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Nichirin Swords ( (にち) (りん) (とう) Nichirin Tō?, lit. Sun Blade) are special blades used by Demon Slayers made specifically for the purpose of slaying demons.

Description[]

Nichirin Swords (among other Nichirin bladed weapons) are the main weapons used by Demon Slayers in the Demon Slayer Corps in order to kill demons. They are forged with Scarlet Crimson Iron Sand ( (しょう) (じょう) () () (てつ) Shōjōhi Satetsu?) and Scarlet Ore ( (しょう) (じょう) () (こう) (せき) Shōjōhi Kōseki?), both of which are found on high mountains like the Sunlight Mountain, which is perpetually bathed in sunlight all throughout the year on Mount Yoko ( (よう) (こう) (やま) Yōkō yama?).[1]

As they constantly absorb sunlight, decapitating demons with Nichirin Swords can permanently kill them. Once their neck-bone is slashed by the weapon, their heads and bodies disintegrate into ash in a similar fashion to when exposed to sunlight. However, despite their sunlight-absorbent properties, Nichirin Swords are less effective when used to slash other parts of a demon's body, making beheading the only viable option for Demon Slayers.

Nichirin Swords take on a distinct color when first drawn by its owner, which is why they are also referred to as "Color Changing Katanas".[2] However, the holder is required to have a certain amount of skill, or the blade will not change color.[3]

Demon Slayer recruits choose their own ore after successfully passing Final Selection. The ore will then be used by a swordsmith of the Swordsmith Village during the forging process, and the swordsmith will personally bring the weapon to the Demon Slayer.

The etched kanji for 'Destroyer of Demons'

"Destroyer of Demons" etched onto several blades.

After the Demon Slayer reaches the rank of Hashira, their weapons will be engraved with the words "Destroyer of Demons" ( (あっ) () (めっ) (さつ) Akki Messatsu?). This tradition came some time after the creation of the sword that Tanjiro and Kotetsu found inside the Yoriichi Type Zero, which only had the Slay ( (めっ) Metsu?) on it and was created for the sole purpose of annihilating demons.[4]

List of Known Nichirin Weapons[]

Wielder Type Color Image
Tanjiro Kamado Standard Katana Obsidian Black Tanjiro's Nichirin Sword
Sakonji Urokodaki, Tanjiro Kamado Standard Katana Dull Blue Tanjiro senses the Opening Thread
Sabito Standard Katana Dull Gray Sabito with his sword
Zenitsu Agatsuma Standard Katana Yellow Zenitsu angry at Tanjiro
Inosuke Hashibira Dual serrated Katanas Indigo-Gray Inosuke preparing to fight the demon
Kanao Tsuyuri Standard Katana Light Pink Kanao attacking Nezuko
Genya Shinazugawa Sawed-Off Double-Barreled Shotgun Black Genya pointing his shotgun
Genya Shinazugawa Wakizashi Dull Gray Genya holding his sword
Giyu Tomioka Standard Katana Deep Blue Giyu's Nichirin Sword
Shinobu Kocho Stinger Katana Lavender-Blue Shinobu introducing herself
Kyojuro Rengoku Standard Katana Red Kyojuro with his sword
Tengen Uzui Dual Cleavers connected by chain Amber Tengen with his swords
Muichiro Tokito Standard Katana Sky Blue Muichiro thanking Kanamori for his new blade
Yoriichi Type Zero, Muichiro Tokito Standard Katana Dull Gray Muichiro takes a sword from Yoriichi Type Zero
Mitsuri Kanroji Whip Katana Dark Pink Mitsuri appears with her sword
Sanemi Shinazugawa Standard Katana Green Sanemi with his sword
Obanai Iguro Twisted Katana Lavender-White Obanai with his sword
Gyomei Himejima Spiked Flail and Axe connected by chain Dull Gray Gyomei's Nichirin Weapon
Kanae Kocho Standard Katana Light Pink Kanae cleans her sword
Yoriichi Tsugikuni Standard Katana Obsidian Black Yoriichi in a flashback as recalled by Muzan
Michikatsu Tsugikuni Standard Katana Light Purple Michikatsu's katana

*Muichiro's blade is shown to be both diamond blue and pale white in the anime adaptation.
*Obanai's blade is colored white on the cover of Volume 19.

Handguards[]

Each Nichirin Sword contains a handguard, or tsuba, that protects the swordsman from cutting themselves when they have a loose grip. It is located where the handle and the blade meet and can come in a variety of colors and shapes.

Wielder Shape Description Image
Tanjiro Kamado* Circle Black spokes Tanjiro's Tsuba E17
Sakonji Urokodaki, Tanjiro Kamado Ellipse with four circular cutouts Dull gray filling Sakonji tsuba
Sabito Hexagon Black filling with an overlapping bronze border Sabito tsuba
Zenitsu Agatsuma Quatrefoil Silver filling with triangles relief and a gold border Zenitsu's Tsuba
Inosuke Hashibira* Circle Black filling with semicircle carvings Inosuke's Former Handguard
Kanao Tsuyuri Circle Three red sakura flowers and light green winding pattern carvings and a silver border Kanao's Tsuba Manga
Genya Shinazugawa Two interlocking ellipses Gold filling Genya's Tsuba
Giyu Tomioka Hexagon Bronze filling with an overlapping fuchsia border Giyu's Tsuba E1
Unnamed Water Breathing Demon Slayer, Giyu Tomioka Circle Bronze filling with whirlpool carvings Giyu's replacement Nichirin sword's handguard
Kanae Kocho, Shinobu Kocho Flower with four pointy petals Teal filling with an orange core and border Shinobu's Tsuba EP20
Kyojuro Rengoku, Tanjiro Kamado Flame Dark red filling with a yellow core and orange border Kyojuro's Tsuba
Tengen Uzui Quatrefoil Gold filling with a maroon cross and green border Tengen's Tsuba
Muichiro Tokito Rectangle Black filling with a gold core and hollow rectangles in the corners Muichiro's Tsuba
Mitsuri Kanroji Clover leaf Pink filling with a gold core and border Mitsuri's Tsuba
Sanemi Shinazugawa Octagram of eight overlapping diamonds Forest green filling with a silver border Sanemi's Tsuba E22
Obanai Iguro Circle Two snakes and plant-like pattern carvings Obanai's Tsuba
Yoriichi Tsugikuni, Michikatsu Tsugikuni, Yoriichi Type Zero Quatrefoil Black filling with gold core and border Yoriichi's Tsuba

*Tanjiro began using Kyojuro's handguard as of Chapter 129 / Episode 56.

*Based on his appearances in the series, Inosuke's Nichirin Swords temporarily had handguards when Kozo first presented his newly-forged swords. Afterwards, he made his swords jagged-edged, removed the handguards, and wrapped the hilt with bandages.

Weapon Colors[]

Kyojuro explaining Breath Styles to Tanjiro

Kyojuro explaining the main Breathing Styles' associated colors.

Nichirin Swords change color depending upon the user, making each blade unique. They can be of many colors. Zenitsu's blade is unique in that its coloration does not form as a solid band but instead as a lightning motif down the length of the blade. The reason for this patterning is unknown; however, when giving Tanjiro his new sword, Hotaru remarked that the past wielder of the blade before its refinery must have been a very strong swordsman. Given this statement, it is implied that a stronger skill level can create patterns or slight changes in a Nichirin Sword's coloration.

Each color is said to impart certain properties to the blade. The properties of black Nichirin Swords are not well understood, causing them to be considered a bad omen that the Demon Slayer will not progress far (due to dying before much can be learned about the blade). It can be assumed that the color of the sword is associated with the Breathing Style the user is best suited for:

Breathing Style[5] Colors
Sun Black
Moon Light Purple
Water Blue
Flame Red
Thunder Yellow
Wind Green
Stone Gray
Flower Light Pink
Insect Lavender-Blue
Serpent Lavender
Love Dark Pink
Sound Amber
Beast Indigo-Gray
Mist White

Bright Red Nichirin Swords[]

By raising the temperature of the blade, a Nichirin Sword will turn shining bright red. Bright red Nichirin swords hamper the regeneration of demons and can generate extreme heat that can induce immense pain to demons. There are only 3 known methods to turn a Nichirin sword bright red: Using Nezuko's Blood Demon Art, raising the temperature of the blade with a strong grip, and clashing two Nichirin Swords together (the latter two only capable of being achieved when the Demon Slayer Mark is present).

Trivia[]

  • Their namesake contains the kanji for "sun" ( (にち) nichi?), "ring" ( (りん) rin?), which could translate to either "sun ring" or its most common meaning, "solar". In addition to the kanji for "sword/blade" ( (とう) ?), the full translation to the Nichirin Sword is "solar blade".
  • The ore used to forge the swords are likely based off of Hihiirokane ( (ひひ) (いろ) (かね) hihi'irokane?), which literally means (Brilliant Scarlet Metal), a legendary metal of Japanese myth that shines brightly in a manner that it resembles flames or the sun. The metal is considered to be similar to other mythical ores such as Orichalcum of Greek and Roman myth, and as such is said to have had magical properties.
    • "Iron sand/black sand" ( () (てつ) Satetsu?) specifically higher quality "iron sand" ( () () () (てつ) Masa Satetsu?) is in fact known in real life to heat up when exposed to direct sunlight, capable of causing minor first degree burns if in contact without proper equipment.
  • Only four of the nine Hashira of the Taisho era use standard Nichirin Swords: Giyu, Kyojuro, Sanemi and Muichiro.

References[]

  1. Kimetsu no Yaiba Manga: Chapter 9 (Page 12).
  2. Kimetsu no Yaiba Manga: Chapter 9 (Page 15).
  3. Kimetsu no Yaiba Manga and Anime: Chapter 69 (Page 7) and Episode 34.
  4. Kimetsu no Yaiba Manga: Chapter 117 (Page 11).
  5. Kimetsu no Yaiba Manga: Chapter 54 (Page 8).
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