Animation · blog · Manga · Proxymité Japon ·

Genya Shinazugawa - Kimetsu no Yaiba (Demon Slayer)

Genya Shinazugawa (不死川玄弥) is one of the five survivors of the final selection. Genya is a demon slayer in the Kimetsu no Yaiba (Demon Slayer) series. Genya is the younger brother of the Wind Pillar, named Sanemi Shinazugawa. Genya was able to survive the 7-day ordeal during the final selection exam. He eagerly demanded to obtain his Nichirin sword, violently striking his crow and katana when his request was not granted. Tanjiro intervened; if he did not release his hands, Kanata immediately promised to break his arm. Then, when Genya challenged him, Tanjiro pushed, leaving him with a broken limb. Undeterred by his sister's brutal treatment, Kiriya Ubuyashiki continued his orders. Genya's situation as a Demon Slayer is unique in that he has no talent for Breathing Styles, but is able to fight demons using a unique absorption ability known only to him. His Japanese voice actor is Nobuhiko Okamoto, and in the English dub, he is voiced by Zeno Robinson. His first manga debut is in Chapter 6 and Episode 4 of the anime series.

“Give it to me right now, the Demon Slayer Sword, the color-changing sword!”
—Genya to Kanata Ubuyashiki, Demon Slayer episode 4

Profile

Age: 16
Height: 180cm
Weight: 76 kg
Birthday: January 7
Place of birth: Kyobashi, Tokyo
Hobby: Caring for a bonsai tree
Favorite food: Watermelon
Manga Debut: Chapter 6
Anime Debut Episode 4
Japanese voice actor: Nobuhiko Okamoto
English Voice Actor: Zeno Robinson

Appearance

Genya has an aggressive stare, small, furrowed brows, and a mohawk-style bowl cut. He has black hair that is bushy and messy with a mullet cut that extends past his shoulders. His eyes are slanted inward and have small, purple irises similar to those of some demons in anime. He has a large, jagged scar running across his right cheekbone and prominent veins popping out of his forehead, adding to his tough appearance.

In the anime, before officially becoming a Demon Slayer, Genya is seen wearing a sleeveless purple yukata over a gakuen-like uniform. His wardrobe changed to a dark olive green version of the Demon Slayer outfit after becoming a Demon Slayer, in which he still wore his old purple yukata. However, when he is seen again in the Butterfly House, Genya had a much wilder look, having undergone a growth spurt that made him approximately six feet tall. His hair is also much thicker, styled in a mohawk shape, with the roots much longer on his neck and visible. It is also mentioned that he has become more robust and has developed many more injuries all over his body.

Personality

He is shown to be impatient and ill-tempered, demanding the Nichirin katana immediately after the final selection of a little girl. He shows no signs of cooperation and shows little interest in others, as evidenced by his grabbing Kanata Ubuyashiki by the hair. He has a foul mouth and a "lone wolf" personality where he refuses to receive help from others. His brother Sanemi also refused to acknowledge Genya, which made him insecure growing up.

Later in the manga, during the battle against Hantengu, an upper moon demon, he became more open to cooperation where he worked with Tanjiro Kamado , Mitsuri Kanroji, and Nezuko Kamado. He learned over time to become more sociable and less rude to others, especially Tanjiro and his friends. His older brother Sanemi's refusal to acknowledge Genya also made him aware of his weakness compared to his comrades. Nevertheless, even though he was severely maimed, he did whatever it took to help his allies. Despite his brother's harsh rebukes, he held no ill will towards him, a belief reinforced by Tanjiro and later by Sanemi himself.

Background story

Genya was part of a family of seven children whose hardworking mother never slept and whose father was violent and abused his children. His father was despised and brutally murdered by an anonymous assailant among the villagers. Sanemi and Genya then sought to protect their mothers and siblings.

One day, their mother disappeared, and Sanemi went looking for her. Just as doubt and fear began to creep into the lonely children's minds and unravel, a loud knock was heard at the door. Despite Genya's protests that it might not be their mother, four of his siblings rushed to the door, but before he could answer, the door was opened, and they were immediately cut off.

Once Genya saw his bloodied siblings, unaware that they were already dead, he couldn't bear it completely. He rushed to find a doctor but soon came across Sanemi, with their mother dead at her feet. In his confusion and panic, Genya called Sanemi a murderer and cradled their mother's corpse in his arms as she disappeared into the growing sunlight.