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Who is Yoriichi Tsugikuni in Demon Slayer? Taking a closer look at the legendary swordsman from the Sengoku era.
The Demon Slayer series has an incredible set of characters, which is one of the reasons for this series’ success. The character interactions are incredibly entertaining to watch and often engage fans during times when there isn’t any action. That being said, the anime adaptation has given us some of the most memorable fight sequences. When we speak of swordsmanship, it’s hard to ignore Yoriichi Tsugikuni. He is a legendary swordsman from the Sengoku era.
Those who have read the manga have gotten a glimpse of exploits from his time. What some anime-only fans might not know is that he is the only one who almost beat Muzan single-handedly. This goes to show just how powerful he was in his time. There are plenty of motifs in the anime that are connected to Yoriichi. While the character might not be present on screen, it’s hard to ignore the sheer presence he has through said motifs.
Let’s take a closer look at this character and understand what makes him so special. After all, he is the one who is hailed as the progenitor of Total Concentration Breathing and every single Breathing Technique that has made an appearance in the animanga series.
Yoriichi Tsugikuni’s Backstory in Demon Slayer
Yoriichi Tsugikuni was the younger sibling in his family. He was born in the Sengoku era, and it was considered a bad omen to have twins. Furthermore, Yoriichi was born with an odd birthmark. His father wanted to kill him, but his mother intervened and saved him. Yoriichi was sent to a temple, and he lost contact with his family. That’s when he realized his talent in swordsmanship. He was able to beat a trained monk even though he had no experience. His brother, Michikatsu, wanted to become one of the greatest swordsmen. However, this was unachievable as long as Yoriichi was alive.
Michikatsu grew jealous as his brother was always a step above the rest. Michikatsu eventually settled down with a wife, and Yoriichi also found someone with whom he could spend the rest of his life. However, she died when he left to summon a midwife. He never really wanted to pursue swordsmanship. However, he decided to become one after witnessing his wife’s death. Following this, he became a demon hunter. Michikatsu, despite the jealousy, joined his brother, and they became a part of the Demon Slayer Corps.
Yoriichi’s Biggest Contribution to Demon Slayer
Yoriichi Tsugikuni made one of the most important contributions to the animanga series. Without his efforts, the current generation of demon hunters could not have defeated Kibutsuji Muzan towards the end of the manga series. He quite literally paved the path for humanity to put an end to the demons’ tyranny. Yoriichi created Total Concentration Breathing and then proceeded to create the Breath of the Sun. Every single Breathing Technique that was introduced originated from this technique.
In fact, Yoriichi played an important role in exposing one of Muzan’s biggest weaknesses. Yoriichi was the only one who could take on Muzan and nearly succeeded in defeating him. Muzan proceeded to escape from the battlefield by splitting his body into 1,800 pieces. Yoriichi might not have been able to defeat him. However, this allowed Tamayo to work on a drug that prevented Muzan from doing this again. This was also crucial in defeating him. This is why Yoriichi’s presence can be felt in the manga despite the lack of screen time.
Yoriichi’s Abilities in Demon Slayer
Yoriichi was the only one who was born with the Demon Slayer Mark. Usually, those who achieve it end up dying at the age of 25. Yoriichi is one of the only exceptions to this rule since he lived till the age of 85. He had Transparent World and also managed to turn his Nichirin Blade bright red. As mentioned earlier, he also created the Breath of the Sun. This was created with the intention to kill Muzan. Sun Breathing has 13 forms in total, and the first 12 targets each of his vital organs (five brains and seven hearts). The thirteenth form is a combination of all 12 previous forms repeated in succession.
Yoriichi also developed a selfless state. Muzan was unable to detect any feeling of hatred or disgust. Therefore, Yoriichi was able to fight in a very fluid manner, unencumbered by emotions. Yoriichi had exceptional physical abilities in the Demon Slayer series. He fought Kokushibo when he was 85 years old. Despite his age, Yoriichi thoroughly overwhelmed his brother. Kokushibo had no openings, and the only reason he survived was because Yoriichi died of natural causes. He was so powerful and quick that even Muzan couldn’t do anything to hurt him. Yoriichi managed to knock out a fully grown adult when he was just a child. Yoriichi’s talent cannot be measured.
Yoriichi’s Role in Demon Slayer
Yoriichi didn’t receive much screen time in the manga series. However, he was quite important in the progression of the plot. The legendary swordsman took on the role of a side character in Demon Slayer. He is one of those characters whose presence can be felt even after his passing. He had an incredible legacy, and he created the very technique that allowed demon hunters to defeat Muzan. The manga could not have progressed or come to a conclusion if not for Yoriichi.
While he is a side character, he is quite important to the story. Furthermore, there is plenty of opportunity for Koyoharu Gotouge to come up with a spin-off series that would explore his life as a demon hunter.
Conclusion
Yoriichi Tsugikuni is the most powerful character in the entire series. There is not a single character whose achievements could be compared to his. He quite literally set the benchmark for swordsmanship, which is yet to be matched. Fans loved to see the fear in Muzan’s eyes. The overconfident Demon King had the fear of God in him when he was up against Yoriichi. Fans wish to see more of this character since he contributed plenty to the Demon Slayer Corps.
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