Muzan Kibutsuji is the main antagonist of Kimetsu no Yaiba and the first demon who lived for several centuries due to his immortality. With his blood, Muzan can transform others into demons with unmatched powers. However, there’s still one thing that Muzan is afraid of, namely Tanjiro’s hanafuda earrings.

So, how come Muzan Kibutsuji, the most powerful demon, is afraid of Tanjiro’s earrings? Without further ado, let’s get into it.

The Reason Why Muzan is Afraid of Tanjiro’s Hanafuda Earrings

In the brief flashback in Chapter 14 of the Kimetsu no Yaiba manga, Muzan recalls a man with long hair and the same hanafuda earrings that Tanjiro wears.

Later in Chapter 81, during the "Entertainment District" arc, Daki sees the same man through Muzan's memories as his blood runs all over her body. The mysterious swordsman doesn't fully appear until Chapter 99.

The warrior that was feared by Muzan was a swordsman named Yoriichi Tsugikuni. Yoriichi was the only Demon Slayer before Tanjiro who came close to killing Muzan, and a flashback of their fight takes place in Chapter 187.

Yoriichi meets Muzan and Tamayo in the bamboo forest, where they engage in a battle. Yoriichi with his Sun Breathing technique decapitates Muzan and stops his regeneration ability. However, he's unable to kill the demon for good as Muzan immediately flees the battle.

Yoriichi Tsugikuni

Yoriichi Tsugikuni is known as the most powerful swordsman of the Demon Slayer Corps. He lived 500 years before the series began, during the Sengoku era, which was the golden age for demonic activities.

Yoriichi discovered the first breathing style from which subsequent warriors got their versions. The technique, known as Sun Breathing, later became the Hinokami Kagura Dance practiced by the Kamado family.

Yoriichi was a calm and quiet child, showing almost no emotion. This is also the reason why Muzan has deep fear towards the swordsman as Yoriichi never exudes the bloodlust or malicious intent that most warriors do during battle.

On the other hand, his calm personality made it difficult for his opponent to read or predict his moves. Yoriichi is the twin brother of Michikatsu Tsugikuni, later known as the Upper-Rank One of the Twelve Kizuki: Kokushibo.

Is Yoriichi Tsugikuni Related To the Kamado Family?

Yoriichi was close friends with Sumiyoshi, Tanjiro's ancestor. He saved the man from a demon's attack, and the two remain close afterward. Yoriichi considered Sumiyoshi one of his closest friends, even though his job as a demon slayer forbids him from seeing the Kamado family often.

After being exiled from the Demon Slayer Corps, Yoriichi confided his hardships to Sumiyoshi, who burst into tears after hearing his friend's struggles.

Sumiyoshi's daughter, Sumire, likes Yoriichi and was very fond of demon slayers. Her affection consoled him at one point inadvertently causing Yoriichi to cry. While practicing the Sun Breathing technique to comfort the girl, Sumiyoshi noticed and was mesmerized by his every move. This technique later became Hinokami Kagura, which has been passed down in the family for generations.

Before Yoriichi left the Kamado family, he entrusted Sumiyoshi with his hanafuda earrings. These earrings became a symbol of Yoriichi's legacy, and Sumiyoshi made sure they would be remembered by his family. The earrings had such an impact that after 500 years, they still bring terror to Muzan.

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