Tanjiro's Sword — The Black Demon Slayer

Anime often shows swords as more than weapons; they're ways for characters to show who they are and their souls. One popular show that does a great job telling this story is "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba." The main character of this story is a young man named Tanjiro Kamado. 

His black Nichirin Blade is what we'll be talking about today. Continue reading this blog to learn about Tanjiro's black sword, including who Tanjiro Kamado is, what the Black Nichirin Sword means in Demon Slayer, and why Tanjiro's sword is black.

Who is Tanjiro Kamado?

Tragedies and love have shaped Tanjiro Kamado into the person he is today. After a demon attacks and kills his family, the only family he has left is his sister Nezuko, who has turned into the monster she is. 

So, Tanjiro's journey is all about undoing the demonization of his sister and getting revenge for the deaths of his family. A black Nichirin Blade, Tanjiro's weapon, is essential to this trip. To understand its importance, we must examine how the Demon Slayer Corps works and what Nichirin Blades are.

What Does Black Nichirin Sword Mean in Demon Slayer?

The ore used to make Nichirin swords in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is exceptional and always soaks up sunlight. For some reason, the Demon Slayer Corps uses the blades to kill demons. In this way, a black sword can effectively take in the Sun's energy.

Slayers at the Hashira level fought against Demons at the front of the battlefield for a long time with these swords. Most of them died young because of this, which is where the myth that people who use Black Nichirin swords die young came from. 

The Nichirin Sword and its Different Colors

Blue Nichirin Blades

A blue Nichirin blade is the first one in the line. It stands for water. When first shown, Giyu Tomioka, the Water Pillar, had a blue blade. He has a brown triangular tsuba (sword guard) on which his blade rests. In Japanese, it says "Destroy Demons" in kanji on one side. Tomioka uses his method smoothly and efficiently, as someone who knows how to use water breathing techniques should. 

Yellow Nichirin Blades

Zenitsu Agatsuma's sword is the only yellow-bladed Nichirin sword demonstrated so far. He learned from Jigoro Kuwajima, who used to be a Pillar. He has a bright yellow lightning pattern going up the blade of his sword, which is different from other Nichirin blades that are all one color. For protection, it has a tsuba that looks like a four-leaf clover. While using the Lightning Breath style, Zenitsu can only do one move, which is interesting. 

Green Nichirin Blades

Another beautiful thing in the series is the green Nichirin Blade, which resembles the Breath of the Wind. Sanemi Shinazugawa, the Wind Pillar, uses this blade with terrible strength. Sanemi first used this blade when he stabbed the box where Nezuko was hiding. The Wind Pillar tries to make her angry to show that she is a monster like the others. The Wind Pillar has shown himself to be a tornado, determined to kill all demons.

Light Pink Nichirin Blades

Remember that the line has both Light Pink and Bright Pink blades. First, people who practice the Breath of the Flower should use the Light Pink Nichirin blades. Shinobu Kocho's older sister, Kanae Kocho, and past Flower Pillar, Kanao Tsuyuri, are the only ones who have used these blades so far. Both people use regular Nichirin katanas, which are light pink. Kanao's moves so far have also been very smooth. 

Red Nichirin Blades

With pride, Kyojuro Rengoku, the Flame Pillar, holds this bright red Nichirin blade. Its color stands for the way he breathes. He is too excited to be a Pillar and a monster slayer. He also often seems oddly happy in everything he does. He is, however, respected, even by the Upper Moon Three. 

White Nichrin Blades

The next to come is the white Nichirin blade, representing mist. The newest of the current Pillars is Mist Pillar, Tokito Muichiro. According to Tengen Uzui, he is among the strongest. The Sound Pillar also mentions that Tokito completed his demon slayer training two months before becoming a Pillar.  

Pink Nichirin Blades

Mitsuri Kanroji is lively and caring, so a bright pink blade fits her well. The pink Nichirin blade stands for love. It split into Kanroji's Breath of Love and the Breath of Flame. Kanroji seems shy, friendly, and easy to get along with, but her muscles are eight times denser than an average person's. She is stronger than most people but can also bend and move quickly.

Purple Nichirin Blades

Serpent Pillar Iguro Obanai uses a unique Nichirin blade that is bright purple. It does look scary. Obanai's sword looks like a Japanese katana from the handle to the guard, but the blade seems like a Kris. People in Southeast Asian countries often carry wavy swords called Kris. His sword looks like a purple snake-like blade that works great with his Breath of the Serpent moves.

Gray Nichirin Blades

Stone Pillar Gyomei Himejima's tools and Breath of the Stone skills both have the color of solid stone. Himejima strikes with a giant spiked ball tied to the bottom of a hand axe. You can make the flail, the axe, and even the chain out of the same stuff that you use to make Nichirin tools. However, a different kind of artistry at a very high level made this one-of-a-kind weapon possible.

Black Nichirin Blades

There is a black Nichirin blade early in the line, but it is at the bottom of this list because so little is known about it. Even though the anime and manga may have given hints, there is still no clear answer to the question of what these swords are. From what the people who kill demons have said, people who own these black blades don't usually live very long.

The Bottom Line

In "Demon Slayer," a sword represents more than just fighting; it also means the wielder's essence, development, and ability to unleash special powers. Tanjiro Kamado's black Nichirin Blade is the perfect example of this idea. It represents his tenacity, quest for justice, love for his sister, and demon-slaying. 

Tanjiro's sword has a persona that reflects his uniqueness and adventure. Even though the color denotes bad luck, it represents his resistance to the odds and shows that the wielder's spirit is more significant than his outward appearance. The accurate measure of a blade's power and importance is not its color but the person's character wielding it.