Warning: The following contains SPOILERS for Demon Slayer: Mugen TrainKyojuro Rengoku’s death was the heartbreaking culmination of Demon Slayer: Mugen Train – but it was a death that had to happen. For both his and Tanjiro’s personalities, as well as the plot of the Demon Slayer series, Rengoku had to make the ultimate sacrifice. His death leaves a huge hole in the Demon Slayer Corps, but it serves to move the plot and the young demon slayers forward. But why did this fan favorite have to die?
As the Flame Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku is one of the strongest members of Demon Slayer’s core team. After years of dedicated service to his profession, Rengoku worked his way up to one of the most respected positions in the Corps, possessing incredible willpower and nearly unbeatable swordsmanship. When the team needs a Hashira to lead Tanjiro, Zenitsu, Inosuke and Nezuko to defeat the demon on the Mugen train, Rengoku is an obvious choice.
How Rengoku died in Demon Slayer: Mugen Train
Rengoku’s performance against the demons on the Mugen train in the movie Demon Slayer was impressive enough to attract admiration from even Inosuke, and Rengoku ensured that not a single one of the 200 passengers died. Unfortunately, Rengoku succumbed to Akaza, the Third Class Upper Demon, after nearly defeating him. While this death is certainly one of Demon Slayer’s most tragic, it also happened for a number of important and far-reaching reasons.
Demon Slayer Rengoku must die to encourage Tanjiro
It’s a heartbreaking moment, but Rengoku’s sacrifice in Demon Slayer makes sense for his character as well as the film’s plot. In Rengoku’s mind, he was nothing more than a human who had worked hard to achieve his abilities; He is nothing special. However, he sees something special in Tanjiro, which is why he would rather risk his own death than Tanjiro. His death was the motivation for the young killer; Tanjro greatly admired Rengoku’s abilities and even shed tears when Akaza considered Rengoku the loser in their encounter. Rengoku’s death gives Tanjiro something to strive for — especially when the Flame Hashira declares the faith he has in Tanjiro and his acceptance of Nezuko.
Rengoku was said to be the strongest Demon Slayer Hashira at the time of his death. He is dedicated to his position in the Demon Slayer Corps because his mother taught him as a child that the purpose of his power is to protect others. The Mugen train shows that he lived by that creed until his death. He sacrificed himself to ensure that no innocent people died and he achieved his goal. Equally important, Rengoku’s mother also taught him that his power should never be used to cause harm, which is why he was able to refuse the temptation to become a demon. His willpower has made Rengoku a force to be reckoned with; he almost single-handedly killed a high-ranking demon. This power could have made Rengoku a serious threat later in the series, which is why he served the plot better by dying in the Mugen Train. His death not only gives Tanjiro a level of strength to strive for, but also shows how threatening the demons are.
Rengoku’s death also contributes to creating more emotions for Demon Slayer: Mugen Train. The murderers’ happier dreams gave the audience warm, wholesome moments right before Rengoku’s death broke their hearts. His character started out as a comic relief in the plot, but his death allowed the show to delve into the seriousness of his background. He may seem tough on the outside, but Rengoku has a serious brain hidden inside. His beautiful look at life, death, and their purpose in the fight against demons are all lessons the young assassins carry with them from Demon Slayer: Mugen Train to Demon Slayer season 2 and more.
Rengoku’s death in Demon Slayer established an important tenet of the series
Although Demon Slayer follows many shounen genres, its emphasis on death sets it apart. Almost every major character in the series has a major death in the background that drives them. Additionally, Tanjiro’s willingness to destroy sympathetic villains in the series sets him apart from many other shounen heroes who prefer non-lethal takedowns. Both of those core elements were established in Demon Slayer’s first season, but it wasn’t until Mugen Train that the series truly established death as a very real and tangible threat to powerful heroes. strong. Demon Slayer has a higher number of hero deaths than most other shounen series, and that starts with Rengoku.
Rengoku’s death ushered in future demon-slaying seasons
Rengoku’s death would shape the young assassins throughout the series’ lifespan. As the first Hashira with whom the young protagonists of Demon Slayer officially team up, Rengoku plays an important role in the development of Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke as warriors and people. The terrifying power of Muzan Kibutsuji in Demon Slayer is a constant threat in each Demon Slayer season, and Rengoku’s death is a moment where that becomes clear. Likewise, his death forces them to suddenly come of age as they realize the full extent of the danger that demons pose to the world.
As Tanjiro and his friends fight alongside Sound Hashira Tengen Uzui in the Entertainment District Arc of Demon Slayer Season 2, they are even more painfully aware of how high the stakes are when witnessing them. a strong person like Rengoku died fighting a High-class demon. This mentality continues to appear in Demon Slayer season 3 when the young assassins get acquainted with Mist and the love Hashiras, Muichiro Tokito and Mitsuri Kanroji. By the way, the death of Kyojuro Rengoku in the year Demon Slayer: Mugen Train continues to be a source of inspiration and motivation even in the later installments of the series.
