Demon Slayer can be a rather disheartening and dark series due to its harrowing premise. Because the characters dedicate much of their time and energy to fighting demons and saving humanity, friendships, romantic relationships, and happy times are not the focal point of the series. Despite this, there are some genuinely positive and mutually rewarding bonds presented in the story.
Friendship is a central theme in Demon Slayer, because fighting bloodthirsty villains is not a task that can be easily accomplished alone. The Hashira and other demon slayers not only band together as peers out of necessity, but also form genuine groups. bonds of friendship and trust that go far beyond work. Demon Slayer Friendships add joy to an otherwise dismal series, also giving viewers hope that perhaps the heroes will succeed after all.
10
Shinobu and Giyu
Giyu doesn’t trust many people due to his past, but opens up to Shinobu
Giyu Tomioka is the quieter and more reclusive Hashira, preferring to kill demons completely alone. Because of past trauma and the loss of his sister and best friend, he is reluctant to allow others to get close to him in any way. The only person in the Hashira he has allowed himself to form a relationship with is the Insect Hashira, Shinobu Kocho.
Shinobu is also a more mature and soft-spoken character like Giyu, so the two enjoy talking to each other. Although they don’t have many direct interactions on the screen, the Demon Slayer character book confirmed their canonical friendship. Besides Tanjiro, Shinobu is the only character who actually convinced Giyu to open up emotionally to her, which was no easy task.
9
Nezuko and Zenitsu
The pair went from friends to lovers, protecting each other from danger during battles.
From the moment he first laid eyes on Nezuko, Zenitsu fell in love with her. Tanjiro was unhappy with his obsession, as he felt protective of his sister, but Zenitsu and Nezuko ended up building a friendship. Both began to carefully protect themselves from threats and eventually their purely platonic bond blossomed into something more.
Later in the series, Nezuko and Zenitsu became lovers and married. This beautiful romance would never have been possible without the strong friendship the pair first established. The duo certainly represents one of the most adorable friendships Demon Slayer.
8
Sanemi and Obanai
These two Hashira trained together constantly and faced challenges side by side.
Sanemi Shinazugawa and Obanai Iguro are almost inseparable friends in Demon Slayer. Their relationship was featured heavily in the recently released For the Hashira training arcas the duo trained together and prepared to face Lord Muzan. One of their favorite activities to do together is dueling to increase their physical strength and preparation for battle.
Tragically after the final battles with Lord Muzan that resulted in Obanai’s death Sanemi was devastated by the loss of his friend. He mourned deeply and ensured that Obanai’s snake, Kaburamaru, found a loving home with Kanao, proof of the touching bond between the two Hashira. Both Sanemi and Obanai can be angry and rude people, but their love for each other is always extremely evident.
7
Mitsuri and Rengoku
Rengoku mentored Mitsuri, inspiring her to create her own style of loving breathing
A little known Demon Slayer fact is that Kyojuro Rengoku was Mitsuri Kanroji’s mentor. He taught her everything she knows and helped her become one of the strongest and most skilled Hashira of all time. Mitsuri even invented her own style of love breathing that utilizes components of Rengoku’s flame breathing.
The relationship between Mitsuri and Rengoku is not just professional, the pair actually have fun as friends. Rengoku changed Mitsuri’s life for the better. helping you discover your breathing style and overcome insecurities instilled in her by years of bullying. An intriguing Demon Slayer derivative manga, Rengoku Kyojuro Gaiden, explores the friendship between the two Hashira that is often forgotten in the series itself.
6
Tanjiro and Giyu
An important conversation between the two sparked an unlikely but friendly friendship
Tanjiro and Giyu didn’t interact very often until For the Hashira training arcin which Tanjiro had to intervene when Giyu isolated himself. Giyu refused to participate in Hashira training, but Tanjiro was able to change his mind by continually encouraging and sharing his own trauma with Giyu. The two have a tragic relationship: Giyu lost his best friend and sister to demons, while Tanjiro lost his entire family.
Giyu has finally started sharing his traumatic past with Tanjirosomething he didn’t do often before, and Tanjiro also confided in him. After this pivotal scene, Giyu and Tanjiro’s friendship grew stronger, as the two shared meals, trained, and talked more together. Although their overall outlooks are very different, as Tanjiro is more positive and outgoing and Giyu is more reserved, they always manage to find common ground and trust each other.
5
Giyu and Sabito
Sabito gave up his life to save Giyu, and Giyu continues to keep his memory alive
Sabito and Giyu had one of the Demon Slayer best friendships, but their relationship ended in tragedy. They trained together for years with Sakonji Urokodaki, becoming closer during the grueling teachings. During the Final Selection, the Hand Demon put their lives in danger and only one of them survived.
Sabito gave up his life for Giyudying so that his friend could continue living. This heartbreaking sacrifice proves how much Sabito loved Giyu, and Giyu felt the same. Years after Sabito’s death, Giyu continues to wear a haori that is a mixture of fabric from his late sister’s haori and fabric from Sabito’s haori, always keeping with him the memories of the two people he loves most.
4
Tanjiro and Kanao
Tanjiro’s patience and Kanao’s loyalty make this a beautiful friendship that eventually turns into romance.
Kanao has one of the most disturbing backstories in Demon Slayer. She was abused, neglected and eventually sold, but fortunately, Kanae Kocho and Shinobu Kocho rescued her. When Tanjiro met her, she was still very suspicious of people and preferred to be alone.
Despite his shyness and skepticism, Tanjiro was very patient with her, showing an unconditional kindness that she was not used to. Eventually, she came to trust him, so much so that when Tanjiro was in a coma, she visited him constantly. After the events of the story, Kanao and Tanjiro became a couplea testament to how deeply they love and understand each other.
3
Kanae, Kanao and Shinobu
The trio of sisters were inseparable and after Kanae’s death, the remaining sisters fought tirelessly to avenge her.
Kanae, Kanao and Shinobu are an absolutely inseparable trio of sisters. Shinobu and Kanae saved Kanao from a life of slavery and pain, bringing her into their family with open arms. The trio spent every waking moment together, until Doma, the Upper Rank Two demon, violently ended Kanae’s life and left the two remaining sisters heartbroken.
Kanao and Shinobu fought mercilessly to avenge Kanae’s horrific death by tracking down the demon responsible for her murder. Kanao, Shinobu, and Inosuke eventually killed Doma, but Unfortunately, Shinobu did not survive the encounter. Kanao continues her sisters’ legacy and even wears pieces of their demon slayer uniforms to honor the two women who protected her when she needed help most.
2
Tanjiro, Zenitsu and Inosuke
Despite their different personalities, they work well together and have saved each other’s lives countless times.
Tanjiro, Zenitsu and Inosuke are Demon Slayer most iconic trio from afar. Even people unfamiliar with the series have probably seen these three demon slayers together and recognized their hilarious and touching bond. Their personalities are quite different: Tanjiro is optimistic and hardworking, Zenitsu is anxious but strong, and Inosuke is bold and fearless, but ultimately, they strive for the same goal, working together despite these differences.
Although they are different in some ways, the trio work very well as friends, offering unwavering support, learning from each other, and saving each other’s lives when necessary. This trio is also responsible for some of the Demon Slayer mostly laugh out loud moments, including Inosuke mispronouncing Tanjiro’s name and Zenitsu and Inosuke humorously bickering. Their friendship remained strong throughout Demon Slayer, and fortunately, no demon or human was able to separate this group.
1
Tanjiro and Nezuko
Tanjiro and Nezuko are the most loving siblings in the anime, with a bond that can never be broken
No relationship in Demon Slayer is more admirable than the one between Tanjiro and Nezuko. Although they are brothers and related by blood, the two are best friends. Furthermore, Tanjiro’s reason for becoming a demon slayer was to save Nezuko and turn her human again.
Nezuko shares this same unwavering love for her brother, fighting back at full strength with her demonic powers whenever someone threatens her life. Tanjiro refuses to let her out of his sight because he is very worried about her safety and constantly promises that he will bring back his humanity no matter what. The duo also fights enemies incredibly well, because of their connection. In many ways, Tanjiro and Nezuko are perfectly in syncand their deep love for each other is at the center of Demon Slayer history, inspiring them to never give up the fight.