Demon Slayer season 4 release date and what to expect from the Hashira Training Arc

Demon Slayer: Kimestu no Yaiba is returning with the Hashira Training Arc this month. The first episode of season 4 will be released on May 12, 2024 on Crunchyroll (and Netflix in some countries). The season will begin with a one-hour special episode, "To Defeat Muzan Kibutsuji."

The second episode is confirmed to be released on May 19. New episodes will drop every Sunday from May 12 onwards. As with most new anime, the number of episodes is not disclosed until the season starts airing. However, given the expanse of the arc in the manga, we could be looking at a comparatively shorter season with only 8-10 episodes across May, June, and maybe July.

The first season of Demon Slayer was by far the longest, consisting of 26 episodes that followed Tanjiro Kamado and his sister Nezuko's introduction to the world of demons and those who slayed them. From there, we had shorter seasons. Mugen Train, which was originally a movie, had seven episodes. The Entertainment District Arc and the Swordsmith Village Arc had 11 episodes each.

Demon Slayer season 4 will pick up where the Swordsmith Village Arc ended, with Nezuko conquering the sun and Tanjiro killing the Upper Moon 4. The season is expected to adapt chapters 128 to 136 of the manga.

Those who have read or been following the source material will more or less have an idea of what to expect, although the swanky animation of the anime is where most of its allure lies. For the others, we summarize the arc below.

What to expect from Demon Slayer season 4: Hashira Training Arc

In the epilogue of the Swordsmith Village Arc, we find out the origin story of Muzan Kibutsuji, the primary antagonist of the anime. Muzan used to be a human being during Japan's Heian period, but a terminal illness led him to seek out the counsel of a doctor who fed him a special elixir. Losing faith and patience, he killed the doctor one day but soon realized that the treatment had worked, somewhat. But as it was unfinished, he was now a demon with supernatural powers. He could do anything, except walk under the sun.

Since then, Muzan has been looking for the Blue Spider Lily flower, an ingredient used in the potion that would help complete his transformation. His other option is to consume a demon who has beaten the sun. Enter Nezuko. With the cute, pink kimono-clad demon conquering the sun in the finale of season 3, the Demon Slayer Corps and the Hashiras are now expecting Muzan to wage a full-blown war to get his hands on what he wants.

In season 4, we can expect to see Tanjiro and his friends Zenitsu, Inosuke, and Genya train with each of the Hashiras and harness more of their powers for the battles to come. A Hashira is the highest-ranking member of the Demon Slayer Corps. The series began with nine active Hashiras, of which one has passed away and another has retired.

Here's a quick introduction to all the Hashiras:

The Hashiras will also train with each other to further hone their skills. We will likely get glimpses into the past of some of the Hashiras, just like we did with Kyojuro Rengoku, the deceased Flame Hashira, Muichiro Tokito, the Mist Hashira, and Mitsuri Kanroji, the Love Hashira in previous seasons. Similarly, we will learn more about the remaining Upper Moons and how they turned into who they are now.

Those who have watched the To The Hashira Training movie already have an idea of how the season begins. Similar to the movie released before season 3, the new movie compiles a summary of the previous seasons and offers an early look into the first episode of the next season.

The movie properly introduces the Serpent Hashira, Obanai Iguro, and the Wind Hashira, Sanemi Shinazugawa. We also see the Stone Hashira, Gyomei Himejima, and the respect he commands among the other Hashiras despite tears rolling down his cheeks now and then. The season will briefly bring back Tengen Uzui, the retired Sound Hashira and hero of the Entertainment District Arc, to train the Corps for the upcoming battle with Muzan.

Amid all this, Nezuko will strive to get a better grip on her newfound powers and Tamayo will keep looking for ways to use blood from Nezuko and the Upper Moons to revert demons back to humans.

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