Summary
Kokushibo is unquestionably one of the most dangerous demons in existence second only toMuzan Kibutsuji, the progenitor of demons. During the Sengoku Era, he used to be a Demon Slayer who was driven by his insecurity and jealousy to join the Twelve Kizuki after turning his back on his comrades and his brother, Yoriichi Tsugikuni. Interestingly, he is a member of the rare breed of demons who utilize a Breathing Style against their Nichirin Blade-slinging adversaries.
In theDemon Slayer universe, the ever-present danger of confrontation with one’s rivals drives characters to carry weapons at all times prepared for a life-and-death battle. Despite being gifted withsuper regenerative powers and impeccable endurance, even the demons frequently walk around with dangerous tools that make them more effective in battle. The Upper-Rank One of the Twelve Kizuki is no different in this regard as he carries arguably the most lethal weapon in the series.
Kokushibo’s Warped Version of the Nichirin Blade
The Upper-Rank One Forged his Katana Using His Flesh & Blood
Remaining somewhat rooted in his Demon Slayer origins, Kokushibo wields a destructive Katana that is made out of his flesh and blood.The warped version of the Nichirin Bladeallows him to utilize his ingrained swordsmanship mastery to its fullest potential. On the other hand, the dangerous weapon retains demonic powers inherited from Upper-Rank One’s cells.
Kokushibo possesses the power of Flesh Manipulation which allows him to reshape or alter his body to a scaringly high degree. As mentioned earlier, his Katana is made out of his flesh and because of that the Sword also inherits this power. Therefore,the Upper-Rank Oneis magically able to regenerate or reshape his blade as he sees fit. In the Infinity Castle Arc, Kokushibo fights Gyomei Himejima, Muichiro Tokito, Sanemi, and Genya Shinazugawa alone. During this battle, his Katana is severely damaged by the collective efforts of the Wind and Stone Hashira. However, Kokushibo effortlessly manages to mend his weapon in an instant, keeping his adversaries on their toes.
In combat scenarios, Kokushibo’s fundamental strategy is toamalgamate his Blood Demon Art with his Moon Breathing. He uses his Flesh Katana extremely efficiently while doing so and forms controlled bursts of sharp blades to outwit his opponents. The Upper-Rank One’s weapon is exceptionally rigid and immensely durable, which makes it a perfect tool for battle against some of the most talented swordsmen in the Demon Slayer universe. These qualities also mean that it is a perfectly engineered instrument for Kokushibo’s Moon Breathing and his Blood Demon Art.
The Flesh Katana is red and has eyes covering the entire surface of the blade. Although Koyoharu Gotouge does not mention that those eyes extend Kokushibo’s field of view, looking at hislast fight in the Infinity Castle Arcit seems like a plausible assumption to make. It makes perfect sense for The Upper-Rank One because he frequently fights Hashiras who see him as a worthy target. Back in the Sengoku era when Michikatsu was just an ordinary Demon Slayer, he used a traditional Nichirin Katana like his peers, which was nothing like his favorite instrument of destruction as a demon.
The Flesh Katana is Far From Perfect
While Kokushibo’s Unique Weapon is Destructive, It Also has Some Fatal Flaws
The Flesh Katana owned by theUpper-Rank One of the Twelve Kizukiis a potent weapon but it has some shortcomings that make it vulnerable as well in some circumstances. When Kokushibo is fighting Stone Hashira Gyomei Himejima in the Infinity Castle, the latter follows up one of his attacks by wrapping his chains around the former effectively rendering him immobile for a few moments. In that instance, the Upper-Rank One mentions that his Flesh Katana cannot cut through the chain as it is made of pure iron. This goes to show that Kokushibo’s weapon is not invincible.
During the same fight, Kokushibo decides to break Sanemi’s sword, but theWind Hashira manages to protect his weaponmerely by twisting it at a less vulnerable angle. Because of the relentless attacks by Gyomei and Sanemi, a part of the Flesh Katana also breaks away. This eventually ends up getting eaten by Genya, who then develops his Blood Demon Art thanks to the powers gained from it. So even though the Flesh Katana is arguably the most lethal weapon in the Demon Slayer universe, it does have its fair share of flaws that make it vulnerable. However, one should still not make the mistake of underestimating it since Kokushibo’s Katana has tasted the blood of countless Hashiras over the centuries.
Demon Slayeris available to stream onHulu.
Demon Slayer
Based on Koyoharu Gotouge’s shonen manga, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is an action anime set in Japan during the early 20th century. Seeking revenge for the murder of his family while also looking to save his sister, Tanjiro joins the Demon Slayer Corps as they attempt to eradicate Demons led by Muzan.
