Sakonji Urokodaki

* Profile
* Full Body

## Familial Status

**Sakonji Urokodaki** (鱗滝 左近次, *Urokodaki Sakonji*?) is currently a retired member of the Demon Slayer Corps, having held the position of the previous Water Hashira (水柱, *Mizu Bashira*?) during the Meiji Era. He is the main cultivator of the Water Breathing during the Taisho Era, having trained Giyu Tomioka, Tanjiro Kamado, Sabito and Makomo.

## Etymology

Sakonji's surname, Urokodaki, contains the Kun reading of "fish, scales" (鱗, *uroko*?) and the rendaku reading of "waterfall, cascade, rapids" (滝, *daki*?). His given name, Sakonji, consists of the kanji for "left" (左, *sa*), the Kan'yo-on reading of "near, close" (近, *kon*?), and the Kan'yo-on reading of "order, sequence" (次, *ji*?).

## Appearance

During his youth in his teens to early adulthood, Sakonji had a face described as being kind and calm with long hair that was was black in color and fashioned into a topknot. He began wearing a red tengu mask throughout his life and missions after demons began to make fun of his gentle face.

During his years of service, he wore a teal colored kimono tucked into navy coloured hakama pants, over which he wore a blue cloud-patterned haori that was closed with a dark blue sash around his waist, and white kyahan guards fastened around his shins. He also wears traditional black tabi socks, and tan-colored zōri with dark blue straps.

In his appearance as at age 60, Sakonji still wears the tengu mask to cover his entire face. He appears to be an elderly individual, as noted by the countless number of students he's trained, along with his shorter yet silver-colored hair.

At age 60 onwards  He is always seen wearing a cloud-patterned jinbei kimono of a grayish-blue color with navy colored pants which are fastened at his shins by white kyahan guards. He also wears traditional black tabi socks, and sandals similar to Tanjiro, except his sandals have blue straps. On the occasions when Sakonji travels, he wears a white cloth that covers his head and wraps around his neck.

### Gallery

Sakonji at age 19 (masked)Sakonji at age 19 (maskless)Sakonji at his youth maskless & left) alongside his appearance in his 60s (maskless & right)Sakonji in his 60s.
## Personality

    As a trainer and former Demon Slayer, Sakonji is pragmatic, strict, and vigilant, while simultaneously sympathetic and understanding. When first meeting Tanjiro, he was quick to criticize him for his weak resolve and innate kindness, harshly telling him the solution to when Nezuko eats someone is to kill her and then himself. He possessed a no-nonsense demeanour while training Tanjiro, repeatedly kicking, beating, and harshly instructing him to get his bearings together and get things quickly and properly; he even began to utilize traps armed with knives and spikes when Tanjiro began to improve his descent of his mountain. That said, he became incredibly proud of the Demon Slayer he would become.

As a cultivator who had lost so many student over the years, Sakonji was haunted by his association with the Hand Demon, realizing it had been the demon to kill his past 13 students. He flatly told Tanjiro that he had no intention of sending him to Final Selection and believed the giant boulder he had set on the boy was too big to cut. Taken aback by his student's accomplishment, he hugged him and told him to come home. Upon seeing that Tanjiro would indeed return from Final Selection, Sakonji embraced him and cried in relief. He also commended him for being the one to kill the Hand Demon.

He showed great dedication to Nezuko, attempting, and successfully, to implant suggestions within her to protect humans and kill demons. He wrote to Kagaya Ubuyashiki his belief that Nezuko was completely able to withstand her hunger of humans, even putting his own life on the line by promising to commit suicide should the occasion ever arise.

## History

Sakonji was a capable Demon Slayer trained with the style of Water Breathing, and was solely responsible for capturing the Hand Demon and imprisoning him on Mount Fujikasane. He would then go on to become the Water Hashira for an undisclosed period of time, before retiring to become one of the cultivators of the Water Breathing style to Demon Slayers.

## Synopsis

### Final Selection Arc

    Having received a letter from Giyu Tomioka requesting that he train Tanjiro Kamado, explaining the boy and his sister's circumstances, Sakonji set forth from his home to find the two. Upon finding them, he stops Tanjiro from attempting to kill a demon with his knife, stating that he will be unable to kill the creature with such a weak weapon. Admonishing the youth for his question of how to properly defeat the beast, Sakonji watches as Tanjiro struggles to come up with a way to dispatch the creature. Sniffing the youth, Sakonji deems him unworthy to be a Demon Slayer, as he still has the scent of kindness even when confronted by a vile demon.

    While Tanjiro is continues struggling to kill the demon, Sakonji buries the victims of the creature, afterwards kneeling by their graves with his hands together in prayer. After Tanjiro's hesitation leaves the demon to die in the sunlight, he then introduces himself to Tanjiro, asking if he is the one Giyu spoke of in his letter. Getting an affirmation to his inquiry, Sakonji goes on to ask the boy on what he will do if his sister decides to feast on a human, slapping him when he hesitates to answer. He admonishes him on his slowness to answer, stating that he lacks determination, and stresses that he must not allow his sister to harm another human under any circumstance. Getting an answer of conviction from Tanjiro, the trainer agrees to test the boy to see if he is worthy of becoming a Demon Slayer, telling him to bring his sister and follow him.

    Sakonji then swiftly makes for his home, with Tanjiro struggling to keep up with his pace. Arriving at his hut, Sakonji tells the exhausted youth that the test begins now, instructing him to hike up the mountain. He travels with Tanjiro part way up the mountain before suddenly telling him that he must make his way back to his home before dawn. He then vanishes into the heavy fog surrounding them. Later, having made his way back down the mountain, Sakonji drapes a blanket over Nezuko, before noticing a noise at his door. A heavily exhausted and injured Tanjiro opens the door, prompting Sakonji to recognize his abilities and his passing of the test.

    Sakonji explains his profession as a cultivator to Tanjiro, as well as how to join the Demon Slayer Corps: surviving Final Selection. To prepare him for this trial, and to see if he is worthy of even being able to participate in it, Sakonji begins to train Tanjiro in the way of the sword. He explains and drills him in how to descend the mountain successfully and repeatedly, how to breathe properly to gain power, the intricacies of the weapon and the forces behind it, sparring with Tanjiro to improve his endurance and stance using only his bare hands, and getting him used to harsh conditions.

    When Nezuko continues to fall asleep without waking up, Sakonji calls for a doctor, who cannot find anything wrong with her. Finally, after a year has passed, the elder tells Tanjiro that he has nothing more to teach him, instructing him to prove himself by improving the basics he has been taught. He then leads the boy to a huge boulder, telling him that if he can cut it in half, he will be permitted to go to Final Selection. When Tanjiro hesitates, overcome by doubt, Sakonji leaves without a word, his hand in the boy's training completed.

    Six months later, after Tanjiro finally succeeds in slicing the boulder in half, Sakonji explains his reasons for not wanting Tanjiro to go to Final Selection, complimenting the boy on his accomplishment. He then wraps Tanjiro in a hug, urging him to come back alive from the Demon Slayer Corps' test. Before Tanjiro leaves, the trainer gives him a mask to ward off bad luck. Additionally, Sakonji explains that demons increase in power by consuming humans, and that Tanjiro will be able to figure out how many humans a demon has consumed if he increases the sensitivity of his nose. When Tanjiro wishes him farewell, asking that he look after Sabito and Makomo, Sakonji wonders aloud how the boy knew the names of his two dead apprentices.

    After Tanjiro returns from the Final Selection, Sakonji and Nezuko embrace him, the old trainer weeping tears of joy over the long-awaited return of a student of his. Fifteen days after this, Haganezuka arrives with Tanjiro's new sword, but ignores the youth's attempts at hospitality, prompting Sakonji to note to himself that the swordsmith's behaviour had not changed. He then agrees with Haganezuka when he notes that Tanjiro's blade may turn red, watching shortly after that as it instead turns black. Noting this, the elder watches as Haganezuka throws a fit over this unexpected development.

Sakonji then watches in silence as Tanjiro buttons up his uniform, and subsequently shows him a box made out of "Mist Cloud Fir", for which he can hide Nezuko from the sun with. He speculates that Tanjiro's sister may have fallen into her coma because she was attempting to regain strength through sleep, rather than through consuming humans. He goes on to tell Tanjiro that while she was sleeping, he gave Nezuko some suggestions to her subconscious to defend humans as her family from other demons. He also informs his apprentice about Blood Demon Arts and the sole demon responsible for the creation of all other and the likely murderer of Tanjiro's family, Muzan Kibutsuji.

### Rehabilitation Training Arc

After Nezuko's existence was discovered by the Demon Slayer Corps, Sakonji sends a letter to Kagaya Ubuyashiki. In it, he requested Tanjiro Kamado be forgiven for harboring a demon and explained Nezuko's unique circumstances. He further wrote that if Nezuko were to ever kill a human he, Tanjiro, and Giyu will all commit seppuku to repent.

### Infinity Castle Arc

While Tanjiro and the remaining Hashira engaged Muzan and the remaining Kizuki in the Infinity Castle, Sakonji was summoned to the Butterfly Mansion to protect Nezuko, whose newfound resistance to sunlight Muzan now seeks. He also gave her the cure developed by Tamayo, which would turn her back into a human and thus ruin Muzan's plans. While tending to her as she fell ill as a result of taking the cure, Sakonji thought about everything that happened since he met her and Tanjiro and told both of them not to lose.

While watching over Nezuko, she suddenly wakes up and leaves the Demon Slayer Corps.

## Abilities

### Overall Abilities

Sakonji is a very powerful and capable swordsman. As the former Water Hashira of the Meiji Era, he was once one of the Demon Slayer Corps' most powerful fighters. He singlehandedly captured and imprisoned the Hand Demon on Mt. Fujikasane, a notable feat considering the presumed challenge of disabling the powerful demon without killing it. As the cultivator of Water Breathing, he is both incredibly knowledgable and an accomplished teacher, having trained at least fifteen students in the art. Even in his old age, a young and physically fit Tanjiro barely kept up with him while running and Sakonji was strong enough to flip him over and fend his attacks off without exertion.

**Enhanced Stealth:** Sakonji is shown to have high stealth as when He was running with Tanjiro he could run with swiftness without anyone being able to hear his footsteps.

### Physical Abilities

**Enhanced Speed:** Sakonji is shown to be incredibly fast; during his confrontation of the Hand Demon, he was able to catch the demon off-guard and slice it several times, despite the demon already having consumed several victims. He was ultimately able to appear behind it and end the battle with its capture.

### Supernatural Abilities

**Enhanced Smell:** Sakonji has a heightened sense of smell which allows him to sense the 'line of interval'-the slight pause in an enemy's movement which allows an opening to strike-and distinguish between species, as well as their approximate position. This is revealed when Giyu Tomioka writes to Sakonji, asking for him to train Tanjiro citing that he also possess the same ability as the cultivator. This was further shown during his first meeting with Tanjiro during his battle against the Temple Demon, where Urokodaki was able to smell out Tanjiro's emotions and smell "the scent of innate Kindness" from him.

## Fighting Style

### Breathing Style

**Water Breathing** (水の呼吸, *Mizu no Kokyū*?): Sakonji is the primary instructor of this Breathing Style. He has taught ten breathing techniques to both Tanjiro Kamado and the successor of his former position as Water Hashira, Giyu Tomioka. The user can increase the amount of oxygen in one's blood by controlling their breathing pattern. Doing this increases his strength and agility to equal a Demon's. It is currently unknown what his level of skill while utilizing this style is, but it can be assumed that he was a formidable swordsman as a former Hashira.

#### Techniques

* **First Form: Water Surface Slash** (壱ノ型: 水面斬り, *Ichi no kata: Minamo Giri*?) - The user crosses their arms and generates enough momentum to release a singular, concentrated slash which is often horizontal.
* **Second Form: Water Wheel** (弐ノ型: 水車, *Ni no kata: Mizu Guruma*?) - The user leaps forward into the air and performs a front flip, releasing a singular vertical slash in a circular motion.
* **Third Form: Flowing Dance** (参ノ型: 流流舞い, *San no kata: Ryūryū Mai*?) - The user swings and bends their blade in a winding motion along with their body and dances in a flowing pattern, slicing everything in its path.
* **Fourth Form: Striking Tide** (肆ノ型: 打ち潮, *Shi no kata: Uchishio*?) - The user performs a multitude of slashes in a flowing fashion to release multiple consecutive slashes.
* **Fifth Form: Blessed Rain After the Drought** (伍ノ型: 干天の慈雨, *Go no kata: Kanten no Jiu*?) - The user changes the grip on their sword and decapitates the opponent in a single flowing strike that causes little to no pain. It is a "sword strike of kindness" used when the enemy willingly surrenders.
* **Sixth Form: Whirlpool** (陸ノ型: ねじれ渦, *Roku no kata: Nejire Uzu*?) - The user twists their body, using their blade to perform a fierce whirling motion which generates a whirlpool of air to shred apart anything caught within its current like a giant sharp blade. Its effect and efficiency is enhanced underwater, where the user can draw water around their weapon to create whirling currents that enhance their slashes.
* **Seventh Form: Drop Ripple Thrust** (漆ノ型: 雫波紋突き, *Shichi no kata: Shizuku Hamon Tsuki*?) - The user performs a precise, fast and accurate thrust with their blade.
* **Eighth Form: Waterfall Basin** (捌ノ型: 滝壼, *Hachi no kata: Takitsubo*?) - The user cuts the target vertically in a flowing motion which is most effective when they are falling downward.
	+ **Waterfall Basin, Destruction** (滝壼・壊, *Takitsubo - Kai*?) - A variation of **Eighth Form: Waterfall Basin** created by **Sakonji Urokodaki**. The user leaps forwards towards their enemy in a spinning motion and slashes them as they past. They then turn around and leap behind the enemy to slash them with a curved strike, before uppercutting them while leaping high into the air and then falling down with great force in a overhead strike, smashing the enemy to the ground and unleashing multiple slashes that pulverize their opponent.
* **Ninth Form: Splashing Water Flow** (玖ノ型: 水流飛沫, *Ku no kata: Suiryū Shibuki*?) - The user changes their footwork in a way that minimizes the landing time and surface needed when landing, allowing the user to move without limits. Ideal when fighting in a place with no solid foothold.
	+ **Splashing Water Flow, Turbulent** (水流飛沫・乱, *Suiryū Shibuki - Ran*?) - A variation of **Ninth Form: Splashing Water Flow**. The user rushes around their opponent discombobulating them in multiple circles. They subsequently leap over their opponent delivering an overhead slash to decapitate them.
* **Tenth Form: Constant Flux** (拾ノ型: 生生流転, *Jū no kata: Seisei Ruten*?) - The user charges toward the target whilst performing a continuous flowing attack with their blade which increases in strength and speed over time using momentum.

## Equipment

**Standard Nichirin Katana:** During his years of service, Sakonji wielded a standard sized and shaped Nichirin katana whose blade is dull blue in color with the words **Destroyer of Demons** (惡鬼滅殺, *Akki Messatsu*?) engraved on the sides. His sword's tsuba is oval shaped with 4 round indentations and a dull grey core. Along with his katana, Sakonji carries a standard sword sheath that is black in color with the mouth and cap having teal colored wave patterns.

## Trivia

* It is said by Giyu in his letter to Sakonji that he has an enhanced sense of smell like Tanjiro.
* Sakonji doesn't drink alcohol and has a very low alcohol tolerance.
* The only type of masks he makes are fox masks. This is apparently simply because he likes foxes.
* Sakonji started wearing his mask because demons used to make fun of his gentle face.
* Sakonji receives money from Kagaya Ubuyashiki, but he never spends it and prefers to live a self-sufficient lifestyle. He did, however, use it to pay for the nutritious food he gave to Tanjiro while he was staying with him, and for the traps he had his hunter friends set up.
* Sakonji resembles real life swordsman Miyamoto Musashi. Like Sakonji, Musashi lived out his twilight years meditating in remote mountains, he described his dueling style in a memoir titled The Book of Water, and most damningly, Musashi also had a long line of prodigies who met unfortunate ends before he himself passed.
* In the opening of the Swordsmith Village Arc, it reveals that Sakonji became a Hashira after Jigoro's appointment.
* Sakonji has served as a Hashira for 25 years (1875 to 1900).
	+ Giyu Tomioka would later succeed him, becoming the Taisho Generation Water Hashira in the year 1909 and serving for 5 years (1909 to 1914).

Sakonji (right), alongside Shinjuro Rengoku (left) and Jigoro Kuwajima (centre) in the Kizuna no Kiseki opening.
## Quotes

* (To Tanjiro Kamado about Nezuko) *"Your sister must never take the life of an innocent person!"*
* (To himself regarding Tanjiro and Nezuko Kamado) *"Tanjiro... when I think about it, ever since you brought your younger sister, who had become a demon I've felt as thought large cogs have been turning. If this war is a giant machine then when the two cogs that are you and Nezuko fitted into place, it caused a stagnant situation to suddenly begin moving. Don't lose, Nezuko. Don't lose, Tanjiro. You must not lose."*