While watching the anime or reading the manga of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, you might have noticed a few unique things about Tanjiro’s scar.
Tanjiro’s scar, which looks like a birthmark, is visible on his head from the very start of the story. At this point, you would be forgiven for thinking that it is just a small part of his character design.
But, if you have a keen eye, you would have noticed that it changes in appearance as the story goes on, until more similar-looking marks start appearing across his face.
As it turns out, there is a deeper meaning behind Tanjiro Kamado’s scar, which ties in with his role as a Demon Slayer and, eventually, the destiny he is meant to fulfill.
So, is it a scar, birthmark, or something more?
In this short and simple guide, we explain the significance and of Tanjiro’s scar and the markings on his face, including how Tanjiro Kamado got his scar and why it changes appearance further into the story.
Make sure to read on for all the answers to your questions about Tanjiro’s scar!
From the very start of the manga and anime of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Tanjiro Kamado, the main character, has a pinkish patch on the right side of his forehead.
Despite that, Tanjiro was not born with it. The patch is not a birthmark, but a burn.
Tanjiro Kamado got the burn mark on his forehead from pushing his younger brother, Takeo Kamado, out of the way of a falling kettle. Despite getting his brother out of the way, the boiling hot water splashed on his forehead.
So, that answers how Tanjiro got the mark on his forehead. But why does the mark change its appearance later on in the story?
The answer ties in with Tanjiro becoming a Demon Slayer. And you might have noticed that other Demon Slayers, most notably the Hashira, the most powerful Demon Slayers of the Demon Slayer Corps, also have similar face markings.
Demon Slayer Marks Explained
Not long after Tanjiro Kamado discovers his family dead, he begins training to become a Demon Slayer. Demon Slayers are skilled fighters that rid the world of demons, possessing unique abilities known as Breathing Styles.
It is explained in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba that Demon Slayers start to develop marks on the bodies the more powerful they become. For this reason, a Demon Slayer with body markings is a sign that they are not to be messed with.
These markings are known as Demon Slayer Marks.
To provide some examples, some of the Demon Slayers that have Demon Slayer Marks include Giyu Tomioka, Mitsuri Kanroji, Obanai Iguro, Sanemi Shinazugawa, Gyomei Himejima, and Muichiro Tokito – all of whom are members of the Hashira.
Some Demon Slayers are also born with Demon Slayer Marks – a sign that they are destined to be powerful Demon Slayers. And one of these powerful Demon Slayers is Yoriichi Tsugikuni. But we will go into more detail about him later on.
Why Does Tanjiro’s Scar Change?
Tanjiro’s scar changes as he grows to become a more powerful Demon Slayer. There are a few specific moments where it changes, and if you noticed these, then kudos on your perceptive skills.
At first, the mark on Tanjiro’s forehead is a pink patch – a burn caused by pushing his brother out of the way of a falling kettle full of boiling hot water.
The burn mark changes, however, after he faces the Hand Demon on Mount Fujikasane, during the Final Selection Arc. Tanjiro kills the demon, but suffers injuries to his head. He wears a bandage, yet when he takes it off, the burn has become a jagged mark (a Demon Slayer Mark).
Tanjiro’s Demon Slayer Mark changes appearance again in the Natagumo Mountain Arc after his fight against Rui, Lower Moon Five of the Twelve Kizuki – the most powerful demons fighting for Muzan, the Demon Lord.
After this, Tanjiro’s Demon Slayer Mark changes once more when he faces off with Gyutaro, Upper Moon Six in the Entertainment District Arc.
Overall, what starts as a mere burn becomes a full Demon Slayer Mark that extends to other areas of Tanjiro’s face, including the other side of his forehead and on his jawline. And it happens because Tanjiro is getting more powerful as a Demon Slayer.
When faced with distress, or unlocking more powerful abilities as a Demon Slayer, Tanjiro’s Demon Slayer Mark “evolves” along with his abilities.
Tanjiro And Yoriichi
Up above, we briefly mentioned a powerful Demon Slayer called Yoriichi Tsugikuni. Yoriichi is long dead before the main events of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, yet he is seen in flashbacks.
One notable flashback is a scene that shows Muzan Kibutsuji afraid and defeated by a mysterious figure standing over him. The figure wears earrings similar to the earrings Tanjiro wears, and also has a Demon Slayer Mark on his face, similar to Tanjiro’s Demon Slayer Mark.
This mysterious figure was believed by fans to be Tanjiro’s father, but is actually Yoriichi Tsugikuni – the first-ever Demon Slayer and the Demon Slayer who created the first-ever Breathing Style, Sun Breathing, also called Hinokami Kagura.
Sun Breathing is a legendary Breathing Style, which Tanjiro happens to harness without realizing in his fight against Rui. This, as you probably noticed, is another direct similarity between the two Demon Slayers.
As it turns out, these similarities – including Tanjiro’s Demon Slayer Mark, earrings, Breathing Style, and black Nichirin Blade – show that Tanjiro is something of a successor to Yoriichi. In other words, Tanjiro is destined to defeat Muzan as Yoriichi did, but this time for good.
Conclusion
So, what is the significance of Tanjiro’s scar? Tanjiro’s scar is initially a burn mark that becomes a Demon Slayer Mark as Tanjiro grows as a powerful Demon Slayer.
As Tanjiro becomes more powerful, the mark on his forehead changes and also starts to spread across his face.
Tanjiro’s Demon Slayer Mark is identical to Yoriichi Tsugikuni’s Demon Slayer Mark, the first-ever Demon Slayer who almost defeated Muzan.
The mark – along with Tanjiro’s black Nichiin Sword, Hinokami Kagura Breathing Style, and earrings – symbolizes his destiny to finish off the Demon Lord Muzan once and for all.
