The Shocking Truth Behind Demon Slayer's Most Enigmatic Hashira

Demon Slayer attempts to delve into the backstory of Love Hashira Mitsuri Kanroji, but unfortunately falls short in delivering a satisfying result. Unlike her male counterparts who have undergone life-changing experiences with demons, shaping them into formidable warriors, Mitsuri's past seems to reduce her character to a mere woman desperately seeking love from a man.

Mitsuri has proven herself to be a loyal friend to Tanjiro and Nezuko, showcasing impressive battle skills. Naturally, fans were eager to discover her background. However, instead of being driven by a personal tragedy or a noble desire to protect the vulnerable, Mitsuri's motivation to slay demons is attributed to being deemed "unlovable" due to her physical strength and unique hair. The only significant negative event in her past revolves around the rejection of an arranged marriage proposal, which throws Mitsuri into a spiral of self-doubt and self-reflection.

Mitsuri's Disappointing Past is Rooted in Sexism

Mitsuri possesses an extraordinary strength attributed to her unusually dense muscle tissue, surpassing what is expected of someone her size. However, this physical prowess comes hand in hand with an insatiable appetite, which unfortunately repels the men around her. Surprisingly, Mitsuri's journey does not involve any encounters with demons; instead, she is recruited by the Ubuyashiki family solely based on her exceptional strength. Kagaya, the family's leader, praises her abilities, leading Mitsuri to become emotional and ultimately join the ranks of the Demon Slayer Corps. Within the organization, her primary objective is to discover a man who surpasses her strength, believing that this is the only path to gaining love.

Undeniably, this backstory is filled with sexist assumptions, some of which may be attributed to the era in which the story takes place. Mitsuri herself acknowledges the societal expectation for women to marry and become someone's wife, a notion that is now widely frowned upon. What sets Mitsuri apart from most Hashira is the absence of a personal motivation to fight demons, instantly diminishing her character's strength. Additionally, her hair color is bestowed with an absurd explanation - it purportedly changed alongside her eye color after consuming an astonishing 170 sakura rice cakes daily for several months.

Mitsuri's flashbacks portray her as a superficial character solely concerned with conforming to feminine stereotypes, which is depicted in an incredibly unrealistic manner. In contrast to the compelling origin stories of Muichiro Tokito and Genya Shinazugawa, both of whom experienced significant loss due to demons, Mitsuri's motivations for becoming a slayer seem weak and insubstantial. It is disappointing, considering Mitsuri's previously enjoyable and intriguing character that stood out within the group. There were numerous other potential backstories that could have been explored, making Mitsuri's past one of the major missteps in Demon Slayer and detracting from an otherwise impressive episode.