Summary
Quick Links
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaibahas quite a few fascinating characters who leave a lasting impression on the fans despite rarely appearing so far in the series. Some of them have had strong debuts that make the audience crave to know more about them, while others have intriguing backstories that are expected to be explored in future arcs.
Among such characters,Kokushibo is perhaps the most mysterious. Although he is one of the strongest demons in the series, next to nothing to known about his origins, so fans are naturally intrigued by him. With the Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Movie trilogy expected to release over the course of the next few years, Kokushibo’s backstory might finally be revealed.
Who is Kokushibo?
The Strongest Demon After Muzan Kibutsuji
Kokushibo made his debut in the anime episode 45, titled “Someone’s Dream.“Focused on the meeting held by Muzan Kibutsujifollowing thedeath of Gyutarou and Daki, it also reveals the rigid hierarchy of the Twelve Kizuki and how Kokushibo strictly enforces it to ensure that discipline and order are maintained in the organization.
I will stop your bleeding. Humans are so fragile. However… if you bleed to death… or if his lordship doesn’t approve of you… and you die… then death was always your fate. In that case… you were no greater a man than that. Don’t you… agree?
The interaction between him and Akazais interesting since it hints at quite a few unknown details about Muzan’s underlings. Kokushibo initially appears to stand up for Doma, who in turn asks him to ignore Akaza’s violent behavior towards him. But Kokushibo clarifies that he only cares about ensuring that there is no insubordination in the organization which could eventually lead to discord and chaos.
While the Upper Rank One’s menacing aura startles Akaza, the latter still vows to kill the former.Although the Twelve Kizuki is extremely effectiveagainst the Demon Slayer Corps, it appears that they are not as united as some might assume. However, it is evident from the interaction that Kokushibo is in a different league compared to any other member of the demon organization.
Kokushibo moves so fast that even Akaza cannot notice when he attacks. Even if he did, it appears that he is defenseless in the face of someone of Upper Rank One’s caliber.This is even clarified by Doma, who argues that Akaza stood no chance against either one of them as they were on a completely different level. Kokushibo’s debut is short but impactful. It leaves no doubt in the viewers' minds that he stands at the pinnacle of the demon world, with only Muzan above him.
Infinity Castle Movie is All Set to Uncover Kokushibo’s Life Story
Infinity Castle Arc is Pivotal For His Character Development
Following his debut, Kokushibo has remained a mystery for the fans as he has barely made any appearances. It’s bizarre that next to nothing is known about a demon of his stature.The Upper Rank One, like other demons from the Twelve Kizuki, most likely has a compelling backstory that is yet to be explored. Since he is also the oldest demon after Muzan and Tamayo, his origin story will likely reveal some dark secrets that fans can barely comprehend at this point.
Until now, there have been demons whose human lives have been so cruel that even fans who rooted for their deaths ended up sympathizing with them. Gyutaro and Daki fell into this category as they had lived a life of ostracization and cruelty that left them with no chance of living a normal life. But there have been others too who had been evil even before they wereturned into demon by Muzan Kibutsuji.
Kokushibo appears quite cold and introspective. His demeanor is different from any other demon in the series so far. Unfortunately, the anime has not left enough clues to guess what the demon’s nature was probably like when he was a human being. However, one can still make quite a few educated guesses about his past based on everything known about him for now.
Since Kokushibo is estimated to be just under 500 years old, it is highly likely that he was born sometime in the Sengoku era. It could not be a mere coincidence that he was probably a human being during the Golden Age of Demon Slayers. What’s even more fascinating is the fact that he was carrying a sword when he made his debut and even cut Akaza’s arm with it. It seemed as though he was quite comfortable using the weapon and had mastered swordsmanship to the point that an Upper Rank demon was helpless against it. All of this hints towards the possibility that Kokushibo could very well be a powerful demon slayer back in the day.
However, Kokushibo choosing to join Muzan’s forces does not make sense considering the fact that in the Sengoku Era, the Demon Slayer Corps had pushed the demons on the verge of extinction. Furthermore, this was the era during which Yoriichi was alive and had helped other members ofthe Demon Slayer Corpsmanifest the mark. Interestingly, Kokushibo also has red markings resembling flame on his neck and forehead. They look almost identical to the Demon Slayer Mark on Yoriichi’s forehead.
Yoriichi… when you smiled, I couldn’t help it… but I always found it disturbing.
It’s unclear if theUpper Rank One has a direct connection with Yoriichior if the demon slayer from the Sengoku era had a similar mark. But since demon slayers in the Taisho era all have different marks, it could be assumed that the possibility of the former being an accurate description is more likely. But all of these hints still do not explain why would any demon slayer betray the ancient organization when things were going so well. Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle movie is going to uncover the real reason behind Kokushibo’s bizarre decision while also revealing what he was like as a person. His backstory will be unlike any other demon since it would offer fans a glimpse of life in the Sengoku Era while exposing the truth behind the mysterious marks and perhaps even Yoriichi.
