Sayo (
Appearance[]
Sayo has black, short hair styled in a blunt bob with a fringe. During her time at the temple, she typically adorned herself in a traditional light-pink kimono embellished with delicate floral patterns. Like the older children, she did not wear any shoes.
Personality[]
Sayo offering Gyomei her portion of fish.
Not much is known about Sayo, other than that she likely behaved like a typical toddler. However, she was shown to be particularly selfless and kind as shown when she offers Gyomei her fish dinner after seeing that the monk himself was not eating, worriedly pointing out his thin physique.[2] In the present, Sayo gained the maturity to retroactively realize her disjointed testimony led to Gyomei's arrest, and that caused her to regret her words.
History[]
The orphans under Gyomei's care.
After losing her parents at a tender age, Sayo found herself in the care of Gyomei within the sanctuary of a temple. There, she was embraced by a new family, comprising nine other orphaned children, who became her steadfast companions. Bound not by blood but by shared experiences and a sense of belonging, they forged a deep and unbreakable bond.[3]
In a moment that would forever haunt her, a night of tragedy unfolded within the temple. Sayo was four years old at the time when the harmony of their sanctuary was shattered by an act of disobedience; Kaigaku, one of the children, ventured outside the temple at night and met a demon, and in a desperate bid to save himself, he betrayed his companions. As everyone slept, the child extinguished the protective Wisteria incense and invited the demon inside. Four children immediately fell victim to the demon's relentless assault, while the remaining ones defied Gyomei's orders and were killed while they fled.
Gyomei sees only Sayo is left behind him.
Amidst the chaos and despair, Sayo alone remained, huddled in a corner, tears streaming down her face. Determined to protect her at any cost, Gyomei fought hard against the demon until the sun rose.[3] Eventually, help arrived. In her state of shock, Sayo exclaimed, "That man is a monster! He... killed everyone!" referring to the demon that infiltrated the temple. However, with the demon's remains disintegrated by the morning sun and only the children's lifeless bodies remaining, the villagers misunderstood Sayo's words and wrongly attributed the murders to Gyomei.
Sayo, still traumatized by the incident, struggled to articulate herself properly and failed to dispel the suspicions that had befallen Gyomei, causing him to be unjustly imprisoned and charged with the heinous crime of killing the eight children. It was only through the intervention of Kagaya Ubuyashiki that Gyomei was released before facing execution for crimes he did not commit.[3][1] The weight of guilt rested heavily on Sayo's shoulders, burdening her soul with the memory of Gyomei's wrongful arrest. Even as a decade has passed, time's passage has done little to ease the ache within her heart.
She longed for the opportunity to seek forgiveness and offer her heartfelt apology to the one who had selflessly protected her.[1] However, the chance to mend the past eluded Sayo, as she never saw Gyomei again before he died in the final battle against the demons.[4]
Synopsis[]
Hashira Training Arc[]
Gyomei recalls the tender moments he shared with Sayo.
Upon completing all the assignments given by Gyomei during the Hashira Training session with him, the Stone Hashira acknowledged Tanjiro Kamado's dedication and accepted him as a worthy individual. Reflecting on his experience raising Sayo and the other children in the temple, Gyomei contemplated the inherent nature of children — pure and innocent yet vulnerable, prone to falsehoods and capable of displaying cruelty and selfishness. However, upon observing Tanjiro's unwavering honesty and integrity, Gyomei could tell that this boy is truly different and told him his story with the children in the temple. Moved by the story's outcome, including Sayo's heartbreaking betrayal, Tanjiro's tears flowed uncontrollably. In an act of comfort, Gyomei gently patted Tanjiro's head, reminiscent of the affection he had once bestowed upon Sayo.[3]
Abilities[]
As an ordinary human, Sayo did not possess any additional powers or abilities.
Relatives[]
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| Gyomei |
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| Kaigaku |
| Kazunori |
| Ryotaro |
| Asami |
| Child |
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| Sayo | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
*Gyomei acted as the caretaker of 9 orphaned children.
Trivia[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Kimetsu no Yaiba Manga: Volume 16, (Extra Pages).
- ↑ Kimetsu no Yaiba Anime: Episode 62.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Kimetsu no Yaiba Manga: Chapter 135.
- ↑ Kimetsu no Yaiba Manga: Chapter 200.