You probably hated him at first. Most of us did. When he showed up at the end of the Mugen Train arc and took out Kyojuro Rengoku, it felt like a cheap shot. Here was this pink-haired, tattooed freak punching a hole through the most Likable guy in the show. But if you’ve followed the story through to the later chapters or kept up with the lore, you know that Demon Slayer Upper 3, also known as Akaza, is easily the most complex character Koyoharu Gotouge ever wrote.
He isn't just a mindless killing machine. He’s a guy who literally lost everything before he even hit twenty.
Most demons in the series are just... bad. They’re greedy or cowardly. Doma is a literal sociopath. Gyutaro was bitter. But Akaza? Akaza is different. He’s a martial artist who refuses to eat women, a rule he’s kept for over a hundred years. That’s not normal for a demon. It’s a leftover fragment of a man named Hakuji, and honestly, his human life was a total nightmare.
The Man Behind the Markings: Who Was Hakuji?
Before he was Demon Slayer Upper 3, he was Hakuji, a kid born in the slums of Edo. Life dealt him a terrible hand from day one. He had a sickly father he adored, but they were dirt poor. To get medicine, Hakuji started pickpocketing. He got caught. A lot.
The local authorities would beat him and tattoo "criminal" markings on his arms. Every time he went back, the beatings got worse. His father eventually found out and, feeling like a burden, hanged himself. He left a note telling Hakuji he wanted him to live a full life, not one fueled by crime for the sake of a dying man.
It didn't work. It just made Hakuji lose his mind with rage.
He was eventually taken in by a dojo owner named Keizo. This was the turning point. Keizo didn't care about the tattoos or the criminal past; he just saw a kid who could fight. He put Hakuji to work taking care of his daughter, Koyuki. She was frail, bedridden, and basically waiting to die. Sound familiar? It was exactly like his father.
Hakuji found a reason to live. He fell in love with Koyuki. They were supposed to get married. He had finally found peace. Then, a rival dojo poisoned their well while Hakuji was away. Keizo and Koyuki died in agony.
Hakuji didn't just get mad. He slaughtered sixty-seven people with his bare hands. That's when Muzan Kibutsuji found him. Muzan didn't even need to "recruit" him; he just saw a monster and turned him into one.
Why Demon Slayer Upper 3 is a Combat Nightmare
Let’s talk about his actual power. If you’re a fan of the fights, you know Akaza’s Blood Demon Art, Destructive Death, is basically a cheat code. It’s not just about punching hard—though he does that too. His primary ability is the Compass Needle.
When he drops that snowflake-shaped array on the ground, the fight is basically over for most people.
- Battle Spirit Sensing: He doesn't look at you with his eyes; he "sees" your fighting spirit. The stronger you want to kill him, the easier it is for him to predict your moves.
- Targeted Accuracy: His punches are literally magnetized to your vitals.
- Shockwaves: He can punch the air so hard it creates localized vacuum blasts.
In the fight against Rengoku, Akaza was barely trying. He spent half the time trying to convince the Flame Hashira to become a demon. He respects strength. He hates "the weak" because, deep down, he hates his past self for being too "weak" to save his father and Koyuki.
The Problem with the Compass Needle
There’s a massive misconception that the Compass Needle makes him invincible. It doesn't. It’s a sensory tool. If you can fight without "fighting spirit"—a state Tanjiro calls the Selfless State—the compass stops working. You become invisible to his "radar." This is exactly how Tanjiro managed to land a hit in the Infinity Castle.
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Without that specific counter, Akaza is probably the most efficient 1v1 fighter in the Twelve Kizuki. Kokushibo is stronger, sure, and Doma is more annoying with his ice, but Akaza’s raw martial arts skill is unmatched.
Why He Won't Eat Women
This is the part that weirds everyone out. Doma, the Upper 2, actually makes fun of him for it. Muzan, who is usually a total micromanager, actually gave Akaza a pass on this.
He refuses to kill or eat women.
It’s a subconscious link to Koyuki. Even after losing his memories as a demon, that one shred of his humanity stayed. He spent a century killing Hashira and seeking "the peak" of strength, but he never touched a woman. It’s a bizarre bit of chivalry in a series where most villains are purely grotesque.
The Tragic End of the Battle
When Akaza finally remembers his past during the fight with Tanjiro and Giyu, he doesn't go out in a blaze of glory. He commits suicide.
He realizes that the "weak" people he hated were actually him. He was the one who couldn't protect anyone. Seeing the ghost of Koyuki was enough to break his will to live. He used his own techniques on himself, shattering his body while Muzan screamed at him to keep fighting.
It’s one of the few times in the series where the demon "wins" by regaining their soul.
What Most People Get Wrong About His Strength
There's a constant debate: could Akaza have beaten Doma?
Probably not. Doma’s ice clouds destroy lungs. A close-range brawler like Akaza would be coughing up blood before he could land a solid hit. Rankings in the Twelve Kizuki aren't just for show. They've had "blood battles" for their spots, and Akaza has remained at number three for a long time.
However, in terms of growth potential? Akaza was the only one besides Muzan and Kokushibo who started to overcome decapitation by growing a new head. If he hadn't chosen to die, he might have become something even Muzan couldn't control.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Theories
If you're looking to dive deeper into the lore of Demon Slayer Upper 3, keep an eye on these specific details:
- The Snowflake Motif: Look at Akaza’s Compass Needle again. It’s shaped exactly like Koyuki’s hairpin.
- The Tattoos: His demon markings are just extensions of the criminal tattoos he received as a human.
- The Names: All of his "Destructive Death" attacks are named after types of fireworks—a callback to the festival where he promised to protect Koyuki.
To truly understand Akaza, you have to look past the pink hair and the arrogant attitude. He’s a tragedy wrapped in a martial arts gi. If you want to see how he compares to the other Upper Moons, go back and re-read Chapter 157. The way Doma interacts with him tells you everything you need to know about the hierarchy of the Twelve Kizuki.
The best way to appreciate his character arc is to watch the Mugen Train fight again, knowing what happens in the end. It changes the context of every "join me" he says to Rengoku. He wasn't just looking for a sparring partner; he was looking for someone who wouldn't die and leave him alone again.