In this article, I will be introducing the “Demon Slayer: The Village of the Swordsmith” anime chapter.
The first half will be spoiler-free, and the second half will be a discussion including spoilers from the original work.
Enjoy it, whether you don’t know “Demon Slayer” yet or you have already finished reading the original work!
Click to scroll!
What is the anime “DemonSlayer: The Village of the Swordsmith”?
This is the next story after the fight to the death in the Yuukaku with the Otobashira(sound pillar), Tengen Uzui.
The main character, Tanjiro Kamakado, somehow survived a fight to the death in a Yuukaku.
However, his sword is battered from the battle with the demons.
Tanjiro wants to get a new sword as soon as possible for his next mission, but for some reason it never arrives.
In order to meet the sword smith in charge, Haganezuka, Tanjiro must head to the ” Village of the Swordsmith”.
What will be the changes that come with the appearance of new demons, characters with secrets, and Tanjiro and Nezuko?
Three characters who hold the key to the story.
Three new characters will be spotlighted in the “Swordsmith Village.”
Muichiro Tokito: Kasumibashira (mist pillar)
At the Hashira meeting, he did not speak positively.
However, you were quietly angry at Tanjiro for his attitude of being out of place in front of the Oyakata-sama(master).
Muichiro throws a stone at Tanjiro.
“Don’t interrupt the master.”
Demon Slayer
Ms. Kanroji was thrilled by Tokitoru-kun’s resolute attitude!
In the Swordsmith Village section, his own personality and his past will be touched upon.
What is the secret of Muichiro Tokito, which is related to the basis of ” Demon Slayer”?
Mitsuri Kanroji: Koibashira (love pillar)
At the Hashira Meeting, it was impressive to see her fluttering her heart at the Hashira people around her.
The Mushibashira, Shinobu Koucho, said the following lines.
“I am the only swordsman in the Hashira who cannot cut the neck of a demon,
Demon Slayer
but I am the one who created a poison that can kill a demon.”
In other words, Mitsuri Kanroji is a woman, she has the ability to not only cut the neck of a demon, but also to climb to the top of a Hashira.
What is the secret of her strength?
It makes us curious, doesn’t it?
In fact, Mitsuri Kanroji is rerated to Kyoujuro Rengoku, who appeared in the “Infinity Train Arc”.
If you are curious, please read “Rengoku Kyoujuro Gaiden” in the manga “Demon Slayer Gaiden”.
Genya Shinazugawa
Genya Shinazugawa, who joined the Demon Killer Squad in the same year as Tanjiro.
During the sorting of the Fuji no Yama, he makes a conspicuously violent impression.
He and Tanjiro do not get along well, but they meet again in the Swordsmith Village section.
In this story, the relationship between Tanjiro and Genya will change.
The story will take a further turn when the reason why Genya himself joined the Demon Killer Squad is also revealed.
The episode concerning him will be one of the highlights of the second part of “Demon Slayer,” so keep an eye out for it!
For those who have already finished reading the original manga, it is recommended to read the outside novel “Kaze no Michi Shirube” (Signs From the Wind).
It contains spoilers from the manga, but if you read it before the anime “Swordsmith Village Arc,” you will have a better understanding of the story.
Anime Review: Swordsmith Village
Episode 1: Someone’s Dream
The first episode of Swordsmith Village is good to see the movie-like quality on TV!
The story is also packed with other charms of Mitsuri-chan, which makes me want to rewatch it over and over again.
Episode 2: Yoriichi Type Zero
Muichirou-kun’s crow (Character Voice: Rie Kugimiya) was even more venomous than in the manga!
She is extremely annoying.
I think in the fan book, she is later going to marry someone else’s crow.
It would be interesting to see the drama between the crows!
And Tanjiro is in mortal danger from the relentlessness of Kotetsu-kun, who is even more venomous than the crows.
Even though he is not a demon, he tried to send Tanjiro to the other side of the world, where he has become more competent.
Doesn’t Mr. Kotetsu actually have tremendous ability…?
Episode 3: A Sword from Over 300 Years Ago
Episode 3 was a treasure trove of anime original elements!
Even those who have finished reading the original manga enjoyed this episode!
anime original elements were identified in the following points.
- The scene where Mr. Haganezuka gives Tanjiro a temporary sword
- The scene where Tanjiro braids Nezuko’s hair like Ms. Kanroji’s.
(Arranged from a frame in the 12th volume of the book) - The line “I didn’t have a pot like this before…” by the sword smith after taking a bath.
- Genya’s visit to the sword smith’s shop.
- Genya’s line, “Brother…I have to do it…”.
- In the battle scene with Hantengu, Tanjiro tells Nezuko, “Don’t look like that because you’ll turn into a demon! “
Additionally, I thought the scene at the beginning of the anime where Kotetsu-kun throws rocks at the fallen Haganezuka-san was a good arrangement.
(The way he throws the stones one at a time in the anime is a bit more vicious. It shows Kotetsu-kun’s character.)
Another good point was the greenish color of Genya-kun’s squad uniform.
He also turned out to be a sensible person, even though he appeared to be a delinquent.
The design also hinted at his relationship with someone who would appear later in the story.
Scenes from the third episode of the anime are included in volumes 12 and 13 of the manga Demon Slayer.
It contained quite a bit of supplementary information that may have been omitted at the time of serialization.
Episode 3 was highly praised by those who had already read the original manga.
In the original story, the reason for Genya-kun’s stay in Swordsmith Village was not made clear.
However, we felt that this storyline was a more detailed and in-depth version of the Swordsmith Village section of the manga.
Episode 4:Thank you, Tokito
This episode was a battle episode.
The whole process seemed somewhat leisurely.
- The fighting styles of new characters such as Tokitoru, Genya, and Hantengu
- Tanjiro’s growth
I think it was necessary to describe these two elements, so it was not possible to do so in a speedy manner.
Looking at Episode 4 alone, it is a long time.
However, if you look back at the manga version, you will notice that the Swordsmith Village episode contains a lot of important foreshadowing in “Demon Slayer”.
On the other hand, “Kimetsu Gakuen Monogatari” was aired for the first time in a while this time!
(Fuji TV version omitted)
Mitsuri-chan is an art college student!
She thinks she is not popular, but in fact, she is irresistible.
She thinks she’s not popular, but in fact, she’s very popular!
That’s just a comic book!
However, considering Mitsuri-chan’s own constitution, her problems, and the historical background, her problems are rather serious (for Mitsuri-chan in the Taisho era)….
I hope she has a good haul at KIMETSU Gakuen!
Summary
- Three new characters to look out for!
- Battle scenes show Tanjiro’s growth!
- Notice the foreshadowing and hints about the user of the sun’s breath!
The Swordsmith Village chapter will be the chapter that contains a number of important foreshadowing elements toward the end of the story.
By paying attention to the inner lives and movements of the three characters introduced here, you will be able to appreciate the story more deeply.
Spoiler alert bonus: Sword discussion
The following contains spoilers for the final volume of the Demon Slayer manga.
Those who have not read the original manga, be warned.
If you are OK with spoilers, keep reading!
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Tanjiro’s sword
The main character, Tanjiro Kamakado, has six swords in his possession throughout the story.
The war history of the swords in Tanjiro’s possession, including those not owned by him, is as follows.
- Sword borrowed from Mr. Urokodaki
→Returned after the last battle? - The sword obtained after the final battle
→It was broken in the battle with Lui. - The sword obtained after the trial at the Hashira Meeting
→Threw it at Akaza in the Upper Limit of the Triple Threat and lost it. - Sword obtained after the Infinity Train Arc
→It is rendered unusable in a battle with Daki and Gyutaro. - Swords obtained during his stay in Swordsmith Village
→It was lost when it got stuck in the neck of the four Hantengu. - Rusty sword that came out of Yoriichi Type Zero
→The sword is lost when it gets stuck in Muzan in the final battle.
Two of these were damaged by Tanjiro’s wielding of the sword against the demons.
Why did Tanjiro’s sword become unusable twice in such a short period of time?
It is strange that a sword can be damaged twice until it becomes unusable, even though it may wear out and need maintenance.
I have been trying to figure out what causes a sword to break.
- Tanjiro’s breathing techniques are immature
- Poor skill of Mr. Haganezuka
- Poor material of the Nichirin sword
Let us consider them in order.
(1) Sumijiro’s skill level
As for (1), it will be resolved as the story progresses and Tnajiro grows.
(2) Haganezuka’s Technology
(2) is a reason that Haganezuka-san might get angry if he heard it….
However, this was clearly mentioned by the Swordsmith Village chief, Mr. Tetsuchin, in the Swordsmith Village section.
“No, it is not.
from “Demon Slayer,” episode 101
It’s his fault for making a blunt object that can be broken.”
In other words, we would interpret this as meaning that there was a problem with Mr. Haganezuka’s manufacturing method as well.
However, in this case, it is not only Mr. Haganezuka himself, but we believe that other factors are also involved.
The best method of making Nichirin swords for sun-breathing users was not inherited.
Even Hashira did not know of the existence of the sun’s breath.
In other words, “a considerable number of years had passed since the sun’s breath had been severed within the Demon Killer Corps”.
In this case, it is natural to assume that even among blacksmiths, there was no inheritance of techniques related to the black sword (the sword of the sun-breathing swordsman).
- Mr. Haganezuka only has the blacksmithing skills for swordsmen who use the derived breathing method
- The blacksmiths were unaware that “the technique had been lost.”
If that is the case, then as a result, it can be said that Mr. Haganezuka was not able to strike a suitable sword for Tanjiro.
(3) Materials for the Nichirin sword
There is this reference to the last sword in Tanjiro’s hands (created over 300 years ago).
Kotetsu: “Iron in the age of the Warring States period is of very good quality.
(The fifth sword) You should get it.”
from “Demon Slayer,” episode 105
Tanjiro: “Huh… great… the depth of the jet black is different…”
Haganazuka: “The iron is of good quality, and the previous owner must have been a very strong swordsman.”
from “Demon Slayer,” episode 129
This means that the last sword Tanjiro had in his possession was of better material than any of the swords Tanjiro had used before.
- Breathing techniques so exhausting that even physically strong men can quickly become exhausted
- Breathing exercises that keep you constantly swinging the sword with a vice grip
- A breathing technique that wears out the sword if it is not swung correctly, even if it can cut the demon’s neck
(See Yuukaku version)
So, sun breathing was a breathing method that put a lot of strain on both the user and the sword.
In order to meet these reckless demands, the material of the sword must have had to be quite good.
If Tanjiro’s first sword was made of materials of the same quality as the Nichirin sword of Mr. Himejima(Iwabashira, Rock Piller), it probably would not have broken.
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Summary
- Hard on the demons because of the outstanding effect on the demons…
- It is hard because of the user’s fatigue…
- The sword is also hard because it is held and wielded with an unbelievable grip…
This was a breathing method that was hard on demons, humans, and swords.
I believe that only the founder, Yoriichi Tsugikuni, could have used the exact sun breathing.
I would like to thank the members of the Kamado family for all their hard work in carrying on the Hinokami Kagura tradition.
This concludes this discussion.
Here are some considerations for other characters, such as Giyu Tomioka and Kyoujuro Rengoku!