As an independent organization,the Demon Slayer Corpshas a clear organizational structure to help them work as effectively and efficiently as possible. At the top of the organization is the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps, a man by the name of Kagaya Ubuyashiki.
Right below Ubuyashiki are the Hashira. They are a group of elite fighters that have become the pillars of the organization. A level below the Hashira are the Tsuguko. So what is a Tsuguko? Here’s just about everything you need to know about them.
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What is a Tsuguko
Every Hashira has their own designated area to protect. In order to do their job effectively, they have the privilege to point out a successor. Those successors are called Tsuguko. A Tsuguko will receive exclusive training from a Hashira. That’s why a Tsuguko usually has the same breathing style as their Hashira.
A Tsuguko has two main responsibilities. The first one is to become a fighting partner to their Hashira. After all, in order to train properly, both the Hashira and their Tsugoku have to travel, train, and fight together. So having a highly-skilled partner will tremendously easethe burden of a Hashirawhen they have to fight numerous demons at once.
The second responsibility of a Tsuguko is to become the new Hashira when the current one falls on the battlefield or simply can no longer be a Hashira for various reasons. Hashira are the pinnacle of power to the Demon Slayer Corps, so it’s hard to find their replacement when any one of them is gone. The Tsugoku system was effectively designed to avoid any vacancy in the seat of a given Hashira.
How is a Tsuguko Different From a Hashira
The main difference between a Tsuguko and Hashira is their strength and responsibility. Although a Tsuguko can be said to be someone who is the closest to Hashira in terms of power, when it comes to actual fights,the power of a Hashirais way higher than a Tsuguko.
When it comes to responsibility, the main differences are the area of protection and the special missions. As mentioned before, for a more optimal protection for the people, every Hashira is responsible for looking after their own designated area.
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Not only that, but a Hashira also has to take on special missions that no other member of the Demon Slayer Corps can take. Tsuguko have no such responsibility. All they need to do is help their Hashira to fulfill their task.
How Does a Regular Demon Slayer Become a Tsuguko
There are two ways for a regular demon slayer fighter to become a Tsuguko. The first one is to officially apply for the position as a Tsuguko to any Hashira that doesn’t have one. In this case,every Hashira can decide for themselvesto either accept or decline the application.
The next viable way for someone to receive the position of a Tsuguko is by being appointed directly by a Hashira. Hashira has the privilege to appoint anybody among the ranks of the Demons Slayer Corps to be their Tsuguko.
How a Tsuguko is Promoted to Hashira
There are several requirements or instances when a Tsuguko can be promoted to the rank of Hashira. The first and the most obvious one is when a Hashira passes on or is no longer able to fulfill their role within the corps. In that case, the Tsuguko is usually stepped up to fill the vacant seat.
Other than that, the first requirement is to slay 50 low-level demons or one high-level demon, especiallyone of the twelve Kizuki. The second requirement is to get recognition from both the leader of the Demon Slayer Corps and from other Hashira.
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After all, other than strength, there are other important variables that have to be considered as well, such as leadership and teamwork. Only when both requirements are fulfilled can a Tsuguko officially receive the title of Hashira.
Tsuguko in the Demon Slayer Series
During the events of theDemon Slayerseries, there is only one person that occupied the position of a Tsuguko; Kanao Tsuyuri. Kanao is the Tsuguko forthe Insect Hashira; Shinobu Kocho. Kanao is an adoptive sister to Shinobu and her late sister, Kanae Kocho, the former Flower Hashira.
Unlike her master, Shinobu, who uses the unique insect breathing style, Kanao uses the regular flower breathing style, just like the late Kanae. Kanao learned swordsmanship from Kanae and mastered it even before she took the final selection exam. That’s why her strength is way higher than any other fighter in her ranks. Which is one of the main reasons why Shinobu chose her as a Tsuguko.
There’s no other Tsuguko other than Kanao during the series. There are two main reasons for that. First is the fact that finding a Demon Slayer who has the potential to be a Tsuguko is a very hard thing to do. The second reason is that most Hashira simply don’t want to deal with the hassle of training a successor. After all, the Hashira are a bunch of eccentric people that are very hard to impress.
This situation also points to the fact that the Demon Slayer Corps seems to be in a serious lack of talented personnel at any given time. Thankfully Tanjirou and his friends join the corpsat a critical juncture. If it weren’t for them, humanity would be much worse off in the fight against demons.
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