When you watch the anime Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, you sometimes might want further explanations on Japanese culture or language. This article explains the name of the Mist Hashira Muichiro Tokito.
The title of Episode 8 of the Swordsmith Village Arc was “Mu in Muichiro”. The Mist Hashira Muichiro Tokito remembers his past that he has been forgotten.
The Mist Hashira Muichiro Tokito
Let’s first look at the personal data of Muichiro Tokito.
Personal Data
Date of birth: August 8
Place of birth: Mt. Kagenobu, Tokyo
Height and weight: 160cm 56kg
Acquired technique: The Mist Breathing
Hobby: Kamikiri (traditional Japanese art of papercutting), Origami
Mu “無” in Muichiro
Japanese Names
The names of Japanese people are often written in Kanji and they have meanings. In many cases the parents name their children with a wish of happiness, good health, success, strength, etc. and give corresponding Kanji to the names. For example, if the parents want their child to be a gentle person, they use the character “優” which means gentle.
Twin Brother of Muichiro Tokito
While fighting against Upper Five Demon Gyokko (玉壺), the Mist Hashira Muichiro Tokito was shut into a water basin. When Muichiro destroyed the water basin and came outside, he seemed to have no power left, but to protect people in the Swordsmith Village he exerts incredible power. The trigger was the memory of his past. He remembers that he had a twin brother Yuichiro.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Comic Vol.14, Chapter 118
Yuichiro is written as “有一郎” and Muichiro is written as “無一郎”. The first part of their names, “Yu (有)” and “Mu (無)”, have opposite meanings.
- Pronunciation: yū
- Meaning: to be
- Pronunciation: mu
- Meaning: none, -less (e.g. helpless), in- (e.g. invalid)
The twin brothers lost their parents when they were 10 years old. Their mother died from pneumonia. Their father went to collect medicinal herb for his wife and fell off a cliff. Since then Yuichiro was often harsh to Muichiro.
The MU in Muichiro is the IN in Ineffective (…) The MU in Muichiro is the IN in Invalid.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Comic Vol.14, Chapter 118
One night, Yuichiro and Muichiro got attacked by a demon in his last moment Yuichiro said:
I knew… the whole time,,, the truth… The Mu in Muichiro,,,, is the “IN” in “INFINITY”. If you ever do something to help others, you can bring out infinite strength. You are a chosen one.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Comic Vol.14, Chapter 118
On that night Muichiro was also severely injured and he has lost his memory. When the lives of other people were at risk Muichiro regain himself, he indeed brought out infinite strength and could start fighting against demons again.
Keep going and defeat Gyokko, Muichiro!
