Demon Slayer'sTanjiro and Nezuko are quite possibly the closest and most devoted siblings in anime. Their love for one another knows no bounds, and they are both willing to charge headfirst into dangerous situations if it means protecting the other. Even after Nezuko transformed into a demon and her chances of returning to her human form seemed hopeless, Tanjiro devoted his life to seeking a cure and protecting her from other demons and humans who want to kill her.

Their relationship is mutually beneficial and truly goes both ways. Just as Tanjiro protects Nezuko from harm and encourages her during a difficult time, she boldly fights to keep her older brother safe when he needs it.

Although Tanjiro constantly cautions her to stay in the wooden box on his back and avoid confronting demons directly, she often disregards his advice and faces threats anyway, providing much needed backup in many of Tanjiro's most difficult battles. Even powerful demons like the Spider Demon family and Daki and Gyutaro are no match for the siblings' teamwork and fierce protection of one another.

Tanjiro’s Japanese Voice Actor, Natsuki Hanae, Describes His Most Emotional Scene

In This Swordsmith Village Arc Scene, He Had to Properly Represent Tanjiro’s Grief

The Swordsmith Village Arc contains one of the most important and pivotal scenes regarding Tanjiro and Nezuko’s unbreakable sibling bond. Before it was revealed that Nezuko had gained immunity to the sunlight, it appeared as if she might die from burning in the sun’s rays, horrifying her older brother, Tanjiro. This scene was a deeply emotional interaction that displays how close the sibling pair truly are and their unending love for one another. The scene also developed Nezuko’s character to a higher level by giving her a shocking new sun-resistant power that made her an even stronger demon than before.

In an interview with the Times of India, Natsuki Hanae, Tanjiro's Japanese voice actor, discusses how important it was for him to convey Tanjiro’s emotional state in this pivotal moment, and he certainly did a phenomenal job displaying his anguish and grief at the mere thought of his sister’s demise. The scene occurred during the final battle in the Swordsmith Village arc, between Tanjiro and Hantengu, the Upper Rank Four demon. Hantengu was the most challenging demon Tanjiro had faced yet, so the demon slayer definitely had his work cut out for him and many times worried he might lose the fight.

"I've played Tanjiro for a long time, so I've truly felt the strong bond between Tanjiro and Nezuko. I thought this was such a great scene when I read the manga, so I knew it was going to be a crucial scene and was looking forward to voicing it. I think it was a very tough situation for Tanjiro to think that Nezuko might die when all he wanted was to turn her back into a human. I had thought about how I should express that through my voice until I went into the recording booth.” - Natsuki Hanae, Times of India

The Emotional Scene Quickly Morphed From Devastating to Miraculously Joyful

Thankfully Nezuko Survived, but Tanjiro’s Fear and Sorrow During This Moment Show His Love for Her

As the battle progressed, Tanjiro had a challenging choice to make. Hantengu was heading towards a group of innocent humans, planning to consume them, while at the same time, Nezuko was burning to death in the rapidly rising sun. Tanjiro chose to help the villagers, but his sadness was evident because he truly believed his beloved sister might not survive. His guttural cries of fear and guilt are a testament to Hanae's talented voice acting work. The passion, soul, and emotion he channeled into this scene makes Tanjiro's predicament feel real and horrifying, properly expressing the depths of his sorrow.

Thankfully, Nezuko did not pass away after all. Miraculously, shocking both Tanjiro and the other demon slayers, she survived the blaze of the sun's rays relatively unscathed. She was the first demon in the series to conquer the sun, an element that is usually instantly deadly to demons. The new skill is a double-edged sword because it makes Nezuko stronger but simultaneously puts her at greater risk due to Muzan's jealousy and desire to steal the sun-resistant skill for himself. However, in this scene, Tanjiro and Nezuko were nothing but joyful, as Tanjiro sobbed and expressed the utmost gratitude that Nezuko had lived.

The Serious Moment Reveals How Deep and Important the Siblings’ Relationship Is

Tanjiro and Nezuko Take Solace in Each Other in an Often Terrifying and Dangerous World

Tanjiro and Nezuko's struggles are far from over, as the series progresses into the Hashira Training arc and the even more emotionally devastating and violent Infinity Castle arc. The most horrific and first ever demon Lord Muzan threatens to capture Nezuko at any moment, while Tanjiro faces struggles of his own as he attempts to grow even stronger in his swordsmanship and Breathing Techniques, preparing himself for the coming battles. The stakes are high, and Tanjiro and Nezuko's love for one another makes them even higher, because they both have a great deal to lose if anything was to happen to the other one.

In spite of how cruel and difficult the universe of Demon Slayer is, Tanjiro and Nezuko's sibling bond is one hopeful constant in the midst of all the grief. When one of them is struggling, the other sibling is there to offer assistance, encouragement, and even physical protection. Hanae is the perfect voice actor to represent Tanjiro because he captures every last bit of Tanjiro's love and care for his sister. He embodies the overprotective older brother role perfectly, and in such a dangerous world with threats looming at every turn, Tanjiro has every right to feel that way and worry about his sister's wellbeing.

Hanae’s Voice Acting Makes Tanjiro’s Character Much More Incredible

His Accurate and Impressive Voice Performance Really Brings the Hero to Life

The interview shed some valuable light on Hanae's thoughts and feelings regarding his role as Tanjiro, the bond between him and Nezuko, and how he brings scenes from the manga to life on the screen. This Swordsmith Village arc moment was one of the most deeply emotional and shocking of the entire series due to his deep understanding of Tanjiro's character and how he chose to represent that through the way he delivered lines and responded to Nezuko's near-death experience. It will be truly interesting to see how Hanae chooses to tackle similarly serious Tanjiro scenes in upcoming Demon Slayer arcs.