[Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Arc Impressions] Learning How to Use 'Resolve' from Tanjiro & Shinobu

Better late than never...
I went to see it today, one week after its release.
"Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Arc."

Just as the reputation suggested—no, far exceeding it—
the visual beauty makes you feel the sheer obsession of ufotable.

Precisely because I had read the original manga,
I was looking forward to seeing how they would express
this space that flips upside down and all around in the Infinity Castle,
and it was amazing... it truly felt like I had stepped into this otherworldly space!

Right from the start, I was moved by this worldview.
Thank you. It was absolutely the best.

And you know, it's not just the visuals that are wonderful.
This time, the Demon Slayer Corps and those who support them
all conveyed an"unwavering resolve to defeat Muzan"that was truly extraordinary,
and it really struck a chord in my heart.
Even though it's fiction,

the hidden potential of humans is truly immense.

The reason I love Demon Slayer is because
"humans with a sense of mission"
"humans who have made a firm resolve"awaken and grow as individuals.

In the Infinity Castle Arc, which serves as the final battle,
this awakening born from resolve was particularly impressive.

◎ Shinobu Kocho, who never gives up despite her fragile body

One of the main characters this time is Shinobu Kocho.
Speaking of Shinobu-san, she is super petite at 151cm and 37kg.
In the story, she reveals her true feelings about not being blessed with a large physique, which was heartbreaking.

No matter how much she envies Himejima-san's physique, she can't make her body bigger through her own efforts.

That is precisely why Shinobu-san built a unique style of killing with poison instead of cutting off heads. I think she reached this point by struggling and fighting, not by giving up and saying, 'I can't do it because of X.'

This line was particularly impressive.

"It's not about whether you can or can't. There are things you must do."

In the middle of the battle against Doma, who has an overwhelming difference in power,
instead of giving up and falling into despair,

"I won't say I can't"
"I will definitely defeat you"

—that kind of extraordinary obsession.

Strength is, of course, about technique,
but I suppose it's also about 'strength of heart.'

The reason she can be this strong is because
Shinobu-san has an absolute sense of mission that "demons must be defeated."
It's not about her own happiness, but rather
a desire for revenge after her happy life was destroyed and her sister Kanae was killed. And,

"I will defeat as many demons as I can, so that others don't have to go through the same thing."

Because she lives for this mission,
she can fight while risking her life.
People who have decided what they will accomplish in their lives are incredibly strong.

◎ Tanjiro awakens after overcoming an overwhelming difference in power

Tanjiro's "extraordinary mental strength" during the battle with Akaza is also amazing.

Compared to the Mugen Train arc when he first encountered Akaza,
Tanjiro has become stronger,
but the gap in power is still vast, and he is no match for him at all.

But he doesn't just give up, thinking, "Oh, I can't win like this."
Instead, he thinks, "How can I win?" and "Think."
His tenacity to win is truly incredible.

Then, he finds a hint from a past conversation with Inosuke,
and recalls the episode of his father Tanjuro's Hinokami Kagura and these words:

"Never give up. Keep thinking. Break through any wall with tireless effort."

I can't win as I am now.
So, how can I win?

He isn't taught the answer by someone else,
but traces the words and actions of people he has met in the past,
and grasps the answer for himself.

.
.

Ah, this is it,

I think.

We face various difficulties every day,
for example, as a writer in my profession,
I can't write the way I want to,
I don't get hired even after applying,
or I can't do the work I want to do.

We feel various "walls" like that,
but there is no perfect answer for them.
No one is going to help us.

But there is always a path that will open.

So, again and again and again,
even if it doesn't go well, you have to try,
and you have no choice but to find the one that says, "This is it!"

Whether you can do this or not,
I suppose it comes down to mental strength, or "tenacity."

Perhaps you can become stronger if it's not for yourself but
"for someone else."And you can become stronger if you have a sense of urgency,
like you would die if you didn't achieve it.

But for us living in the real world,
we don't need to fight life-or-death battles like in the Demon Slayer world,
so it is inevitably difficult to "strengthen the heart."
We become lenient with ourselves.

I think people can change when there is a major change in reality,
like when a loved one suddenly disappears, like Zenitsu,

but often it's too late
if you only change after losing something.

That's why I think it's good to "have a sense of mission in life" early on,
to be aware of the meaning of your own life,
and to be able to do this.

I want to become stronger.
I want to become someone who can protect the people I hold dear.

That is what I think.
When I look at the characters in Demon Slayer (especially the Hashira),
I feel like I still have a long way to go,
or to put it positively, I feel like I have room to grow.

Getting back to the movie...
Akaza's spirit, or rather his tenacity, to keep regenerating even after his head was cut off
was truly incredible.

If that had been directed in a positive way when he was human,
he could have been happy,
so it's pitiful and painful that he was plagued by such a series of misfortunes.

It's a 'what if,' but
if Hakuji hadn't turned to violent revenge,
and had been able to keep his heart strong,
he could have used that innate strength to protect so many people.

I watched 'Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Arc - Chapter 1: Akaza's Return' while filled with so many different emotions,
and I wrote down my thoughts on the 'resolve' and 'strength' that left the biggest impression on me.

Other impressions can be found here

・The Gyomei & Muichiro duo is just so reliable...!
・Iguro-san and Mitsuri-chan holding hands while falling made my heart flutter!
・The tension in the scene where they decipher the Infinity Castle at the Ubuyashiki estate! Kiriya-sama!
・I cried at Zenitsu's grandfather saying, 'You are my pride'...
・The fireworks scene with Hakuji and Koyuki-chan is so emotional.
・Did Hakuji and Koyuki-chan go to hell together...?
・Uzui-san is so cool!!!!!
・Murata-san's weak Water Breathing is comical and cute.
・Inosuke lightens the serious mood! Calling her 'old hag' is great...

I'm also incredibly excited for Chapter 2!!!
Well then, I'm off to go hunt for everyone's Demon Slayer reviews~!!!