Yoriichi Tsugikuni is one of the most intriguing characters in the anime series Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, especially for those who have only watched the anime version. Who is Yoriichi Demon Slayer, exactly? Here’s a brief explanation about him, but beware, there might be some spoilers for those who haven’t followed the manga.
1. Yoriichi Tsugikuni：Born a Twin and Survived a Terrible Fate in the Tsugikuni Clan
Yoriichi Tsugikuni is the twin brother of Michikatsu Tsugikuni, and they were born into the Tsugikuni clan. In their time, twins were considered a bad omen, and Yoriichi’s father nearly killed him because of that. However, Yoriichi’s mother stopped him.
2. From Childhood, Yoriichi Tsugikuni Was Already Very Strong
Yoriichi Tsugikuni was born a genius child, and since a young age, he was already very strong. One time, his father’s men gave him a bamboo sword to test his skills, and Yoriichi was able to beat them all easily. He could see the world in transparence, and because of this, he could access the Transparent World technique easier than Tanjiro. Even when Yoriichi grew old, he was still remarkably strong, almost killing Kokushibo (Michikatsu, who became a demon), even though Yoriichi was almost dying.
3. The Creator of the Sun Breathing Technique, the Root of Various Breathing Techniques
Yoriichi Tsugikuni invented the Sun Breathing technique, which was handed down to the Kamado family as Hinokami Kagura. He was always ready to teach sword techniques and breathing techniques to anyone who wanted to learn, but no one could ever match him. Even Michikatsu, Yoriichi’s twin brother, admitted that he couldn’t use the Sun Breathing technique.
4. The Only One Who Almost Defeated Muzan Alone
Yoriichi Tsugikuni’s greatest achievement was almost defeating Muzan alone while remaining unscathed. He used the 13th Sun Breathing technique to injure Muzan severely. Muzan then broke into 1800 pieces, and Yoriichi was able to cut 1500. Unfortunately, Muzan could still escape. This achievement was exceptional, and no one could replicate it afterward. Even Tanjiro and the Pillars in the main story of Kimetsu no Yaiba had to gang up on Muzan, and even then, they all were very injured, and some even died.
5. A Forgotten Legend
Yoriichi should have been a legendary Demon Slayer, but he was forgotten in Tanjiro’s era. In chapter 187, it was revealed that he had made three major mistakes: Michikatsu turned into a demon, he failed to kill Muzan, and he let Tamayo escape. Because of that, he was expelled from the Demon Slayer Corps.
6. Handing Down the Hinokami Kagura to Sumiyoshi, and Its Successors
In chapter 192, it was shown that Yoriichi had given his Hinokami Kagura and anting-anting to Sumiyoshi, the ancestor of Tanjiro. Sumiyoshi watched over Yoriichi’s swordsmanship movements and promised to pass down the Sun Breathing technique and anting-anting to the next generation of their family until it reached Tanjuro Kamado and eventually, Tanjiro himself.
7. Yoriichi Type Zero
Yoriichi Type Zero is a combat doll in the sword-making village. It was built by Kotetsu’s ancestor in the Sengoku era, which was over 300 years before Kimetsu no Yaiba’s story. The doll’s model is Yoriichi Tsugikuni, and it has six arms. According to Kotetsu’s father, the doll had to be made with six arms; otherwise, it wouldn’t be able to mimic the movements of the swordsman who served as the model.
In conclusion, Yoriichi Tsugikuni was the strongest Demon Slayer in Kimetsu no Yaiba because of his invention of the Sun Breathing technique, which was handed down to several characters that followed him in the story. Despite the mistakes he made, he was still one of the most significant figures in the story.
