Demon Slayer's Season 4 Hashira Training Arc, Explained (2024)

Demon Slayer's third season saw the adaptation of the manga's Swordsmith Village Arc, concluding in an epic double-length episode that resulted in a rare happy ending for Tanjiro and the rest of the Demon Slayers. Tanjiro's battles in the Swordsmith Village are now leading him further on his inevitable journey to becoming one of the Hashira, the highest-ranking Demon Slayers in the corps.

At the end of 2023, the Demon Slayer anime's website shared details of its upcoming fourth season, including that it will adapt the manga's Hashira Training Arc. Other details of Demon Slayer's fourth season were also revealed, including that its release window is set for Spring 2024. With Season 4 of Demon Slayer right around the corner, here is what to expect as the show returns with the Hashira Training Arc, which will see Tanjiro and his allies going through physical and mental hell in preparation for a final showdown with the King of Demons.

Confirmed Details of Demon Slayer Anime's Hashira Training Arc Adaptation

Demon Slayer's animation studio, Ufotable, officially confirmed that the anime's fourth season will adapt the Hashira Training Arc, also teasing the new season with the tagline "A New Chapter Begins." Series director Haruo Sotozaki returns, alongside Chief Animation Director and Character Designer Akira Matsushima.

Ufotable also confirmed the Japanese voice cast who will reprise their roles for the new season. While it has yet to be officially confirmed, it is expected that the English voice actors for the main cast will reprise their roles in the dubbed version, too.

The Plot of Demon Slayer's Hashira Training Arc

Demon Slayer's Hashira Training Arc encompasses Chapters #128-136 of the manga, and using that as a reference provides a good idea for what is likely to happen in the upcoming anime adaptation. Tanjiro goes off to see Himejima, the Stone Hashira, and takes on the training to become a Hashira himself. Hashira are the highest-ranking Demon Slayers, regarded as the most skilled members who can take on the much more dangerous threats that other, lower-ranking Demon Slayers can't handle.

To join the Hashira, Tanjiro and his friends must prove their worthiness during the Hashira Training, which is both physically and mentally intense and demanding. The current Hashira are called upon to train their juniors while also joining in the training themselves. Even the Hashira work to refine their skills, preparing to fight in a final battle against Muzan and the powerful Upper Moons of the Twelve Kizuki. Each of the Hashira will lead a different part of the training program that is their specialty, helping the group become stronger as a whole in the process.

Tanjiro and the rest of the Demon Slayers will train with the Sound Hashira Tengen in Stamina Training, doing running drills at a high pace. The Mist Hashira, Muichiro Tokito, will lead the group in quick movement exercises designed to teach techniques for body coordination and precise movement control. The Love Hashira, Mitsuri Kanroji will test the trainee's flexibility by having them don leotards and dance to music. A more serious training session will involve Serpent Hashira Obanai Iguro leading the group in honing their swordsmanship skills. Wind Hashira Sanemi Shinazugawa gives the trainees a literal beatdown, fighting them relentlessly until they either vomit or faint in a test of endurance and strength. Lastly, Stone Hashira Gyomei Himejima will reinforce the Demon Slayers' strength training, putting them through rigorous exercises involving moving through cold water, carrying heavy logs, and pushing huge rocks.

Two Demon Slayers Who Won't Join The Training

Following an emergency meeting between the Hashira regarding the importance of the Demon Slayer's Marks, it is expected for all the Hashira to return for training to prepare for the battles to come with Muzan and his demon allies. This is why Tengen Uzui returns to train the group despite having retired after the Entertainment District Arc. Two other Hashira, however, do not take part in the training for different reasons.

The Insect Hashira, Shinobu Kocho, does not train with the rest of the Hashira because she is spending significant time preparing poison for the battles to come. Shinobu also has a weak body and is unable to decapitate a demon on her own, making the demanding physical trials the rest of the Hashira and their juniors go through unnecessary for Shinobu with her unique fighting style.

Meanwhile, Giyu is also absent for much of the Hashira Training. After the emergency Hashira meeting, Giyu leaves, believing that he is different from the other Hashira, much to their dismay. The Hashira Training Arc delves into Giyu's backstory and his relationship with Sabito instead of focusing on training for the final battle. Tanjiro will plead for Giyu to join, and in the end, he won't teach any training programs to the group but will train privately with Sanemi.

Tanjiro's Destiny to Become a Hashira

From the very beginning of Demon Slayer, it's been clear that Tanjiro has been on the path to becoming a Hashira. The Demon Slayer Corps has a complex system for ranking its members, and Tanjiro has gone up in rank over the years. For Tanjiro to ascend to the role of Hashira is key to his destiny, allowing him to take on much more potent threats in battle.

Tanjiro's determination and perseverance have made him an exceptionally talented Demon Slayer, and he has continued to hone his abilities and become stronger throughout the series. He's even killed a few Upper Rank demons, making his rise to the role of Hashira feel natural at this point. The training Tanjiro undergoes during the Hashira Training Arc will only further his prowess, making him even more capable of taking on the evil Muzan in the final battle that will play out after the Demon Slayers finish their training.

Muzan's Presence during the Hashira Training Arc

As the Demon King and the originator of all other demons in existence, Muzan Kibutsuji has been the main antagonist of Demon Slayer since he killed Tanjiro's family at the start of the series. While the Hashira Training Arc mostly focuses on the Demon Slayer Corps refining their skills for an upcoming final battle against Muzan and his allies, Muzan still plays a critical role in the arc. During the emergency Hashira meeting, Amane Ubuyashiki informs the Hashira how Nezuko is the first demon to conquer the sun, and this will make her a high-priority target for Muzan and his demons. Thanks to Nezuko conquering the sun, the demons have been less active, which has allowed the Hashira to train during the day and perform their usual patrols at night—but is it just the calm before the storm?

The Hashira Training Arc sees Muzan preparing to battle the Demon Slayers over Nezuko. During this time, he appoints the demon Nakime as Upper Rank 4, making her a more powerful member of the Twelve Kizuki. By utilizing Nakime's power of Eye Detachment, Muzan has her use several eyeballs to spy on the Demon Slayer Corps during their Hashira Training. With Nakime spying on the camp and relaying her information to Muzan, time will be of the essence for the Demon Slayers to complete their Hashira Training and be ready to face Muzan in an all-out war. While the Hashira Training Arc mostly sees Muzan gathering his forces and waiting for the right time to strike, there's no doubt that the events that take place in Demon Slayer's fourth season will be leading up to an intense final showdown between Muzan and Tanjiro and the rest of the Demon Slayer Corps.

Demon Slayer

TV-MA

Anime

Action

Adventure

When Tanjiro Kamado returns home to find his family was attacked and killed by demons, he discovers his younger sister Nezuko was the only survivor. As Nezuko slowly becomes a demon, Tanjiro sets out to find a cure for her and become a demon slayer so he can avenge his family.

Release Date

April 6, 2019

Cast

Natsuki Hanae , Zach Aguilar , Abby Trott , Yosh*tsugu Matsuoka

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

4

Studio

ufotable