The new season of the Demon Slayer franchise has brought the fans a little closer to the mystery behind Tanjiro’s Hanafuda earrings. It is one of the best anime shows of this decade and every season just confirms this detail. The newest episode of Demon Slayer Season 2 provides a deeper look into the past of Hanafuda earrings. The term Hanafuda means “flower cards.” Fans thought that the earrings were meant to resemble flowers, but different theories pitched in. Now, what does the design denote? Why does Muzan hate them so much? Here are all the answers.
The earrings made an appearance since the first episode of the show; since then, fans never paused to speculate theories. At first, the design of the Hanafuda earrings caused huge controversy. The details include a red circle with rays extending over an arch. However, the design doesn’t match the flower card game played in Japan. This led to fans believing the design was similar to a Rising Sun, a symbol of the Japanese imperial flag. The symbol depicted the Japanese military aggression towards Asian countries in WW2. But what do the earrings symbolize, according to the story?
Demon Slayer Season 2: The Earrings Were Passed Down From His Father
The Entertainment District arc of the story shows how secretive Tanjiro’s father was. The newest episode reveals the true meaning behind the design of the earrings. It symbolizes a practitioner of the Sun Breathing Style. According to Kyojuro, it is the strongest breathing style. Having seen Tanjiro with the Hanafuda earrings, Kyojuro loses his temper and attacks him. The Rengoku felt Tanjiro mocked his family since the members have parted from this breathing style.
Tanjiro faces another attack by Shinjuro. And the reason behind it was none other than the earrings. Yoriichi Tsugikuni, the founder of breathing styles, originally wore those earrings. It was, however, disclosed that Tanjiro’s father gave him the earrings. This could mean since Yoriichi didn’t have successors, he handed the earrings to Tanjuro. This means that he wanted to retain the legacy of the Sun fighters alive. This indicates that Tanjuro was, in fact, a Sun fighter.
Why Does Muzan Hate Them?
Previously, in the Mugen Train Arc, Muzan Kibutsuji met with an encounter with our hero, Tanjiro. What is notable here is that the demon king immediately recognized the earrings. The strongest demon was bothered to such a height that he called for two of his followers to finish him off. This didn’t end up well since both of them ended up being defeated. The episode features a flashback of younger Kibutsuji not in his usual demeanor. He was overthrown by a Demon Slayer wearing Hanafuda earrings. This can conclude that he wants to remove all the memories of his failures.
Another interesting fact new arc has come up with is Tanjiro’s father. Tanjuro, in Episode nineteen, performs a fire dance called Hinokami Kagura. The son notices how his father dances without catching a cold for so long. To which Tanjuro hints at a breathing technique. He advises once the breathing style is mastered, one can dance forever. The scene proceeds further with him promising the earrings to Tanjiro as a gift.
Also Read: Demon Slayer: Will Nezuko Ever Become A Human Again?
This can add up to a massive revelation from the creators. It is, however, safe to say that Tanjiro’s father didn’t just sell coal, and there is a much deeper history attached to him. The further seasons will bring a lot more in the stack. For more updates, keep coming back to The Anime Daily.