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| Gyomei Himejima |
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is a manga and anime that tells the story of Tanjiro Kamado's adventures, a young man who joins a demon slayer organization after his family is slaughtered by demons. Within the organization, there are nine individuals known as Hashira, the strongest demon slayers, each possessing a unique breathing style. One of them is Gyomei Himejima, the Stone Hashira, who has an imposing physique and incredible strength.
Appearance
Gyomei stands out as a towering figure among demon slayers. He is one of the tallest characters in the series, easily towering over his fellow Hashira. He possesses a muscular and powerful body. He has standing black hair and a prominent scar on his forehead. Being blind since childhood, his eyes lack irises or pupils and appear white. His eyes often well up with tears when he's emotional.
Gyomei wears the distinctive black and white uniform of a demon slayer, with bandages resembling kyahan (shin guards) around his calves and white zori sandals with an olive-green happi coat hanging over his shoulders. The collar of the happi coat bears the Japanese Buddhist mantra kanji "Namu Amida Butsu" from top to bottom, along with separate kanji on the entire back. He also wears a large bead necklace around his neck and carries prayer beads when not engaged in battle.
He received a scar on his face after being cut by Kokushibo's crescent moon blade. During the battle against Muzan, he lost his left leg from the knee down.
Personality
Gyomei embodies the archetype of a gentle giant, being gentle and sensitive despite his intimidating appearance. He is also seen as devout, constantly carrying his prayer beads and reciting prayers in important situations. Most notably, Gyomei easily sheds tears over trivial matters, highlighting his gentle nature. This might be due to his love for all living creatures instilled by his religious upbringing, demonstrated when he feels deep disgust after striking demons and vows to never forget that feeling.
Like other Hashira, Gyomei holds great respect for Kagaya Ubuyashiki. He is also one of the most respected individuals among the Hashira, symbolizing hope due to his immense strength. Furthermore, Gyomei acts as a leader among them, as seen when he sits at the front during Hashira meetings and is entrusted by Kagaya to issue orders to them due to being the longest-serving member among the Hashira.
Despite his reserved and polite nature, Gyomei harbors a very objective and somewhat suspicious view of those around him, shaped by his experiences before becoming a demon slayer. He is always aware of what others are capable of, especially children or those younger than him, if given the opportunity. Because of his cautious nature, it can take a long time for Gyomei to fully accept and trust others. When he opens up and lets others in, he remains steadfast in his commitment to them.
Gyomei values the principles that have allowed him to achieve his status as a Hashira, rejecting Kokushibo's notion that he should become a demon to preserve his body and skills. He responds by stating that being a demon slayer means accepting the reality that seeing tomorrow is not guaranteed and that no one can become a Hashira with half-hearted resolve like Kokushibo's. Similar to Kyojuro Rengoku, the Stone Hashira believes that living and dying as a human upholds our dignity. He even regards the Upper Rank's statement as an insult, emphasizing how much he values his principles. Despite his generally reserved and polite demeanor, he surprisingly mocks Kokushibo for lying about the fate of those who receive the Demon Slayer Mark, taunting the demon for concealing the fact that someone likely lived beyond the age of 25 and laughing at his unease.
Abilities
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| Gyomei Himejima |
As a Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps, Gyomei is an immensely powerful and skilled fighter. He is recognized by both Tanjiro and Inosuke as the strongest demon slayer within the entire Demon Slayer Corps. As noted by Tengen Uzui, Gyomei attained the rank of Hashira in only two months. This is further validated by Kokushibo, who acknowledges that Gyomei's natural physical abilities have been trained to their peak and states that he has not encountered a fighter on Gyomei's caliber in the past three hundred years. He's able to hold his own against the strongest Upper Rank demon for a considerable amount of time without even using his Demon Slayer Mark, showcasing his skill level. Additionally, Kokushibo notes that Gyomei and Sanemi are two of the most skilled fighters, even among the ranks of Hashira. After the battle, Gyomei, despite his injuries and fatigue, contributes to driving Muzan Kibutsuji, the Demon King, into a corner.
Tactical Intelligence: Gyomei has displayed intelligence and keen judgment in battle. When fighting against Kokushibo, he realizes that Upper Rank employs supernatural means to defeat him, but there are ways to counteract or match those methods. When he gains access to the Transparent World, he deduces that his eyes grant him the ability to access this special world as well and instinctively learns how to use it to his advantage, even manipulating his blood flow and breath to disrupt Kokushibo's attacks. After observing Muzan's unique constitution, he immediately concludes that he needs to simultaneously strike all twelve vital organs to inflict significant damage.
Demon Slayer Techniques
Demon Slayer Mark: Later in his battle against Upper Rank One, Gyomei reveals that he has also awakened his Demon Slayer Mark, which appears as crack-like patterns on the ground, spreading to his arms. When activated, this drastically enhances his physical abilities such as strength, speed, and stamina, allowing him to fight an Upper Rank for an extended period.
Crimson Red Nichirin: During the battle against Kokushibo, Sanemi strikes Gyomei's chain with his sword, causing both to turn crimson red, enabling them to destroy Kokushibo's head. Later, in the fight against Muzan, Gyomei once again turns his weapon into crimson red by striking it together.
Transparent World: Despite being blind, Gyomei gains the ability to access the Transparent World, predicting his opponent's movements and sensing them naturally.
Repetitive Actions: Created by Gyomei, this technique maximizes concentration similarly to Total Concentration Breathing, by recalling painful memories. Gyomei is seen using this extensively during his training and presumably in combat as well.
Physical Abilities
Remarkable Speed & Reflexes: Despite his large body, Gyomei possesses remarkable speed and reflexes. He's the third-fastest runner among the Hashira. His superhuman speed is evident in his battle against Kokushibo, where he effortlessly evades all of his attacks. Upper Rank even remarks that his agility and grace are almost too unbelievable to be true. Gyomei also manages to keep up with Kokushibo's swift movements throughout the fight, with the help of Sanemi, Muichiro, and Genya. Later, he also manages to match the incredible speed of the Demon King Muzan during the majority of their confrontation.
Incredible Stamina & Endurance: Gyomei boasts extraordinary physical endurance and stamina, which were emphasized during the Hashira Training Arc, focusing on endurance. He stands unfazed on burning ground while carrying two large wooden logs, further weighed down by four big stones, calmly explaining his training details to Tanjiro and Zenitsu. He displays superhuman stamina and endurance during the battle against Kokushibo, enduring the fight's entirety without significant fatigue, despite the numerous cuts on his body. Even after losing his leg to Muzan, he continues to withstand and contribute to the battle against the Demon King.
Immense Strength: Gyomei possesses the highest level of physical strength within the Demon Slayer Corps. This is most evident when he effortlessly lifts and swings his large iron chain and axe at a speed too fast for the eye to follow, continuously deflecting Kokushibo's attacks. He's also able to push a boulder much larger than himself through a town using just his hands. Gyomei explains that he was naturally born with this incredible physical strength, as shown when he subdued a demon that attacked him as a child, beating it to a pulp with just his hands before joining the Demon Slayer Corps and undergoing training.
Fighting Style
Kusarigamajutsu: Unlike regular demon slayers who wield swords, Gyomei utilizes a weapon similar to a Kusarigama—a chain-scythe weapon composed of an Ono (axe) attached to a Chigiriki (flail) by a long chain. However, this weapon is crafted from the same material used in Nichirin swords. Its craftsmanship is particularly notable, being of very high class and made from pure iron that has absorbed a significant amount of sunlight. It's considered superior to even the iron used in swords during the Sengoku period when swordsmithing reached its pinnacle. Notably, Upper Rank One, Kokushibo, cannot cut through the chain and is forced to resort to long-distance combat instead. Kokushibo remarks that the weapon's design is highly thought out; the vibrations produced by the chain can be sensed by Gyomei's acute hearing, enabling him to accurately understand his surroundings and movements, enhancing its effectiveness in combat. The words "Akki Messatsu" (Exterminate Evil Demons) are engraved on the axe's handle.
Breathing Style
Stone Breathing (岩の呼吸 Iwa no kokyū?): A Breathing Style mastered or taught by Gyomei. In his version of this Breathing Style, Gyomei combines his superhuman hearing and physical strength to utilize his flail and axe in his techniques. As the Stone Hashira, Gyomei is the most skilled user of Stone Breathing in his generation. He demonstrates mastery over Stone Breathing in his battle against Kokushibo, delivering attacks comparable to those of demons with Moon Breathing.
Techniques
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| Gyomei Himejima |
First Form: Serpentinite Bipolar (壱ノ型 蛇紋岩・双極 Ichi no kata: Jamongan - Sōkyoku?): The user hurls their flail and axe towards their target and manipulates the chain to spin, causing the axe and flail to also rotate, boring and grinding directly through the target.
Second Form: Upper Smash (弐ノ型 天面砕き Ni no kata: Tenmen Kudaki?): The user hurls their axe and flail for a crushing motion before slamming their chain down to propel the flail, causing it to rebound and strike the target from a distance.
Third Form: Stone Skin (参ノ型 岩軀の膚え San no kata: Ganku no Hadae?): The user unleashes a series of cleaving strikes with their axe, deflecting close-range attacks.
Fourth Form: Volcanic Rock, Rapid Conquest (肆ノ型 流紋岩・速征 Shi no kata: Ryūmongan - Sokusei?): The user manipulates the flail and axe on both ends of the chain by swinging the chain on both sides to attack their opponent with dual-ended wide-reaching strikes.
Fifth Form: Arcs of Justice (伍ノ型 瓦輪刑部 Go no kata: Garin Gyōbu?): The user employs a powerful barrage with their flail and axe, inflicting significant damage. The axe is aimed for initial impact, with the flail's trajectory following from the opposite side and smashing into the opponent.
Equipment
Nichirin Chained Flail and Axe: Instead of a Nichirin sword, Gyomei wields a weapon similar to a Kusarigama—a chain-scythe weapon composed of an Ono (axe) attached to a Chigiriki (flail) by a long chain. However, this weapon is crafted from the same material used in Nichirin swords. This weapon has the ability to emit a bright red light after being struck by a Nichirin sword. Gyomei effectively utilizes this weapon in his battles against demons.
History and Background
Gyomei Himejima was born an orphan and became a wanderer before being adopted by a cultivator. While walking with the adults who cared for him, they were struck by a truck and died. Gyomei survived and heard the voice of nature singing a comforting song, which later inspired his own unique Breathing Style.
After enduring hardships, Gyomei was eventually adopted by a cultivator and became part of his family. However, around the age of 10, he was informed by his adoptive father that he possessed an extraordinary natural talent and needed to seek it out. At the age of 18, after walking for three days, he found a Buddhist temple. Inside the temple, he met a blind monk who had the ability to see through his eyes. The monk became his mentor, introducing him to Buddhism and giving him prayer beads that he always wears.
Journey to Becoming a Hashira
Gyomei grew into a strong and devout individual, dedicating himself to Buddhism and becoming a demon slayer. He was chosen to become the Stone Hashira due to his extraordinary physical abilities and the strength he gained from Stone Breathing.
During the Great Battle against Muzan Kibutsuji and his upper-ranked demons, Gyomei was one of the Hashira who fought against Muzan. Despite sustaining severe injuries, he persisted and fought valiantly to protect humanity from the demon threat.
Legacy and Influence
Gyomei Himejima is a highly respected and acknowledged Hashira within the world of Demon Slayer. He serves as a real-life example of incredible physical strength, exceptional endurance, and unwavering loyalty to his duty as a demon slayer and protector of humanity.
Gyomei Himejima's story and struggles inspire many, especially the Demon Slayer Corps members who come after him. He stands as a model of loyalty to the principles and values he believes in.
In the history of Demon Slayer, Gyomei Himejima will always be remembered as the Stone Hashira who dedicated his life to shielding the human world from the demon threat, inspiring future demon slayers to continue the fight for peace.
And thus, this provides a more in-depth understanding of Gyomei Himejima, the Stone Hashira from Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. May this explanation offer deeper insight into this significant character in the anime and manga world.
