As one of the best new-gen Shonen anime, Demon Slayer follows the life of Tanjiro Kamado, a boy who lost everything in a demon attack except his sister Nezuko. While he may appear an ordinary kid who wants to save his sister, his overall appearance tells a different story.
Tanjiro wears earrings with a deep history rooted all the way to the Sengoku Era – The Golden Age of the Demon Slayers. Fans will be shocked to know about the controversy behind the earrings. After noticing the significance of these earrings in the story, fans are desperate to learn more about Tanjiro’s Hanafuda earrings.
Said to be one of the most popular anime and manga series of this generation, Demon Slayer was introduced to the anime world with a minor controversy that captured the attention of everyone — thanks to Tanjiro’s earrings.
Tanjiro Kamado is one of the show’s best characters, introduced as a boy who wears earrings. It has more significance to the story as Tanjiro is one of the few shown characters wearing the earrings. Other noticeable characters wearing the same earrings are his father, his ancestor, and Yoriichi Tsugikuni. They all have something in common that the demons are afraid of. With that being said, let’s explore the significance of Tanjiro’s Hanafuda earrings to the story.
Hanafuda Earring Design
However, Tanjiro’s earrings sparked conversely among the fans because the design resembled the symbol of what Japan used during World War II. Japan became a powerhouse during this period, conquering many Asian nations, such as China and Korea. They also became a dangerous threat to the whole world.
The symbol of the Rising Sun flag of Japan remains controversial in many Asian countries, bringing horrible memories of traumatic events and terrifying crimes committed by the Japanese Imperial military. Which led the director and producer to alter the design of the earrings.
Hanafuda Earrings Of Tanjiro
The Hanafuda earrings of Tanjiro became popular due to their resemblance to the sun, the symbol of the Sun Breathing technique that is the greatest weapon against demons and keeps its legacy alive.
Born in the Sengoku Era – The Golden Age of the Demon Slayers from 1467 to 1615, Yoriichi Tsugikuni is the most skilled Demon Slayer whose Sun Breathing technique almost killed the Demon King. Despite beginning the most effective technique against the demons, no one can master it.
In the Demon Slayer manga, Shinjuro Kamado, Tanjiro’s great ancestor and friend of Yoriichi, watched him perform all the forms of Sun Breathing. Before leaving Kamado’s house, Yoriichi entrusted his Hanafuda earrings, which were later passed down from generation to generation in the Kamado family.
We know from the manga that Yoriich was given Hanafuda earrings by his mother because she thought he was deaf. Since his father told him he was unwanted and would bring misfortunes to the family, he never spoke a single word.
Due to the significance of Tanjiro’s Hanafuda earrings, many characters have been recognized, such as Rengoku’s father, Shinjuro, who calls Tanjiro the wilder of the first breathing technique in the anime. While pursuing the demon smell, Tanjiro encounters Muzan (the Demon King), who also recognizes the Hanafuda earrings, and in Demon Slayer season 1, episode 8, “The Smell of Enchanting Blood.”
Due to the terrible memories of the Hanafuda earrings, Muzan orders two of his followers to kill the demon slayer wearing the Hanafuda earrings. Later, it was revealed in the same episode through the flashback that the person with the Hanafuda earrings, Yoriichi, almost killed the Muzan.
This is why Tanjiro’s father passed down the earrings and was pushing for the next generation to learn Hinokami Kagura. As the only one capable of performing the Breath of the Sun, Tanjiro is destined to defeat Muzan, the Demon King. Therefore, Tanjiro Kamado wears Hanafuda earrings that were passed down to him by his father, who was also a wielder of Sun Breathing.
Why Tanjiro’s Hanafuda Earrings Is Important In Demon Slayer?
As the protagonist, Tanjiro Kamado had a direct connection with Yoriichi Tsugikuni, the first Sun Breather. The Hanafuda earrings Tanjiro wears belong to Yoriichi, as he entrusted Shinjuro Kamado. Later it was passed from generation to generation of the Kamado family.
While unable to kill the Demon King and let a demon escape from his grip, Yoriichi Tsugikuni is banished from Demon Slaying. On his way, he met Shinjuro Kamado, the great ancestor of Tanjiro. He is the one who gave Yoriichi a place to stay for a while. Before leaving the place, Yoriichi gave him Hanafuda Earrings and a blessing to pass down the Sun Breathing to the next generation.
After his death, Muzan became active and began hunting down all members of the Demon Slayers to ensure that no one would kill him in the future. After meeting Tanjiro and seeing Hanafuda’s earrings again, the fear of Sun Breath grows back in Muzan. Muzan orders two followers to kill the person wearing Hanafuda earrings. Before he knew anything, the two demons were killed by the hands of Tanjiro.