Tanjuro Kamado

**Tanjuro Kamado** (竈門 炭十郎, *Kamado Tanjūrō*?) was the husband of Kie Kamado and the late father of Tanjiro, Nezuko, Takeo, Hanako, Shigeru, and Rokuta.

## Etymology

Tanjuro's given name contains Go-on'yomi reading of the kanji for "charcoal" (炭, *tan*?), "ten" (十, *jū*?), and "son" (郎, *rō*?), with the kanji of ten and son (十郎) combined makes a male suffix "*Jūrō*". His family name translates to a traditional Japanese wood or charcoal-fuelled cookstove/furnace (竈, *kama*?) while the second kanji means "door" (門, *do*?), and both contain the Kun'yomi reading.

## Appearance

Tanjuro was a frail man with black hair tipped with red, red eyes, and a pale skin complexion. His son Tanjiro has a striking resemblance to him in hair and eye color. He suffered from an illness that made him frail and caused his skin to appear dull. He was born with a mark on his forehead.

Tanjuro also wore a similar outfit to his son, sporting a black checkered Haori that was orange instead of dark turquoise. He wore hanafuda earrings when he was alive; these were passed down from his ancestor, eventually leading Tanjiro to wear them upon his death.

When performing the Kagura ritual dance, Tanjuro took the appearance of an Iwami Kagura dancer with a long sleeved dark brown dress with golden and crimson red frames with a large blindfold covering his entire face with the kanji for "flames" (炎) inscribed on it. He used a decorated wooden blade akin to a Shichishitō, which bore the appearance of a flaming sword, inspired by Yoriichi's Sun Breathing forms.

## Personality

Tanjuro was a quiet, calculating, forgiving, charismatic and loving person. He had a peaceful relationship with his family and regularly lectured Tanjiro about life.

While he appeared calm on the outside, he showed a decent, noble aura with a quiet perception to his surroundings. According to his son, he did not like standing out or displaying his true abilities to others. However, if his family is in danger, he would not hesitate to protect them and shows no mercy towards the enemy.

## History

At some point in his life, Tanjuro married Kie and had their six children at age his 30s.

Tanjuro seemed to have a connection with the demon-killing world but in his final years was a wise but sick and frail man.

He died some time before the slaughter of his wife and youngest children but still manages to inspire his two remaining children.

## Synopsis

### Mount Natagumo Arc

Tanjiro has to fight against Lower Rank 5, Rui, and is nearly killed by his Blood Demon Art when a flashback of his father telling him to breathe and become Hinokami resurfaces in his memories. Tanjiro remembers himself and Nezuko as children watching their father perform the Hinokami Kagura throughout the night. Tanjiro asks his mother how Tanjuro's able to perform the Hinokami Kagura throughout the freezing night, only for him to be told there is a way to breathe so that he can dance no matter the temperature. Tanjuro then tells Tanjiro to make sure the hanafuda earrings and the kagura get passed down uninterrupted, no matter what. Tanjiro then switches from the **Water Breathing, Tenth Form: Constant Flux**, to use the **Hinokami Kagura: Dance**.

### Mugen Train Arc

When Tanjiro realizes he was trapped in a dream-based Blood Demon Art by Enmu, Tanjuro appeared to him in a sudden gust of wind, telling his son to pick up his blade as he must slice something to awaken himself. Later, during his final clash with Enmu, as he prepared to use **Hinokami Kagura: Clear Blue Sky** for the killing blow, Tanjiro prayed to his father to protect him.

## Abilities

### Overall Abilities

Despite not being a Demon Slayer and having a tragic disease that makes his body incredibly frail, Tanjuro was shown to be a phenomenally strong individual. He was able to slay a bear nearly nine feet tall with a single axe at speeds magnitudes faster than the blink of an eye. His mastery of Hinokami Kagura enabled him to perform a long, arduous dance in frigid conditions without tiring.

### Demon Slayer Abilities

**Demon Slayer Mark:** As a descendant of the Kamado family and being able to access the "Transparent World", Tanjuro's birthmark on his forehead is secretly a Demon Slayer Mark. This is proven by Shinjuro's explanation that all Sun Breathing users naturally have a mark on their forehead.

* **Transparent World:** It is revealed that Tanjuro had the ability to foresee his opponent's attacks by seeing their blood flow, muscles and joint movement.

**Selfless State:** Throughout his entire life, Tanjuro emanated absolutely no sense of drive, hatred, anger, fighting spirit, animosity or fear even in dire situations such as him succumbing to his death or facing against an enormous bear.

### Physical Abilities

**Immense Stamina & Endurance:** Tanjuro had immense stamina and endurance for a non-Demon Slayer thanks to his mastery of Hinokami Kagura, being able to practice the ritual dance from dusk to dawn without any rest, despite his illness, frail body and freezing surroundings.

### Supernatural Abilities

**Extrasensory Perception:** Tanjuro possesses the ability to perceive the presence and strength of humans and animals, even outside of his immediate vicinity. This is evident when there was an incident of a bear attacking and eating six people. The villagers hung ropes lined with Suzu bells on the mountain to alert them. When the bear appeared again and Tanjuro went to confront the bear, the animal was still on the other side of the rope. Even though the bells never rung, Tanjuro was able to sense the bear's presence and murderous intent while he was in his bed sleeping.

## Fighting Style

### Breathing Style

**Hinokami Kagura** (ヒノカミ神楽, *Hinokami Kagura*?): Tanjuro was capable of using the Sun Breathing as the Hinokami Kagura taught from his own father, passing down the dance and Yoriichi's earrings to his son.

## Quotes

* (To Tanjiro Kamado) "*Thank you, Tanjiro. But for the last few years I haven't felt the Kagura was difficult. It's strange. When I first just learned the Kagura from your grandfather I was younger, healthier and stronger than now... but back then, I ran out of breath and found it hard. I suppose that was because I made a lot of unnecessary movements. What's important is proper breathing and proper control, making the most efficient moves to exert the greatest amount of strength. When you do that... your head gradually becomes clear.*"
* (To Tanjiro Kamado) "*In the beginning, you must learn the moves and sensibilities. You must pick them up. You open your five senses, becoming conscious of your own body down to each and every blood vessel. This period is truly strenuous, and you will think that no matter how much you struggle, you will not be able to go further. After you have learned and absorbed many things, you cut away what is unnecessary. You leave only what is necessary in your movement and close yourself.*"
* (To a large bear) "*I'm sorry you're hungry but I will not let you come any closer. I will show no mercy to anyone who would harm my family... no matter the odds. Heed my warning... or I will steal your life.*"