10 Saddest Deaths in Demon Slayer

Warning! This article contains spoilers for the Demon Slayer manga.

Being a Demon Slayer is a path filled with hardship and heartbreaking loss. Many courageous fighters have died battling demons, leaving behind a legacy of both bravery and sadness. These losses are especially painful because of the dreams left unfulfilled and the impact these characters had on those who cared about them. The constant, brutal fighting means that even the most promising and kind-hearted individuals aren’t safe from a tragic fate.

These deaths highlight the heavy cost of achieving peace, meaning that even great victories can be deeply sad.

10) Yuichiro Tokito

Muichiro had an older twin brother named Yuichiro, who was very protective of him, especially after they lost their parents at age ten. Yuichiro didn’t think much of joining the Demon Slayer Corps at first, seeing it as a waste of time. However, when a demon attacked them one night, Yuichiro bravely stepped in front of the attack meant for Muichiro, sacrificing his own life to save his brother.

Muichiro developed amnesia due to his brother’s death and a brutal attack. However, these events also awakened a hidden power, a legacy of being descended from the creator of Sun Breathing. It was a heartbreaking irony that Yuichiro, who always fought against demons, ultimately sacrificed himself for someone else – an act of love that profoundly impacted Muichiro’s life and paved the way for his future strength.

9) Kanae Kocho

Kanae Kocho, the previous Flower Hashira and Shinobu’s older sister, was known for her gentle nature and belief that humans and demons could live together without conflict. Her untimely death at the hands of Doma, a powerful Upper Rank Demon, deeply impacted her sister Shinobu, forever altering her life and personality.

Shinobu was profoundly affected by Kanae’s death, and it ignited a fierce desire for revenge against the demon who killed her. Kanae was known for her kindness, making her loss especially painful. The world, already filled with darkness and suffering, lost a compassionate spirit, and Shinobu’s grief transformed into a relentless pursuit of vengeance.

8) Shinazugawa Family

When their mother became a demon, she attacked Sanemi and Genya’s younger siblings, killing them before Genya’s eyes. To protect Genya, Sanemi had to kill their mother, a heartbreaking event that fractured their relationship and left Sanemi deeply scarred.

This horrific event started a long period of hardship for the brothers. It deeply damaged their bond, leading them to live separate, difficult lives. The oldest brother, in particular, was left with overwhelming guilt and had to make immense sacrifices.

7) Gramps

Zenitsu affectionately called Jigoro Kuwajima, the retired Thunder Hashira, “Gramps.” Gramps devoted himself to raising and training both Zenitsu and Kaigaku, providing them with a loving home and gentle instruction. He was heartbroken and deeply ashamed when Kaigaku turned into a demon and abandoned the Demon Slayer Corps, ultimately leading Gramps to end his own life.

Honestly, watching Zenitsu deal with Gramps’ death just wrecked me. It wasn’t just the loss itself, but how it happened – Gramps took his own life because of what happened with his old friend, and Zenitsu felt that so deeply. It was this incredibly honorable, but totally devastating, end, filled with the pain of being betrayed and the crushing weight of feeling like he’d failed. It was just… heartbreaking.

6) Mitsuri & Iguro

Mitsuri, known as the Love Hashira, and Obanai, the Serpent Hashira, shared a gentle connection that Obanai never fully expressed during their lifetimes. Severely wounded by Muzan, they died embracing each other, having promised to find happiness together in their next lives, away from fighting. Though deeply in love, they only confessed their feelings in their final moments, a bittersweet comfort that came too late.

Their deaths were the heartbreaking result of a love they sadly couldn’t prioritize over their responsibilities as Demon Slayers. In their final moments, they confessed their feelings to each other, finding a small measure of peace as they died together.

5) Shinobu Kocho

Shinobu, the Insect Hashira, entered her final fight against Doma with one clear purpose: to avenge her sister, Kanae. Realizing she didn’t have the raw strength to defeat him conventionally, she allowed Doma to swallow her – but not before a fierce battle and after poisoning her entire body with wisteria, a deadly toxin to demons.

Shinobu’s sacrifice wasn’t just a selfless act, it was a carefully planned move to ensure the defeat of a powerful demon. Fueled by her sorrow and a strong sense of justice, her brave decision to give her life is one of the most touching and courageous moments in the entire story.

4) Genya

During the final fight against Kokushibo, Sanemi’s brother, Genya, found himself trapped. Critically wounded and determined to save both his brother and Gyomei, the Stone Hashira, Genya used his unique ability to absorb parts of Kokushibo, gradually transforming his body into something more demonic than human. Following the brutal battle that cost Muichiro his life, Genya’s body began to disintegrate like a demon’s, marking his irreversible death.

His last words were a desperate attempt to make amends with his brother and simply be recognized by him, despite feeling rejected due to a brotherly, but misguided, overprotectiveness. Sanemi was utterly heartbroken by his death, pleading with anything that might listen to bring his brother back.

3) Muichiro

The youngest of the Hashira died battling Kokushibo, the strongest demon. Despite suffering horrific injuries – including being pierced, losing arms and legs, and even being split in half – he held onto the demon until the very end, giving his fellow demon slayers the chance they needed to defeat him.

Muichiro’s death was heartbreaking. After finally remembering his past and finding a reason to live, the 14-year-old died showing incredible bravery and a deep commitment to his friends. It was a powerfully emotional scene.

2) Kamado Family

The story begins with a terrible tragedy: Tanjiro returns home to find his entire family murdered, with only his sister Nezuko surviving – but transformed into a demon. This brutal attack by Muzan shattered Tanjiro’s happy life and sets him on a journey to find a cure for Nezuko and avenge his family.

Honestly, witnessing that initial tragedy really hit me hard – it just perfectly sets up how dangerous this world is. It’s what drives Tanjiro, you know? He’s completely dedicated to finding a way to turn Nezuko back into a human. And that awful scene of his family… it’s something that clearly haunts him, and it’s a constant reminder of just how ruthless the demons are.

1) Rengoku

During the fight against the powerful Akaza on the Mugen Train, the Flame Hashira was mortally wounded and ultimately impaled. Even with such severe injuries, he continued to battle with incredible determination, leaving a lasting impression on everyone present, especially Tanjiro, whom he encouraged with his final words: “set your heart ablaze.”

His death was a profound loss, a selfless act of protecting the vulnerable. His passionate spirit and inherent kindness made his final moments – sharing his wisdom and facing his end with a smile – deeply moving for both Tanjiro and those watching. It was a heartbreaking turning point in the story.

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2025-10-26 17:15