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  Table of content    
  1. Tanjiro Kamado – Smell
  2. Zenitsu Agatsuma – Sound
  3. Inosuke Hashibira – Touch
  4. Genya Shinazugawa – Taste
  5. Kanao Tsuyuri – Sight
  6. Does Gotouge, the author, give them these abilities on purpose?

Demon Slayer: How These 5 Demon Corps Characters Represent Human 5 Basic Senses

One of the most popular and highly-anticipated anime of the modern days, Demon Slayer, didn’t disappoint fans with its newest sequel released on April 9, 2023, which receive positive reactions overall. The 12-episode sequel, dubbed as the Swordsmith Village Arc, tells the story of the siblings Tanjiro and Nezuko visiting the Swordsmith Village to ask the smith Haganezuka to forge him a new Nichirin sword, where two of Muzan’s Upper Moon Demons also make their appearancez. 

One unique aspect of the series is while using the same concept of breathing technique to defeat demons, the characters in Demon Slayer still wield unique strength and abilities, which adds more depth to their skills and personality. For example, there are five main characters in the anime that possess unique perks, which represent human’s five basic senses: smell, sight, sound, taste, and touch. So who are these five characters we are talking about? Let’s find out.

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#1. Tanjiro Kamado – Smell

Source: Ufotable

Though struggling at first, Tanjiro shows that he’s a talented swordsman, who’s gifted with the way of the blade. Not only can he wield two breathing techniques at once, but he also can use his keen sense of smell in battle. Tanjiro’s nose is one of a kind – he can use it to detect booby traps, blood, and even the demons’ existence by catching their scent. Combines with his breathing technique, he’s even capable to visualize the enemies’ smell as a thin string flowing in the air and use it to find and defeat them.

There are much stronger swordsmen in the Demon Slayer Corps, but Tanjiro is a unique case among them, and his distinct sense of smell proves to be useful in many dire situations and is held in high regard by some higher rank members like Rengoku and Giyu.

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#2. Zenitsu Agatsuma – Sound

Source: Ufotable

Thunder comes with lightning, and Zenitsu has an exceptional hearing sense to boot his Lightning breathing technique. The boy’s enhanced hearing allows him to hear what others can’t, and can even detect dangers from the slightest of sounds from animals, humans, and even demons. This ability has helped him many times in detecting demons, and even aid him in battles to void the enemies’ attacks in his sleep mode.

Moreover, Zenitsu’s hearing sense also helps him to replicate any sounds he hears using instruments like shamisen or koto. As he progresses, the swordsman even learns to detect people’s thoughts by hearing, and compares his strength to a demon.

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#3. Inosuke Hashibira – Touch

Source: Ufotable

Of course, the last part of the trio, Inosuke also has an enhanced human sense, touch, which was developed during his days in the wilderness. Raised by boars (no kidding!) in the mountains, Inosuke’s sense of touch was honed and heightened to a level of a wild beast, as he’s able to sense movements on the ground and even in the air to detect any threat. 

The enhanced version of this ability even allows him to detect hostile thoughts, sense demons from afar and pinpoint their exact locations. Along with his superb perception and unorthodox fighting style, Inosuke proves to be a pain to deal with any demons.

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#4. Genya Shinazugawa – Taste

Source: Ufotable

We didn’t get to see Genya showcase his strength until the Swordsmith Village Arc, and he didn’t disappoint. Compared to the others, Genya can’t use breathing techniques, but instead, he wields two unique weapons that no one else has: a Nichirin gun to shoot demons’ heads off, and the ability to consume other demons. 

By eating the enemies, Genya also temporarily gains their abilities and regenerative perk, while also making him susceptible to the sun. The tougher the opponent, the stronger he gets.

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#5. Kanao Tsuyuri – Sight

Source: Ufotable

We haven’t seen much of Kanao on the big screen, barring her chase with Nezuko in the first part of the series, so she hasn’t got to show her abilities yet. But in the manga (spoiler alert), Kanao’s heightened vision is ridiculously powerful, to the point that she can even hold her ground alone against Upper Demon 2. Her exceptional sense of sight allows her to see right through the opponent’s movement, no matter how fast they are.

An enhanced version of this ability even lets Kanao perceive everything in slow motion by raising her eyesight to its maximum, at the possible cost of her own vision. With the Infinity Castle Arc on the horizon, fans are on their feet to see Kanao’s ability to be showcased on the big screen.

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#6. Does Gotouge, the author, give them these abilities on purpose?

Source: Bilibili

It appears that all the swordsmen who possess 5 heightened human senses are of the same age, and come from the same generation. This detail is too good to be a mere coincidence, so it’s safe to assume that Koyoharu Gotouge gives the five of them the enhanced senses on purpose. This also means that we may get to see the team develops their senses even more in future projects, and maybe even use them to fight against the Demon lord Muzan in the final battle.

Whose ability do you like best, and why? Let us know in the comments.

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