Kimetsu no Yaiba Episode 5 Recap & Characters (Spoiler-Free)

Episode Summary

My Own Steel

Tanjiro kills the Hand Demon that murdered Final Selection applicants, the survivors are assigned ranks and crows, Nezuko finally wakes from her long sleep, Tanjiro receives a black Nichirin sword, and he is given his first mission.

• Hand Demon defeated

  Tanjiro beheads the Hand Demon, which had killed many applicants, after parrying its grab with his forehead and using Water Breathing, First Form. The demon's soul is released and the souls of Sakonji's students depart.

• Final Selection survivors assigned

  The four survivors, including one girl, gather again at the shrine and receive the Mizunoto rank and Kasugai Crows; when a boy grabs one of the twins by the hair demanding a Nichirin sword, Tanjiro makes him let go.

• Nezuko awakens

  Returning exhausted to Sakonji's hut, Tanjiro is embraced by Nezuko, finally awake, and Sakonji suspects her long sleep is how she recovers instead of eating humans.

• Nichirin sword received

  Tanjiro chooses an ore by scent, and the swordsmith Haganezuka delivers his sword, which turns black when unsheathed, to his surprise and Haganezuka's frustration.

• First mission assigned

  Tanjiro's crow assigns him a mission to a northwest town where young girls have gone missing, and he prepares for his first mission as a Demon Slayer.

Recent Timeline

• Temple demon killed at dawn; Sakonji's mountain test (Episode 2)

  Tanjiro and Nezuko fought a demon eating corpses in a forest temple. Nezuko kicked its head off and Tanjiro threw its body off a cliff, but he could not bring himself to crush the head with a rock, and the demon burned to ash at sunrise.

  Sakonji tested Tanjiro by having him carry Nezuko on a run and then descend a trap-filled mountain before dawn. Tanjiro reached Sakonji's doorstep battered at sunrise, and Sakonji accepted him as a student, prompted by Giyu's letter.

• Boulder slicing trial completed (Episode 3)

  After a year of training, Sakonji set the condition that Tanjiro may enter Final Selection only if he slices a huge boulder. After six months of failed attempts, Sabito appeared and defeated Tanjiro. In a later final match, Tanjiro's swing ended the fight by slicing the boulder in half instead of Sabito's mask, completing his trial.

• Demons defeated in Final Selection (Episode 4)

  On the first day of Final Selection, Tanjiro found the Opening Thread and killed two demons arguing over who would eat him, using Water Breathing, Fourth Form: Striking Tide in one slash.

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

• Hand Demon's end; Mizunoto rank assigned (Episode 5)

  As the beheaded Hand Demon crumbled, it remembered being captured by Sakonji and regretted devouring its own brother; Tanjiro held its fading hand, and with its death the souls of Sakonji's students, including Sabito and Makomo, finally passed into the afterlife.

  Four applicants survived the seven days of Final Selection and were given uniforms and the rank of Mizunoto, the lowest of the ten Demon Slayer Corps ranks. Each received a Kasugai Crow, except the blond boy, who received a sparrow, followed by a sword ore selection that marked the start of Tanjiro's Corps service.

• Nezuko's awakening; Nichirin Sword delivered (Episode 5)

  Tanjiro returned to Sakonji's hut at Mount Sagiri after failing to find a way to restore Nezuko to human form. Nezuko woke and embraced him, and Sakonji hypothesized that her long sleep serves as an alternative to devouring humans for recovery.

  The swordsmith Haganezuka delivered Tanjiro's Nichirin Sword, a Color Changing Sword that takes its color from the user. When Tanjiro unsheathed it, the blade turned black; Haganezuka, who had hoped for a bright red blade, flew into a rage, while Sakonji told the worried Tanjiro that black blades are simply uncommon. The reason for the color remains unexplained.

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, turned into a demon when her wounds were exposed to a demon's blood. After a long sleep she wakes and embraces Tanjiro on his return from Final Selection, and Sakonji believes her sleep replaces eating humans as her way to recover.

• 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, killed by the Hand Demon in Final Selection, and her soul departs once the demon dies.

• 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 trained Tanjiro until he cut the boulder. He was in fact one of Sakonji's students, killed by the Hand Demon in Final Selection, and his soul departs once the demon dies.

• 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, determined to turn his demon sister Nezuko back into a human. He survives Final Selection after beheading the Hand Demon, becomes a Demon Slayer of the Mizunoto rank, and receives a Nichirin Sword that turns black.

• 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, who lost students including Sabito and Makomo to the Hand Demon he had trapped 47 years ago. He welcomes Tanjiro back from Final Selection in tears and believes Nezuko's long sleep replaces eating humans.

• 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.

Haganezuka

Swordsmith

Swordsmith who forged the Nichirin Sword for Tanjiro; focuses on materials and swords rather than on the person receiving them.

• Tanjiro Kamado (Other, Neutral)

  Forged Tanjiro's sword; ignores Tanjiro's introduction and reacts with frustration when the blade turns black.

Hand Demon

demon

A huge demon made of many hands, trapped on Mount Fujikasane by Sakonji 47 years ago, which ate some fifty applicants, including thirteen of Sakonji's students such as Sabito and Makomo. Beheaded by Tanjiro, it dies remembering the brother it devoured after becoming a demon, and Tanjiro holds its fading hand.

• 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.

• 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.

• Blood Demon Art spells

  Some kinds of demons possess spells called Blood Demon Art, which grant them supernatural abilities.

• Nichirin sword ore source

  Scarlet Crimson Iron Sand and Scarlet Crimson Ore absorb sunlight and are found on a mountain bathed in sunlight all day long.

• Color changing Nichirin swords

  Nichirin swords are also known as Color Changing Swords and change color according to their user.

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.

• 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 5)

  Makomo had said other children like her and Sabito were always watching Tanjiro. Sakonji calls the two 'those dead children', and the Hand Demon boasts of killing thirteen of his students: they were his students who died in Final Selection, and their souls depart once the Hand Demon dies.

• Hand Demon imprisoned 47 years (Episode 5)

  The Hand Demon says Sakonji imprisoned it on Mount Fujikasane 47 years ago, though an applicant doubted any demon there was that old. As it dies, it recalls being caught by Sakonji while eating corpses and regrets devouring its own brother after becoming a demon.

• Possible reversal of transformation (Episode 5)

  Giyu says a transformation is irreversible, yet also suggests demons may know how to reverse it, though he doubts they would help. When Tanjiro asks the demons on Mount Fujikasane how to make Nezuko human again, they only attack him, so the question stays open.

• Black blade color (Episode 5)

  Tanjiro's Nichirin Sword turns black, against the smith's expectation of red for a sun-bright user; Sakonji dismisses it as uncommon, and the reason stays unexplained.

Deduction Board

Facts

• Salivates at blood

  The smell of blood at the temple causes Nezuko to salivate.

• Long sleep, then waking

  Nezuko had suddenly slept for a long time before walking outside to meet Tanjiro

• Four survivors seen

  Tanjiro sees only four Final Selection applicants survive the seven days, and the applicant he saved is not among them

Evidence

• Believed harmless to humans

  Giyu told Sakonji that Nezuko would not harm humans.

• Nezuko embraces Tanjiro

  Nezuko walks outside, runs to Tanjiro, and pulls him into a hug after her long sleep

• Tanjiro did not see the applicant

  Tanjiro laments not seeing the applicant he had saved and believes that applicant died because he was unconscious

Inferences

• Different from ordinary demons

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

• Not a Blood Demon Art

  Sakonji does not believe Nezuko's long sleep is an example of a Blood Demon Art

• Applicant may be the fifth survivor

  A man is told five applicants survived, which exceeds the four Tanjiro saw, so the applicant he saved may have survived

Suspicions

• May devour a human

  Sakonji warned that Nezuko might devour someone and said the proper response would be to kill her and then take his own life.

• Sleep replaces devouring humans

  Sakonji hypothesizes that Nezuko's long sleep is the alternative to devouring human flesh in order to recover

• Applicant survived unseen

  Tanjiro's belief that the applicant died is unconfirmed, and the applicant may have survived and been counted separately

Battle Record

Tanjiro kills the Hand Demon, which had killed Sakonji's past students; the battle ends with the demon's death.

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 · Episodes 4–5

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 beheaded by Tanjiro's Water Surface Slash and crumbles to ash.

Aftermath

• Tanjiro learns the demon was imprisoned by Sakonji 47 years ago and had devoured thirteen of Sakonji's students, including Sabito and Makomo.
• Tanjiro holds the dying demon's hand in pity, and the souls of Sakonji's students depart into the afterlife.

Ability Table

Season Summary

Season 1 — Season 1

Episodes 1–5

After his family is slain and his sister Nezuko is turned into a demon, Tanjiro Kamado is sent by Giyu Tomioka to Sakonji Urokodaki on Mount Sagiri. Through long training and with help from Sabito and Makomo, he cuts the boulder Sakonji set as his last trial, while Nezuko sleeps without waking.

At Final Selection on Mount Fujikasane, Tanjiro beheads the Hand Demon that Sakonji had trapped there 47 years earlier and that had devoured thirteen of Sakonji's students, including Sabito and Makomo; with its death their souls finally depart. He is one of four survivors given the Mizunoto rank and Kasugai Crows. Back at Sakonji's hut, Nezuko finally wakes and embraces him, and Haganezuka brings him a Nichirin Sword that turns black. His crow then assigns his first mission: girls going missing in a northwest town.

Music Releases

• Gurenge (OP)
• from the edge (ED)