Hinokami (ヒノカミ, Hinokami) is the nineteenth episode of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, an anime adaption of the Japanese manga series of the same name written by Koyoharu Gotouge. It was first broadcast on August 10, 2019 on Tokyo MX, GTV, GYT, BS11, and other channels. Based on the thirty-eighth, thirty-ninth and fortieth chapters of the manga, the episode was written and directed by Toshiyuki Shirai.

It continues the fight between the Demon Slayer Corps and the demonic Spider Family on Natagumo Mountain, including the climax confrontation of the protagonist Tanjiro Kamado against Rui, one of the main villains of the series.

The episode received critical acclaim for its animation and music and became an anime phenomenon on the internet. It has been contributed for the overall success of the anime series in particular and of the manga in general.

Plot

Tanjiro barely dodges the thread but is left with a deep cut across his face. Inosuke marvels at Giyū's ability, who so easily killed one of the Twelve Moons, but Giyū says Father wasn't one of the Twelve Moons, or on their level at all. Inosuke challenges Giyū but Giyū ties him up, saying he was too injured and to stay there. Shinobu compliments Zenitsu on slowing his breathing and the poison's spread and injects him with an antidote. He sees more Demon Slayers freeing the other people trapped by the elder son, making him smile. Rui launches a web of threads at Tanjiro, but Nezuko jumps out of her box and takes the blow, the threads badly wounding her. Rui realizes they're siblings and is shocked a demon would protect Tanjiro, even as family, seeing a genuine bond. He decides he wants it more than his pretend sister and cuts off Daughter's head, saying he'd kill her if she didn't kill the people on the mountain. The Daughter picks up her head and leaves. Rui tells Tanjiro he is so moved that if he gives him Nezuko, he'll let Tanjiro leave alive, though Tanjiro refuses and says he'll kill him first. Rui wonders if he can, revealing he is the Twelve Moon member. He uses his threads to pull Nezuko to him and Tanjiro charges. Nezuko slashes Rui's face with her claws and Tanjiro dodges the threads. Rui leaves Nezuko suspended in midair with threads cutting into her as punishment for her defiance. Nezuko falls asleep to recover from the wounds.

Tanjiro uses the Final Form of his Water Style, creating a water dragon, and charges Rui, his swings becoming strong enough to slash the threads. Rui enhances the strength of the threads, turning them red with his Blood Art, making a cage to enclose on Tanjiro. Tanjiro fears he will die and remembers his childhood with his family. His father was a frail man, but on New Year's he would dance a kagura dance as a prayer to the God of Fire to ward off harm, as their family worked with fire. Tanjiro wondered how his frail father could dance in the snow and his father told him of a special breathing technique that allowed him to dance forever. Tanjiro uses his father's kagura dance with his sword, igniting the water dragon into one of fire that is able to slash the enhanced threads. He comes within striking range, intent on killing Rui despite knowing Rui's threads will likely kill him in turn. Nezuko is visited by a vision of her mother, who wakes her from her slumber to save her brother. Nezuko uses her blood on the wires suspending her in a Blood Art that makes the blood ignite, burning through the threads. The fire travels down the threads to Rui, severing the ones about to strike Tanjiro, and Tanjiro's blade lands. Tanjiro vows the bond between he and Nezuko can't be severed as his blade, with Nezuko's burning blood on it, cuts off Rui's head.

Production

Music

Kamado Tanjiro no Uta (竈門炭治郎のうた, Tanjiro Kamado's Song) was used as an insert and ending song for this episode. It was produced by Go Shiina and performed by Nami Nakagawa.

Broadcast and reception

External links

• "Hinokami" at IMDb