Demon Slayer: How Is Tanjiro Related to Yoriichi?

The Demon Slayer anime has entered its final act as Ufotable has announced that the Final arc will be covered in three movies. It’s surely exciting that the series is heading towards its finale, with the Hashiras and Tanjiro ready to fight Muzan and the Upper Demons in the Infinity Castle. Not only will we get some impeccable action sequences, but we’ll also get some answers that we have all been seeking since the start of the series. Before the movies arrive, one of those questions that fans have been asking is how Tanjiro is connected to Yoriichi. Well, here’s the answer.

Who is Yoriichi in Demon Slayer?

Before learning how Tanjiro is connected to Yoriichi, you must know about the first Demon Slayer. Yoriichi was born hundreds of years before the current events in Demon Slayer. He was born with a Sun Breathing mark, making him the first to hold a breathing technique.

Growing up, Yoriichi realized that he could tap into the Transparent World, allowing him to take a peek inside people’s bodies. He used that ability to become a master at swordsmanship. Yoriichi became so skilled that he even surpassed his twin brother, Michikatsu, in terms of power. In fact, it was because of this reason that Michikatsu decided to become a demon so that he could ultimately become stronger than Yoriichi.

Regardless, after Yoriichi’s wife and children were killed by a demon, he decided to become even stronger and invented several breathing techniques. He did that so he could pass on that knowledge to other people and help them fight the demons – this led to the birth of the Demon Slayer Corps.

One fine day, Yoriichi even encountered Muzan and bested him in the fight. However, before he could kill Muzan, the Demon Lord escaped. Yoriichi then left the Demon Slayer Corps, realizing that he was the reason Muzan was still alive.

Yoriichi’s Encounter with Kamado Family

When Yoriichi was still a part of the Demon Slayer Corps, he encountered the Kamado family and saved them from a demon attack. After that, he kept on visiting the family because of the warmth he felt from them.

Heartbroken and shattered after losing his brother and failing to kill Muzan, Yoriichi visited the Kamado family one last time. There, Suyako Kamado asked Yoriichi to perform the Hinokami Kagura, the Sun Breathing dance, which Sumiyoshi Kamado remembered by heart. During this visit, Yoriichi also handed over his Hanafuda Earrings to Sumiyoshi.

At this point, Yoriichi had lost his wife and children to demons, so he didn’t have anyone to pass on this knowledge or continue his legacy. However, fortunately, he felt the Kamado family was the right fit to carry forward this knowledge.

Sumiyoshi decided to pass on the Hanafuda Earrings to future generations of the Kamado family. Along with that, the Sun Breathing dance was also passed on for generations. However, it was Tanjiro who recognized the potential and the nature of the dance. Since Sun Breathing was a part of Yoriichi, and it was performed within the Kamado family for generations, Tanjiro and his father looked a lot like Yoriichi.

So, for those curious, Tanjiro and Yoriichi aren’t connected by blood, but they are connected through Sun Breathing. Well, to be precise, fate played its dice in bringing the Kamado family and Yoriichi together.