This article contains spoilers from the Demon Slayer manga.

Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle is set to hit international theaters soon after its official release in Japan. The rest of the world waits in line to see how the final battle between the demon slayers and Muzan’s army of demons unfolds on the big screen. While many fans are looking forward to the intense fights, others are also eager to learn more about the backstories of the upper moon demons in Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle.

Even the strongest upper moon demons have the most painful backstories in Demon Slayer. Just because they became cruel and ruthless demons doesn’t necessarily mean they had an equally evil upbringing. In fact, an Upper Moon, who is set to fight in the first Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle movie, lost everything they had when they were human, as revealed in the original manga series. Who exactly is this upper moon?

Demon Slayer Infinity Castle Arc: Where To Watch

Demon Slayer fans can find all the information about streaming the Infinity Castle film here.

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By Suzail Ahmad

Upper Moon Three Akaza Lost Everything in Demon Slayer

Akaza’s Painful Human Life as Hakuji

Upper Moon Three Akaza lost everything precious in his human life in Demon Slayer.
Even upper moon demons like Akaza have tragic backstories.

In a world where corrupted humans and flesh-eating demons exist, it’s not uncommon for someone to lose everything they have in an instant. Whether a demon murders their family in cold blood like Muzan did to Tanjiro Kamado or a former human like Kaigaku betrays Gyomei and his fellow orphans to save himself, there's no guarantee anyone can live a peaceful life in Demon Slayer.

While most of the characters who wield Nichirin blades in Demon Slayer lost everything they had to the demons, some demons also suffered the same fate before joining Muzan’s army. One of them is Akaza, otherwise known as the Upper Moon Three, or simply Hakuji during his time as a human. At first glance, he looks like he’s only obsessed with power and strength, but underneath this strong exterior hides a painful memory every Demon Slayer fan should know.

Are the poor not even allowed to live? Father... To hell with this world! To hell with every last one of them! -Akaza

Before Muzan paid a visit to Akaza and turned him into a demon, he was just a highly capable but unfortunate human who lost everything he considered precious in his life. From his father to his master and lover, Akaza lost everything not from a demon encounter, but from the corrupted and selfish humans who only think of themselves. Despite the monstrous strength Akaza already had as a human, he failed to protect everything precious to him.

Akaza Lost His Father

Akaza’s Father Unalived Himself

Akaza's father hanged himself due to guilt.
Akaza was branded a criminal just because he wanted to cure his father.

Like Tanjiro, Akaza also had an ailing father in Demon Slayer. However, while Tanjiro had a strong support system like his mother and siblings, Akaza had no one to share the burden with, since his mother was nowhere to be found in the manga. As a child with a desperate wish to cure his father, he would resort to stealing to provide for his father’s expensive medications.

As a result, Akaza often gets into trouble, which leads to him being branded a criminal. And when his father learned about Akaza’s crimes, he hanged himself due to guilt and to free his son from the responsibility. It broke Akaza, resulting in his violence in town, defeating adults who tried to stand in his way one after another. At such a young age, he had proven just how strong he was, which caught the eye of his master, Keizo.

Akaza Lost His Master and Lover

Akaza’s Master and Lover Were Poisoned

Akaza lived a peaceful life with Keizo and Koyuki in a dojo.
The heir of a rival dojo poisoned Akaza's master and lover.

After Keizo took in Akaza as his apprentice and his daughter’s caretaker, he experienced a peaceful and slow-moving life in the dojo temporarily. Akaza unexpectedly changed, almost as if Keizo tamed the wild beast. He also found love and comfort in Koyuki, nearly marrying her and having a happy ending. Unfortunately, all good things come to an end in Demon Slayer, as Akaza lost his master and his lover at the same time.

The heir of a rival dojo had so much hatred and jealousy in his heart from failing to defeat Akaza and getting Koyuki’s heart that he thought of a desperate plan to destroy everything. He poisoned the well where Keizo and Koyuki get water, resulting in their demise while Akaza was visiting his father’s grave. Upon learning the bad news, Akaza wreaked havoc in the rival dojo, brutally killing multiple humans until he met Muzan, and the rest was history.

Akaza’s Fate in Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle

Akaza Will Lose His Demon Life

akaza-draws-back-his-fist-while-fighting

At this point, Akaza has lost so many precious things already in Demon Slayer. But in the Infinity Castle story arc, he will also lose his will to live as a demon during the deadly encounter with Tanjiro and Giyuu, based on the manga. While his fellow demons did not expect he’d fall from grace by unaliving himself due to his desire to replace Kokushibo as the upper moon one, it was inevitable after accepting his defeat.

There was nothing left I wanted to protect.—Akaza

With this, it’s clear that demons like Akaza, who ruthlessly killed humans in Demon Slayer, also had bad luck when they were humans. They’re not exempt from the pain and suffering just because they bring the same situation to other humans. That said, fans should prepare their hearts to break while watching Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, not only for the lives that will be lost, but also for the painful backstories of each character, especially Akaza.

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