Kozo Kanamori

**Kozo Kanamori** (鉄穴森 鋼蔵, *Kanamori Kōzō*?) is a swordsmith affiliated with the Demon Slayer Corps.

## Appearance

Kozo is a man of short height and average build, with chin-length black hair that spikes near the ends. His hands are covered in visible blisters and he wears a Hyottoko mask over his face, as do all residents of the Swordsmith Village.

Kozo is usually seen wearing a long, pale robe with a black haori.

## Personality

Kozo appears as a gentle, soft-spoken individual. He is capable of understanding the hot-blooded Hotaru Haganezuka and cares for others very much as seen when he continues to protect Hotaru against an attack from Upper Rank Five, Gyokko, despite being critically injured. He also showed great worry for Muichiro Tokito, anxiously watching him battle Gyokko and becoming hysterical to see the Hashira fall unconscious from the demon's poison.

However, when it comes to his swords, Kozo is very passionate. When Inosuke Hashibira purposefully chips the dual blades he received from him, the swordsmith is furious and berates him.

## Synopsis

### Rehabilitation Training Arc

   Kozo came with Hotaru to the Butterfly Mansion to deliver the new Nichirin Swords for Inosuke Hashibira and Tanjiro Kamado, his and Hotaru's respective clients. Inside, they witness Inosuke's new blade turn blue, much to Kozo's admiration. However, Inosuke soon walks outside to the yard and Kozo, Tanjiro, and Hotaru watch as he begins to chip gouges into the blade's edge with a stone. Infuriated, Kozo is held back by Tanjiro as he threatens to kill the masked Demon Slayer for destroying his work; he becomes even more enraged when Inosuke begins chipping his second blade.

As they leave the mansion, Kozo angrily rants at his client's audacity to destroy his work before his eyes, as Tanjiro repeatedly apologizes to the smiths.

### Swordsmith Village Arc

   Kozo, now the swordsmith of the Mist Hashira Muichiro Tokito, intervenes in Hotaru's forceful taking of a Nichirin sword from Tanjiro and another resident, Kotetsu. He demonstrates that by tickling the hot-headed smith's sides, he can be exhausted and calmed down. Once he is unconscious, Kozo explains to Tanjiro, who had initially come to the Swordsmith Village to discuss with him, that Hotaru had been undergoing personal training to forge a better blade for him, hence his muscular physique.

He also adds that in spite of his harsh exterior, Hotaru appreciates Tanjiro for believing in him. However, Kozo is forced to tickle him again when Hotaru wakes up and threatens Kotetsu over his insults. Hotaru then gives Tanjiro a spare blade before departing with Kozo.

    When Gyokko, Upper Five of the Twelve Kizuki, infiltrates the village and summons demonic fish spawn made with his Blood Demon Art, Kozo is attacked and forced to flee, though he is eventually saved by his client Muichiro. He notices the blade he is using is badly chipped and urges the Hashira to help lead him to his shed so that he can have his own blade. As they get close, Kozo is pulled back and he watches as Gyokko himself emerges.

Kozo and Kotetsu watch as Gyokko reveals an "art piece" he has made and unveils what he has dubbed "*Death Throes of the Smith*": a mangled bloody statue made up of fellow swordsmiths. To their horror, they recognize each of the people tortured by the demon and are reduced to tears when Gyokko shows they are still alive. Muichiro attacks Gyokko, who summons goldfish to attack them with thousands of tiny needles. Though they miss the Hashira, the demonic fish then aim instead at Kozo and Kotetsu, who shields the boy from the attack. They are saved by Muichiro, allowing himself to be pierced, and ordered to flee.

    Kozo then enters his work shed to find Hotaru inside, polishing Tanjiro's ancient sword. He is then met by Gyokko, who has trapped Muichiro in a watery pot, and is attempting to enter, laughing at the smith for his pathetic attempt to stop him. Kozo tries to swing a knife at the demon but is wounded by jets of water slicing him in the chest and arm. He then watches as Gyokko attempts to get Hotaru's attention and witnesses Hotaru's incredible determination and focus, continually ignoring Gyokko's attacks and his wounds.

After some time, Gyokko, angered at his lack of attention, attempts to kill Kozo as a last attempt to get Hotaru to see him. The swordsmith is saved when Muichiro enters the shed, with mysterious marks on his face enhancing his speed and strength. The demon then creates giant octopus tentacles to trap him and Muichiro, destroying the work shed in doing so. With the Hashira and swordsmith in his hold, Gyokko taunts them by noting that the rubbery tentacles cannot be slashed. However, having given Muichiro his new completed blade, Kozo is freed when the tentacles holding them are sliced to pieces by Muichiro. He thanks the smith for his blade, though Kozo notes that he only followed Tetsuido's instructions to make it.

    As Muichiro engages Gyokko, Kozo flees to the trees with Hotaru and watches anxiously as the Mist Hashira battles the Upper Rank in a fierce battle. Eventually, Muichiro emerges victorious and Kozo approaches him, asking if he is alright. Though he replies he is, Kozo notes his off-color skin and heavy breathing, before witnessing the Hashira lose conscious and fall to the ground. He immediately panics and attempts to get Hotaru's attention to help him, though he is ignored.

## Abilities

**Overall Abilities:** As a swordsmith and having no known physical training, Kozo does not have many notable abilities.

**Above Average Endurance:** Despite being slashed by Gyokko's water tendril and sustaining several more wounds, Kozo is able to ignore them and continue moving, showing that while he is not on the level of Demon Slayers, he at least has above average physical vitality and endurance.

**Master Swordsmith:** Due to being trust with forging the Nichirin sword of the Mist Hashira Muichiro Tokito, Kozo is a very capable swordsmith. However, he notes that he simply followed the guidelines made by Muichiro's previous smith Tetsuido.

## Relationships

### Hotaru Haganezuka

Kanamori and Haganezuka are shown to have a positive relationship and are also very good friends. Both are blacksmiths and know how to build swords and also Kanamori understands Haganezuka's personality and hot blood due to being stressed by someone breaking his swords.

### Tanjiro Kamado

When Kanamori first meets Tanjiro, he develops a bit of a friendship with the young Kamado, and also explains how he comes to understand Haganezuka's hot blood.

### Inosuke Hashibira

When Inosuke broke the swords that Kanamori had given him, the blacksmith was extremely furious and very stressed to see that, to the point of needing to be held so as not to hurt Inosuke and so he didn't like Inosuke because of that and they didn't become friends.

### Muichiro Tokito

Muichiro took his sword that had its blade already breaking for Kanamori to fix it, in addition they get along very well and have a positive relationship, this is also shown in the fight against Gyokko in which Muichiro protected Kanamori and vice versa.

## Trivia

* Kozo's wife is called En, and she's two years younger than him. The two of them are said to be such a perfect couple that they even look like each other.