If you haven’t watched the entire series of Demon Slayer yet, we want to give you a heads-up that we’ll be discussing the details of the character deaths below. You may want to proceed with caution or come back to this discussion once you’ve finished the series.
The 6 Hashira who have died are as follows:
- Shinjuro Rengoku
- Shinobu Kocho
- Muichiro Tokito
- Mitsuri Kanroji
- Obanai Iguro
- Gyomei Himejima
The end of the six Hashira is such a devastating moment that has left a lasting impact on the hearts of fans who have grown to love and cherish them. Their loss is felt deeply, as they were characters who had fought valiantly for the safety and peace of the people in the Demon Slayer world.
Their tragic fate serves as a reminder of the great sacrifices they made for the greater good. They faced insurmountable challenges, fought with bravery and determination, and ultimately gave their lives to ensure the survival of those they loved. Their deaths have been immortalized as one of the most heartbreaking scenes in anime history.
The Death of Shinjuro Rengoku
A great Hashira who bravely fought against the Upper Rank Three Demon, Akaza, during the Mugen Train Arc of the anime.
Rengoku stepped in to protect the injured Tanjiro from Akaza, even though he knew he was weaker than his opponent. Akaza tried to convince Rengoku to become a demon, but Rengoku refused as he had dedicated his life to fighting demons and believed that death was a natural part of life.
During the fight, Rengoku was severely injured but continued to fight with determination, using his injury to his advantage and managing to trap Akaza’s arm in his stomach to keep him in place. Rengoku then tries to use his other arm to slice off Akaza’s head, ultimately defeating him. However, Akaza managed to escape by severing both of his own arms.
As Rengoku lay dying, he remained true to his beliefs and showed concern for others. He had saved all the people on the train and urged Tanjiro to learn more about the Hinokami Kagura by visiting his family home. He also asked Tanjiro to tell his brother to follow his own path and to take care of his father. Despite his own father’s mistreatment, Rengoku held no grudges and was always trying to help others.
Although Akaza managed to escape, Tanjiro assured Rengoku that he was the true winner of the battle, as he had fought bravely and honorably while Akaza had run away like a coward. Rengoku’s death was powerful, honorable, and meaningful, and he will always be remembered as a true hero.
The Death of Shinobu Kocho
Shinobu met her end in the Infinity Castle, where she faced off against Doma, Upper Moon Demon Two.
A flashback in chapter 141 reveals that Doma had killed Shinobu’s older sister, Kanae, who had begged Shinobu to leave the demon slayer corps and live a normal life. However, Shinobu vowed to avenge her sister’s death and kill Doma.
Shinobu encountered Doma while he was devouring women as part of his twisted cult, Eternal Paradise. Despite her physical weaknesses, she fought him using her incredible speed and a poisoned sword, laced with potent wisteria. Although she managed to harm him, Doma’s resistance to poison and superior strength put Shinobu at a disadvantage. In the end, Doma gravely injured her, seemingly ending her attempt to avenge her sister.
In a moment of despair, Shinobu saw a vision of Kanae, who encouraged her to stand up and defeat Doma. Driven by revenge, Shinobu launched herself at Doma, landing a lethal blow with her poisoned sword. However, Doma was not affected by the poison, and he hugged Shinobu as she was dying and started insulting her “pathetic efforts.” Her final words were a spiteful curse, telling him to “rot in hell.” Doma then ingested Shinobu’s body.
Later in the manga, it is revealed that Shinobu had ingested wisteria flower poison for over a year, building up her resistance to it, so that when Doma consumed her, she delivered a lethal dose of poison. This poison ultimately destroyed Doma’s body, giving an opening for Kanao and Inosuke to defeat him.
As Doma lay dying, he encountered Shinobu once again, presumably in some kind of afterlife. Instead of being angry or scared, Doma told Shinobu that he finally understood what love was and that he loved her. He then asked her to accompany him to hell, and Shinobu smiled and said, “After you, you worthless bastard.”
The Death of Muichiro Tokito
Muichiro was the Mist Hashira who died in a fierce battle against Upper Demon Moon One, Kokushibo, inside the Infinity Castle.
Other demon slayers, including Genya, Sanemi, and Gyome, also participated in the fight. During the battle, Muichiro was separated from his allies by Upper Rank Demon 4, Nakime, using her blood demon art, which teleported him to where another Upper Rank was residing, Kokushibo.
As Muichiro stood up to confront his opponent in chapter 165, he was shocked to find that the six-eyed figure wearing a purple and black hexagonal patterned kimono and wielding a long sword was Michikatsu Tsugikuni, one of Muichiro’s own family members. Despite his horror, Muichiro attempted to calm himself down with his breathing techniques and attacked Kokushibo, only to be easily defeated.
Kokushibo offered Muichiro the chance to become a demon, but the demon slayer refused. Kokushibo managed to pin Muichiro in place with his Nichiren blade, but Genya tried to sneak up and shoot Kokushibo from behind. Kokushibo quickly spotted Genya and sliced him into pieces. However, to Kokushibo’s surprise, Genya survived. Before he could finish off Genya, he was also attacked by the wind Hashira Sanemi. The stone Hashira Gyomei also joined the fight later on.
During the final showdown against Upper Rank Demon One, the fight between Moon Breathing and Stone Breathing raged on. Muichiro, who had been pinned down after being pierced by his own sword, pulled the sword out of his own chest with his bare hands. Although he knew that he would likely die from blood loss, he was determined to do something useful before he died.
Muichiro and Genya, both severely injured, work together to help each other and vow to continue fighting until the end. Muichiro rejoins the battle by saving Sanemi from Kokushibo’s attack and attacking Kokushibo himself while he is distracted. Despite losing one of his legs in the process, Muichiro doesn’t care and is focused on being as useful as possible before his death.
Muichiro decides to protect Yomma and Tsunami at all costs so that they can survive and continue the fight against Muzan. His Nichiren blade suddenly turns red, causing pain to Kokushibo and immobilizing him. Dying Genya also uses his blood demon art to manifest a tree around Kokushibo, further keeping him immobile.
However, to everyone’s surprise, Kokushibo regenerates even his head, but it looks monstrous and disgusting. And even he struggles with this crisis. As his body breaks apart where Muichiro had stabbed him. Gyomei and Sanemi finish him off, and Upper Demon Moon One, Kokushibo, is defeated.
Genya and Muichiro both die from their injuries sustained during the battle. As Muichiro’s life fades away, Gyomei thanks him for his contributions to defeating Upper Moon One, Kokushibo, and calls him magnificent to the end. He promises to defeat Muzan and tells Muichiro to rest in peace.
Muichiro meets his twin brother Yuichiro as he passes into the afterlife. Yuichiro asks Muichiro why he chose to die fighting instead of living a long life. Muichiro replies that he could never abandon his comrades and was happy when he was with them. He had good times with them, and they helped him smile again after the tragedy his family had faced. The brothers embrace each other, and that’s how Muichiro’s life comes to an end.
Read more: Who Are the Hashiras in Demon Slayer?
The Death of Mitsuri Kanroji
Mitsuri’s end came during the Sunrise Countdown Arc when she fought against Muzan.
The brutal battle left her with severe injuries, making her the most wounded of all the Hashira. Despite relying on her instincts and luck to dodge Muzan’s attacks, she was determined to do everything in her power to help defeat the Demon Lord.
During the battle, Muzan attacked Mitsuri with a tornado-like move, causing severe damage to her left arm, abdomen, and cheek. As the fight continued, Muzan became stronger and faster, and even the Hashira struggled to keep up. Igoru noticed Mitsuri’s condition and handed her off to the Kakushi to protect her while he continued to fight.
As the battle neared its end, Mitsuri summoned the last of her strength and ripped off one of Muzan’s arms, losing both of her own in the process. The remaining fighters joined together in a final epic team attack that destroyed the big baby version of Muzan.
After the victory, Iguru held a Mitsuri in his arms, and they reminisced about their past together. They both passed away while holding each other tightly.
The Death of Obanai Iguro
Similar to Mitsuri, Iguro died during the fight against Muzan.
Iguro risked his life to save Mitsuri from harm and then quickly rejoined the battle. Mitsuri pleaded with him to spare himself and his comrades, but Iguro remained determined to defeat Muzan and cleanse his corrupt bloodline even if it meant sacrificing his own life. He hoped to be reborn as an innocent soul with Mitsuri in the next life.
As Iguro fought on, he received information about how Moichiro turned his blade red before his death, and he desperately wanted to do the same. Eventually, he succeeded, but he exhausted himself in the process and could barely move due to a lack of oxygen. Muzan was about to strike him down, but other demon slayers joined the fight, and they all began turning their blades red, making it more difficult for Muzan to heal from his wounds.
Although things briefly looked better for the demon slayers, they were quickly defeated by Muzan, leaving Tanjiro to fight him alone. Fortunately, Iguro came to Tanjiro’s aid despite being blinded by massive lacerations on his face. He relied on his snake, Kaburamaru, to guide him and engaged in battle against Muzan, ultimately saving Tanjiro’s life.
Muzan tried to run away, but Iguro stopped him by jumping on him and stabbing him in the neck. Tanjiro gave Iguro Yushiro’s magic seals, which allowed him to see through his snake’s eyes. Muzan was surprised and worried about the demon slayers’ determination and relentless attacks as he grew weaker.
Tanjiro, Inosuke, Zenitsu, Mitsuri, and Iguro fought fiercely as time was running out and the sun was about to rise. Muzan transformed into a giant baby-like creature to escape the sunlight, but Sanemi and Gyome prevented his escape. As Muzan tried to escape, all the Hashira joined forces to defeat him, and he was ultimately destroyed by the sunlight.
Sadly, Iguro and Mitsuri both passed away due to their injuries that could not be healed. In their last moments, they held each other.
The Death of Gyome Himejima
During the final battle against Muzan, Gyome faced a fate similar to Mitsuri and Iguro — Death because of fatal injuries.
As Muzan was about to kill Mitsuri, Gyome appeared and saved her, causing Muzan to recognize him as the Hashira who defeated Kokushibo.
In another part of the battlefield, there was a time skip where all the Hashira were on the ground, being helped by the Kakushi. However, the demon slayers continued to get back up and fight. Muzan was relentlessly attacked by Tanjiro, Inosuke, Zenitsu, Mitsuri, and Iguro as they desperately fought to defeat him before sunrise. Eventually, Muzan transformed into a giant baby-like creature, but Sanemi and Gyome prevented his escape. The Hashira then worked together to keep hold of Muzan, finally destroying him.
Gyome suffered a severe injury during the battle that caused his weapon to break and one of his legs to be lost. Despite this, he courageously fought to prevent Muzan from escaping. After the battle, Gyome requested that the medics not use any more resources on him, knowing that his time had come.
In his final moments, Gyome found himself in the afterlife with the orphans he had cared for before joining the demon slayer Corps. He had raised them in a temple until a demon attack claimed most of their lives. In the afterlife, the children apologized to Gyome for running away during the attack, explaining that they did so to find a weapon or call for help, not because they thought he was weak. They loved and respected Gyome for his bravery and wanted to help him fight the demon. The children told Gyome that they were proud of him and loved him. Together, Gyome and his orphans entered the afterlife, at peace with each other.
Read more: Who Survived Among the Hashiras?
