Rengoku isn’t chaotic. He’s consistent to the point of extremity
Spoiler: Episode 1 (Bonus) and Mugen Train Arc
Hashira’s come and go, but Kyojuro Rengoku might have been taken a little too soon. The amount of tears I’ve cried for our Flame Hashira was an ungodly amount. Rengoku is a blunt, kind hearted, food lover that will protect others at any cost. We also get some major heart felt messages from him that will have you begging for his return.
Sadly we all know people can’t come back once they are gone, but on the other hand sometimes haunts our stories.
Rengoku could easily be mistaken as a gag character at first. He’s loud, chaotic, and shifts tones quickly. We get to see his love for food and that unforgettable saying after every bite…
TASTY!!
All of this makes him misunderstood and very much underestimated. Sure, we get Rengoku not holding anything back when asking if civilians had seen any demons, talking to Tanjiro about Hinokami Kagura, and being a little reckless when a demon bets against him. What a lot of people look past is how he treats other people and how much he actually cares.
Kyojuro Rengoku believes in taking care of other people, shown by his strength and the willingness to put his life on the line without hesitation. This isn’t from him being fearless, but because he believes that’s what strength is for. As Akaza would say he has a powerful fighting spirit. Someone that will do his best even against his toughest opponents.
Rengoku wants to succeed in a way that matters. To be someone others look up to, much like how his father was before his mother passed away. That desire is what makes him tick because it sits at the focal point of everything he does.
He wants to prove to people that he can keep pushing. We see this several times throughout the movie. Starting with him telling his father he had become a hashira and his father not being so supportive. Afterwards he tells his little brother…
“That will not extinguish my passion. This flame in my heart burns strong. I’ll never lose faith.”
– Kyojuro Rengoku
But how Rengoku is perceived depends entirely on who’s looking at him. To his Father he won’t amount to anything. To Senjuro (his little brother), Tanjiro, Inosuke, and Zenitsu, he’s a model of what they could become. The other Hashira finds him to be dependable and passionate. Civilians see him more as a savior. Demons fear and hate the power that Rengoku wields. Except for Akaza who recognizes his conviction and respects him enough to try and recruit him.
When trying to get him to join the ranks of the demons, Rengoku denies the offer. One reason being because Akaza thinks that the weak are beneath those with strength and should basically be disposed of. Rengoku believes that if given the proper tools the weak could become strong. What makes their meeting more powerful is what he says about human life.
“Both growing old and passing away, these are things that make being human beautiful. Those may seem like weaknesses to you, but our lives are all the more precious and honorable because of them”
– Kyojuro Rengoku
Rengoku doesn’t seem to fear death at all. What he does fear is failing to make a difference. He wants to know he did enough to protect who he could when it mattered. The longing for that is what makes him feel so human. Doesn’t everyone really want that, to know they mattered?
He would rather die than become a demon. He was given the opportunity several times.
Rengoku stayed strong against any odds that were against him. He fought until there was nothing left to give. There’s one thing that sticks out to me during his fight and it’s that he remembers a conversation with his mother. She believed that people with such strength are there to help other people instead of using it for their own selfish desires. She believed in him and he always wanted to make his mother proud. Sometimes that is all you need.
Someone that believes that you are enough, capable, and strong.
We see this a lot in Kyojuro Rengoku’s story before and even after he is gone. Even though his father is still alive, after his mother’s death we can see his father wasn’t really present. His father and mother haunt him because he looks up to them and wants to make them proud. That being said, Rengoku haunts everyone. Whether you’re a character in Demon Slayer or just someone watching at home.
He wants Senjuro to remember to follow his heart, and for his father to take care of himself. He wanted Nezuko to know he believed in her and accepted her as part of the Demon Slayer Corp. Then for everyone to remember…
“If you are feeling disheartened, that you are somehow not enough. Set your heart ablaze. Dry your eyes and look ahead. You may feel like digging your heels in but the flow of time waits for no one. It won’t patiently stand by as you grieve.”
– Kyojuro Rengoku
At that moment, he had done enough. His mother is proud of him, and in death, he’s reunited with her. Even his father realized that he needed to step up now and really is proud of who his son ended up being. His brother followed his heart. Along with everyone training to be the best they could.
Rengoku didn’t just die. He left something behind. His death didn’t feel quiet. It settled deep, the kind of loss that lingers long after the fight is over. Even after he’s gone, his conviction stays with everyone he protected. So as Rengoku would say…
“Set Your Heart Ablaze”
– Kyojuro Rengoku
Rengoku’s story takes place during the Demon Slayer: Mugen Train arc, currently available on Crunchyroll.
How did Rengoku affect you?
You can see Rengoku’s influence most clearly in Tanjiro. Otaku Tavern has a Tanjiro spotlight that digs into that side of him.
Rengoku is one of those characters people agree on in theory, but rarely sit with emotionally. This felt like sitting with it.