Summary
Tanjiro Kamado ofDemon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaibais a compassionate teenager who used to financially support his family by working as a coal burner. After the brutal murder of his family,he became a demon slayerto avenge the death of his loved ones and to turn his sister back into a human. In the pursuit of his ambitious goal, Tanjiro met some of the most courageous warriors, who later turned into his reliable allies and lifelong companions. Although he had many such acquaintances, here are the most reliable friends he ever made in his inspiring journey.
Updated on July 2nd, 2024, by Mirza Aaqib Beg: Tanjiro continues to work on himself as he awaits more challenging missions in the future. In the Hashira Training Arc, he reunites with some old acquaintances and learns more skills from them. The updated list includes more members of the Demon Slayer Corps who share a friendly bond with Tanjiro and have become an important part of his challenging journey.
10Aoi Kanzaki
Tanjiro’s Faithful Ally And Caretaker
After Tanjiro joined the Demon Slayer Corps, he soon found himself entrusted with the responsibility of taking on dangerous demons. The perilous nature of the job eventually led to many injuries that forced him to undergo medical treatment and rehabilitation training before he could take on further missions. After he first arrived at the Butterfly mansion,Tanjiro met withAoi Kanzaki. Too afraid to fight demons, she became a caretaker to support the demon slayers whenever they needed help.
During the Rehabilitation Arc, Kanzaki worked extensively with Tanjiro and his friends to improve their physical conditioning. Her bond with Kamado only grew stronger in the following months. Tanjiro ends up at the Butterfly mansion after the ruthless battle against Enmu and the demon siblings, Gyutaro and Daki. Every time, Aoi is there to look after him and to make sure that he recovers as soon as possible.
9Tengen Uzui
Tanjiro Fought Alongside The Sound Hashira In His Last Battle Before Retirement
One of Tanjiro’s most challenging missions came when he was tasked to accompanytheSound Hashira Tengen Uzuito the Entertainment district. Some female ninja agents had gone missing in the region after they were sent there for an investigation. Tanjiro and his friends disguise themselves to inquire about the strange disappearances with Tengen’s support. During the investigation, the demon slayers discover thatUpper-Rank Six Gyutaro and Dakihave been using the Entertainment district as their base and have killed many Hashiras over the years.
Tengen and Tanjiro put their lives on the line to defeat Gyutaro, which at one point seems impossible, but by refusing to give up, the duo fight through life-threatening injuries and eventually triumph. This battle helps Tanjiro gain the Sound Hashira’s respectand the duo ended up becoming friends. In the Hashira Training Arc, when Tanjiro joins Tengen’s training program, it is evident that the Sound Hashira is friendlier and more accommodating to him. That training further cements the bond between the duo, and they develop a newfound respect for each other.
8Kanao Tsuyuri
Tanjiro Helped Shinobu’s Tsuguko Overcome Her Emotional Stunting
After defeating Rui and the Spider familywith the help of the Water HashiraGiyu Tomioka and his friends, Tanjiro ends up at the Butterfly Mansion with serious injuries. After his recovery, he went straight for rehabilitation training, during which he metKanao Tsuyurifor the first time. Using his strong sense of smell, Tanjiro was able to figure out that Tsuyuri was unlike any other demon slayer, and was closest to the Hashiras at the time.
Kanao helped Tanjiro,Zenitsu, and Inosuke in their training. The trio struggled immensely, but with resilience, they eventually overcame their physical limitations. Following the conclusion of the rehabilitation training, Tanjiro met Kanao to thank her. That’s when he learned that she struggles to make decisions on her own. He had a brief but moving conversation with her in which he convinced her to live life on her terms instead of allowing life to make decisions for her. Kanao was touched by Tanjiro’s kindness and the two of them became close friends afterward.
7Genya Shinazugawa
Originally Hostile Frenemy Who Became One Of Tanjiro’s Trusted Friends
Genyaand Tanjiro first met in the Final Selection Arcafter the completion of the selective process. The former bullied one of the curators, so Tanjiro took a stand forcing him to take a step back. However, the incident did not have any impact on Tanjiro’s compassionate nature as he remained friendly towards Genya whenever they met afterward. But they never really became friends until they spent some time with each other in the Swordsmith village. The duo went on to fight Upper-Rank Four Hantengu together.
Interestingly, Tanjiro had once told Genya that he doesn’t smell a tinge of hatred in his brother Sanemi towards him. He had assured him that he had no reason to be afraid of the Wind Hashira. This advice eventuallyhelped the Shinazugawa siblings mend their relationshipjust before their unfortunate death. Tanjiro and Genya had surprisingly become great friends by this point and the former mourned the latter’s death as soon as he got the unexpected news.
6Tamayo
Tanjiro’s First Friend
In the Asakusa Arc, Tanjiro metTamayo. She is a rare demon who has managed to free herself from Muzan’s curse and survives by drinking just a small amount of blood. Tamayo’s research towards turning demons into humans is naturally intriguing for Tanjiro who desperately wants to help his demon sister Nezuko. Inspired by the same purpose, the duo soon become close friends.
Tamayo even offers to take Nezuko with her so that she can keep her safe. It is her constant medicinal intervention that eventually helps the Demon Slayer Corps defeat the Demon King in the Final Battle arc. Tanjiro and Tamayo remain close friends and in touch with one another until her unfortunate death.
5Muichiro Tokito
The Air-Headed Hashira Whose Relationship With Tanjiro Turned His Life Around
Mist Hashira Muichiro Tokitois known for his absent-minded and unfriendly nature. Driven by the obsession to eliminate demons, Tokito barely shows interest in socializing. When Tanjiro interacts with him in the Swordsmith Village arc, he finds himself at the receiving end of cold and unkind treatment. But some of Tanjiro’s kind words end up leaving a lasting impression on the Mist Hashira and help him during his fight with Gyokko.
The battle and its experience turn out to be life-changing for Muichiro as the amnesia wears off and he is able to remember his family again. Later, Tokito even thanks Tanjiro for his impact on his life and the two end up becoming close friends.During the Hashira Training Arc, the Mist Hashiradoes not even hide his bias towards Tanjiro and lets him progress faster in the training than his peers.
4Giyu Tomioka
Tanjiro’s Oldest Ally Who Risked Committing Seppuku To Get Nezuko Accepted By The Hashira
Giyu Tomiokais a stoic Hashirawho hardly mingles with his peers and loves to remain aloof despite being in the Demon Slayer Corps for years. Interestingly, he is the first person to come across Tanjiro and Nezuko after the fatal attack on their families. Although it is speculative, one can argue that if the brother-sister duo had met some other Hashira that fateful morning, Nezuko may not have survived. The incident is a testament to Giyu’s deeply compassionate and caring nature as he goes against traditional wisdom to make a tough decision based on his instincts that eventually turn the conflict between humans and demons in favor of the former.
It is Tomioka’s down-to-earth qualities that draw Tanjiro towards him and the two slowly become good friends. Interestingly,Giyu does not feel that he belongs among the Hashirasand looks down on himself because of past experiences. It is eventually Tanjiro who talks to him in the Hashira Training arc and manages to convince him to stay in the Demon Slayer Corps. They are also the first two to engage with Demon King Muzan after his revival and subsequent slaughter of weaker members of the Corps. The compassionate origins and mutual sacrifices for a common selfless cause make Tanjiro and Giyu’s relationship special.
3Inosuke Hashibira
The Boastful Competitor Who Is One Of Tanjiro’s Most Reliable Allies
Loud, fiercely competitive, and sometimes abrasive,Inosuke Hashibirais one of the funniest charactersin the Demon Slayer universe. However, he has barely anything in common with Tanjiro, who is deeply respectful, calm, and gentle. Despite having conflicting personalities, the eccentric duo is driven by the same desire to eliminate demons and end the centuries-old conflict that is slowly permeating into and complicating social life.
Side-by-side the two friends fight several memorable battles in the Tsuzumi Mansion Arc, Mount Natagumo Arc, Mugen Train Arc, and Entertainment District Arc. These experiences bring the duo closer and create an unwavering faith in each other that is unlikely to be replicated in any other circumstance. Inosuke and Tanjiro are nothing like one another, but instead of pushing them apart, it paradoxically brings them together and lays the foundation of their lifelong bond.
2Zenitsu Agatsuma
Tanjiro’s Most Trustworthy Ally And Friend
When Tanjiro meetsZenitsufor the first time, the latter is desperately begging a girl to marry him. In his characteristic style, Zenitsu explains to Tanjiro that he is just a weakling who will most likely get killed in his next job, so he implores him to protect him until he gets married. The duo mutually agree to cooperate from then on and end up becoming the closest friends. Zenitsu witnesses Tanjiro’s dramatic growth, while the latter learns that the former is a seriously domineering combatant when he slips into a deep state of slumber and awakens his true instincts.
Tanjiro and Zenitsu’s friendship matures with each mission as they put their lives on the line fighting dangerous demons. Agatsuma displays uncompromising loyalty to Tanjiro and shows an equally strong devotion to protecting Nezuko. On the other hand, Tanjiro closely observes Zenitsu’s transformation into a fearless warrior from a hopeless crybaby. The duo go on to fight some of the most dangerous demons to have ever existed in the Final Battle Arc, which further cements their friendship and develops an almost unbreakable bond and camaraderie.
1Nezuko Kamado
Tanjiro’s Demon Sister
Nezukoand Tanjiro grew up togetheron Mount Kumotori with the rest of their siblings. Despite not being affluent, the Kamado family was happy and content with what they had. Unfortunately, Tanjiro and Nezuko’s lives took a dark when their entire family was slaughtered with the latter being the only survivor. Although Nezuko had become a demon in the aftermath of the cruel incident and even attacked his brother, Tanjiro refused to give up on her. He vowed to turn her back into a human and became a demon slayer to avenge the merciless murder of his family.
Nezuko also showed incredible resolveand did not attack any humans. Even with the odds heavily stacked against them, the brother-sister duo remained persistent in the pursuit of their seemingly impossible dreams. Although Nezuko is Tanjiro’s sister, one could call her his greatest ally and most reliable friend considering the unwavering faith and devotion they have towards one another’s well-being.
