Doma vs. Shinobu: Exploring "Demon Slayer" Through a Japanese Lens

One of the most unforgettable battles in "Demon Slayer" features the intense clash between Doma, who ranks as Upper Moon Two, and Shinobu Kocho.

Doma fights with his icy Blood Demon Art and wields iron fans with a perpetually smiling, yet cold demeanor. On the other hand, Shinobu, a Hashira with the grace of a butterfly, uses poison as her weapon. While she isn’t the strongest in terms of sheer power, her intelligence and determination enable her to take down demons.

This faceoff between "fan" and "butterfly" is reminiscent of a traditional Japanese game called "Tosenkyo."

Tosenkyo is a game that dates back to Japan's Edo period. The setup includes a small stand, or "pillow," placed on a tatami mat with a target called a "butterfly" perched on it. Players throw a folding fan, or "ogi," aiming to hit the target.

The score is determined by the way the fan lands and how the butterfly falls, creating a specific "shape" at that moment. Tosenkyo, then, is less about hitting the target and more about the artistry and beauty of the resulting forms.

投扇興

In Tosenkyo, the name of the shapes formed when the fan lands and the butterfly falls is called a "mei." These names, such as "Yume no Ukihashi" for a fan landing apart from the target or "Hanachirusato" for a fan lightly touching the butterfly, draw from classical literature and nature, adding an elegant touch.

Among these, two "mei" stand significant in their symbolism.

"Kocho" — A Symbol of Silent Victory

The first "mei" is "Kocho," depicting a butterfly standing on a fallen fan.

It may seem like the fan, or the thrower, has triumphed, but ultimately, the butterfly remains on top, symbolizing a quiet reversal where the one thought defeated emerges victorious.

In "Demon Slayer," Shinobu Kocho mirrors this "mei." Though she loses to Doma and is absorbed, the wisteria poison she secretly carries begins dismantling Doma from within, leading to her triumph. Here, the fallen butterfly ultimately rises, resonating with the spirit of Tosenkyo's "Kocho."

"Meguriai" — The Overlapping End

The second "mei" is "Meguriai," representing the fan and butterfly falling together and overlapping. Both elements collapse yet are drawn to each other at the same spot, embodying a "reunion and ending" beyond victory or defeat.

Shinobu and Doma meet once again after death. As Doma's form disintegrates and his soul spirals into Hell, Shinobu appears, smiling serenely before him.

Doma can't help but confess,

"I think I might have fallen for you."

But Shinobu, still smiling, retorts,

"Just go die, you bastard."

With those words, Doma falls completely. Their brief encounter ends, reminiscent of the overlapping fan and butterfly in "Meguriai."

In Tosenkyo, the forms created by the fan and butterfly weave stories of their own.

• "Kocho" — where the seemingly defeated butterfly ultimately stands victorious.
• "Meguriai" — where the fallen fan and butterfly overlap, marking a quiet ending.

The tale of Doma and Shinobu Kocho beautifully echoes these two "mei."

In the battle, Shinobu secures an unseen victory like in "Kocho," while in the afterlife, their paths briefly cross in a "Meguriai" ending.

Love and hatred, victory and defeat, all settle into a single peaceful form. It's this blend of Japanese aesthetics and "Demon Slayer" that creates a profound moment of harmony.