Kyojuro Rengoku

job

he is a Hashira, a group of the strongest demon slayers in the entire corps. he is the Flame Hashira.

personality

Kyojuro was greatly enthusiastic in regard to his duties as a Hashira, and often came across as cheerfully eccentric. He was amiable, pure of heart, and boasted extraordinary technique and swordsmanship stemming from strict practice and discipline. He was an honorable warrior who adhered to his code of morals and principles that was instilled into him by his mother at a young age; the most significant being his belief that those who were born strong have a duty to protect the weak. Kyojuro also loved his family immensely, displaying great respect and worry towards his father, Shinjuro Rengoku, despite him growing slowly more aggressive and apathetic towards Kyojuro. He was incredibly encouraging and optimistic towards his little brother, Senjuro Rengoku, believing in him and wishing him the best no matter what. This was further accentuated during his death where his final words for his father and his little brother were "take care of your body" and "follow your dreams no matter what". Kyojuro also believed that if someone lacks immense skill, their hard work towards their dreams and desire to help people doesn't count for nothing. Beneath his enthusiastic demeanor, Kyojuro was very logical and tactically intelligent, acting quickly and precisely in battle, especially when the lives of others are on the line. Kyojuro was also great in seeing talent in others, even in Nezuko Kamado, a demon which he wanted to kill beforehand, after seeing her risk her lives to fight and protect others. Though he was extremely optimistic, Kyojuro did sometimes have a sense of foreboding that those he believed in might die, especially his friends who he cared deeply for. He, like most Demon Slayers, absolutely detested demons, usually because of their heinous deeds or because of their clashing moral values. Despite this, Kyojuro recognized and accepted Nezuko as a member of the Demon Slayer Corps after seeing her risk her life to protect innocents,

what he thinks of everyone

Kyojuro viewed the other Hashira as follows. "She brews poisons! Isn't that amazing? And she doesn't hesitate to fight despite her disadvantageous size! I respect that!" - Insect Hashira "He's more talented than I was at his age! He's young and works hard, which is admirable!" - Mist Hashira "He's got sharp senses! And his shoulder, elbow, and wrist joints are more flexible than even Kanroji's!" - Serpent Hashira "I wish I had his bulk! It's amazing how he can easily sling around that ungainly weapon! That takes some muscle!" - Stone Hashira "He speaks so softly that I can't hear him! But he works hard!" - Water Hashira "The way he handles a blade is beautiful! He's the first shinobi I ever saw! Talk about stunning! He's got many wives though!" - Sound Hashira "Her talent is amazing! And her techniques are creative! I consider her an endearing junior corps member!" - Love Hashira "He's the guy who took Wind Breathing to the next level! Very admirable!" - Wind Hashira

backstory

Kyojuro was the eldest son of Shinjuro Rengoku. His father was known as the Flame Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps until his unexpected retirement. Kyojuro also had a younger brother who trained alongside him until their father ceased to teach them. His mother, Ruka Rengoku, passed away after battling an untreatable disease some time after giving birth to Senjuro. His father on the other hand became negligent and abusive, due a mixture of grief from his wife's death and disillusionment after discovering the existence of Hinokami Kagura, and it's superiority to all other breathing styles. Kyojuro was still close to his brother and helped encourage his pursuit in swordsmanship, even when his brother lacked the talent to do so. He was eventually promoted to being the Flame Hashira, like his father before him, although he reacted with nihilistic apathy. During his tenure, he trained a young, abnormally strong girl. Although the two were very fond of each other, she couldn't master Flame Breathing, instead opting to use a style derived from it, known as Love Breathing. He also encountered a demon who was part of the Twelve Kizuki, Lower Rank 2: Hairo. The demon mistook him for his father, whom he held a grudge against, but Kyojuro, with the aid of his protégée, defeated the demon. Kyojuro is present with his fellow Hashira when Tanjiro Kamado awakens.[1]Shinobu Kocho notes that Tanjiro is on trial, for which Kyojuro sees no need for as he was protecting a demon, which is a clear violation of conduct; he states that it was a matter they could deal with themselves. He then agrees with Gyomei Himejima's idea to kill Nezuko Kamado, witnessing shortly afterward Tanjiro's coughing fit, and remains silent when his former student, now Love Hashira,Mitsuri Kanroji asks if they should be dealing with their subordinate's trial without Kagaya Ubuyashiki's input. After Tanjiro headbutts Sanemi Shinazugawa, Kyojuro looks at Mitsuri when she laughs with a neutral expression.[2]

backstory (2)

Kyojuro is sent to investigate a series of brutal attacks plaguing a small village, believing it to be related to the incident surrounding the disappearance of forty passengers aboard the Mugen train. He meets with another Demon Slayer at a ramen shop and they discuss their next plan of action, to which he is informed the Mugen Train is being held at a maintenance facility after being put out of service. After finishing their meal, they set off to a nearby train station. They encounter a young girl, Fuku, saddened by the lack of customers buying her bento boxes as the news of the attacks is scaring everyone into staying inside after dark. Kyojuro unabashedly tells her he is looking for a demon, to which she angrily hurls her bean bun and retorts that demons don't exist. However, he is unfazed by her actions. After being calmed by her grandmother, Fuku apologizes and asks if he would like to buy some bento boxes. He happily buys them all and gives them to his companion, telling him to return to the Demon Slayer Corps. as the bentos will make great gifts. Kyojuro, carrying a crate of bento boxes, boards a train headed for maintenance, believing he will be taken to the same facility as the Mugen train. After being confronted by a train conductor and told the Mugen train's actual location, he leaps off the train and heads to the train maintenance facility. There, he sees the train and senses the faint scent of a demon, confirming a demon is responsible for the disappearances. He is met by the chief engineer, to whom Kyojuro claims he was sent to the facility to give the workers the bento boxes. As the workers eat, Kyojuro is told the train is being repaired and will be put back into service again, unnerving him. Suddenly, a scream is heard, forcing Kyojuro to confront the situation. A marked demon appears, responsible for the attacks reported, clutching a young worker in his claws and causing him to bleed heavily.

backstory (3)

Kyojuro tells the culprit to surrender him, but the demon tells him human food disgusts him now, stepping on a bento box, to which he adds that he only eats humans he find palpable and kills the ones he doesn't. The demon activates his Blood Demon Art, enabling him to speed around the Hashira and taunt him. Kyojuro acknowledges his speed but warns him to not get cocky facing him. He informs the demon the woman he attacked is slated to make a full recovery, angering him. Seeing the destroyed bento box, the demon decides to kill the bento vendors to spite Kyojuro. He tries to kill the worker, but Kyojuro slices off both his hands and forces him to retreat. After treating the boy's injuries, he is met with other demon slayers, telling them to take charge here while he confronts the demon. Kyojuro heads towards the demon's trail and follows the train tracks, using his Total Concentration Breathing to accelerate him to incredible speeds. The demon finds Fuku and tries to kill her but is momentarily distracted by Fuku's grandmother. Fuku tries to escape but he catches her outside and tries to crush her throat. Kyojuro arrives in time, slices the demon's achilles and saves Fuku. He confronts him again as he tries to kill Fuku's grandmother, repeating his words not to get cocky. The demon tries to challenge him over who is truly faster; if he is able to kill him before he kills her. To which Kyojuro responds that the challenge is unnecessary. He mocks the demon for being slow and rushes forward instantly, decapitating the unsuspecting demon with his Flame Breathing, First Form: Unknowing Fire. The scene reminds Fuku's grandmother of when she herself was saved by the Flame Hashira, recognizing Kyojuro's haori and manner of sheathing his blade. To this, Kyojuro states that it was likely his father Shinjuro who saved her; he is simply following in his footsteps to save people from demons.

backstory (4)

As Kakushi arrive on the scene, Kyojuro confirms the demon is dead and the Mugen train will be repaired for service the next day. When his companion expressed relief that the situation finally over, the Hashira adds that it was likely a more powerful demon that what he just faced that is responsible for the train's disappearance. As the sun sets, Kyojuro boards the Mugen train for his investigation when he meets Fuku and her grandmother again. They offer beef pot bento boxes in gratitude for his heroic actions, to which he happily accepts and takes Fuku's entire stock. The two bid him good luck on his mission and the train leaves the station.During the journey, while devouring his eleventh bento box while shouting "delicious," Tanjiro, who was told to meet him, introduces the Hashira to Inosuke Hashibira, Zenitsu Agatsuma and Nezuko, who he recognizes during Tanjiro's trial with the Master. After he finishes his food and Tanjiro explains his question about Hinokami Kagura, Kyojuro energetically answers that he doesn't know what Hinokami Kagura is and that this is his first time hearing about it. He says that he's delighted that Tanjiro applied his father's dance to his fighting style, then swiftly changes the subject and tells Tanjiro that he should become his Tsuguko. Tanjiro tells him to slow down and asks if he can at least try and help a little more to answer his question.[3] Kyojuro says that Flame Breathing has a long history, and says that there has always been a Hashira in every age who uses Water Breathing and one who uses Flame Breathing. He explains that the other Breathing Styles were derived from either those two or Wind Breathing, Stone or Thunder. Kyojuro then asks Tanjiro what color his Nichirin Sword is, to which the latter responds that it's black, and Kyojuro laughs out and says that that must be unfortunate.

backstory (5)

Tanjiro asks why that is, and, as the train starts to take off, Kyojuro explains that he's simply never seen a swordsman with a black blade become a Hashira before, and that he's heard people whose blades turn black don't even know which Breathing Style to master. Seeing Tanjiro's face, he tells him not to worry and that he'll train him up back at his house.[4] The Train Conductor then comes over to the four of them to stamp their tickets. Tanjiro smells something unusual, and Kyojuro appears to sense it too as he asks the conductor to step aside, simultaneously preparing his sword. A large-bodied demon appears at the other end of the carriage, and Kyojuro wonders if it was hiding with its Blood Demon Art unbeknownst to him ,before darting forward to behead it with the Flame Breathing, First Form: Unknowing Fire. The demon's dead body falls to the floor, only for Kyojuro to add that a second one is nearby, prompting Tanjiro and Inosuke to follow him. As the frightened crowd flee to another carriage, they find the demon cornering a single passenger, leading Inosuke to charge ahead and ignoring the two. When he is nearly hit by its long arms, Kyojuro rushes forward to save Inosuke and the passenger, before using his Flame Breathing, Second Form: Rising Scorching Sun to kill it. An amazed Tanjiro, Inosuke and Zenitsu all declare they would love to be his Tsuguko, leading him to laugh and state that he would gladly train them all. Sometime later, when the four are all asleep,[5] Kyojuro dreams that he's back at his house, telling his father, Shinjuro, about his promotion to Hashira. Shinjuro dismisses him, saying it's pointless and doesn't matter because neither Kyojuro or himself will ever become great people anyway. Kyojuro gets up and walks out of the house, out into the garden, his little brother, Senjuro, coming to greet him and asking if their father was happy about the news and wondering if he would acknowledge him too if he also becomes a Hashira.

backstory (6)

Kyojuro remembers how his father used to be, a happy man who was passionate about training his children as swordsmen, and how he changed after their mother's death. He admits to his brother that Shinjuro wasn't happy to hear the news, but enthusiastically adds that his passion won't die because of that and that he'll never be disheartened. Senjuro still looks upset, but his big brother comforts him, saying Senjuro's not like him because he has an older brother to look out for him. He reassures him that whatever path he takes, he'll be a wonderful person, and, as Kyojuro hugs his brother, he tells him to do his best and keep on living, no matter what.[6] Still within the dream, Kyojuro begins to tutor Senjuro in his sword skills. In reality, a young girl, who's working for Enmu, ties her wrist to his unconscious body with a special piece of rope that was made by the Lower Moon, allowing her to enter Kyojuro's dream. Enmu has sent her in to destroy Kyojuro's spiritual core, which, when destroyed, would render him a lifeless shell unable to put up a fight against the demon. The spiritual core lies in the area of unconsciousness just outside of Kyojuro's dream realm, and she quickly slips past him and Senjuro without either noticing. She finds his subconscious realm, which lies past the wall surrounding his garden, and breaks into it, only to find herself in an unusually hot and flame-ridden one.[7] The girl locates his spiritual core, but, as she goes to break it, she is suddenly lifted tightly by the neck by an invisible force. On the train, Kyojuro grabs her throat but remains unconscious, his survival instinsts enabling his body to sense the threat and stop it. But with the two still unconscious, they are locked together.[8] Tanjiro soon wakes up from the dream he was having and asks Nezuko to burn the rope connecting Kyojuro and the girl, removing the girl from the Hashira's dream.[9]

backstory (7)

After the young Demon Slayer's confrontation with Enmu, Kyojuro too wakes up and tells Tanjiro that he, Zenitsu and Nezuko will defend the eight train cars from the demon while Tanjiro and Inosuke go down to the front of the train to defeat him.[10]After Tanjiro and Inosuke have successfully defeated Enmu and escaped the out of control demon train with Nezuko, Zenitsu and Kyojuro, the Hashira checks on an injured Tanjiro as Inosuke goes to rescue another passenger. He applauds the young Demon Slayer for his recently-acquired ability to use Total Concentration Breathing all the time, and says that this is the first step to him becoming a Hashira.[11]Kyojuro then notices that Tanjiro is bleeding from the abdomen and tells him to focus his breathing in order to heal himself, which the young Demon Slayer manages with some guidance from Kyojuro. The Flame Hashira tells Tanjiro that if he can master his breathing, he'll be able to accomplish many more things and become stronger tomorrow than he was yesterday.[12] Just as Kyojuro starts to tell Tanjiro that he doesn't need to push himself any further because everyone's been saved, something jumps down just behind the two Demon Slayers with a great force, scattering the dust around them.[13] The dust clears to reveal Upper Rank Three, who immediately launches himself towards Tanjiro with the intention of killing him, but is stopped by Kyojuro's Flame Breathing, Second Form: Rising Scorching Sun attack, causing him to leap backwards, away from the Demon Slayers.[14] The demon immediately regenerates his injuries and compliments Kyojuro's katana. The Hashira asks him why he was targeting an injured person, to which the Upper Rank says that he thought Tanjiro would get in the way. Kyojuro asks if they have any business together and that he already hates the demon, despite it being their first time meeting, and the demon says that he hates weak humans too. The Upper Rank then asks Kyojuro if he wants to be a demon too.[15]

backstory (8)

Kyojuro swiftly declines, but the Upper Rank persists. Kyojuro says that he is the Flame Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku, and the demon introduces himself as Akaza. Akaza keeps persisting, saying that Kyojuro would have more time to get stronger as a demon than a human since he wouldn't have to worry about death.[16]Kyojuro says that dying is the very beauty of being human, and that he thinks it is the reason that humans are so unique and precious. He says that Akaza shouldn't insult Tanjiro and that he is not weak, and then says that he will never become a demon. As he begins to use Technique Development, Destructive Death: Compass Needle, Akaza says that he will just kill Kyojuro if he won't become a demon. He attacks Kyojuro as the Hashira runs towards him with his Flame Breathing, First Form: Unknowing Fire attack readied. Akaza jumps back, and says that none of the Hashira he's killed have ever agreed to his invitation to become a demon and that he finds that hard to understand. He tells Kyojuro to die now, while he's young and strong. Akaza unleashes Destructive Death, Air Type, which Kyojuro counters with Flame Breathing, Fourth Form: Blooming Flame Undulation. The Hashira notes that Akaza is attacking him from a distance, punching into the air and moving at a fraction of a blink, and realizes that he'll have to get closer to him if he's to defeat him. Kyojuro suddenly appears in front of Akaza, who compliments his reaction speed as the Hashira attacks him with his flames. The Upper Rank praises his sword skills, and wonders to Kyojuro how sad it'll be if they're lost early, to which the Hashira replies that it won't be sad because it's only natural for people to die. Tanjiro begins to get up, wanting to help the Hashira out, but Kyojuro tells him to stay where he is, because his wound could be fatal if reopened.

backstory (9)

Akaza tells him not to take notice of "the weaklings" and to focus on who he's fighting and Kyojuro, angered, attacks the demon with Flame Breathing, Fifth Form: Flame Tiger as Akaza unleashes his Destructive Death, Disorder. The residue stirred by their attacks clears, and Akaza tells Kyojuro, who's now bloodied and beaten, not to die on him just yet. Tanjiro and Inosuke panic, the latter wanting to jump in to help Kyojuro but soon realizing that he'd only be a hindrance, as the Hashira and Upper Rank seem to be in an entirely different dimension to him. Akaza says that Kyojuro fighting with his body is pointless since he can't heal his wounds instantly like a demon, and that humans will never be able to defeat demons.[21] Tanjiro tries to pick himself up to go and help Kyojuro, but is unable to generate any strength into his limbs because of the aftermath of the Hinokami Kagura, which he used to defeat Enmu. Kyojuro turns back to face Akaza, smiling and saying that he'll fulfil his duties before beginning to ready another attack. Impressed, Akaza compliments his fighting spirit and technique, and laughs as he says that Kyojuro really should've chosen to become a demon, asking the Hashira to fight with him for all eternity.[22] The two clash again, Flame Breathing: Ninth Form - Rengoku meeting Destructive Death: Annihilation Type, and the dust this time disperses to reveal that Akaza has stuck his arm through Kyojuro's stomach. Akaza screams that he's going to die, and asks Kyojuro one more time to become a demon.[23]This causes Kyojuro to remember his mother, Ruka, and a flashback shows one of their final moments together. Ruka asks a younger Kyojuro if he knows why he was born stronger than other people, and asks him to think hard about this question. Kyojuro ponders this for a while, then barks out that he doesn't know the answer.

backstory (10)

Ruka explains that he was given such strength to protect the weak, and that power should be used for the world and for the people, not for abusing it in order to hurt others. Ruka hugs Kyojuro to her chest and, as she begins to cry, tells him that, even though she won't be alive much longer, it was a blessing for her to have been the mother of such a strong, gentle child.[24] Now back in the present, as he summons the last of his strength to swing his sword into Akaza's neck, Kyojuro thanks Ruka as well for being his mother. Kyojuro lets out a shout as he drives his sword deeper in, and, as Akaza tries to hit him with a punch to the face, the Hashira grabs his wrist and stops the attack before it reaches him. Akaza is incredibly impressed by Kyojuro's strength, and then he looks behind Kyojuro and begins to panic as he realizes that the sun is about to come up. Akaza tries to free himself from Kyojuro's hold, but the Hashira holds on tightly to his wrist, not letting him escape.[25] Tanjiro finally finds the strength to pick up his sword, and starts to run over towards the pair with the intention of dealing the finishing blow to Akaza. With a loud shout of effort, Akaza tries again to pull himself away from Kyojuro, but he fails again as Kyojuro's blade moves deeper into Akaza's neck. Tanjiro yells to Inosuke to move for Kyojuro's sake, and, just as the boar-headed Demon Slayer readies his Beast Breathing: First Fang - Pierce, Akaza manages to pull himself away from Kyojuro. The Upper Rank quickly jumps backwards, both of his arms now severed, and runs into the forest beside where they'd been fighting, leaving Kyojuro to fall onto his knees, defeated.[27]As the demon retreats, Tanjiro throws his sword at Akaza, screaming at him not to run away from the fight and calling him a coward. The young Demon Slayer yells that Kyojuro is better than Akaza will ever be because he fought until the end and didn't let anyone die, and that Kyojuro was the rightful winner

physical description

Kyojuro was a young adult of tall stature and lean-muscular build. He had long bright yellow hair with red streaks akin to flames along with two shoulder-length bangs and two chin-length bangs on the side of his head, black forked eyebrows, and golden eyes that fade to red with white pupils. He was known to be charismatic and had an air of great optimism, having an enthusiastic smile plastered on his face nearly all the time. Kyojuro wore a paler brown version of the regular Demon Slayer uniform, which consisted of a brown gakuran jacket, a white belt around his waist and tattsuke-hakama pants. Over this, he wore a haori with a white-yellow gradient pattern and red flame-like ridges at the end that his father Shinjuro had once worn and more than likely his father had worn when they were the Flame Hashira respectively. Finally, he wore red kyahan with yellow flames erupting from the bottom-up, with pale brown tabi socks and a pair of white zōri with red straps. When he first joined the Demon Slayer Corps, he only wore the regular Demon Slayer uniform but as he rose up the ranks, Kyojuro started wearing a completely white haori before donning on his signature flame-patterned one.

info

Kyojuro loved to watch Noh, Kabuki, and sumo wrestling. Kyojuro's favorite food was miso soup with sweet potatoes. Kyojuro was never allowed to have a pet because his father hated animals.[31] Kyojuro's very distant ancestor, as stated by Kyojuro, ate a lot of tempuras causing their descendants' and their own hair color to become quite abnormal. During his first mission, Kyojuro ruptured his own eardrums to counter the Flute Demon's Blood Demon Art. It is unknown but highly unlikely that this permanently affected his hearing.[32] Kyojuro has two favorite sayings/mottos: "If you put in your all, you’ll stand your ground even in death." and "Nothing’s impossible if you put your mind to it." It has been revealed that Kyojuro does have a real-life model and that most of the characters are modeled after people in real life. They're typically normal people who the author happens to know. The Rengoku family has long since had a practice called "Kankagari" (觀かん篝かがり, kankagari?). For the duration of their pregnancies/gestation period, every seven days the wives will spend two hours gazing at a large flaming torch. This seems to be what causes the men in the family to have flame colored hair. Many of his peers are unable to keep up with Kyojuro since he is "too fast" (He would reach conclusions quickly, he's quick to change his mind, he would eat quickly etc.). Despite this, he was sensitive to other people's emotions and was caring, making most of the Corps members like him. It was revealed in a Taisho Secret in Episode 28 that Kyojuro doesn't have a Tsuguko because of how hard his training is and they end up running away. Kyojuro is one of only four Hashira that use a normal Nichirin Katana. The other three are Giyu Tomioka, Muichiro Tokito, and Sanemi Shinazugawa. In Kimetsu Academy, Kyojuro is a history teacher. Because of his passion of teaching and his love of history, he began hurling his students and starting cavalry battles during class.