Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Vol. 1

“I want us to have a great new year’s feast, so I’ll go sell as much charcoal as I can…even if it’s just a little.”

This quote characterizes the protagonist of Demon Slayer, Tanjiro. Even though he is a teenager, he provides for his family. This quote also provides worldbuilding: Tanjiro’s family lives in a rural area, where they sell charcoal for their living. They live in Taishō-era Japan, where charcoal was necessary for both individual households and the industrializing nation.

“Our life isn’t easy, but we’re happy. But life is like the weather…it’s always changing. It won’t always be easy…and the snow won’t always keep falling. When happiness ends there’s always…the smell of blood in the air.”

Tanjiro’s narration during this flashback foreshadows the tragedy that will befall his family. It mentions one of the manga’s symbols—blood—along with one of Tanjiro’s strengths—his sense of smell—to indicate what will happen. It also anticipates Tanjiro’s own Perseverance Through Hardship: Since life is always changing, he must adapt to survive.

“Old man Saburo lives alone because he lost his family. He must be lonely. Next time, I’ll bring my little brothers. There’s no need to fear. There’s no such thing as demons. But now that I think of it…my grandmother said the same thing before she died.”

This quote establishes the role of demons in human society. Most working people do not believe in the existence of demons; Tanjiro himself thinks they are the superstitions of the elderly, like his grandmother. This indicates that this society’s elders bear knowledge that most have forgotten.