Why is Kanao so quiet in Demon Slayer? Explained

Modified Oct 12, 2024 06:30 GMT

Understanding the reason behind Kanao's quiet demeanor (Image via Ufotable)

Kanao Tsuyuri from the Demon Slayer series wasn’t all that popular when the first season was released. She was quiet, reserved, and rarely spoke to people unless spoken to. Despite her demeanor, she was incredibly confident and skilled in her abilities as a demon hunter.

She is a Tsukugo, which in itself is an accomplishment. She is Shinobu Kocho’s protégé, which means her skills are being refined by a Hashira. Fans who are new to the series found her to be far too quiet in the series.

It got to a point where viewers found it strange, which led to an interesting question - why is Kanao Tsuyuri quiet in Demon Slayer? The reason for her quiet demeanor is due to her traumatic past involving her abusive parents.

Disclaimer: This article contains details surrounding abuse and harm. Reader discretion is advised.

Demon Slayer: Kanao’s origins explained

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Kanao Tsuyuri is quiet in the anime due to her traumatic childhood. Her abusive parents often beat her and her siblings, with worse punishment if they reacted to the pain. Her father would sometimes grab her by the hair, beat her, and throw her out of their hut.

A young Kanao even recalled feeling her brothers’ cold bodies, implying that they were dead from the beatings they received. She was eventually sold off to slavery. When she was being taken away, that’s when Kanae and Shinobu Kocho encountered her. They freed her and took her back to the Butterfly Mansion. It was at this point that they realized that she didn’t do anything unless she was ordered to do so. Kanae provided the young girl with a coin, asking her to flip it whenever she needed to make a decision.

How does Kanao come out of her shell in Demon Slayer?

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As mentioned earlier, Kanae Kocho plays an important role in helping Kanao make her own decisions. However, things changed substantially when she had a conversation with Tanjiro Kamado. This was during the time Tanjiro spent his days recuperating at the Butterfly Mansion. He asked her about the coin and she proceeded to explain why she had it. He was surprised at first since he didn’t know why she needed help to make decisions.

Following this, Tanjiro took the coin and flipped it. He said that if it landed Heads, then she would have to listen to her heart. It landed on Heads and Kanao was surprised since Tanjiro didn’t do anything to manipulate the results. Tanjiro replied that he would have continued to flip the coin till it landed on Heads. This showed Kanao that Tanjiro was willing to continue on his path, which surprised her. This was a crucial interaction that helped Kanao come out of her shell and be herself at all times.

Final Thoughts

It’s inspiring to see someone battle all odds and live the best version of their lives. While Kanao couldn’t control the hand that was dealt to her, she was able to find inspiration and the will to turn things around.

She was a silent being who wouldn’t do anything unless she was ordered. Eventually, she became a reliable demon hunter who was in-tune with her emotions, showcasing empathy when she rarely received any as a child.

Stay tuned for more anime and manga news as 2024 progresses.

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Edited by Divya Singh