Kimetsu

Kimetsu (鬼滅) is a Japanese term meaning "demon extermination" or "slaying demons." In popular culture, it is most closely associated with the series Kimetsu no Yaiba, known in English as Demon Slayer. The title emphasizes the core premise of the franchise: a world in which demons prey on humans and a dedicated corps battles them to protect humanity.

Kimetsu no Yaiba was created by Koyoharu Gotouge and serialized in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump from February 2016 to May 2020, with chapters collected in 23 tankōbon volumes. The story centers on Tanjiro Kamado, a young boy who becomes a demon slayer after his family is killed and his sister Nezuko is transformed into a demon. He joins the Demon Slayer Corps and, with friends and mentors, pursues demons led by Muzan Kibutsuji while learning breathing techniques and wielding a Nichirin blade. The series was adapted into an anime by Studio Ufotable (2019–2020), followed by the feature film Demon Slayer: Mugen Train (2020), which achieved notable box-office success. A second season began in 2021, extending the narrative with new arcs and characters, including the Swordsmith Village arc through 2023–2024, and continuing the franchise’s presence in animation and media.

The franchise has achieved global popularity and commercial success, producing merchandise, video games, stage plays, and localized releases. It has been praised for animation quality, fight choreography, and storytelling, contributing to a broad international audience and influencing contemporary anime and manga.