Twelve Kizuki. Left with nothing to live for, the boy accepted, taking the new name of Akaza.
Akaza’s Role in Demon Slayer
As we have seen, Akaza has no particular goal in Demon Slayer apart from carrying out Muzan’s wishes and fighting strong enemies. Unbeknownst to himself, however, he is also guided by his past as a human.
His first appearance in the Mugen Train Arc saw him fighting the Flame Hashira Rengoku. After an exhilarating battle, the demon emerged victorious, though suffering heavy injuries. When attempting to flee the rising sun, he heard Tanjiro’s cries calling him a coward. Despite getting annoyed by this, the demon left for safe harbor.
Following this, the series focused on Akaza’s strained relationship with Muzan and the other Upper Rank Demons. The Demon King reprimanded him for not finding the Blue Spider Lily, while Akaza himself hated the other demons. In particular, he saw Doma and Kokushibo, who ranked higher than him, as rivals.
He openly admitted to wishing to kill them as well, merely waiting for the right opportunity. Finally, the spotlight properly fell on Akaza during the Infinity Castle Arc. When the main characters were facing the strongest of the demons, Giyu and Tanjiro fought Akaza.
Therefore, Akaza is an extremely complex antagonist in Demon Slayer who cannot be classified as good or evil. He shows no particular loyalty to either humans or demons, though staying subservient to Muzan. Notably, he triggers Tanjiro’s growth during their exciting confrontation.
Akaza’s Strengths and Abilities
In addition to being one of the strongest demons, Akaza is an individual with prodigious potential. His growth was personally overlooked by both Muzan and Kokushibo, allowing him to rise rapidly to his position as Upper Rank Three.
Akaza is a martial artist at his core, staying true to the Soryu Style. He was extremely proficient as a human, and this has only become more potent as a demon. Akaza has immense durability, as seen when Rengoku struggled to inflict wounds on him.
His speed and reflexes are among the very best, displayed when he could comfortably fight both Tanjiro and Giyu. Additionally, Akaza’s healing is one of his most impressive abilities, rivaling even the likes of Kokushibo. Even after getting beheaded, he is able to regrow his head through pure willpower.
Akaza’s Blood Demon Art is an extension of his martial arts, greatly enhancing its destructive capability. This creates shockwaves with every move of his, completely dominating targets. Along with this, Akaza’s demonic abilities also enhance his perception through the Compass Needle technique. This allows him to sense the fighting spirit of enemies and assess their weak spots.
Hence, taking all his powers into consideration, it is no surprise that Akaza is such a formidable antagonist. This was best showcased during the final battle, where he could have emerged victorious and turned the tides of the Demon Slayers’ efforts. Thankfully, it wasn’t so.
Akaza’s Final Fate in Demon Slayer
Akaza faced Tanjiro and Giyu in the Infinity Castle Arc, overpowering them for a long time through his superior strength. In spite of the combined efforts of both Hinokami Kagura and Water Breathing, the main characters were struggling to gain an edge.
However, after fighting persistently, Tanjiro awakened his selfless state and Transparent World, through which his perception was heightened greatly. Taking advantage, the protagonist slashed Akaza’s head with Hinokami Kagura: Setting Sun Transformation.
Shockingly, this wasn’t the end, as the demon’s head began regenerating. Both Tanjiro and Giyu were exhausted and injured, leaving little hope for another immediate fight. At this time, Akaza began receiving visions of his loved ones from when he was human.
While Muzan’s connection tried forcing him to fight, Akaza’s father, Keizo, and Koyuki convinced him he had done enough. This allowed the demon to finally give up and fade away. Demon Slayer concluded Akaza’s tale by showing a heartwarming scene of Hakuji meeting his master and fiancée and hugging Koyuki.
Thus, Akaza’s end didn’t come at the hands of the heroes but rather from his own desire to stop fighting. He decided to let go of his malice, making his story one of redemption rather than simple defeat.
Conclusion
Akaza is one of the most interesting characters in Demon Slayer. His immense strength, tragic backstory, and eventual ending make him a standout antagonist in the series. Therefore, anime fans have a lot to look forward to when the upcoming Demon Slayer movies adapt the memorable conclusion of this character.
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