Demon Slayer is a Japanese anime that has become famous worldwide today. It is known for strong emotional storytelling and moral themes. The story takes place in the Taisho era in Japan, and the main character is a boy named Tanjiro Kamado, whose family is killed by a demon, and his sister, Nezuko, turns into a demon. He joins the Demon Slayer Corps to find a way to turn his younger sister back into a human. The anime explores themes such as family love and friendship. Among his friends, Zenitsu Agatsuma is one of the most unique characters. Although he is scared and tries to avoid fighting, he has a strong sense of loyalty and shows great power when he is asleep or when his friends are in danger.
Tanjiro Kamado and Zenitsu Agatsuma, two main characters of Demon Slayer, both show the courage and growth that are linked to emotional attachment and understanding others. Tanjiro Kamado is known for his kindness, strong will, and deep sense of empathy. His main goal is to stay close to protecting Nezuko and help her return to being a human, rather than seeking anger and revenge. This strong family bond drives all of his actions and shapes his goals throughout the series. Even when he fights demons, he tries to understand their suffering and remembers that they were once human. (Borlaza, 2021). At the beginning, Tanjiro struggles with indecision and is easily overwhelmed by emotions, highlighting his human vulnerability. Other characters, like Giyu and Urokodaki, guide him in overcoming these weaknesses. By facing these challenges, Tanjiro not only grows stronger as a fighter but also strengthens his mind to protect Nezuko.
Zenitsu Agatsuma, in contrast, is often fearful, anxious, and lacks confidence. He joins the Demon Slayer Corps to repay a debt, which his master takes over for him. His fighting style is unique: although he often faints in battle, he can transform into a powerful warrior with a thunder-like sword. He only knows one breathing technique, but he can defeat demons quickly and efficiently.
Both characters emphasize that courage is not the absence of fear but the choice to act despite it. While Tanjiro’s courage is rooted in empathy and love for his family, Zenitsu’s growth comes from trust in his master and the bonds he forms with his friends. Together, they show that emotional attachment and guidance from others are key factors in personal growth and heroic action. Moreover, Tanjiro and Zenitsu are young teenage male characters, but they show different ways of being heroic. Tanjiro shows strong empathy and responsibility, reflecting the traditional Japanese idea of a young male hero who protects family and community. Zenitsu seems weak and fearful at first, but his courage grows through emotional bonds with his master and companions. This contrast shows that age or initial ability does not define a character’s potential.
Culturally, Demon Slayer incorporates Japanese beliefs about demons and spiritual forces. Tanjiro’s commitment to his sister Nezuko reflects Confucian and Buddhist values of family loyalty, respect, and compassion. Zenitsu’s dedication to his master reflects the importance of the teacher-student relationship in Japanese culture. Regarding ability, Tanjiro masters multiple breathing techniques, while Zenitsu only knows one but perfects it, demonstrating that different approaches to strength are valued in the story.
Tanjiro‘s presence in the story strongly affects the audience’s emotions. Because he appears in the most shots in the anime, viewers experience much of the narrative through his perspective, which helps them feel his struggles, determination, and care for others. Zenitsu’s significant screen time and expressive close-ups allow the audience to connect with his fear, nervousness, and moments of courage. (Sano et al., 2025, p.37). These visual and narrative choices create a strong psychological impact, making viewers feel empathy, suspense, and even amusement. Watching how Tanjiro and Zenitsu overcome challenges can inspire viewers to value kindness, courage, and emotional honesty in their own lives (Rahayu et al., 2025; Kauret al., 2024). Overall, the way both characters are shown on screen enhances emotional engagement and makes their journeys more compelling for the audience (Borlaza 2021, 219-226; Rahayu et al., 2025)
According to Kaur et al. (2024), anime can strongly influence how people understand and express emotions. Their study shows that both male and female viewers feel emotionally connected to anime characters who show kindness, empathy, and vulnerability. This means that anime often reflects social changes in how emotions are accepted and shared. In Demon Slayer, this idea appears through characters like Tanjiro and Zenitsu. Unlike many traditional male characters who are expected to be strong and hide their feelings of weakness, they openly express emotions such as fear, sadness, and compassion. Tanjiro cries for the demons he defeats, and Zenitsu shows both fear and bravery. These emotional expressions show a new type of masculinity, the importance of being able to express empathy and honesty. This change reflects a broader shift in society, where showing emotions is now seen as part of true human strength: humanity and real strength.
In conclusion, both characters share the trait of facing fear and growing through emotional bonds. Tanjiro’s strength comes from his empathy and care for his family, while Zentitsu’s courage comes from trust in his master and friends. Their differences and similarities emphasize that heroism can manifest in various ways, showing that even young, initially weak characters can achieve remarkable growth. This emotional connection makes the anime meaningful to people around the world.
Bibliography：
Borlaza, Catherine Regina. 2021. “Binding Threads: The Emotional Structure of Attachment in the Animated Series Demon Slayer.” Trans communication 8 (2, Fall): 219–229. Graduate School of International Culture and Communication Studies.
Tsukamoto, Satoshi. 2021. “Demonology and Demon Slayer.” Faculty of International Communication, Aichi University, Vol . 8–2, Fall 2021, 1–11. Accessed October 27, 2025.
Sano, A., Doi, S., Tsuchida, J., & Taguchi, T. 2025. Connecting character theory and quantitative analysis in anime studies: A case study on Kimetsu on Yaba (Demon Slayer). Mechademia, 17(2), 25-45. https://doi.org/10.1080/10509208.2025.2480918
Rahayu, I., Murtado, M. H., & Safari, G. G. 2025. Exploring expressive illocutionary acts and human values in the Demon Slayer manga. University’s Mandiri.
Kaur, J., Kaur, A., Bhardwaj, R., & Naruya, A. 2024. Beyond the screen: Gender and emotional motivations in anime viewing. International Journal of Indian Psychology, 2(12), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.61113/ijiap.v2i12.627
Wema Mautsa
The student shows a Good comparison of Tanjiro Kamado and Zenitsu Agatsuma from Demon Slayer, demonstrating strong understanding of the characters’ emotional depth, moral development, and cultural significance. The essay clearly identifies how both characters embody courage and growth through emotional attachment — Tanjiro through empathy and familial devotion, and Zenitsu through mentorship and friendship. The analysis effectively highlights how these traits redefine traditional notions of masculinity, showing that vulnerability and compassion are also forms of strength.
The main points are clearly structured around three areas: character growth and motivation, cultural symbolism, and emotional impact on audiences. The student connects these aspects to broader themes of Japanese values, such as loyalty, respect, and perseverance. They also link the characters’ emotions and relationships to wider societal changes in how masculinity and vulnerability are viewed, which adds depth and contemporary relevance to the analysis.
The use of scholarly sources is strong. Citations from Borlaza (2021), Kaur et al. (2024), and Rahayu et al. (2025) support claims about emotional storytelling, gender representation, and viewer response. These references are smoothly integrated and give the essay academic credibility.
One minor weakness is that the essay could include more differences between the characters in other aspects while the differences between Tanjiro’s empathy and Zenitsu’s fear are well explained, the similarities sometimes overshadow how each uniquely represents different aspects of hero’s