‘Demon Slayer’: How Old Is Tanjiro, and How Does His Age Compare to the Rest of the Main Characters?

Demon Slayer has rapidly become one of the most popular anime around, and its willingness to portray dark subject matter might have something to do with that. Kicking off with tragedy, the series never shies away from the harsh realities of the setting the characters are living in. And even as Tanjiro often represents hope in the world of Demon Slayer, he and the other characters face obstacles far beyond what’s typical for their age. But how old is Tanjiro, and how does his age compare to the anime’s other main characters?

How old is Tanjiro from ‘Demon Slayer’?

Despite being trained in the art of killing demons, Tanjiro and his friends are surprisingly young when Demon Slayer opens. And although they do age as the series continues, the characters remain in their teenage years throughout it. They’re a little young to be slaying demons, but what fictional heroes don’t grow up far too quickly?

According to GameRant, Tanjiro is only 13 years old when he comes home to find his family slaughtered by Kibutsuji Muzan. Of course, that tragedy sends him on a journey to join the Demon Slayer Corps and turn Nezuko back into a human. And after Tanjiro spends time training with Urokodaki, time passes — enough that he’s already 15 by episode 3.

Depending on how much time passes as the anime continues, Tanjiro could be a couple of years older by the time it concludes. But how does his age compare to those of his companions?

How does Tanjiro’s age compare to the other main characters?

When it comes to the other major characters from Demon Slayer, Tanjiro’s young age isn’t out of the ordinary. His sister, Nezuko, is the younger sibling of the pair. She’s 12 years old when Muzan attacks their family and 14 when Tanjiro officially joins the Demon Slayer Corps.

The hot-headed Inosuke and lovestruck Zenitsu are both around Tanjiro’s age when fans meet them as well. Inosuke is 15 when he’s introduced, the same age as Demon Slayer‘s main character, while Zenitsu is a year older at 16.

The main group are pretty young, but even the legendary Hashira are only in their late teens and early 20s. Sadly, many members of the Demon Slayer Corps don’t live much longer than that. How old are some of the important secondary characters?

‘Demon Slayer’s adult characters aren’t that old either

Demon Slayer is currently working its way through its Mugen Train Arc, which focuses heavily on the Flame Hashira, Rengoku. Rengoku is 20 years old when viewers meet him, which seems to be the average age for the Hashira. Tengen, who will feature heavily in the upcoming Entertainment District Arc, is on the older end, clocking in at 23 years old.

Per GameRant, Giyu — the demon slayer who puts Tanjiro on his path in the anime — is 21 in the present-day storyline but 19 when he’s introduced. Kanao, who often fights beside Giyu, is one of the younger Hashira. She’s only 16 when she first shows up, suggesting she’s got some impressive skills to join the Demon Slayer Corps’ most elite members.

It’s rare to see Hashira who live long lives, as many of them perish doing their jobs. When it comes to truly old characters from Demon Slayer, Tanjiro’s foes probably take the prize. Muzan is apparently thousands and thousands of years old. The demons who follow him are often in the hundreds.

With that kind of lifespan, it’s no wonder the Demon Slayer Corps struggles to keep up with their enemies. Clearly, they need to build their skills early. Whether that will pay off for Tanjiro remains to be seen, but he’s managed so far.

New episodes of Demon Slayer drop every Sunday on Funimation and Crunchyroll.