The Fates of Sanemi and Giyu: Did Demon Slayer give us the answer?

The Hashira in Demon Slayer are generally among some of the most powerful characters within the series, and they are the ones who lead the campaign against Muzan Kibutsuji and the Twelve Kizuki. Such warrior elite are extensively trained in excruciating ways, they are extremely strong, and they bear years of loss and suffering on their backs. They are also tasked with the Demon Slayer Marks, the mysterious tattoos that are alleged to enormously boost the power of a warrior at the expense of his or her life. In this world where sacrifice is never-ending, the destinies of the soldiers seem to have been determined beforehand.

Perhaps one of the most frightening aspects presented in the series is the Demon Slayer Mark curse. It is stated in the lore of the manga that once the mark is activated, its bearer is cursed to die before the age of 25. Even though this negative destiny places an extra mark of tragedy on an already cursed existence, it is not without some exemptions to which this story leads us, and also some it never does. The main character of Demon Slayer, Tanjiro Kamado, wakes up his mark and continues to survive.

What about Sanemi Shinazugawa and Giyu Tomioka, though? The two are revealed to have survived the last battle, and their future is unclear.

Their story has given rise to important questions among Demon Slayer fans. Being characters that also had the Mark, would they not have the same fate as the rest of those who used it and were killed before their prime? Or could the rules about the Demon Slayer Mark change because Muzan dies? And why, then, does the manga go so quiet on how they ultimately end?

In Demon Slayer, Sanemi and Giyu are the two most prominent Hashira. Giyu, the stoic Water Hashira, and Sanemi, the volatile Wind Hashira, both survive the climactic battle against Muzan, one of the only few characters to do so. They not only experience unimaginable trauma, but their arc as characters also displays considerable emotional development, so the narrative reward is all the more implied: they were supposed to survive.

The epilogue of Demon Slayer gives us reincarnations or descendants of most characters in it and is placed not in the past but in contemporary Tokyo. However, it is not directly revealed how Giyu or Sanemi aged or whether they enjoyed a long life or died early. This lack of information is quite remarkable, especially when we take into consideration how explicit the manga has been with the creatures dying so young when they have the Mark. What is the reasoning behind viewing such a significant piece of information about two surviving Hashira without covering it?

It can be interpreted that the death of Muzan was what broke the curse. But the Demon Slayer Mark might have been connected with the survival of the demonkind itself, and its lethal effects might have been finished by its end. This theory is given some bearing with regard to how the story positions Muzan as a supernatural anomaly that personifies death and corruption. Should his influence decrease, the unnatural laws likewise have the possibility associated with them. Nevertheless, it is merely speculation because Demon Slayer does not make this confirmation.

The Demon Slayer manga’s silence on Giyu and Sanemi’s future

In the manga, relatively little attention is paid to life in the post-war period. A lot of it focuses on loss, healing, and the metaphoric death of the Demon Slayer Corps. It is not lost on the story that a lot of blood was sacrificed to achieve peace, with characters such as Giyu and Sanemi pictured mourning a lot. However, long-term futures are not discussed despite their survival.

We do not get to see whether Giyu and Sanemi ever got over the curse of the Mark or whether they eventually succumbed to it. What we witness, however, are other warriors—like Gyomei and Muichiro—who triggered the Mark and died, and perhaps these deaths were a fulfillment of this accursed proclamation. However, both Sanemi and Giyu are special. Giyu gets his mark quite late into the series, and the mark on Sanemi was found under serious emotional and physical duress. Here is a question as to whether the conditions under which they were marked were dissimilar or whether the rules changed during the final act.

It is also interesting to point out that in the series, survival is directly connected to love and emotional growth. Closure, purpose, or redemption in characters provided is usually presented in the form of a second chance. Giyu starts the series in a position of apathy and shame but finds unity in his relationship with Tanjiro. Sanemi, starting with rage and alienation, reconciles with his little brother, Genya. These storylines may represent inner cures and liberation of the spiritual destiny.

Nonetheless, the absence of a conclusive answer is still a subject of heated debate. Demon Slayer is distinctly emotionally impactful and rather bare in terms of storytelling. The manga does not necessarily spell out all the details, and such ambiguity frequently provokes fan theories and frustrations alike.

Trending

Finally, Demon Slayer ends by leaving the destiny of Sanemi and Giyu shadowy. Although they received the Demon Slayer Mark, which was, traditionally, associated with the death penalty before 25, the series never addresses the possibility of it being the case with the two. Both the characters received an emotional resolution that would lead to the possibility of them not suffering from the curse anymore, based on the defeat of Muzan.

However, the manga just leaves it to interpretation, as we are not given clear answers. Still, there is one obvious thing: the survival of Sanemi and Giyu indicates something more than good fortune; it represents a certain faith in a second, the power to survive, and even life after killing.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback