Tanjiro Kamado of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is a compassionate teenager who used to financially support his family by working as a coal burner. After the brutal murder of his family, he became a demon slayer to avenge the death of his loved ones and to turn his sister back into a human. In the pursuit of his ambitious goal, Tanjiro met some of the most courageous warriors, who later turned into his reliable allies and lifelong companions. Although he had many such acquaintances, here are the most reliable friends he ever made in his inspiring journey.
7 Genya Shinazugawa
Originally Hostile Frenemy Who Became One of Tanjiro’s Trusted Friends
Genya and Tanjiro first met in the Final Selection Arc after the completion of the selective process. The former bullied one of the curators, so Tanjiro took a stand forcing him to take a step back. However, the incident did not have any impact on Tanjiro’s compassionate nature as he remained friendly towards Genya whenever they met afterward. But they never really became friends until they spent some time with each other in the Swordsmith village. The duo went on to fight Upper-Rank Four Hantengu together.
Interestingly, Tanjiro had once told Genya that he doesn’t smell a tinge of hatred in his brother Sanemi towards him. He had assured him that he had no reason to be afraid of the Wind Hashira. This advice eventually helped the Shinazugawa siblings mend their relationship just before their unfortunate death. Tanjiro and Genya had surprisingly become great friends by this point and the former mourned the latter’s death as soon as he got the unexpected news.
6 Tamayo
Tanjiro’s First Friend
In the Asakusa Arc, Tanjiro met Tamayo. She is a rare demon who has managed to free herself from Muzan’s curse and survives by drinking just a small amount of blood. Tamayo’s research towards turning demons into humans is naturally intriguing for Tanjiro who desperately wants to help his demon sister Nezuko. Inspired by the same purpose, the duo soon become close friends.
Tamayo even offers to take Nezuko with her so that she can keep her safe. It is her constant medicinal intervention that eventually helps the Demon Slayer Corps defeat the Demon King in the Final Battle arc. Tanjiro and Tamayo remain close friends and in touch with one another until her unfortunate death.
5 Muichiro Tokito
The Air-Headed Hashira Whose Relationship With Tanjiro Turned His Life Around
Mist Hashira Muichiro Tokito is known for his absent-minded and unfriendly nature. Driven by the obsession to eliminate demons, Tokito barely shows interest in socializing. When Tanjiro interacts with him in the Swordsmith Village arc, he finds himself at the receiving end of cold and unkind treatment. But some of Tanjiro’s kind words end up leaving a lasting impression on the Mist Hashira and help him during his fight with Gyokko.
The battle and its experience turn out to be life-changing for Muichiro as the amnesia wears off and he is able to remember his family again. Later, Tokito even thanks Tanjiro for his impact on his life and the two end up becoming close friends. During the Hashira Training Arc, the Mist Hashira does not even hide his bias towards Tanjiro and lets him progress faster in the training than his peers.
4 Giyu Tomioka
Tanjiro’s Oldest Ally Who Risked Committing Seppuku to Get Nezuko Accepted by the Hashira
Giyu Tomioka is a stoic Hashira who hardly mingles with his peers and loves to remain aloof despite being in the Demon Slayer Corps for years. Interestingly, he is the first person to come across Tanjiro and Nezuko after the fatal attack on their families. Although it is speculative, one can argue that if the brother-sister duo had met some other Hashira that fateful morning, Nezuko may not have survived. The incident is a testament to Giyu’s deeply compassionate and caring nature as he goes against traditional wisdom to make a tough decision based on his instincts that eventually turn the conflict between humans and demons in favor of the former.
It is Tomioka’s down-to-earth qualities that draw Tanjiro towards him and the two slowly become good friends. Interestingly, Giyu does not feel that he belongs among the Hashiras and looks down on himself because of past experiences. It is eventually Tanjiro who talks to him in the Hashira Training arc and manages to convince him to stay in the Demon Slayer Corps. They are also the first two to engage with Demon King Muzan after his revival and subsequent slaughter of weaker members of the Corps. The compassionate origins and mutual sacrifices for a common selfless cause make Tanjiro and Giyu’s relationship special.
3 Inosuke Hashibira
The Boastful Competitor Who Turned Into Tanjiro’s Biggest Strengths
Loud, fiercely competitive, and sometimes abrasive, Inosuke Hashibira is one of the funniest characters in the Demon Slayer universe. However, he has barely anything in common with Tanjiro, who is deeply respectful, calm, and gentle. Despite having conflicting personalities, the eccentric duo is driven by the same desire to eliminate demons and end the centuries-old conflict that is slowly permeating into and complicating social life.
Side-by-side the two friends fight several memorable battles in the Tsuzumi Mansion Arc, Mount Natagumo Arc, Mugen Train Arc, and Entertainment District Arc. These experiences bring the duo closer and create an unwavering faith in each other that is unlikely to be replicated in any other circumstance. Inosuke and Tanjiro are nothing like one another but instead of pushing them apart, it paradoxically brings them together and lays the foundation of their lifelong bond.
2 Zenitsu Agatsuma
Tanjiro’s Most Trustworthy Ally and Friend
When Tanjiro meets Zenitsu for the first time, the latter is desperately begging a girl to marry him. In his characteristic style, Zenitsu explains to Tanjiro that he is just a weakling who will most likely get killed in his next job, so he implores him to protect him until he gets married. The duo mutually agree to cooperate from then on and end up becoming the closest friends. Zenitsu witnesses Tanjiro’s dramatic growth, while the latter learns that the former is a seriously domineering combatant when he slips into a deep state of slumber and awakens his true instincts.
Tanjiro and Zenitsu’s friendship matures with each mission as they put their lives on the line fighting dangerous demons. Agatsuma displays uncompromising loyalty to Tanjiro and shows an equally strong devotion to protecting Nezuko. On the other hand, Tanjiro closely observes Zenitsu’s transformation into a fearless warrior from a hopeless crybaby. The duo go on to fight some of the most dangerous demons to have ever existed in the Final Battle Arc, which further cements their friendship and develops an almost unbreakable bond and camaraderie.
1 Nezuko Kamado
Tanjiro’s Demon Sister
Nezuko and Tanjiro grew up together on Mount Kumotori with the rest of their siblings. Despite not being affluent, the Kamado family was happy and content with what they had. Unfortunately, Tanjiro and Nezuko’s lives took a dark when their entire family was slaughtered with the latter being the only survivor. Although Nezuko had become a demon in the aftermath of the cruel incident and even attacked his brother, Tanjiro refused to give up on her. He vowed to turn her back into a human and became a demon slayer to avenge the merciless murder of his family.
Nezuko also showed incredible resolve and did not attack any humans. Even with the odds heavily stacked against them, the brother-sister duo remained persistent in the pursuit of their seemingly impossible dreams. Although Nezuko is Tanjiro’s sister, one could call her his greatest ally and most reliable friend considering the unwavering faith and devotion they have towards one another’s well-being.
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