Mitsuri Kanroji is one of the most powerful characters in Demon Slayer, but what kind of abilities does she have and what is her Demon Mark? Dark fantasy manga Demon Slayer is the brainchild of writer-illustrator Koyoharu Gotouge and was later adapted into an anime series by Ufotable. Both the manga and anime tell the tale of Tanjiro Kamado – a teenage boy who comes home from work one day to find most of his family has been slaughtered by a demon and his surviving sister Nezuko has been turned into one.
The story follows Tanjiro as he sets out to avenge his family’s death and find a cure for his sister by becoming a member of the Demon Slayer Corps – an age-old organization dedicated to protecting humans from demons. Demon Slayer Corps members are sorted into different ranks according to their expertise and experience, with the cream of the crop being a group of warriors dubbed the Hashira. One of the Hashira is Demon Slayer’s Mitsuri Kanroji, who made her debut in chapter 44 of the Demon Slayer manga and episode 21 of Ufotable’s anime.
The trailer for Demon Slayer season 3, which will follow the Swordsmith Village arc, reveals that Mitsuri Kanroji will be playing a central role. Her appearances in the Demon Slayer anime have been brief so far, but she’s a powerful and important warrior to the overall story. Here’s Mitsuri Kanroji’s abilities and Demon Slayer significance explained.
Mitsuri Kanroji’s Powers And Demon Mark Explained
Mitsuri is kind, emotional, and often somewhat child-like, but she can’t be underestimated, as she’s also a skilled swordswoman with immense physical strength. Additionally, Mitsuri can move at great speed and has enhanced flexibility, stamina, and endurance. Mitsuri’s reflexes are top-notch, and she boasts super-durability thanks to the special composition of her muscles, which means she is eight times denser than a regular human and thus able to sustain powerful attacks from opponents.
Like her Demon Slayer anime comrades, Mitsuri has mastered a swordsmanship technique known as a “Breathing Style.” However, Mitsuri’s version of the technique differs from other lower-ranking slayers because she is a Hashira and thus has a Breathing Style unique to just her. Mitsuri’s is called “Love Breathing” which enables her to wield her weapon of choice – a whip-like katana dubbed the “Nichirin Bladed Whip” – with deadly precision.
As one of the strongest characters in Demon Slayer, Mitsuri Kanroji also has a Demon Mark – a scar or birthmark-like feature that only the most talented slayers develop and which ups their game in battle. Mitsuri’s Demon Mark appears above her left clavicle and takes the form of two hearts accompanied by a pair of wings. It enhances Mitsuri’s existing powers – increasing her already impressive physical strength and endurance – and makes her one of Demon Slayer’s strongest Hashiras.
Nichirin Bladed Whip: Mitsuri Kanroji’s Sword Explained
Mitsuri Kanroji has a long, flexible, whip-like sword known as the Nichirin Bladed Whip that matches her unique fighting style, Love Breathing – an offshoot of flame breathing. Most of Demon Slayer‘s Demon Slayer Corps use Nichirin swords to fight. These blades – the only ones capable of killing demons – are forged from a special material by the Corps’ skilled swordsmiths. However, a few Hashira have weapons that deviate slightly from the traditional katana design. Tengen Uzui wields two giant cleavers linked together like nunchucks, while Shinobu Kochu’s blade is small-tipped and laced with wisteria poison. Mitsuri uses her unique flexibility to fight from a distance, making her Nichirin bladed whip the perfect long-range weapon. Only Mitsuri can wield this blade, which is capable of cutting through lightning and sound waves produced by an Upper Rank demon.
Mitsuri Kanroji’s Role In The Swordsmith Village Arc
In Demon Slayer season 3’s Swordsmith Village arc, Mitsuri Kanroji will likely occupy a similar role to Rengoku and Uzui from the Mugen Train and Entertainment District arcs. She’s a powerful Hashira who will mentor Tanjiro and his friends and help them through the demon conflicts that Demon Slayer season 3 will surely involve. However, given that the Swordsmith Village arc also needs to balance the swordsmiths themselves, as well as Mist Hashira Muichiro Tokito, Mitsuri will likely take more of a backseat than previous Hashiras.
More specifically, it will also be interesting to see whether Demon Slayer season 3 decides to adapt a controversial scene from the manga. The Swordsmith Village arc includes an infamous bath scene featuring Mitsuri Kanroji that some audiences have advocated against given its risque nature. Others want to see the manga adapted faithfully. Either way, Demon Slayer season 3 will be a must-watch event when it premieres.