Kyujuro Rengoku dedication and comparison with Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Murakami *SPOILERS*
Fellow readers, thank you for reading what is ahead but please be mindful that there will be spoilers to come within this post.
As a dedication to Rengoku from Demon Slayer, I wanted to draw comparisons on how the narrator within the novel “Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World” written by Haruki Murakami. Murakami is a Japanese Writer while Demon Slayer also originates from Japan. There are many parallels within Murakami’s novel that lines up with anime films.
Image Source: https://kimetsu-no-yaiba.fandom.com/wiki/Kyojuro_Rengoku
Rengoku has many heroic features to him with a backstory that shows the strength mentally and physically he possesses. Within the film recently released, we see the physical trials he goes through in order to destroy the Lower Three demon. Beforehand, he speaks kindly with the new ones tasked to help with the journey like Tanjiro, Inosuke, and Zenitsu. As a Hashira helping the newer Demon Slayers, that seems uncommon so far in this world. There are few Hashira that seem as kind as Rengoku was with offering to train all three of them and treat them as brethren. Other Hashira that I might would say are on a similar level at this current time would be Tomioka and Sabito (in regards to helping and trying to understand / believe in Tanjiro.)
The comparisons between Rengoku and the Calcutec (narrator of this novel) can be seen in a few different scenes:
1) “How was it possible for a life of misery to be happy overall? But then I understood, that misery could be limited to the future” (389 via Kindle).
Image source: https://comicbook.com/anime/news/demon-slayer-rengoku-family-history-mugen-train-spoilers/
We learn in the film that Rengoku comes from a past Hashira, his father, who does not support Rengoku’s achievements. While Rengoku could look at the world as misery and as if he is no good, he chooses to use his strength to help others and acknowledge that he is good enough. Unlike what his father spouts, Rengoku is a heroic figure and has earned the titles he is called.
Rengoku chooses to move forward and achieve, not to live in the spoken misery his father is in.
2) “When you say you believe, you allow the possibility of disappointment. And from disappointment or betrayal, there may come despair” (351 via Kindle).
Image Source: https://otakukart.com/demon-slayer-mugen-train-does-the-flame-hashira-kyojuro-rengoku-die-at-the-end/
While this is not the exact scene I was looking to display, it still contributes similar feelings and meaning.
Rengoku’s relationship with Tanjiro shows that Rengoku chooses to believe in others and humanity. While Tanjiro is still finding the belief in himself and how he will defeat the Twelve Kizuki and their leader, Rengoku has the belief in him after seeing the potential and drive that Tanjiro has.
Though, while he tells Tanjiro that he believes in him and the road ahead. He reminds Tanjiro that believing is half the battle, but he must not give up. There will be a long journey ahead to become a Hashira of pristine and defeating the demons, but he must keep going.
Rengoku chooses to believe in humanity even while humanity can let us down at times.
3) “No two human beings have the same mind. At the same time, human beings have almost no grasp of their own cognitive systems. I don’t, you don’t, nobody does. All we know--or think we know--is but a fraction of the whole cake. A mere tip of the icing” (255 via Kindle).
Image Source: https://www.plazajapan.com/4970381505882/
Humans are not the same and neither are leaders. Lower Three proved to be the type of demon that even the best can’t defeat alone. Tanjiro was injured and the Rengoku fighting Lower Three was incredibly fast. If Rengoku would have had help then potentially things could have ended differently. Rengoku pushed himself to the bitter end and goes to prove that sometimes we don’t see our strength but our strength from within can outshine the physical strength.
Rengoku proves that not all battles are wins, no two humans -- even Hashira -- are the same, and humanity is worth saving.
https://comicbook.com/anime/news/demon-slayer-kimetsu-no-yaiba-rengoku-flame-hashira-fem-cosplay-sexy-cute-best-anime/
RIP and Godspeed to the legend.