The Hashira Training Arc of Demon Slayer has already come to its conclusion, though the saga’s true finale will come in the form of a movie trilogy. What hasn’t come to an end is our series of articles putting the force’s strongest warriors — the Hashira — into the spotlight. This time, the main character of the article is the ever-so-jubilant Love Hashira, Mitsuri Kanroji.
Just like when Sanemi Shinazugawa and Gyomei Himejima were featured, this article will include details from both the anime and the manga. While most of Mitsuri’s details have already been revealed during the Swordsmith Village Arc, there are still a few pieces of information that may minorly spoil anime-only fans, so do proceed with that in mind.
Who is Mitsuri Kanroji?
Just like the other Hashira, Mitsuri first made her debut during the Rehabilitation Training Arc when Ubuyashiki summoned the Kamado siblings to discuss and judge Nezuko’s case. However, it wasn’t until the Swordsmith Village Arc that Mitsuri’s character was further explored.
During her stay in the Swordsmith Village, she happened to meet Tanjiro, Genya, and Nezuko. Interestingly, their lack of prior engagements didn’t stop her from being all buddy-buddy with the three, highlighting Hashira’s cordial attitude. She was even severely disappointed when Genya refused to introduce himself to her, though she quickly found refuge in the ever-enthusiastic Tanjiro. During the said arc, Mitsuri’s voracious appetite was also apparent. She could easily devour plates of food, which interestingly inspired Tanjiro to do the same.
Mitsuri is mostly shown as a carefree but caring character. She easily finds things to love about others and doesn’t discriminate when it comes to showing her affection. However, her thoughtfulness doesn’t extend to demons. She has no attachments to the vile creatures and eliminates them without hesitation.
Mitsuri Kanroji’s heartbreaking backstory
Mitsuri was a naturally jubilant child, and she got along with her parents and her four siblings. Even during her younger years, Mitsuri’s physical gift was already apparent. She had no difficulties overpowering adult sumo wrestlers and lifting heavy boulders. She was also already a big eater back then. In fact, her vibrant pink and green hair was apparently due to her overeating Sakura mochi.
Her unusual strength and hair color unfortunately led to her peers isolating her. The final nail in the coffin was when her fiancé dumped her when she was 17, pointing out that only a boar or a bear would marry someone with her strength. To add insult to injury, he doubled down and told her he didn’t want his future children to inherit her unusual hair color. This rejection led to Mitsuri forcibly changing who she was.
Despite how detrimental it was to her well-being, Mitsuri dyed her hair black and reduced the amount of food she consumed in her bid to fit in. It was during this moment of uncertainty that she met Kagaya Ubuyashiki, who encouraged her to embrace her true self and go against societal norms instead.
How strong is Mitsuri Kanroji?
As previously stated, Mitsuri’s physical strength is immense. She is more than capable of shattering demon bones and overpowering formidable foes. She only grew stronger after joining the Demon Slayer Corps. Other than her immense strength, Mitsuri also possesses flexible joints. She utilizes her superb flexibility to evade her enemies’ attacks, as well as strike from unexpected angles. This is also the reason why her Hashira training is focused on increasing the demon slayers’ flexibility.
Prior to becoming the Love Hashira, Mitsuri was actually Rengoku’s Tsuguko. However, the Flame Hashira’s Breathing Style wasn’t the ideal match for her. She couldn’t maximize the Breathing Style’s potential. Instead of settling with Flame Breathing, she used it to derive her own Breathing Style, Love Breathing, instead.
Mitsuri’s combat abilities are a blend of raw power, agility, and her unique Love Breathing technique. Her whip-like Nichirin blade allows her to perform attacks that are both far-reaching and devastating, as seen during the Swordsmith Village Arc. Furthermore, Mitsuri is one of the first Hashira to awaken her Demon Slayer Mark. The moment she activates her Mark, Mitsuri’s combat prowess increases exponentially. She becomes strong enough to fight and even eliminate Upper Moon demons, though still lacking in comparison to Muzan Kibutsuji.
Published: Jul 20, 2024 10:19 am