Why I Can't Stop Reading Demon Slayer

Lately, I’ve been enjoying Demon Slayer by reading just a little bit each day—and it’s got me thinking about why I’m so hooked on this manga in the first place.

What keeps drawing me in is how carefully the author portrays the backstories of the demons. In this world, demons weren’t always monsters—they were once human. But many of them were born into deep poverty, or suffered brutal discrimination (yes, Japan used to have rigid social classes), or grew up as orphans, completely alone from a young age. No matter how hard they tried, they could never stand at the same starting line as everyone else. Then, in a moment of vulnerability, the leader of the demons—Muzan—would take advantage of their despair and pull them into the demon world.

Even after they become demons, there’s still a human side hidden deep inside: a longing to be loved by their parents, a desperate apology to someone they once cared for, a wish they could have done something differently. These feelings don’t disappear. And when they’re finally defeated by Tanjiro and the Demon Slayer Corps, those lingering emotions are often allowed to surface and find peace before they disappear into ashes.

It always makes me wonder: if someone had shown them kindness, or if just one thing had gone differently, could they have avoided becoming a demon? What they did was undeniably wrong—but I can’t help but feel sympathy for the sadness, anger, and desperation that brought them to that point.

Tanjiro, the main character, has a powerful sense of smell—he can detect the emotions of humans and demons alike. His deep empathy for everyone, even demons, is one of the most beautiful parts of the story. There’s a moment when he reaches out to gently touch the fabric of a demon’s kimono as they dissolve into ash, and it always hits me right in the heart.

Every time a new demon appears, I find myself even more interested in learning what made them the way they are than watching the fight itself. Those flashbacks? Total tearjerkers.

I can’t wait to keep reading and uncover more of these deeply moving stories!