Editor's Review] Just before the broadcast of "Blade of Demons: The Brothel Arc" starts on December 5th (Sun.)! A 5-minute review of the anime "Blade of Demons" (Akiba Research Institute Writers' Choice, Anime Samurai Selection No. 15)

Finally, this weekend, December 5, 2021 (Sun.), the broadcast of "Demon Slayer: The Brothel Arc" will begin.

The first terrestrial broadcast of the movie version "Infinite Train Arc" followed the rush of compilation works in September. And now, the long-awaited "Demon Slayer: The Brothel Arc"...! But then, the TV version of the "Infinity Train Arc" started airing! There were new cuts, so I was happy about that, but I still want to see the rest of the story as soon as possible!

The Kimetsu kids are all smiles!

But some of them are still saying, "Oh, by the way, what was the story of 'Demon Slayer' (......?)? But some of you may have forgotten what "Demon Slayer" was all about, don't you think?

The Akiba Research Institute editorial department has decided to give a quick 5-minute review of "Demon Slayer" to those who have forgotten the story! Please take a moment to read it before watching the "brothel version.

Lecture 1: The birth of Priestess Kamon, a demon who gets along well with humans! (Episodes 1-5)

The time is the Taisho era. One day, someone slaughters the family of Tanjiro Kamado, a young boy who makes a living by making charcoal in a charcoal kiln deep in the mountains to support his family. He and his sister Nezuko, the only survivor, attempt to climb down the mountain, but Nezuko is suddenly transformed into a ferocious "demon.

He is saved by Yoshiyou Tomioka, a member of the Oni-killer Squad, who passes by and recommends that Sumijiro train with the Oni-killer Squad as a means of saving Nezuko. He leaves Priestess Nezuko, who has been asleep since her first transformation into a demon, in the care of Rinkotaki and goes to the final selection to become a member of the Oni-killer Squad.

Sumijiro survives the selection and becomes a member of the Oninokitai. Priestess Nezuko also awakens from her long sleep, and the two of them together throw themselves into the battle against demons.

The story begins with a snowstorm. The snowy landscape, so beautiful and cold, is a must-see. It is a must-see, and will surely make you say to yourself, "That's just what ufotable did!

The famous line from the demon in the final screenings, "The year has changed! was coincidentally timely, as the year had just switched from "Heisei" to "2025" in the public's view.

Lecture 2: Encounter with Onimai Tsuji Musho (Episodes 6-10)

Having managed to complete their first mission, Sumijiro and Priestess Nezuko set off for Asakusa, Tokyo, to receive their next assignment.

There, they happen to meet Muzan Kibutsuji, an ogre leader whom Rintaki had told them about, who is avenging his family and who seems to know how to turn Priestess back into a human.

Later, Sumijiro meets Tamayo-san, a female demon who is hostile to Musatsura. Before he can relax at the appearance of his new collaborator, the demons, assassins of Mutsuko, attack Tamayo's mansion. He successfully fights them off, but in order to hide Priestess Priestess in a safe place, Tamayo proposes to take custody of her.

However, Priestess decides to go with Sumijiro of her own volition.

Many viewers may have been surprised to see the episode suddenly take place in the city, as the previous episodes had been centered deep in the mountains or in the countryside. In a sense, it was interesting to see how the feelings of Sumijiro and the viewers synchronized.

Also, around this time, Priestess Priestess also began to participate, giving them an unusual buddy feeling, and the episodes continued to be interesting as a battle anime.

Lecture 3: The Kamaboko Squad Gathers (Episodes 11-14) (Episodes 11-14)

Sumijiro is on his next mission. This time, the objective is to defeat the drumming demons that lurk in the mansion.

Here, he meets his new comrades, Zenitsu Agatsuma and Inosuke Hashibira.

During the mission, the three of them acted as they pleased and were scattered, but while recuperating together at Fuji's house after the mission, a strange friendship seems to have developed ......?

Here, Zenitsu meets Priestess for the first time and falls in love at first sight.

Kamaboko-tai" is the unofficial name for the team of Sumijiro, Zenitsu, Inosuke, and Priestess, and is used by fans. Inosuke mistakenly called Sumijiro "Kamaboko Gonhachiro!" which is the origin of the name.

This exchange is depicted in the scene in episode 14 when they are on their way to Fuji's house.

Lecture 4: The Death Battle at Nada Spider Mountain (Episodes 15-21)

The Kamaboko troop heads for its next destination, Mt. A number of soldiers have been sent to defeat the demons that lurk in the mountain, but they have lost contact with each other.

Sumijiro and his men are breathless when they see their comrades, who have been manipulated by the spider's threads and wiped out in a friendly fight. One of the "Twelve Demon Moons," one of the top demons, Lui, appears in front of them. He transforms humans into demons and forms a pseudo-family.

The onslaught of the demons controlled by Lui puts Sumijiro and the others in a tight spot. Shinobu Butterfly, the "pillar" of the Onikagiri-tai, and Yoshiyou Tomioka also join the fight. As the battle unfolds between the Oni-slaying squad and the demons, Sumijiro's memories of his father dancing the Kagura dance come back to him. He then unleashes a new technique called "Hinokami Kagura Enmai" (Hinokami Kagura Enmai).

Furthermore, Priestess Nezuko, who had been captured by Rui, unleashes the "Blood Demon Technique: Bakkoku" along with the memory of her mother.

The demons of Nada Spider Mountain were vanquished by the new power of the siblings.

The climax of the first season of the TV series, the "Nada Spider Mountain" episode is full of intense episodes.

Each of the Kamaboko-tai has its own showcase, and the twelve demon moons of the executive class join in the fight against the enemy. Hashira, a member of the Onikagiri-tai, also joins the fight. Sumijiro and Nezumiko awakened to new techniques. The song "Tanjiro Kamado no Uta" played during the scene is one of the most famous songs in the movie and is very popular among fans.

Lecture 5: All-Consuming Breathing, Pillar Meeting, and Power Meeting (Episodes 22-26)

After completing his mission at Nada Spider Mountain, Sumijiro and Priestess Nezuko are taken to the Onikagiri-tai headquarters. There, under the leadership of the leader of the Onikagure Squad, Yohya Ubuyashiki (Uwayashiki Kagaya), a.k.a. Otate-sama, the "pillars" of the Onikagure Squad hold a meeting of the "Pillar Council.

The topic of discussion was the treatment of Sumijiro, who violated the rules of the Onikagitai by acting together with an ogre (Priestess Nezuko) and protecting her, even though he was a member of the Onikagitai. The pillars denounced him and his siblings, but when it was proven that Priestess Priestess did not attack people, she was forgiven by the Lady of the House.

Sumijiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke then enter rehabilitation at Shinobu Butterfly's "butterfly mansion. There, Sumijiro learns "Zen-Concentrated Breathing" and deepens his friendship with Shinobu Butterfly, Kanawo Kurihanari, and other members of the troop.

On the other hand, Onimai Tsuji Musho called for the Twelve Demon Moons of Shimogetsu, who had never been able to inflict any damage on the Onimusshi Squad. After severely reprimanding them, he executes them one after another.

However, Enmu, who survived to the end, was fascinated by Musho, and seeing him, Musho injected his own blood into him.

With this episode, the first season of the TV series came to an end.

The episode includes the Hashirai meeting, which reveals a part of the Onikagaitai organization that has remained unclear until now, and the Choyashiki episode, which delves into the interactions between the characters and their backbones, providing a glimpse into the daily lives and true faces of the troop members.

A point unique to the anime version is that Kanawo Kurikanaira's childhood episode, which was depicted in the original comic as an "extra chapter," is incorporated into the main anime without any sense of incongruity. It is a good complement to the original comic.

On the other hand, the scene of the power harassment meeting by Mushosasama is also impressive. He is so furious that he is ready to kill all the useless Gekigen no Oni, and if you try to excuse yourself, he will kill you and say, "Don't make excuses. If you try to make excuses, they will kill you and say, "Don't make excuses. Don't give me orders." He is killed after all. ......, showing the kind of harassment that would make even a black company turn pale in comparison. The demons are led by an overwhelming politics of fear. This is in stark contrast to Otate-sama, who speaks calmly and listens to the words of his troops.

The film's brilliant composition highlights the nature of each organization by depicting the top leaders of the two opposing forces.

Infinite Train Arc (Theater version, TV version "Infinite Train Arc" episodes 1-7)

After recovering safely and completing their training, the four members of the Kamaboko-tai follow the flame pillar, Kyoujuro Purgatory, and board the "Mugen Train. The Infinity Train is involved in a demon-related case, so Sumijiro and the others are attacked by demons on the train.

Once the group fights off the demons, however, they are trapped in a dream. Sumijiro is reunited with his deceased family in the dream, but he breaks free from his thoughts and awakens. Together with his friends and Nezuko, who also awakened, he protects the passengers and defeats the disgusting dream.

Immediately thereafter, Akaza, the demon of Sangen, appears. He engages in a mortal combat with Kyozaburo in Purgatory, and Kyozaburo is killed. As dawn approaches, Akaza flees. Sumijiro and the others, having missed their revenge, lament for Kyozaburo.

The film version of "Infinity Train," which became a historic blockbuster that broke Japanese box-office records, was the climax of the entire series, building on the excitement of the first TV series.

The highlight of the film was the activities of the popular character, Kyoujuro Purgatory. His passionate way of life and pleasant personality had a great impact on the future of Sumijiro and his friends.

Personally, I couldn't help but be moved by the scene in which Inosuke, who until then had been just like a brute, tearfully inspires the group as they grieve over Kyoujuro's death.

In the "Infinity Train Arc" TV series broadcast in the fall of 2021, the movie was reconstructed into a six-episode TV series, and the first episode of the original TV series was added. The additional episodes depict the activities of Anjuro Purgatory before he boarded the Infinity Train. It is a must-see episode where his manhood and strength can be fully appreciated.

You can either go through the story in one go with the movie version, or you can enjoy the TV series at the same tempo as the first season. Enjoy it in the style of your choice.

So, here is a quick look back at the "Demon Slayer" anime.

In the "brothel episode" aired on December 5 (Sun.), the sound pillar Uzumaki Tengen joins forces with the Kamaboko-tai. He is a different type of big brother character from Anjuro, and at the same time, he is a sexy man with three beautiful kunoichi wives.

What kind of battles will he show us at ......? I am looking forward to it!