Kimetsu no Yaiba Episode 4 Recap & Characters (Spoiler-Free)

Episode Summary

Final Selection

Tanjiro passes his final spar with Sabito, receives Sakonji's farewell feast and a warding fox mask, leaves the still-sleeping Nezuko behind and enters Final Selection, where after fighting demons in the forest he beheads the Hand Demon that devoured Sakonji's students, including Sabito and Makomo.

• Final spar and Sakonji's praise

  Tanjiro lands the first strike on Sabito, slicing the boulder instead of the mask, and Sakonji acknowledges his progress and sends him to Final Selection.

• Farewell at Sakonji's hut

  Sakonji explains how demons gain power by devouring humans, gives Tanjiro a fox mask and charm, and Tanjiro says goodbye to Nezuko and asks Sakonji to greet Sabito and Makomo.

• Entry into Final Selection

  Tanjiro reaches Mount Fujikasane, meets the other applicants and the twins, and learns the seven-day survival goal in a forest where wisteria traps demons.

• Early demon fights

  On the first day Tanjiro kills two demons with one Water Breathing slash and then encounters the Hand Demon, a giant demon made of hands that grows larger as it devours applicants.

• Battle with the Hand Demon

  The Hand Demon reveals it has eaten Sakonji's students, including Sabito and Makomo; Tanjiro is knocked into a tree but returns and severs its neck with Water Surface Slash.

Recent Timeline

• Family massacre and Nezuko spared (Episode 1)

  Returning at dawn from Saburo's home, Tanjiro finds Nezuko bloodied in the front yard with Rokuta in her arms, and his mother and other siblings dead inside the house. Nezuko is the only one still warm, and he carries her toward town for help until she turns into a demon and attacks him. Giyu Tomioka moves to kill her but, seeing her shield Tanjiro while wounded and resisting hunger, spares her and knocks her unconscious. He directs Tanjiro to seek Sakonji Urokodaki at the foot of Mount Sagiri.

• Temple demon and Sakonji's test (Episode 2)

  Tanjiro and Nezuko fight a demon feeding on corpses in a forest temple. Nezuko kicks its head off and Tanjiro throws its body off a cliff, but he cannot bring himself to crush the head with a rock, and the demon burns to ash at sunrise. Sakonji then tests Tanjiro by having him carry Nezuko on a run and descend a trap-filled mountain before dawn. Tanjiro reaches the doorstep battered at sunrise, and Sakonji accepts him as a student, prompted by Giyu's letter.

• Boulder trial and Sabito's match (Episode 3)

  After a year of training, Sakonji sets the condition that Tanjiro may enter Final Selection only by slicing a huge boulder. After six months of failed attempts, Sabito appears and defeats him. In a later final match, Tanjiro's swing ends the fight by slicing the boulder in half instead of Sabito's mask, completing his trial.

• Two demons killed on day one (Episode 4)

  On the first day of Final Selection, Tanjiro finds the Opening Thread and encounters two demons arguing over who will eat him. He kills both in a single slash with Water Breathing, Fourth Form: Striking Tide.

• Hand Demon defeated in the forest (Episode 4)

  The Hand Demon, imprisoned on Mount Fujikasane by Sakonji 47 years earlier, reveals it devoured thirteen of Sakonji's students, including Sabito and Makomo. Tanjiro survives its attacks and decapitates it with First Form: Water Surface Slash, ending the threat in the forest.

Character Graph

Giyu Tomioka

Demon Slayer

Demon Slayer who finds Tanjiro and Nezuko, believes Nezuko is different and spares her. He sends Tanjiro to find Sakonji Urokodaki.

• Tanjiro Kamado (Other, Mixed)

  Attacks Tanjiro at first, then spares him and sends him toward Urokodaki.

• Nezuko (Other, Mixed)

  Restrains Nezuko, then spares her after seeing she is different from other demons.

Nezuko

demon

Younger sister of Tanjiro. Her wounds were exposed to a demon's blood and she became a demon, but she protects her brother and does not eat humans. She is still asleep in Sakonji's hut when Tanjiro leaves for Final Selection.

• Tanjiro Kamado (Family, Affinity)

  Older brother, whom she protects even after her transformation.

• Giyu Tomioka (Other, Mixed)

  Demon Slayer who restrains her and then spares her after seeing she is different.

Saburo

Elderly neighbour who has lost his family to demons. He warns Tanjiro not to enter the mountain at night and explains to him what demons are like.

• Tanjiro Kamado (Other, Affinity)

  Elderly neighbour who shelters Tanjiro for the night and explains the danger of demons to him.

Makomo

A girl with a dreamy manner who taught Tanjiro Total Concentration Breathing and corrected his form. She was in fact one of Sakonji's students, torn apart by the Hand Demon during Final Selection.

• Sakonji Urokodaki (Guardian, Affinity)

  Was orphaned and raised by Sakonji and loves him dearly.

• Tanjiro Kamado (Mentor, Affinity)

  Teaches Tanjiro breathing and form and promises to look after him.

Sabito (Fox-masked swordsman)

A fox-masked young swordsman who appeared atop the boulder and trained Tanjiro until he cut it. He was in fact one of Sakonji's students, killed by the Hand Demon during Final Selection.

• Sakonji Urokodaki (Guardian, Affinity)

  Was orphaned and raised by Sakonji and loves him dearly.

• Tanjiro Kamado (Other, Mixed)

  Trains Tanjiro through sparring and knocks him unconscious, while also helping him improve.

Tanjiro Kamado

Eldest son of the Kamado family, who lost his family to a demon and trains to turn his demon sister Nezuko back into a human. After cutting Sakonji's boulder, he enters Final Selection and beheads the Hand Demon that had killed Sabito and Makomo.

• Nezuko (Family, Affinity)

  Younger sister. Transformed into a demon, and Tanjiro refuses to abandon her.

• Giyu Tomioka (Other, Mixed)

  Demon Slayer who first attacks Tanjiro and Nezuko, then spares Nezuko and sends Tanjiro to Sakonji Urokodaki.

• Saburo (Other, Affinity)

  Elderly neighbour who shelters Tanjiro for the night and explains the danger of demons.

• Sabito (Other, Mixed)

  The fox-masked swordsman who trained him until he cut the boulder; he turns out to be one of Sakonji's students killed by the Hand Demon.

• Makomo (Mentor, Affinity)

  Makomo corrects his form and teaches him breathing.

Sakonji Urokodaki (Sakonji)

Demon Slayer

A trainer of Demon Slayers at the foot of Mount Sagiri and Tanjiro's teacher. He trapped a demon on Mount Fujikasane 47 years ago, and it went on to kill his students who took Final Selection, including Sabito and Makomo; he sends Tanjiro off with a warding mask, hoping he returns alive.

• Tanjiro Kamado (Mentor, Affinity)

  His student, whom he took in at Giyu's request; he sent him to Final Selection hoping he would come back alive.

• Sabito (Mentor, Affinity)

  Former student who was killed in Final Selection.

• Makomo (Mentor, Affinity)

  Former student who was killed in Final Selection.

Hand Demon

demon

A huge demon made of many hands, trapped on Mount Fujikasane by Sakonji 47 years ago. It has eaten some fifty Final Selection applicants, including thirteen of Sakonji's students such as Sabito and Makomo, and is beheaded by Tanjiro.

• Tanjiro Kamado (Other, Hostility)

  Mocks Sakonji's dead students and is beheaded by Tanjiro's Water Surface Slash.

• Sakonji Urokodaki (Other, Hostility)

  Captured and imprisoned on Mount Fujikasane by Sakonji 47 years ago; it has hunted down thirteen of his students by their fox masks.

World Memo

• Demons devour humans

  Demons devour humans and are nocturnal, so crossing the mountain at night is perilous and demons roam about at night.

• Demons can enter houses

  Demons can enter human houses, which is why Demon Slayers are present to protect people.

• Transformation by demon blood

  A human whose wounds are exposed to a demon's blood turns into a demon. Giyu claims this cannot be undone, though he admits demons might know a way to reverse it.

• Sunlight harms transformed demon

  A transformed demon must not be exposed to sunlight.

• Demon physical prowess

  Demons have great physical strength and powerful regeneration.

• Only sunlight or special sword

  Demons can be killed only by sunlight or by a special sword.

• Varied demon powers

  Some demons can shape-shift, while others have entirely different powers.

• Demon Slayers protect people

  Demon Slayers exist to protect people, and their job is to kill demons. Humans fight demons despite slower regeneration and higher mortality, continuing to protect others.

• Final Selection requirement

  Becoming a Demon Slayer requires attending the Final Selection held on Mount Fujikasane. The trainer alone decides whether a student may enter.

• Demon power scales with victims eaten

  Demons eat humans to gain strength, as humans eat food; a demon's power is proportional to the number of victims it has devoured. Sakonji tells Tanjiro that once his sense of smell sharpens, he will be able to tell that number.

Clue Board

• Second scent at the house (Episode 1)

  Tanjiro recalls that another scent was present at the house during the murders and suspects it belongs to the true culprit, not Nezuko.

• Cause of transformation (Episode 1)

  Giyu explains that Nezuko's exposed wounds came into contact with the demon's blood, which caused her change into a demon.

• Possible reversal of transformation (Episode 1)

  Giyu says a transformation is irreversible, yet also suggests demons may know how to reverse it, though he doubts they would help.

• Nezuko's restraint (Episode 1)

  Nezuko spends energy healing her wounds and fighting while resisting the urge to kill Tanjiro for food, and Giyu notices she is different from other demons.

• Missing people near the mountain (Episode 2)

  A woman near the mountain warns Tanjiro that people have gone missing lately and urges him to be careful; who or what is behind it is not shown.

• Identity of the watching children (Episode 4)

  Makomo had said other children like her and Sabito were always watching Tanjiro. When Tanjiro leaves, Sakonji calls Sabito and Makomo 'those dead children', and in Final Selection the Hand Demon boasts of killing thirteen of Sakonji's students: the two were his students who died there.

• Hand Demon imprisoned 47 years (Episode 4)

  The Hand Demon says Sakonji imprisoned it on Mount Fujikasane 47 years ago, though the applicant Tanjiro saved says no demon in Final Selection is that old; the demon's past remains unexplained.

Deduction Board

Facts

• Killed by the Hand Demon

  The Hand Demon says it killed Sabito.

• Devoured applicants

  Says it has eaten 50 Final Selection applicants while trapped in the forest.

• Devoured Sakonji students

  Says it personally devoured 13 of Sakonji's students.

• Neck is fatal

  Says cutting its neck is the only way to kill it, and Tanjiro's decapitation kills it.

Evidence

• Tanjiro's reaction

  Tanjiro is horrified to learn that Sabito was killed by the Hand Demon.

• Era confusion

  Asked what year of the Meiji era it is, then raged on learning it is the Taisho era.

• Mask recognition

  Recognized the texture of the fox masks as the style of Sakonji's own masks.

Inferences

• Nezuko not the killer

  Tanjiro does not believe Nezuko was responsible for killing the family because of the other scent.

• Different from ordinary demons

  The swordsman judged that she was different and chose to spare her rather than kill her.

Suspicions

• Watching children were the dead

  Makomo said other children like her and Sabito were always watching Tanjiro; with Sakonji calling the two 'those dead children' and the Hand Demon claiming their deaths, the watchers appear to be the spirits of his dead students.

• Failed neck strike

  Sabito apparently tried to cut the Hand Demon's neck and failed before being killed.

• Sealed by Sakonji

  Claims Sakonji imprisoned it on Mount Fujikasane 47 years ago; an applicant says no demon in Final Selection is that old.

Battle Record

Tanjiro fights the Hand Demon in the Final Selection forest on Mount Fujikasane, saving a fellow applicant and ultimately beheading the demon with Water Surface Slash.

Clash with the Demon Slayer

Snowbound mountain path · Episode 1

Location: Mountain path above the cliff near Tanjiro's house

Trigger: Nezuko's transformation into a demon after her wounds were exposed to demon blood

Sides

• Tanjiro's side — Fighters: Tanjiro Kamado, Nezuko
• Demon Slayer — Fighters: Giyu Tomioka

Outcome: Giyu spares Nezuko and knocks her unconscious; Tanjiro is knocked unconscious earlier and then wakes.

Aftermath

• Tanjiro buries his family in the front yard of their house
• Giyu tells Tanjiro to seek Sakonji Urokodaki at the foot of Mount Sagiri and warns him to keep Nezuko out of sunlight
• Tanjiro and Nezuko leave their home for the mountain

Temple demon fight

Forest temple at night · Episode 2

Location: Forest temple on the way to Mount Sagiri

Trigger: A demon eating corpses in a forest temple attacks Tanjiro on the way to Mount Sagiri

Sides

• Tanjiro's side — Fighters: Tanjiro Kamado, Nezuko
• Demon — Demon: Temple demon

Outcome: Nezuko kicks the demon's head off and Tanjiro throws its body off a cliff; Tanjiro cannot bring himself to crush the head, and the demon burns to ash at sunrise.

Aftermath

• Tanjiro buries the demon's victims at the temple
• Sakonji Urokodaki, who watched Tanjiro hesitate, introduces himself and asks what he will do if Nezuko devours someone

Final Selection forest fight

The Hand Demon on Mount Fujikasane · Episode 4

Location: Final Selection forest, Mount Fujikasane

Trigger: Final Selection trial; the Hand Demon, imprisoned in the forest by Sakonji 47 years ago, devours applicants

Sides

• Demon Slayer applicants — Fighters: Tanjiro Kamado
• Demons — Demon: Hand Demon

Outcome: The Hand Demon is decapitated by Tanjiro's Water Surface Slash.

Aftermath

• Tanjiro learns the demon was imprisoned by Sakonji 47 years ago and had devoured Sabito and Makomo along with other applicants and students of Sakonji.

Ability Table

Season Summary

Season 1 — Season 1

Episodes 1–4

After his family is slain and his sister Nezuko is turned into a demon, Tanjiro Kamado follows Giyu Tomioka's directions to Sakonji Urokodaki on Mount Sagiri, carrying Nezuko in a basket away from the sun. On the way they fight a corpse-eating demon at a temple, and Sakonji accepts Tanjiro as his student after a harsh mountain test.

With help from Sabito and Makomo, Tanjiro cuts the boulder Sakonji set as his last trial, and he leaves the still-sleeping Nezuko behind for Final Selection on Mount Fujikasane, wearing the warding fox mask Sakonji made him. On the first day he kills two demons at once, then faces the Hand Demon, which Sakonji had trapped there 47 years earlier. It boasts of devouring thirteen of Sakonji's students, Sabito and Makomo among them, and after being knocked out by his own reckless rage, Tanjiro rises again and beheads it with Water Surface Slash.

Music Releases

• Gurenge (OP)
• from the edge (ED)