Giyu Tomioka: Water Pillar - Kimetsu no Yaiba (Demon Slayer)
Giyu Tomioka (冨岡 義勇 Tomioka Giyu) is a Demon Slayer part of the Demon Slayer Corps. He uses the Breath of Water (水の呼吸 Mizu no Kokyu) and is a former disciple of Sakonji Urokodaki (the former Water Pillar). Giyu is one of the strongest swordsmen and is the current Water Pillar. Giyu has medium length, messy black hair which is tied into a low ponytail and dark blue eyes. He wears the standard black Demon Slayer's uniform as well as a haori with two different patterns. One solid red colored from his deceased older sister and one geometrically patterned with green, orange, and yellow from Sabito.
”Why did you protect it?”
—Giyu to Tanjiro, Demon Slayer Chapter 1
Profile
- Age: 19 years (pre-time skip) - 21 years (post time skip)
- Height: 176cm
- Weight: 69kg
- Birthdate: February 9
- Favorite Food: Simmered salmon with daikon
- Manga Debut: Chapter 1
- Anime Debut: Episode 1
- Japanese Voice Actor: Takahiro Sakurai
- English Voice Actor: Johnny Yong Bosch
- Status: Alive
History
Like many other characters Giyu is an orphan whose family was killed by Demons. Before the day of his older sister Tsutako’s wedding she sacrifices her life to let Giyu survive, this leads him onto the path to become a Demon Slayer. He becomes Sakonji Urokodaki’s disciple and later holds the position of the Water Pillar. He is one of Tanjiro Kamado’s mentors and a major supporting character of Kimetsu no Yaiba (Demon Slayer). Giyu first appears to save Tanjiro Kamado from his sister Nezuko who had turned into a Demon and was on the verge of eating him. When Nezuko moves to protect his brother from Giyu rather than eating him, Giyu realises that these siblings are unique. Instead of completing his job as a Demon Slayer he decides to guide them to his former mentor Sakonji to show Tanjiro Kamado the path of a Demon Slayer.
Personality
Giyu always has a stern expression and seems aloof but he has a strong sense of justice and cares greatly for people he considers his friends. This can be seen when he and Sakonji both put their lives on the line and agree to cut open their stomachs if Nezuko ever eats a human.
Even though it is seen that Giyu is strong enough to single handedly kill a Lower Moon, he is awkward and keeps a distance from his fellow Demon Slayers because of an inferiority complex caused during the Final Selection. He develops survivor's guilt due to his older sister Tsutako and his dear friend Sabito who sacrificed their lives to protect Giyu and believes he doesn’t deserve to be a Pillar. Tanjiro Kamado helps him realise it’s better to cherish his life instead of wallow in grief which allows Giyu to open up to the other Demon Slayers.
Skills and Abilities
- Master Swordsman: Being a Pillar, Giyu is a master swordsman and is one of the most powerful and skilled swordsmen in the Demon Slayer Corps. The Upper Moon Three Akaza comments on Giyu’s strength saying that his swordsmanship is finely developed.
- Enhanced Speed: Giyu is very fast and agile. During the fight with the Lower Moon Five, Rui Giyu was able to cut off Rui’s head in the blink of an eye.
- Demon Slayer Mark: In the battle against Akaza, Giyu awakens his Demon Slayer Mark. This mark appeared as a water-like design arising on his left cheek. When this mark is activated, Giyu gains a tremendous increase in speed, strength, and reflex attributes.
Total Concentration Breathing: Water Breathing
- First Style: Water Surface Slice (壱ノ型 水面斬 Ichi no Kata: Minamo Giri): A single concentrated slash.
- Second Style: Water Wheel (弐ノ型 水車 Ni no Kata: Mizu Guruma): The swordsman jumps and spins his body while slashing.
- Third Style: Dance of the Rapid Current (参ノ型 流流舞い San no Kata: Ryuryu Mai): The swordsman swings his blade at his opponent in a way that mimics the movement of waves on the surface of water.
- Fourth Style: Striking Tide (肆ノ型 打ち潮 Shi no Kata: Uchishio): The swordsman makes multiple consecutive slashes while twisting their body in a flowing fashion similar to a harsh tide.
- Fifth Style: The Merciful Rain of a Dry Day (伍ノ型 干天の慈雨 Go no Kata: Kanten no Jiu): A ‘sword strike of kindness’ that kills the target with little to no pain.
- Sixth Style: Twisting Whirlpool (陸ノ型 ねじれ渦ず Roku no Kata: Nejire Uzu): The swordsman fiercely twists his upper and lower body, which creates a whirlpool that cuts anything caught in it.
- Seventh Style: Piercing Raindrop (漆ノ型 雫波紋突き Shichi no Kata: Shizuku wa Mondzuki): A fast and accurate stab.
- Eight Style: Waterfall Jar (捌ノ型滝壷 Hachi no Kata: Takitsubo): The swordsman cuts the target vertically.
- Ninth Style: Water Splash (玖ノ型 水流飛沫 Ku no Kata: Suiryu Shibuki): Minimizes the landing time and surface needed when landing, allowing the user to move without limits.
- Tenth Style: The Dragon of Change (拾ノ型 生生流転 Ju no Kata: Seisei Ruten): A continuous attack that increases in power with each rotation, creating a strong slash.
- Eleventh Style: Dead Calm (拾壱ノ型 凪 Juichi no Kata: Nagi): A technique created by Giyu himself. A skill that disables and nullifies incoming attacks. However, its effectiveness is limited as fast and numerous attacks can break through it as seen when he fights Akaza.