Tanjiro Kamado acquires a legendary 300-year-old katana during the Swordsmith Village Arc after destroying the six-armed training puppet, Yoriichi Type Zero. This weapon, rusted and neglected inside the wooden core of the robot, bridges the gap between Tanjiro's evolving combat style and the origins of Sun Breathing.
Instead of waiting for Hotaru Haganezuka to forge a standard replacement, Tanjiro inherits a relic that carries deep historical weight within the Demon Slayer Corps. This weapon reshapes his approach to fighting Upper Rank demons.
The Origin of the Three-Century-Old Blade
The weapon concealed inside the training dummy dates back to the Sengoku era, the golden age of swordsmanship. Ancestors of Kotetsu, the young swordsmith from the village, built Yoriichi Type Zero to mimic the movements of Yoriichi Tsugikuni, the strongest swordsman in history and creator of Sun Breathing. Because two arms couldn't capture Yoriichi's speed, the smiths gave the puppet six arms.
Inside the hollow wooden shell, the smiths stored a real katana. When Tanjiro accidentally shatters the puppet's head during intense training, the rusted blade falls out. It's coated in centuries of grime, but the core steel remains intact.
Haganezuka's Restoration Process
Hotaru Haganezuka claims the ancient blade upon seeing it. Known for his obsessive dedication to craftsmanship, Haganezuka locks himself away in a secret shed to restore the weapon.
- Rust Removal: Haganezuka strips away three centuries of corrosion without damaging the folded steel structure underneath.
- Core Polishing: He reshapes the edge, revealing a distinct pattern along the steel that hints at its original owner.
- Handle and Guard Fitting: The rotting hilt is replaced with a fresh wrapping and a guard, though the blade keeps its intrinsic properties.
When Haganezuka finally emerges, his physical appearance has drastically changed. He has discarded his usual comedic mask, revealing a scarred, hyper-focused artisan who views the restored blade as his masterpiece.
How the New Sword Changes Tanjiro's Combat
Tanjiro's previous Nichirin blade broke during the brutal fight against Akaza on the Mugen Train. While he used temporary replacement swords for minor skirmishes, standard issue katanas couldn't handle the high thermal stress of his Hinokami Kagura techniques.
The ancient blade handles high-temperature breathing forms without fracturing. When combined with Tanjiro's growing mastery of Sun Breathing, the weapon helps channel explosive kinetic energy. It allows him to slice through the dense flesh of Upper Rank Four, Hantengu, during the climax of the arc.
You can watch the official episodes showcasing these events on Crunchyroll.
Common Misconceptions About Tanjiro's Weapon
Many viewers confuse this weapon with a completely custom-forged creation. Unlike his first black blade, which reacted to his personal properties upon first touch, this sword was pre-existing. It belonged to an era before the Corps standardized mass-produced Nichirin steel.
Another common error involves the blade color. While Tanjiro's original sword turned jet black, the ancient weapon requires specific conditions and immense user pressure to change hue during combat, bridging his physical strikes with ancestral memory. For further reading on the production background of the series, check the Demon Slayer Official Website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Tanjiro break his training sword?
Tanjiro pushed Yoriichi Type Zero past its mechanical limits during a grueling multi-day endurance test. His final strike landed with enough force to shatter both the puppet's head and his wooden practice sword.
Did the sword belong to Yoriichi Tsugikuni?
The narrative heavily implies the weapon was forged during Yoriichi's lifetime and hidden inside his mechanical likeness to preserve his legacy for future generations of slayers who might master his breathing style.
Why is the blade dark in color?
The metal is forged from Scarlet Crimson Iron Sand and Scarlet Ore, rare materials harvested from sunlight-soaked mountains that retain heat and inflict severe cellular damage on demons.
What happens to Haganezuka after the restoration?
Haganezuka suffers severe injuries from Gyokko during the demon attack on the village, but he refuses to stop polishing the blade until his work is finished, displaying extreme professional pride.
