One of Demon Slayer's darkest tales belongs to the family that saved everyone

The Ubuyashiki family, which has served as the cursed lineage for the Demon Slayer Corps for hundreds of years, is one of the most tragic stories in Demon Slayer. Confronted with a mysterious curse that causes their children to die prematurely, the Ubuyashiki clan has devoted all their resources to destroying Muzan Kibutsuji.

Despite their wealth, power, and supernatural sixth sense, they experience profound suffering that precedes their physical pain. Each generation sacrifices itself in the relentless battle against demons. Their story is a poignant struggle between loyalty and affliction, making them unforgettable heroes in the fight against evil.

Origins of the Ubuyashiki Curse and the Demon Slayer Corps

The Hashira as shown in the anime (Image via Studio Ufotable)

The Ubuyashiki family founded the Demon Slayer Corps one thousand years ago due to a mysterious curse on their family, leading to young children dying. A priest revealed that the only way to free themselves from this curse was to give their lives to hunting down Kibutsuji Muzan.

The Ubuyashiki, a wealthy and formidable family with skills, connections, and the famous sixth sense, probably thought tracking down and killing Muzan would be easy. They were committed to the job, confident that it could be completed and the curse be lifted by their actions.

Kibutsuji Muzan (Image via Studio Ufotable)

For the first few generations, this decision seemed understandable. The Ubuyashiki family had the means and resources to organize a powerful force to combat Muzan, and the curse had not yet fully revealed its devastating consequences.

However, the situation remained bleak as the centuries passed, both before and after Yoriichi Tsugikuni’s time. Muzan proved impossible to kill and, at times, vanished so completely that he seemed untraceable.

Yet, despite the overwhelming odds, no member of the Ubuyashiki lineage ever questioned whether it was wise or ethical to continue having children. The curse that plagued them robbed their offspring of their childhoods, forcing them to grow up prematurely and live under the shadow of an inevitable, painful death.

Demon Slayer: The endless cycle of suffering in the Ubuyashiki family

The Ubuyashiki Family curse (Image via Studio Ufotable)

Each child born into the Ubuyashiki family was aware that they possessed a weak body, would gradually lose their eyesight, cough out blood, and eventually be bedridden.

Even after all this, the family ensured the curse was passed on by having offspring, ensuring that future children suffer the same tragedy. Thus, making their offspring carry such a heavy burden seemed almost irresponsible, even cruel.

One might expect that at some point, an Ubuyashiki would consider allowing the curse to die with them, thus ending the curse in the family line and sparing future children from further suffering. Yet, this thought never seemed to occur to them.

Yoriichi Tsugikuni (Image via Studio Ufotable)

There was also a curious lack of reflection within the family on the nature of the curse itself. While all the Ubuyashiki children undoubtedly harbored an intense hatred for Muzan, none appeared to question the family’s role in perpetuating their suffering.

Though they perceived Muzan as the root of their problems, the children ignored their family’s actions even after being aware of the consequences. The complete absence of any blame on the part of their parents and ancestors was probably due to a deep-seated sense of loyalty and sacrifice, which are cultural values in Japan.

The concept of service, whereby a person betrays their desires to satisfy the greater community, is one of the most vital themes in Japan. This may also be why the Ubuyashiki family held on to their mission.

Demon Slayer: The Ubuyashiki’s role as leaders despite the curse

Muzan has been finding a way to get rid of his curse (Image via Studio Ufotable)

Interestingly, in this regard, Muzan was not entirely wrong in his condemnation of the Demon Slayer Corps. From his perspective, the very existence of the slayers seemed unnatural.

Their entire purpose revolved around his destruction, and their lives were shaped by a curse that had no end in sight. Muzan’s disdain for the Ubuyashiki and the slayers may have stemmed from recognizing that they were trapped in a cycle of suffering that could have been avoided.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki as shown in the anime series (Image via Studio Ufotable)

However, the Ubuyashiki were not ordinary people, and they did not have the freedom to walk away from their roles. Their curse left them with limited options. They died young, often before reaching the age of thirty, and thus never had the opportunity to live everyday lives.

They accepted this reality and saw it as their responsibility to lead the Demon Slayers. If they allowed their family line to go extinct, the Corps would lose its leadership, ability to organize missions and strategic direction. In that vacuum, demons would run rampant, killing indiscriminately without anyone to stop them.

Final thoughts

Kagaya sacrificed his family to take down Muzan (Image via Studio Ufotable)

In the end, though tragic, the Ubuyashiki clan’s persistence was driven by a sense of duty and necessity. They sacrificed themselves to protect the world, even if it meant dooming future generations to the same cursed fate.