This article contains spoilers for the Demon Slayer manga.

Summary

The Demon Slayer manga never confirms Tanjiro as Yoriichi's reincarnation.
Tanjiro's father, Tanjuro, may have a stronger case for being Yoriichi's second coming.
While Yoriichi doesn't reincarnate in the main story, the manga's extra pages show him living a second life.

One of the most intriguing topics in Demon Slayer centers around the bloodline of Tanjiro Kamado. To this day, many fans need clarification about his connection to other characters who look like him. While many are aware that his father is none other than Tanjuro, some are still wondering why he closely resembles Yoriichi Tsugikuni, the progenitor of all Breathing Styles.

As a result, there are many speculations suggesting Tanjiro could be Yoriichi’s reincarnation, dividing the Demon Slayer fandom. It’s not uncommon for powerful characters who died early on to be reincarnated, so it’s only natural for so many fans to believe Tanjiro might be Yoriichi’s second coming. If so, was there ever confirmation coming from the source material about this speculation? Let’s find out.

picture: yoriichi and tanjiro in demon slayer collage.

Demon Slayer: Did Tanjiro Surpass Yoriichi?

Tanjiro came a long way in Demon Slayer and became a powerful warrior. But was he ever able to surpass Yorichi?

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By Laura Gassert

Could Tanjiro Be Yoriichi’s Reincarnation?

What the Demon Slayer Manga Tells Us

Before arriving at the answer, let’s first establish Tanjiro’s connection to the many Demon Slayer characters who look exactly like him to avoid further confusion. His father’s name is Tanjuro, the sickly old man who passed away due to a tragic illness before Muzan slaughtered most of his family members in cold blood. He was the one who performed the Hinokami Kagura in front of a young Tanjiro and the same man who defeated a nearly 9-foot-tall bear days before he passed away.

Then there’s Sumiyoshi Kamado, who looks like Tanjiro without the forehead scar. He’s not Tanjuro’s father or Tanjiro’s grandfather, but a distant ancestor. He also appears in Tanjiro’s dreams from time to time, showing glimpses of his good relationship with Yoriichi. On the other hand, there’s the demon Kokushibo, formerly known as the human Michikatsu Tsugikuni, whom everyone knows as Yoriichi’s brother and Muichiro’s ancestor, rather than Tanjiro.

Never give up thinking things through. With unceasing effort, you can eventually break through any wall.—Tanjuro Kamado

Now, the Demon Slayer manga never mentioned anything about Tanjiro being Yoriichi’s reincarnation. As revealed, Yoriichi and the Kamados only got acquainted through Sumiyoshi, who used his extraordinary memory to preserve and pass down the Sun Breathing techniques to his descendants without fail. There’s no confirmation whether Yoriichi finds a second life in Tanjiro, but what is certain is that his legacy continues to live within him.

If Not Tanjiro, It Could Be Tanjuro

Tanjuro and Yoriichi Are More Similar

Instead of Tanjiro, Tanjuro has a better chance of being Yoriichi’s reincarnation in Demon Slayer for so many reasons. While fans are aware that there’s no confirmation of this speculation, some fans are still insisting it had to be Tanjuro, rather than Tanjiro, who might be Yoriichi’s second coming.

First of all, Tanjuro and Yoriichi were seemingly born with the same forehead mark, unlike Tanjiro, who later receives the scar. Despite having a fatal illness and a non-Demon Slayer body, Tanjuro possesses enhanced strength, stamina, and endurance from the get-go. In other words, both Tanjuro and Yoriichi were naturally gifted to perform the Hinokami Kagura.

My dream was to live a quiet life with my family in a small house where we would sleep side by side. I would be close enough to see the beloved faces of my wife and child and close enough to reach out and take their hands. That would have been enough..

—Yoriichi Tsugikuni

Lastly, when Yoriichi was still alive, he longed for a peaceful life with his family and children, which Tanjuro experienced in his lifetime. It was almost as if Tanjuro had the life Yoriichi ultimately desired, except for the nasty illness that took his life early on in the series. This is why many fans are leaning more on Tanjuro’s side, being Yoriichi’s reincarnation rather than on Tanjiro’s.

Yoriichi Actually Gets Reincarnated

A Second Chance in Life

By the end of the Demon Slayer manga, when the Demon Slayer Corps vanquished Muzan and peace was finally achieved after the long-standing battle between the humans and the demons, almost all the dead characters were granted a second chance in life. Those who wished to live a happy and peaceful life were shown in the last chapter of the manga, enjoying their second life to the fullest.

However, fans will never see Yoriichi reincarnate in the main story, unlike the other characters who are living their lives in modern-day Japan. Instead, they will only see a small sketch of him and his wife, Uta, along with their two kids, possibly during the Reiwa period, in the extra pages of Demon Slayer volume 23. In the end, it’s good to know that Yoriichi finally gets what is due to him after so many years of pain and suffering.

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