Kyojuro Rengoku was a 20-year-old Demon Slayer of the Demon Slayer Corps. He was the Flame Hashira, who used the flame-breathing fighting technique and was regarded as one of the organization’s most influential and strongest characters. Despite his short appearance, he has managed to set the heart of fans ablaze with his soulful personality and phenomenal fighting skills.
The Flame Hashira played a major role during his time in the Mugen Train arc, which happens to be his first major appearance in the Manga, but sadly, it was also his last major appearance. With his unwavering sense of justice and duty, the Flames Hashira fought to protect the weak and the innocent until he succumbed to the injuries inflicted on him by Akaza, an upper rank three demons of the Twelve Kizuki.
Though the Flame Hashira only appeared in the Manga for a short while, he made a big impact on the lives of the characters in the organization, and his death left an even bigger impact on the fans. Was Kyojuro Rengoku’s death really necessary? Why did he have to die? While it’s tough to accept his death, maybe the reason he had to die might help fans come to terms with his painful exit.
Summary of Kyōjurō Rengoku Biography
- Full name: Rengoku Kyōjurō
- Nickname: Big brother
- Gender: Male
- Date of birth: May 10th
- Kyōjurō Rengoku’s Age: 20 years old
- Ethnicity: Human
- Nationality: Japanese
- Zodiac Sign: Taurus
- Sexual Orientation: Straight
- Kyōjurō Rengoku’s Parents: Shinjuro Rengoku and Ruka Rengoku
- Kyōjurō Rengoku’s sibling: Senjuro Rengoku
- Kyōjurō Rengoku’s Height in Inches: 5 feet 10 inches
- Kyōjurō Rengoku’s Height in Centimetres: 177 centimeters
- Kyōjurō Rengoku’s Weight: 72 kg
- Body measurements in inches: (159 lb)
- Famous for: Being a Demon Slayer of the Demon Slayer Corps and the Flame Hashira
Who is Kyōjurō Rengoku the Demon Slayer?
As earlier mentioned, Kyōjurō Rengoku, who later became known as the Flame Hashira, was a Demon Slayer of the Demon Slayer Corps. He was a major character in the Mugen Train Arc and one of the major supporting characters of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba.
He is the son of Shinjuro Rengoku and Ruka Rengoku. His father Shinjuro formerly served as the Flame Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps before Kyojuro took his place. The duo, along with Kyojuro’s sibling Senjuro, share a striking resemblance. Their family is one filled with love, and this was evident when Kyojuro was dying. His final words during his death were one of encouragement to his younger brother.
How Tall Is Kyōjurō?
Kyōjurō Rengoku stands at the height of 5 feet 10 inches, which is about 177 centimeters. The former Flames Hashira is a young man of fairly tall stature, which allowed him to become one of the strongest characters in the Demon Slayer Corps.
He has a relatively athletic build that depicts his amazing physical strength, immense speed and reflexes, and superhuman stamina. During his fight with Akaza, he showed viewers his capability when in full form. This surprised and impressed Akaza himself, who openly expressed his amazement at what he saw before his eyes.
Other notable physical attributes of the Flame Hashira are his black forked eyebrows and eyes that are golden in color, which fade into red and white pupils that match the color of the element associated with his breathing style. His eyes provide a sharp contrast to his overall personality since he was a cheerful and approachable character.
More specifically, Kyōjurō has long yellow hair with vivid red streaks akin to flames, along with two shoulder-length bangs and two chin-length bangs on the side of his head. His hair is long and styled in the same way that resembles a lion’s mane. His hair reflects his breathing style as the Flame of Hashira and his cheerful personality. The vivid colors depict his exuberant and loud character.
Hilariously, when his hair was referred to as weird, Kyōjurō Rengoku commented that his family had the hair color for generations and that his ancestors probably ate a lot of shrimp tempura to have hair like that in the family. Overall, his appearance compliments his bold personality and role as a Flame Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps.
How Does Kyōjurō Die?
The death of the fan’s most beloved Hashira, Kyōjurō, took place when he, alongside Zenitsu, Tanjiro, and Inosuke, boarded the Mugen Train to investigate cases of missing people. The Flame Hashira and his friends end up having to fight Enmu, the strongest of the lower-rank demon of the twelve Kizuki.
After defeating Enmu, the demon slayers face a more formidable threat when Akaza, an upper-rank member of The Twelve Kizuki, appears from within the cloud of dust and meets them outside the new destroyed train intending to kill Tanjiro. The Flame Hashira reacts swiftly by using his Second Form: Rising Scorching Sun, to cut off this Demon’s arm.
Kyōjurō fears the encounter with an Upper Moon, but maintaining his composure, he asks the reason for attacking an injured human, to which Akaza replies that Tanjiro is just an interference between the two and his target was him from the beginning.
Akaza further states that seeing Tanjiro in a weakened state disgusts him as he cannot tolerate a weak human being, to which Kyōjurō replies that they both have different principles, values, and morality. The upper moon demon, impressed with Kyōjurō’s strength, encourages him to become a demon since he possesses exceptional strong power.
In an attempt to persuade Kyōjurō to become a demon, he explains that his powers will continue to increase because the flaw of humans is aging and dying. Kyōjurō shoots down the offer, answering that the most beautiful thing about human beings is that they are fleeting beings that die as they age and that humanity has more to its beauty than strength alone as the battle continues.
In response, Akaza unleashes more attacks declaring that If Kyōjurō does not accept his offer, he will kill him at all costs. Kyōjurō responds to Azaka’s attacks with great aptitude and concludes that it would be dangerous to let him attack at the current distance, so he should get much closer and avoid unnecessary moves.
Tanjiro tries to get up to assist Kyōjurō, but he is ordered by Kyōjurō not to move, as any movement can reopen his wound, which would be harmful. As the fight dragged on, both unleashed their attacks, leaving Kyōjurō badly injured with multiple cuts and damaged organs on his body, and Akaza quickly regenerated from his injuries.
Determined to defeat Akaza, Kyōjurō stands up full of determination, saying he will fulfill his duty of protecting others around him. The Flames uses the ultimate ninth style of flame breathing and lashes out at the demon, who also responds with his powerful blood Demon Art technique. Akaza ultimately won the fight as he impaled Kyōjurō’s stomach resulting in a fatal injury that made him lose blood.
At that moment, Kyōjurō recalls what his mother told him before her death. She told him that someone strong like him came to the world with the mission of protecting the weak and that he should never forget that because it was a blessing for her to become his mother. The memory of his mother and her wise words prompted Kyōjurō to use all his strength to swing his Nichirin Blade in an attempt to cut off the demon’s neck.
Akaza retaliates by attempting to punch Kyōjurō and finish him off but was stopped by Kyōjurō as the sun rises, leaving them both unable to attack each other. Tanjiro and Inosuke set off to help Kyōjurō, who was determined to hold Akaza as he planned to sacrifice himself with Akaza. But the latter manages to escape Kyōjurō’s grasp by severing his arm.
As the Upper Moon 3 demon flees, Tanjiro attacks him with his Nichirin, screaming at Akaza not to run away from the fight and calling him out for being a coward saying that the one who won the fight was Kyōjurō. As the sun rose, Akaza was forced to retreat as he was mocked.
After Akaza escapes, Kyōjurō asks Tanjiro and Inosuke to come closer. He tells Tanjiro that there are notes left behind by the old Flame Hashira, asking Tanjiro to visit his parents’ house so he would get the answers he needs about the Hinokami Kagura. Realizing his death was fast approaching, he asked Tanjiro to communicate his words to his younger brother and his father.
He further tells Tanjiro that he truly accepts Nezuko (Tanjiro’s sister) as one of them, and he thinks of her as a worthy member of the Demon Slayer Corps. In his final moments, he tells Tanjiro that he shouldn’t worry about him dying and that it was his duty as a senior Hashira to protect his junior.
He tells Tanjiro, Inosuke, and Zenitsu that he believes in them and that he thinks they will become the next generation of Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps. At that moment, the Flame Hashira sees a vision of his mother and asks her if he could fulfill his duty, to which she replies that he did ‘splendidly’ and she was proud of what he did. The complement and sense of pride from his mother causes Kyōjurō to smile before he passes away.
Why Did Kyōjurō Have to Die?
Kyōjurō’s death took fans by surprise as he was one of the characters that have set the heart of fans ablaze with his enthusiasm and positive personality. His death was heartbreaking for both the characters in the Manga and the viewers of the series.
So why did the makers have to kill off a character that has endeared himself in the hearts of fans and characters alike? Many ask this question hoping to get an answer that will allow them to put his death to rest and move on with the series.
Was his death really necessary? Sadly, it was a death that had to happen for the development of the protagonist and the plot of the demon slayers. Though his death left a major hole that might never be filled in the hearts of fans, it impacted the lives of the characters and the series.
He was Human
Kyōjurō believes himself to be a simple human who tried hard to master the Fire Breathing Technique, a hidden talent of the Rengoku family. His beautiful outlook on life, death and the purpose of the fights against demons are words that resonate with the young demon slayers and lessons they will carry with them to the later seasons.
His Death was a Wake-Up Call For Other Demon Slayers
It was jaw-dropping and heartbreaking to see Kyōjurō succumb to his injury when everyone had their hopes pinned on him. The Flame Hashira of the demon slayers was regarded as the strongest demon slayers in the franchise at the time. His death provided the needed wake-up call for demon slayers like Tanjiro, Inosuke, and Zenitsu that Hashiras are not invincible.
They became aware of the full extent and the dangers posed by demons to the world and that they cannot rely on Hashira to save them every time they find themselves powerless. As Tanjiro and his friends fight alongside Sound Hashira Tengen Uzui in Demon Slayer season 2’s Entertainment District Arc, they are even more painfully aware of how high the stakes are, having seen someone as powerful as Kyōjurō die fighting an Upper-Rank demon.
He Could Not Betray His Principles
The Flame Hashira’s death is quite logical, considering his character and the plot of the demon slayer. Kyōjurō was a selfless, brave young man who lived by the principles instilled in him by his mother, an unwavering sense of justice to protect the weak, a principle he held unto till he breathed his last. His sheer strength, determination, and willpower made him a threat later in the series as he almost killed Akaza himself.
It Paved the Way for the Development of Other Characters
Despite his short yet impactful appearance, he managed to influence the lives of Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke, paving the way for their development as skillful warriors and humans. Tanjiro is not only inspired, but he sees him as a mentor, which is important for the plot of the series as Tanjiro could become the next Hashira.
In the later part of the series, Tanjiro uses the Dance of the Fire God, a rare style based on the Sun Breathing Technique. As the series moves on, Tanjiro still remembers Rengoku and his words of encouragement, including the notes he left for Tanjiro, which will help him succeed in ending Muzan’s expansion of the Demon race.
Moreover, when Tanjiro temporarily became a demon by Muzan Kibutsuji, Kyōjurō’s soul was one of the departed that helped save Tanjiro’s humanity.
It Showed the Formidable Threat Faced by the Demon Slayers
Kyojuro Rengoku’s death reminded the demon slayers and fans of the series that a more formidable threat in the form of Muzan Kibutsuji threatens to impend the demon slayers at any time, and the demons are out for blood. The Flame Hashira’s death will provide the needed flashback moment of sacrifice for Tanjiro if he finds himself weak.
It Provided Motivation for the Demon Slayers to Carry Out Their Duty
Lastly, his death provided the needed motivation for Tanjiro and the other demon slayers to carry on their duty of protecting the innocent and the weak now that they carry Rengoku’s legacy with them. The Flame Hashira’s death influenced the protagonist’s character development.
Tanjiro’s sense of guilt at the sacrifice made by Kyōjurō, believing that it would have been better if Kyōjurō had lived instead. This allows him to empathize with Giyu’s feelings of guilt about Sabito sacrificing himself to save him and eventually realizing that rather than feel regret for those who had died, he should continue to fight to honor their sacrifices.
How Old Was Kyōjurō When He Died?
Kyōjurō Rengoku was 20 years old at the time of his death. He was the big brother everyone wanted and needed, the sacrifice and the impacts he made in the lives of Tanjiro, Inosuke, and Zenitsu in such a short space of time will forever be remembered. The Flame Hashira set our hearts ablaze with his charismatic, energetic, charming, and optimistic personality, with an enthusiastic smile plastered on his face all the time.
His personality has earned him respect and love amongst his fellow Hashiras, who acknowledged his bravery, fierceness, and enthusiasm regarding his duties as a demon slayer. The Flame Hashira was a man of principles who stood by what his mother had instilled in him at a young age.
He has a fierce feeling of justice and tries his best to follow the rules. “I will fulfill my duty! I will not let anyone here die!” this was what the Flame Hashira said as he faced Akaza. Kagaya acknowledged this side of Kyōjurō as special, for he did not allow anyone to die on his mission in the Muzen Train.
You can’t help but fall in love with Kyōjurō in the series. He was amicable, pure at heart, and quirky in the right places, plus he had extraordinary fighting skills, which he developed from hard practice and discipline rather than natural talent. Giyuu, Sanemi, Iguro, and Tengen considered the Flame Hashira a good person and pleasant to be around.
They acknowledged his strength, responding in shock and disbelief that he lost to an Upper Moon, and were upset and saddened to hear of his death. Besides, he is a very sensible, logical, and tactically intelligent character, acting quickly and precisely in battle, especially when the lives of others are on the line. This was seen when Akaza appeared out of the blue and attempted to attack Tanjiro.
The Flame Hashira is a good judge of character and talents. Even though he detests demons like all demon slayers, he recognized that Nezuko was different after witnessing her risk her life to protect and help the weak. He shows how logical and sensible he is when he accepts Nezuko as a member of the Demon Slayer Corps.
Kyōjurō takes us on a roller-coaster of emotions as he displays his love for his family during his final moments. His last words express the respect and love he has towards his father and his optimism towards his little brother, Senjuro Rengoku, believing in him and wishing him the best no matter what.
What Episode Does Kyōjurō Die?
The Flame Hashira died in season 2, episode 7 of the series Demon Slayer in the Mugen train when fighting against an upper rank three demon. The Mugen Train arc is Kyōjurō’s first major appearance in the series, as viewers get to see what he was capable of when in full form.
Kyōjurō skillfully fought against the demons on the Mugen Train, and his speed and strength were openly admired by Tanjiro, Inosuke, Rengoku, and even the upper rank three demon who could not help but propose that Kyōjurō becomes a demon.
Unfortunately, it was his first, and last vital appearance in the show as the seventh episode gave us an ominous, dark, and heart-wrenching moment when the Flame Hashira succumbed to the injury inflicted on him by the demon in the later part of the episode.
It was a sad moment for fans of the series, yet it was somewhat a triumphant one for Kyōjurō as he sees a vision of his dead mother, who complimented him before passing away with a smile plastered on his face.
What Demon Killed Kyōjurō?
Kyōjurō Rengoku, The Flame Hashira, died after his fight with Upper Moon Demon-3, Akaza. The arrival of Akaza at the end of the Mugen Train arc resulted in the ultimate death of the Flame Hashira. Akaza is an upper rank three demon of the 12 Kizuki and is the first of Muzan’s elite group of demons to appear in the series.
During the fight between Kyōjurō and Akaza, we are shown the contrasting beliefs held by the demon and Hashira, who strived to protect the weak and innocent against the likes of Akaza. While Akaza believes that humans are weak and worthless, Kyōjurō believes in the beauty and strength of humans.
