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MangaDemon Slayer Characters and demons All 9 Hashira in Demon Slayer: Their Breathing Styles and Fates, and Who Survived
The Hashira are the nine strongest swordsmen in the Demon Slayer Corps: Water Hashira Giyu Tomioka, Flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku, Sound Hashira Tengen Uzui, Insect Hashira Shinobu Kocho, Mist Hashira Muichiro Tokito, Love Hashira Mitsuri Kanroji, Serpent Hashira Obanai Iguro, Wind Hashira Sanemi Shinazugawa and Stone Hashira Gyomei Himejima. Only Giyu and Sanemi survive to the end, and Tengen Uzui, who retired after the Entertainment District, is also alive.
This article covers Demon Slayer up to its final chapter.
What are the Hashira?
The nine highest-ranking swordsmen in the Demon Slayer Corps. Each is named after their Breathing style, as in “Water Hashira.” You’re said to become a Hashira by defeating one of the Twelve Kizuki or killing fifty demons.
Who are the nine Hashira?
| Hashira | Name | Main fights | What happened to them |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water | Giyu Tomioka | Brings Tanjiro to the Corps. Fights Akaza in the Infinity Castle | Survives (loses an arm) |
| Flame | Kyojuro Rengoku | Fights Upper Rank Three, Akaza, on the Mugen Train | Dies |
| Sound | Tengen Uzui | Fights Upper Rank Six in the Entertainment District | Loses an eye and a hand and retires. Survives |
| Insect | Shinobu Kocho | Fights Upper Rank Two, Doma, in the Infinity Castle | Dies. The poison in her body sets up Doma’s defeat |
| Mist | Muichiro Tokito | Fights Upper Rank Five in the Swordsmith Village and Upper Rank One, Kokushibo, in the Infinity Castle | Dies |
| Love | Mitsuri Kanroji | Fights Upper Rank Four in the Swordsmith Village and Muzan in the final battle | Dies after the final battle |
| Serpent | Obanai Iguro | Fights Muzan in the final battle | Dies after the final battle |
| Wind | Sanemi Shinazugawa | Fights Kokushibo in the Infinity Castle and Muzan in the final battle | Survives |
| Stone | Gyomei Himejima | Fights Kokushibo in the Infinity Castle and Muzan in the final battle | Dies after the final battle |
Why did the Hashira join the Corps?
Almost all of them lost someone they loved to demons. Shinobu lost her sister Kanae to Doma. Sanemi killed his own mother after she became a demon. Muichiro lost his twin brother. Giyu lost the friend who protected him during the Final Selection.
Personally, I think the Hashira’s story is about people who were left alive. People who survived because someone protected them step up to protect others in turn. That weight shows in every choice they make in the final battle.
Who survived the final battle?
Of the Hashira, only Giyu and Sanemi. Tengen Uzui, who had retired, is also alive. The full ending is in the ending article, and Upper Rank One, who they fought in the Infinity Castle, is covered in the Kokushibo article.