Tanjiro’s Hanafuda Earrings Meaning Explained!

This isn’t going to stop shortly. It will be back next year with its Mugen Train Arc film and has recently surpassed One Piece and Shingeki no Kyojin as the most popular manga published in Japan. 

Demon Slayer has managed to achieve this record-breaking success even though the series was only launched three years after its inception. 

About Demon Slayer

Kimetsu no Yaiba is a Japanese manga series illustrated and written by Koyoharu Gotoge. The series’ appearance in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump began in February 2016, with 19 collectible tankobon volumes published as of the present.

In a world full of demons and demon slayers, Kimetsu no Yaiba is a story about characters like Tanjiro and Nezuko Kamado, following an attack on their families by the demon. Their suffering doesn’t end when Nezuko’s death is saved, only to be demonized.

In his role as the oldest of the siblings, Tanjiro pledges to defend and heal his sister. The story follows the bond between this sister and brother or, even better, the demon slayer team against the odds of an arch-enemy and the community.

One element in the story that creates interest is the pair of earrings Tanjiro wears. Flashbacks have proved that his father is wearing them, and Muzan’s fear of them is a reflection of its time-based background. In this article, I’ll explain the earrings worn by Tanjiro and what they mean.

Information About Tanjiro’s Earrings

Tanjiro’s Hanafuda Earrings Meaning

Tanjiro’s earrings were Hanafuda earrings, which have been handed down over generations. They were worn by his father, Tanjuro, and the very first Breath of the Sun wearer in the history of the world, Yoriichi Tsugikuni.

It is known that Tanjiro has a connection to Yoriichi Tsugikuni as well as Sumiyoshi, Tanjiro’s ancestor from the Sengoku Era.

The ladies in the Tsugikuni family have been visible wearing the earrings, but the reason could be attributed to the absence of female Breath customers in the past or any revelation of female users by the writer.

Yoriichi Tsugikuni’s brother, Michikatsu Tsugikuni, didn’t wear the earrings. And neither did Michikatsu’s descendants, the Tokito family. 

The Tokito family is a believer in the Breath of Mist, which is derived from the Breath of the Moon, which was initially developed by Michikatsu Tsugikuni.

It is possible to conclude that those who inherit the Breath of the Sun style receive the earrings as a hidden sign of the family. 

Although this hasn’t been stated in the manga, both the Kamado family and Yoriichi Tsugikuni certainly have a rich history that is not known to the rest of us.

The absence of Yoriichi’s future success was also evident within the manga. In Tanjiro’s flashback, the reader can see that his father encourages him to ensure it is the Hinokami Kagura Dance (Dance of the God of Fire) as well as the Hanafuda earrings that are passed down.

Hanafuda earrings are handed down to the next generation. The story further emphasizes the importance of the earrings and further reveals the mystery behind them.

Muzan even links the earrings with a life-threatening event when he dispatches two of his subordinates to the demon after Tanjiro. 

The earrings recall an encounter with an incredibly strong demon slayer who ingrained fear in anyone who was associated with Muzan. In addition, the man has red hair, similar to Tanjiro.

The direction of the story as well as the clues provided in the manga suggests the connection to the Hanafuda earrings as well as the Breath of the Sun User. 

The earrings’ ambiguity is a strong indication that the information about them has been kept from the public, similar to the Breath of the Sun.

Why Does Tanjiro Wear Hanafuda Earrings?

Tanjiro’s Hanafuda Earrings Meaning

Tanjiro’s Hanafuda earrings, which Tanjiro wears, have been handed down from family to family over generations. 

Tanjiro’s late father, Tanjuro Kamado, also wore the Hanafuda earrings. 

The other siblings of Tanjiro could be seen wearing Hanafuda earrings. 

It is possible that the oldest child typically inherits the earrings.

In the manga’s last chapter, it appears that the custom of passing down the earring ended at an earlier point. 

Tanjiro’s descendants and great-great-grandsons, Kanata and Sumihiko Kamado don’t wear them anymore.

 They’re the Hanafuda earrings worn by Tanjiro, which currently hang on the walls of the home of the Kamado family.

The Design of The Earrings

Tanjiro’s Hanafuda Earrings Meaning

The earrings look like paper talismans. The earrings have a red circle on top. Several lines extend out from the circle in different directions, taking the form of flowers. 

Below the line is a huge grey semi-circle. The earrings look similar to the sun’s radiating rays, but when you look closer, the possibilities shift towards a flower.

It is interesting to observe that the earrings were modified in the Chinese stream of the anime because of their similarity to the design of the flag of the rising sun, which has negative connotations and is widely connected to Japanese imperialism.

Hanafuda Earrings—Meaning

We know that the Tanjiro earrings are Hanafuda. To add more clarity to this mystery, we can try to figure out what the meaning behind Hanafuda actually signifies. 

Hanafuda can be described as playing cards of Japanese origin that are similar to western-style playing cards like Jack, King, and Queen. These cards are played in many games.

The term “hanafuda” refers to flower cards. The term is also used to describe games played using cards. The Hanafuda cards have a long history dating to the time of the Tokugawa Shogunate, in the period when Catholic missionaries started arriving in Japan.

The popularity of playing cards, introduced from Japan, led to a rise in playing card games throughout Japan and the looming gambling troubles that came with it. 

Today, Nintendo produces these cards in Japan, which are utilized for games like Koi-Koi and are still symbolic of the company’s past.

Why Was Muzan Afraid of Tanjiro’s Hanafuda Earrings?

Muzan Kibutsuji was considered the first demon to be discovered. Muzan was flawless in every sense, yet possessed an astonishingly timid character. 

When Yoriichi Tsugikuni, who was a mere human, defeated Muzan, Muzan developed a fear of Yoriichi. 

When Muzan was able to see Tanjiro wearing the identical Hanafuda earrings that he was wearing, Yoriichi remembered his near-death experience as well as the anxiety that was caused by Yoriichi.


0 people found this article entertaining!

Did you enjoy this article?




About the Author

Anukul Saini

Anime and gaming enthusiast with a passion for sharing my knowledge and insights. I've watched over 1000 anime and spent countless hours playing video games.

Leave a Reply