By Wonsuh Song
At first, even the title was unfamiliar. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba—I vaguely thought it was about “slaying demons with a sword.” Originally serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump, the manga became a nationwide phenomenon and was later adapted into an anime series. Now, after dozens of TV episodes and several feature films, I realized I had never seen even one. Unlike many who come to Japan out of love for anime, I was not one of them.
But when my middle-school daughter told me she had gone to see the new film more than five times, my curiosity finally got the better of me. My nephew said it was incredible. So I went—knowing nothing at all.
The result stunned me. This is, without exaggeration, one of the greatest masterpieces of Japanese animation. Over nearly three hours, within the simple frame of “a boy slaying demons with a sword,” lies an astonishingly deep emotional and aesthetic world. Though violent in theme, it is never grotesque. The depiction of blood and death is stylized, almost poetic—imbued with the restraint and beauty characteristic of Japanese art.
What struck me most was how much humanity resides within this story of killing demons. Every “demon” was once human. Their suffering and loss are revealed with such tenderness that I found myself in tears several times. Demon Slayer transcends the dichotomy of good and evil; it is a meditation on pain, empathy, and redemption.
In the end credits, I noticed many non-Japanese names. It reminded me that this is now a global production—Japanese artistry meeting international talent to create something universal.
Now I understand why so many young people, including my daughter, are captivated by it. Demon Slayer was a story about being human, about grief and perseverance, and about the aesthetic depth of Japan itself.
If you, like me, have never seen it, I strongly recommend watching it. You will not only glimpse what moves today’s youth but also experience a piece of Japanese culture at its finest.
Wonsuh Song (Ph.D.)
Full-time Lecturer, Shumei University / NKNGO Forum Representative
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