Set to release in July 2025, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle Arc is one of the most anticipated films worldwide.
This cinematic masterpiece, which has redefined the history of Japanese manga and anime, is finally entering its final chapter.

In this article, we'll take a deep dive into the characters that appear in this epic saga—uncovering what makes each of them truly compelling.
Whether you're a long-time Demon Slayer fan or a newcomer to the series, this guide is perfect for both a refresher and a primer.

This article introduces Inosuke Hashibira, one of the main characters in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba.
Known for his boar-headed appearance and aggressive nature, Inosuke surprises both allies and enemies alike with his self-taught "Beast Breathing" techniques and extraordinary combat instincts. Raised by wild boars in the mountains, his journey from a solitary beast to a loyal friend who values his comrades makes him one of the most compelling and beloved characters in the series.

◆What is "Demon Slayer"?

Originally serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from February 2016 to May 2020, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba has surpassed 150 million copies in cumulative manga sales. Set in Japan's Taisho era, the story follows Tanjiro Kamado, a young boy who joins the Demon Slayer Corps after his family is slaughtered by demons and his sister Nezuko is turned into one. His mission: to find a way to turn her back into a human.

The anime adaptation began with the Tanjiro Kamado, Unwavering Resolve Arc broadcast in 2019, followed by the record-breaking release of Demon Slayer: Mugen Train in October 2020. The saga continued with the Entertainment District Arc in December 2021, the Swordsmith Village Arc in April 2023, and most recently, the Hashira Training Arc aired from May to June 2024.

The upcoming Infinity Castle Arc serves as the direct sequel to the Hashira Training Arc and will be presented as a three-part theatrical release.

◆Who is Inosuke Hashibira?

Full Name and Pronunciation: Inosuke Hashibira (はしびら いのすけ / Hashibira Inosuke)
Birthday: April 22 (Taurus)
Age: Around 15 years old at the beginning of the story
Height/Weight: 164cm / 63kg
Affiliation/Rank: Demon Slayer Corps / One of the survivors of the Final Selection (initially at the lowest rank "Mizunoto")
Birthplace: Tokyo Prefecture, Okutama District, Mount Odake (now: Okutama, Mount Odake)
Weapons/Special Skills:
Nichirin Swords (blue blades, dual-wielding style)
Extremely acute sense of touch, allowing him to detect enemies outside his field of vision
First Appearance:
Manga: Volume 3 (Chapter 21)
Anime: Episode 11 "The Drum House"

Physical Characteristics
A distinctive figure who constantly wears a boar's head mask over his face. His actual face is remarkably beautiful with feminine features. He maintains a muscular, well-trained physique and keeps his upper body bare at all times. He wears boar hide around his waist and traditional tabi socks on his feet.

Personality
Extremely aggressive and hot-headed with a "charge ahead" mentality. He believes himself to be the strongest and constantly challenges others to fights. However, he has a pure heart and deeply cares for his comrades. Due to his mountain upbringing, he lacks common sense and often displays natural airheaded moments. His motto is "charge ahead recklessly," and he possesses the courage to face any difficulty head-on.

Background
In his early childhood, he and his mother Kotoha sought refuge at the Paradise Faith cult (a religious group led by the demon Doma). When his mother discovered Doma's true nature and attempted to escape, she was killed, and Inosuke was thrown off a cliff to safety. He was then raised by wild boars in the mountains. Later, he taught himself swordsmanship and passed the Demon Slayer Corps' Final Selection on his own.

Position in the Story
As one of Tanjiro's peers, he serves as a major companion alongside Zenitsu. Initially preferring to work alone as a wild child, his encounter with Tanjiro taught him the value of friendship, and he became a vital member of the "Kamaboko Squad." His unique fighting style and growing humanity are essential elements of the story.

Important Characteristics and Settings
His most distinctive feature is the self-taught "Beast Breathing" technique. As a prodigious talent who mastered his own sword style without formal training, he also possesses exceptionally developed tactile senses that allow him to accurately determine enemy positions through air currents and vibrations. His flexibility is extraordinary, enabling him to dislocate his joints at will.

◆Abilities and Traits

Techniques and Fighting Style
Beast Breathing: A self-taught breathing style derived from Wind Breathing that Inosuke developed entirely on his own. It features animal-like, instinctual combat that draws on his experience growing up in the wild.

Mastered Forms:
First Fang: Pierce: A simultaneous thrusting attack with both swords
Second Fang: Slice: A cross-shaped slashing attack that cuts in a cross pattern
Third Fang: Devour: A sharp upward slashing attack
Fourth Fang: Slice 'n' Dice: Six rapid strikes that finely cut a wide frontal area
Fifth Fang: Crazy Cutting: Irregular slashes that confuse enemies
Sixth Fang: Palisade Bite: A continuous attack with countless thrusts
Seventh Form: Spatial Awareness: A technique that sharpens his sense of touch to the limit to perceive his surroundings (not an attack technique)
Eighth Form: Explosive Rush: A surprise attack from outside normal range by dislocating his joints
Ninth Fang: Extending Bendy Slash: A technique using dislocated arms like whips
Tenth Fang: Whirling Fangs: A spinning slash using rotating swords
Eleventh Fang: Sudden Throwing Strike: An impromptu sword-throwing technique

Special Abilities
Enhanced Tactile Sensation: His extremely developed sense of touch allows him to perceive air currents and vibrations, accurately determining enemy positions even outside his field of vision.
Extreme Flexibility: The ability to dislocate joints at will, allowing free movement even in tight spaces.
Wild Instincts: Exceptional ability to sense danger through animal-like intuition.

Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths:
Unpredictable and innovative fighting style
Superior enemy detection through enhanced tactile senses
Indomitable spirit that never gives up in the face of adversity
Pure heart that deeply cares for comrades

Weaknesses:
Tendency to charge ahead recklessly, lacking strategic thinking
Poor general knowledge and occasional lack of cooperation due to his upbringing
High pride that sometimes prevents him from being honest
Educational deficiencies such as inability to read or perform calculations

◆Relationships

Family
Mother - Kotoha: His biological mother. A beautiful woman from whom Inosuke inherited his facial features. Unable to endure domestic violence from her husband, she fled with infant Inosuke to the Paradise Faith cult. When she discovered the cult leader Doma's true nature, she threw Inosuke off a cliff to protect him before being killed by Doma.
Foster Parent (Boar): The wild boar that found and raised Inosuke after he fell from the cliff. This boar was like a true family to Inosuke and influenced his decision to wear a boar's head.

Colleagues and Companions
Tanjiro Kamado: A peer in the Demon Slayer Corps and his most trusted friend. Initially challenging him to fights one-sidedly, Inosuke learned human emotions through Tanjiro's kindness and strength. He calls Tanjiro "Kamaboko Gonpachiro" due to his poor memory.
Zenitsu Agatsuma: Another peer in the Corps, whom he calls "Monitsu." Initially looking down on Zenitsu as a coward, he came to respect him after witnessing his true strength.
Kanao Tsuyuri: His sparring partner during rehabilitation training at the Butterfly Mansion. Though initially no match for her, he eventually became able to fight on equal terms through training.

Romantic Relationships
Aoi: A caretaker at the Butterfly Mansion responsible for treating and caring for Inosuke, becoming an important person in his life.

◆ Official Character Popularity Poll Results

Inosuke Hashibira has maintained steady popularity in the official Demon Slayer popularity polls.

🔹 1st Popularity Poll (Weekly Shonen Jump, 2017)
Rank: 5th
Votes: 1,977

🔹 2nd Popularity Poll (2020)
Rank: 6th
Votes: 8,750

💬 What Fans Love About Inosuke
Gap Appeal: The contrast between his wild, boar-headed appearance and his beautiful face underneath
Growth Story: His development from a wild child to someone who cherishes human bonds
Comedy Elements: Natural airheaded comments and actions that provide comic relief
Originality: His unique "Beast Breathing" fighting style that no one else possesses
Purity: His straightforward personality and deep love for his comrades

◆ Voice Actor: Yoshitsugu Matsuoka

Yoshitsugu Matsuoka (まつおか よしつぐ) is a popular voice actor who, besides "Demon Slayer," has voiced many major characters such as Kirito in "Sword Art Online" and Soma Yukihira in "Food Wars!"

Notable Roles
Beyond Inosuke Hashibira in "Demon Slayer," Yoshitsugu Matsuoka has voiced numerous significant characters:
Kirito in "Sword Art Online" series
Soma Yukihira in "Food Wars!"
Tomoya Aki in "Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend"
Bell Cranel in "Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?"

Awards and Recognition
6th Seiyuu Awards (2012): Best New Actor Award
10th Seiyuu Awards (2016): Best Lead Actor Award

Performance as Inosuke Hashibira
Matsuoka's performance as Inosuke masterfully expresses the character's multifaceted nature, from his reckless charging personality to delicate emotional expressions. Inosuke's distinctive speech patterns, wild battle cries during combat, and subtle acting in emotional scenes demonstrate Matsuoka's impressive range as a voice actor.

When Will Be Released "Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Arc"?

It is scheduled to premiere in Japanese theaters on Friday, July 18, 2025.
In North America (the United States and Canada), the theatrical release is planned for Friday, September 12, 2025. It will be shown in formats including IMAX and other premium screens, with Japanese audio and English subtitles, as well as an English dubbed version.

Please check for the latest updates regarding release and streaming information in other regions.

Teaser Movie 1: Demon Slayer Infinity Castle Arc

Teaser Movie 2: Demon Slayer Infinity Castle Arc

Source : DemonSlayer Official