Who Was The Woman In Inosuke’s Memory?

Inosuke Hashibira is one of the most recognizable characters in the Demon Slayer series, and the most enigmatic and animalistic out of the main trio. Known for his unique fighting style and boar head mask, Inosuke is a powerful Demon Slayer who is well known for his brute force and Beast Breathing Technique.

While Inosuke comes off as brave and confident, he hides a tragic past. Growing up in the jungles, Inosuke lived a life among wild boars and had to survive on his own. All his life he believed he had been abandoned by his family, but what really happened to him?

Related

How Strong Is Inosuke And What Role Did He Play In The Demon Slayer Finale?

Inosuke is a powerful character in Demon Slayer Kimetsu No Yaiba, and he plays an important role in defeating Muzan and Upper-Rank demons.

From Man to Beast, Inosuke’s Life

How Did Inosuke Become Who He Is?

Unlike his peers, Inosuke did not grow up in a traditional household. Instead, he grew up in the wild with animals and observed them. His life was based on survival, and he later learned to incorporate animalistic fighting styles into his fighting style. Tanjiro also notes that Inosuke’s fighting style looks similar to a four-legged beast, this is because of his unpredictable attacks. The truth behind Inosuke’s upbringing was that he was saved by his self-sacrificing mother, who chose to save him at the very last moment before her death.

Kotoha Hashibira was a beautiful woman who loved her son, but she chose to follow a cult known as the Paradise Faith Cult after running away from her abusive husband with her son. She took shelter in the temple as one of the worshipers and worshipped the leader of the cult. Little did she know that the leader was actually a demon – Doma, a powerful upper moon two demon.

When she realized that Doma was eating his followers, Kotoha confronted him but had to run away as he attempted to kill her and baby Inosuke. While running away through a forest with Doma following close behind, she was eventually trapped on a cliff by a river. Out of sheer desperation and panic, she tosses Inosuke into the river so she can save his life instead of dying alongside her at the hands of Doma. Kotoha is killed by Doma and Inosuke survives, growing up to be a powerful Demon Slayer, but remembers very little of his mother and only sees her in a blurry memory.

The Opportunity For Redemption Arises

Inosuke Avenges His Mother’s Death During the Infinity Castle Arc

For many years, Inosuke had a vague memory of his mother and always questioned why she abandoned him. It was only during the Infinity Castle Arc that Inosuke battles against Doma, and he realizes the truth. During the battle, Inosuke’s mask is taken off by Doma, and Doma claims that he knows Inosuke’s face from somewhere. Doma reaches into his memories and remembers the woman who he had once killed, bearing a similar resemblance to Inosuke. Doma then reveals that Inosuke’s mother died trying to protect him and that it was he who killed her. Angered by this revelation, Inosuke launches at Doma with hatred and anger towards the demon responsible for his mother’s death.

Related

Demon Slayer: Doma’s Blood Demon Art, Explained

How does Upper Moon 2, Doma’s blood demon art work?

During Doma’s conversation with Inosuke, Doma mocks him and tells him that his mother’s death had been in vain, as she never had a single happy moment in her life. This further angers Inosuke as he joins forces with Kanao Tsuyuri to take down the powerful demon. Before the battle, Shinobu Kocho had poisoned herself and allowed Doma to devour her.

Her body, which was filled with poison, slowly weakens the demon from the inside and this is when Inosuke and Kanao launch their final attack and take the opportunity to behead the now weakened demon. The upper moon two demon is then successfully defeated and Inosuke is able to avenge his mother’s death, ending the demon’s reign of terror over the innocent.