The most talked-about manga of 2019 was the mega-hit "Kimetsu no Yaiba" (Demon Slayer). Its boom in popularity was triggered by the TV anime series that aired from April to September. With the publication of the latest volume, No. 19, in February, cumulative sales have reached over 40 million copies (including both physical and digital versions), and the momentum is unstoppable. Some are even saying that it's become a social phenomenon.
At the same time, it's rare to find a work that polarizes opinion to such an extent. While some say it's very much a typical Shonen Jump (Weekly Jump) magazine sort of manga, others say it's not. Some find it highly violent and brutal, while others say it's full of gentleness and benevolence. No doubt the true charm of "Kimetsu no Yaiba" lies somewhere between these contradictions.
Set in the Taisho period (1912-1926), the manga tells the story of Tanjiro Kamado, a charcoal burner who supports his family as the eldest son after the death of his father. Then his mother and siblings are cruelly murdered, and the only survivor, his younger sister Nezuko, turns into a demon. When Tanjiro discovers that Nezuko still has some human feelings left in her, he decides to find a way to turn her back into a human being. He joins Kisatsutai, a group of sword fighters with a goal to slay all demons, and vows to kill Kibutsuji Muzan, the original boss demon.
What makes Tanjiro a non-Shonen-Jump hero is his kindness. He'll hold the hand of a demon he has killed and shed tears of pity as the demon turns into dust. Tanjiro is unassuming and caring, even motherly. At the same time, he's an "honor-roll student" type who can be quite stubborn. These are characteristics of a typical first-born son, but not of a lead character in a boy's manga. I feel that the protagonists of popular, big-hit manga are more often "little-brother" types, meaning social misfits with devil-may-care attitudes. Take Hanamichi Sakuragi of "Slam Dunk," or Monkey D. Luffy of "ONE PIECE," as examples.
Another major characteristic of "Kimetsu no Yaiba" is that there are numerous episodes emphasizing the importance of family ties, not just for Tanjiro and Nezuko, but also among the members of Kisatsutai and even the enemy demons. One notable episode involves a fierce battle against the demons Gyutaro and his sister Daki. Their brother-sister ties are depicted to be as real as the bond between Tanjiro and Nezuko.
For a man of an older generation like me, the values displayed here appear quite orthodox and old-fashioned, such as: "It's best for people to be down-to-earth and serious," "The eldest son has a responsibility to protect his family," and "Love your enemy." However, if the concepts involving such values seem refreshing and appealing to younger generations, that is food for serious thought.
Of course, there are plenty of other merits to "Kimetsu no Yaiba." The appeal of the characters is discussed in depth elsewhere, so I'll leave it for now. I was particularly impressed by the following words by Tanjiro: "Strong people help and protect weaker people. The weaker become stronger, and they help and protect the even weaker ones. This is the law of nature."
Here I definitely see new values that can resist and confront the 21st-century value of "the survival of the fittest." Maybe the age of social-misfit-type heroes has become old-fashioned, ushering in the age of tolerant, broad-minded big brothers.
-- Kanta Ishida, Yomiuri Shimbun Senior Writer
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
