The Asakusa Arc, which is the third arc of the Demon Slayer story, is a culmination of seven chapters in the manga, which have been adapted into three episodes in the anime, as depicted in the table below:

Demons, drama, and jaw-dropping battles – the Asakusa arc in Demon Slayer brings it all! Get ready to dive into the heart-pounding world of Tanjiro Kamado as he faces new foes, forms surprising alliances, and takes one step closer to his ultimate goal.

In this article, we'll break down all the demon-slaying action, unexpected twists, and character evolution that make the Asakusa arc a standout chapter in the Demon Slayer series. Grab your Nichirin blades and let's slice through the details!

Asakusa Arc | Summary & Recap

A Demon’s Aid | Muzan’s Rage

Muzan Kibutsuji slashes a passerby on the back of his neck, and the man transforms into a demon. As he creates a scene, Tanjiro rushes in to restrain him from hurting anyone while Muzan scurries away with his family. Three policemen come to the scene of the noise and attempt to take Tanjiro off the man. Tanjiro struggles against them but holds onto the demon.

Two demons, Lady Tamayo and Yuchiro, watch Tanjiro as he tries to hold the demon down. As one of the policemen attempts to hit Tanjiro, Tamayo uses her blood demon art to create flowing curtains of sweet-smelling flowers to obscure the sight of all humans present. She approaches Tanjiro. Seeing how compassionate he is, she introduces herself and offers to help him.

Muzan sends his wife and child off, then walks into a dark alley. He brushes his shoulder on one of three drunks, who want to make trouble. He tried to keep his cool, but at the mention of being described as pale, he grew enraged and knocked the man into a wall. He killed the man’s brother, and, as the sister watched in horror, he filled her with more blood than her body could take. Her body burned as she transformed, killing her. At the snap of his fingers, two demons appeared, and he ordered them to bring him Tanjiro’s head.

Yushiro and Lady Tamayo

Tanjiro returned to the udon seller who was furious that he didn’t eat his food. Tanjiro asked for another serving, with a promise to eat it this time. Tanjiro rapidly finished two servings of udon, to the seller’s dismay. While leaving, Nezuko caught sight of Yushiro, who came to take them to Lady Tamayo. As Tanjiro yells at Yushiro after he says Nezuko is ugly, the trio walks towards a dead end. Suddenly, Yushiro walks into the wall in front of them, and beckons on Tanjiro to do the same before someone sees them.

As they walk into a house beyond the wall, they see Lady Tamayo treating the woman from the market. Lady Tamayo reveals that she’s not like other demons, as she’s free from Muzan’s control, and the bloodthirsty nature of demons. She explains that she and Yushiro only take a minimal amount of blood, which they obtain from people under the guise of transfusions. She sometimes attempts to save the lives of the terminally ill in her care by turning them into demons. Only Yushiro has remained alive after 200 years.

Susamaru’s Attack | Finding the Pathways

Yahaba and Susamaru, the two demons Muzan had summoned earlier, track Tanjiro and discover that he is with two other people. Susamaru gleams with excitement at the thought of killing someone that night.

Back at Tamayo’s house, she tells Tanjiro all that she needs to help transform Nezuko back into a human. Suddenly, a temari ball tears through the wall, bouncing off the walls and breaking the room apart. It finally breaks down the door, revealing an excited Susamaru playing with her temari balls outside. Yahaba complains of Susamaru’s childishness and getting dirt all over him. She pays him no attention and resumes her attacks on the house. As one of the balls moves towards Tamayo, Yushiro gets up to protect her, but the ball changes direction, and suddenly blows off his head instead.

Nezuko leaves to take the sleeping woman to a safe place, while Tanjiro prepares to fight Susamaru. Yushiro’s head grows back and Susamaru also grows four more arms, spawning four more balls. She furiously attacks Tanjiro with the balls, moving them at high speeds and impossible angles, putting him in a dilemma as he dodges the balls.

As some of the balls injure Yushiro and Lady Tamayo, he uses his blood demon art to help Tanjiro see the hidden arrows that show the mapped direction of the balls. This allows Tanjiro to properly dodge them. Tanjiro regains his confidence as he can now see the hidden arrows. Nezuko joins him and they both step outside to properly engage the demons. As Susamaru sends a barrage of balls after Tanjiro, Nezuko finds Yahaba on a tree and attacks him, making Tanjiro realize that he is the one providing the directional momentum for the balls.

Using her momentary setback to his advantage, Tanjiro moves in and cuts away Susamaru’s arms. Yushiro suggests that Tanjiro takes on Yahaba, while Nezuko and Yushiro take Susamaru on. During their battle, Yushiro shows he could become invisible and Nezuko loses a leg. Luckily, Tamayo injects her to help stop the bleeding and heal her leg.

Turning the Tide

Tanjiro faces another dilemma in his fight against Yahaba, as the arrow demon uses techniques he cannot fight against. Using his past experiences and teachings, he modifies a form of the water breathing technique and mixes it with the barrage of arrows that Yahaba had sent his way to create a mixed attack to behead the demon.

As Yahaba’s body disintegrates, he locks an array of directions on Tanjiro. He is thrown in different directions continuously. He uses his water breathing forms to repel the effects until the last bits of Yahaba fully disintegrate. Tanjiro falls and discovers he has a broken leg and rib, and can only crawl towards where Nezuko was fighting against Susamaru.

Nezuko’s Rage | Muzan’s Curse

At the other end of the house, Susamaru bounces all six of her balls on the ground in quick succession, raising dust to reduce Yushiro’s visibility, and launches an attack. Nezuko steps in and blocks it. Her new ability to kick back the temari balls surprises Susamaru and Lady Tamayo steps out to join the fight. Nezuko and Susamaru furiously kick a temari ball at each other at insane speeds, until Nezuko kicks it into a wall behind Susamaru.

Lady Tamayo engages Susamaru. Using her blood demon art, Tamayo brainwashes Susamaru into thinking that Muzan is very petty, a fact the demon struggles to argue against. This made Susamaru mention Muzan’s name, activating a curse Muzan had placed on all demons. As she runs and pleads, Susamaru’s body changes color and three monstrous hands suddenly burst out of her mouth and stomach, killing her.

After Tanjiro gathers his strength, he rejoins Nezuko in a basement under the house. Lady Tamayo proposes to take Nezuko in, but, seeing Nezuko’s silent disapproval, Tanjiro respectfully declines. As Tanjiro leaves the town, the Kasugai crow flies by again and informs him that his next mission is in a town in the south-south-east. Tanjiro sees someone holding on to a girl, begging her to marry him.

Asakusa Arc | Analysis & Review

The entirety of season one has mostly the same graphics quality throughout. It also has the same opening themes and quality of voice acting, which explains the exemption of those headings in this review. The omitted headings have been reviewed in the summary and review articles of Final Selection arc and Kidnapper’s Bog arc.

Storyline | 8/10

The Asakusa arc in Demon Slayer's first season is a significant and action-packed arc that introduces viewers to new characters and delves deeper into the world of demon slaying. In this arc, Tanjiro, still accompanied by Nezuko, sets out on a mission to investigate a series of disappearances in Asakusa. While there, he encounters the enigmatic Tamayo and her assistant Yushiro, who provide valuable information about demons and their blood demon art.

One of the standout aspects of this arc is the introduction of the demons Yahaba and Susamaru, who serve as formidable adversaries for Tanjiro. Their unique abilities and combat skills add depth to the action sequences, making the battles engaging and intense. Tanjiro's growth as a demon slayer is evident as he faces these powerful foes, showcasing his determination and resourcefulness.

The pacing of the arc is well-balanced, with a mix of character development, world-building, and action. It allows viewers to learn more about the demon slayer corps, the different types of demons, and the complexities of the demon world. Additionally, the interactions between Tanjiro and Tamayo, as well as the glimpses into her tragic past, add emotional depth to the story.

But unlike other arcs where his missions have always gone at least according to expectation, this didn’t! Tanjiro went to Asakusa, in hopes of seeing “just” another demon, but instead, came across five. As if that wasn’t enough, he didn’t even get to have a true measure of Muzan’s abilities. I understand that it’d be too early for that, so this battle with Susamaru and Yahaba served to aid in his development and experience.

It does beg the question of who the actual demon that was said to have been detected in Asakusa when Tanjiro received the mission really was. Also, how is it that Muzan never once discovered Tamayo’s presence despite being in the same town? Maybe we will find out in the future!

Character Development | 8/10

In this three-episode arc of Demon Slayer's first season, we witness some remarkable character growth, particularly in the case of the main character, Tanjiro Kamado. This arc showcases Tanjiro's continuous development as he faces a fresh set of challenges. He confronts two formidable demons, Yahaba and Susamaru, and this serves as a test of not only his combat skills but also his determination and adaptability. Tanjiro's evolution in this arc isn't just about becoming physically stronger; it's also evident in his improved strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities.

The introduction of new characters, namely Tamayo and Yushiro, has a profound impact on the arc's dynamics. Tamayo, a fugitive demon who has freed herself from Muzan’s grasp, brings a wealth of knowledge about demons and their vulnerabilities to the table (especially about the demon curse). Her expertise becomes invaluable during Tanjiro's confrontations with Yahaba and Susamaru.

Yushiro, Tamayo's trusty assistant, injects a delightful blend of humor and loyalty into the story. His interactions with the other characters, particularly his constant banter with Tanjiro and Nezuko, provide much-needed moments of levity amidst the intense battles. Beneath his comedic exterior, Yushiro's unwavering commitment to Tamayo and his readiness to shield her could be seen as endearing. Even though it sometimes seems overbearing, and one might just say he’s doing too much, I think it’s safe to say he’s a tad bit like Zenitsu, someone we will meet very soon.

Additionally, the demons Yahaba and Susamaru, as the primary antagonists, bring complexity to the narrative. Their unique abilities and distinct personalities serve as significant challenges to Tanjiro and his companions. Even Tamayo found their interactions abnormal, as demons had never been able to bond well, and it was even crazier to find out that they’d only met when Muzan summoned them both.

Overall Rating | 8/10

To sum it up, the Asakusa Arc introduces fresh faces that wield considerable influence over the storyline and character development. Tanjiro's evolution as a demon slayer is visible, and the hurdles posed by these new characters contribute to his growth as a formidable protagonist. The interactions among these characters, both as allies and adversaries, enrich the narrative and keep viewers thoroughly engaged in the unfolding tale.