If Kanao Tsuyuri is one of your favorite characters from Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, we don’t blame you!
Kanao Tsuyuri is the cute yet mysteriously quiet Demon Slayer that the main characters officially meet in the Rehabilitation Training Arc. She does not talk on her own and nor does she show any emotion – at least at the start of the story.
But what’s significant about Kanao is that she becomes one of the pivotal characters of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, both in relation to central characters Tanjiro, Inosuke, and Zenitsu, and also in the final showdown against the Demon Lord, Muzan Kibutsuji.
We love Kanao Tsuyuri’s character, and if you love her as much as we do, make sure to read on!
Below, we have listed 10 facts about Kanao Tsuyuri, explained in detail, that are both fun and interesting to know. Whether you have finished the manga or not, you are bound to find out something you didn’t know about Kanao before from our list.
This does mean that there will be some spoilers ahead. So, if you have not finished the manga or are still watching the anime adaptation, you have been warned!
With all of that said and out of the way, let’s dive in.
First of all, let’s run through some basic facts about Kanao Tsuyuri.
Kanao is 16 years old. That means the 156-centimeter-tall Demon Slayer is a year older than both Tanjiro Kamado and Inosuke Hashibira. She is, however, the same age as Zenitsu Agatsuma.
What you may not know about Kanao Tsuyuri is her birthday, which is on May 19. Another thing you may not know is that this date is not her “real birthday”.
In fact, May 19 was chosen as her birthday as it was the day that her older sisters adopted her. Kanao also does not know her real birthday.
As for her general appearance, Kanao Tsuyuri is distinguishable by her black dress, white cloak, white boots, butterfly hairpin, and black hair. Unlike her older sisters, she has bangs that cover her forehead. What she does share with her sisters, however, is her big purple eyes.
Kanao’s Sisters
Kanao Tsuyuri, as well as her older sister Shinobu, appear quite early on in the story of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. Tanjiro and Zenitsu meet Kanao during Final Selection, and encounter the two sisters once again on Natagumo Mountain.
Despite these encounters, the main characters do not properly meet Kanao and Shinobu until the Rehabilitation Training Arc.
Kanao Tsuyuri has two sisters: Shinobu Kocho and Kanae Kocho, who is the oldest. Kanae, however, is deceased, her death taking place before the main events of the story.
Both of her sisters are not blood relations to Kanao. In fact, Kanao is their adopted younger sister. Still, Kanao shares a similar appearance to the two biological Kocho sisters, including eye color, hair color, hairpin, and style of dress.
Shinobu Kocho, as discovered in the Rehabilitation Training Arc, is one of the Hashira – the most powerful Demon Slayers in existence.
Kanao Tsuyuri’s Backstory
So, if Kanao Tsuyuri is adopted, what happened to Kanao before the events of the main story?
As it turns out, Kanao actually had a pretty bad upbringing. Her family were poor and her parents weren’t that nice to Kanao. They neglected her and beat her, before eventually selling her into slavery.
To Kanao’s good fortune, the Kocho sisters chanced upon her one day. And, feeling pity for young Kanao, Shinobu distracted the slave trader long enough for Kanao to run away with the two sisters.
Shinobu and Kanae Kocho brought her back to the Butterfly Mansion, gave her a bath and clothed her. Since Kanao was so broken by this point – unable to talk and too scared to act on her own accord – they also gave her the coin we see her use in the story, which she flips to make decisions.
Kanae remarked that when Kanao finds a boy that she loves, she will start to talk and have the confidence to decide things for herself. If you have read the manga, you will already know who that person is.
The Butterfly Hairpin
All three sisters, Kanao Tsuyuri, Shinobu Kocho, and Kanae Kocho, all wear hairpins in the shape of butterflies.
Kanao’s hairpin is a little different, however, with a meaningful story behind it.
Shinobu Kocho’s butterfly hairpin is purple, while Kanao’s hairpin is pink and green – the same color of the hairpin that Kanae wore.
Unlike her sisters, Kanao also only wears one hairpin, which is on the left side of her head (when looking at her from the front).
This pink and green butterfly hairpin happens to be one of the hairpins that Kanae Kocho wore. And the reason she wears just one is because the other one was shattered in battle – specifically, the fight between Kanae and Doma, the powerful Upper Moon Two demon who killed Kanae.
The Reason for Kanao Tsuyuri’s Surname
You might have wondered during the story, or even during this article, why Kanao Tsuyuri has a different surname to her older sisters, Shinobu Kocho and Kanae Kocho.
Of course, we know now that Kanao was adopted Shinobu and Kanae. But where does Kanao’s surname come from?
The answer is simple: Kanao chose her surname herself from a list of possible options that were presented to her.
Also, in Japanese, Tsuyuri includes the kanji characters for “chestnut”, “flower”, and “fall.”
Despite her choice, Kanao almost had a different surname: Kanzaki. Aoino Kanzaki, one of the nurses at the Butterfly Mansion – and Inosuke’s love interest later on in the story – suggested her own surname to Kanao as she “always wanted to have a younger sister”.
Kanao Kanzaki, in fact, does have a quite the ring to it.
Kanao is a Tsuguko
Kanao Tsuyuri is what is known as a tsuguko in the demon-slaying world. Not sure what this is? Let us explain.
A tsuguko in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is something of an apprentice. Tsugukos are officially trained by one of the Hashira, and also expected to take their place in the event of death or retirement.
That said, it’s clear then that Kanao Tsuyuri is tsuguko to Shinobu Kocho, the Insect Hashira and her older adoptive sister.
But even though Kanao is Shinobi’s younger sister, Demon Slayers must display exceptional talent and potential to be accepted as tsugukos. Any Demon Slayer can apply to be a tsuguko, or be invited to become one by a Hashira, but they must fit the above requirements.
Due to this, tsugukos will tend to be trained in the same Breathing Style as their Hashira, although this is not a strict rule.
Flower Breathing
We now know that Kanao Tsuyuri is tsuguko to Shinobu Kocho, the Insect Hashira. But does Kanao have the same Breathing Style?
Breathing Styles are unique, signature abilities harnessed by the Demon Slayers. They allow the Demon Slayers to conjure powerful attacks for killing demons, which they unlock over time by mastering their breathing.
You might have noticed that Tanjiro Kamado uses Water Breathing (and later, Sun Breathing), Inosuke Hashibira uses Beast Breathing, and Zenitsu Agatsuma uses Thunder Breathing. All the Hashira also have their own Breathing Style.
Kanao’s Breathing Style, however, is Flower Breathing. It’s quite similar to Shinobu’s Breathing Style, but not entirely the same.
Flower Breathing allows Kanao to access powerful attacking techniques that focus on agility and deception. These include Second Form: Honorable Shadow Plum, Fourth Form: Crimson Hanagoromo, Fifth Form: Peonies of Futility, Sixth Form: Whirling Peach, and Final Form: Equinoctial Vermilion Eye.
In addition, Kanao also has enhanced strength, vision, speed, endurance, and sword fighting skills.
As for Kanao’s demon-slaying Nichirin Sword, she wields a pink one. Just like all other Nichirin Blades, the blade changes color to match the user’s personality and Breathing Style.
Final Selection
Do you remember the four surviving members of the Final Selection? This happens early on, when Tanjiro Kamado officially becomes a Demon Slayer.
The other three candidates who pass alongside Tanjiro are Zenitsu Agatsuma, Genya Shinazugawa, and Kanao Tsuyuri.
If you don’t remember Kanao being there, check out the scene again!
The Final Selection took place on Fujikasane Mountain, the mountain (based on Mount Fuji) covered in the symbolic Wisteria flower that all demons are afraid of. Each Demon Slayer had to survive for seven days, while fighting off demons. This is where Tanjiro fights and conquers the Hand Demon.
Kanao is also seen on Mount Fujikasane. But a fun fact about this is that Kanao Tsuyuri entered the Final Selection without informing her sisters. She chose to do it on her own, which we can guess that she decided with a flip of her trusty coin.
Doma
Above, we briefly mentioned Doma, Upper Moon Two – one of the most powerful demons in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, a member of the formidable Twelve Kizuki.
Doma is the demon who killed Kanao’s older adoptive sister, Kanae Kocho. And, as it happens later on in the story, Doma also manages to kill Kanao’s other sister, Shinobu Kocho.
It goes without saying that Doma is a powerful demon, since he was able to take down Shinobu, one of the Hashira.
In the manga, Doma is charismatic and carefree, but also ruthless and psychopathic. He has long blonde hair, and wears a dark red top and hat – both of which are designed to look like blood.
And since he is the killer of both of Kanao’s older sisters, you can imagine how much Kanao wants to get revenge.
As it turns out, she does. In Volume 19 of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Kanao manages to beat Doma, even mocking him in the process. Inosuke also helps Kanao to fight Doma, after he discovers that Doma was the demon who killed his mother.
Kanao and Tanjiro
Remember what we mentioned above? About Kanae Kocho’s remark that Kanao will start to talk and make her decisions when she meets a boy and falls in love?
When Tanjiro Kamado first meets Kanao Tsuyuri, Kanao dismisses his every attempt to converse with her. She even uses her coin at one point to decide whether to “use her heart” to make decisions (which Tanjiro suggests), before simply walking away from Tanjiro.
This happens in the Rehabilitation Training Arc, where Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke are recovering from the injuries they received on Mount Natagumo. The three heroes undergo further Demon Slayer training at the Butterfly Mansion, during which none of them are able to get the upper hand on Kanao.
Eventually, however, Kanao and Tanjiro become love interests. In the battle against Muzan, Kanao also saves Tanjiro. They even get married and start a family, which is detailed at the end of the manga series.
And, just as Kanae Kocho predicted, Kanao’s personality begins to grow after she falls in love with Tanjiro.
Conclusion
And that’s it: 10 fun and interesting facts about Kanao Tsuyuri from Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. We hope you enjoyed reading these facts, while learning a few new things about Kanao Tsuyuri along the way!
Kanao is easily one of the most popular female characters in both the manga and anime adaptation of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba.
Not only is she unique, adorable, and mysterious, but one of the most important characters in the final showdown between the Demon Slayer Corps and Muzan, the Demon Lord.
