The Hashiras are the most elite and highest-level members of the Demon Slayer Corps.
There are in total 13 Hashiras that we know of, each having unique abilities and strengths.
The Hashiras are undoubtedly the strongest combatants and the most powerful among the Demon Slayer Corps. However, there is always a dispute among the fans, regarding who the strongest Hashira is.
Titled As The Strongest Hashira
Many fans have come up with their own opinions and theories about who the strongest Hashira is.
Now, this can get a bit difficult, as their strengths are different from each other. But looking at their fighting abilities, skills, and strengths, it would be only fair to give this title to the one and only Gyomei Himejima.
We have yet to see more of him in the anime series, so the folks who are keeping up with the series would not have many ideas about him.
But in the manga series, we are introduced more to him, his skills, abilities, and the way he faces his enemies on the battlefield.
After his battle with Muzan, we can see how good he is in the time of war. And not to mention, his great body.
Who is Gyomei Himejima?
Gyomei Himejima or Himejima Gyōmei is the Stone Hashira and one of the important characters of the series. His character is first introduced to the audience in chapter 44 of the manga whereas he is shown in episode 21 of the anime series during the Mount Natagumo Arc.
According to the sources, he is the tallest character in the series, with a bulky built and muscular body. He rather appears calm and composed for being the most powerful Hashira. He is seen wearing a large beaded necklace and carrying ojuzu when he is not on the battlefield.
Whether it is the manga or the anime series, most of the fans would agree him being the strongest Hashira out of all the Hashiras, be it the reigning or the former.
How did Gyomei become a Hashira?
Before becoming a Hashira, let us know a little about his journey in becoming a demon slayer first.
Gyomei used to live in a temple, where he sheltered orphan kids. The area where they used to live was prone to many demons, so in order to protect the children, he advised them not to go outside the temple premises. He even used Wisteria Incense to ward off the demons.
One day, one of the children went outside the temple and was encountered by a demon. Fearing for his life, he made a deal with the demon to let him inside the temple and devour the kids. He put off the Wisteria Incense and invited the demon in.
The demon immediately devoured four of the children. The kids ran away in fear of being killed by the demon. They disobeyed Gyomei’s warning to not go outside and ended up getting killed.
At that time, on top of being blind, he even had a frail body. What he didn’t know was the immense physical power that he had. Miraculously, he was able to fight the demon till sunrise, only using his physical strength.
At the dawn, when the villagers approached the scene, they misunderstood the scenario and blamed Gyomei for the death of the children. He was arrested and charged with the death of the seven children. He was put up for execution when Kagaya Ubuyashiki stepped in and saved him.
He then joined the Demon Slayer corps and within two months of joining the Corps, he was promoted to Stone Hashira.
What weapons does he use?
As a Hashira, Gyomei is extremely proficient in combat. He is one of the most skilled combatants. Unlike others, he uses a special flail and axe as a weapon but not a katana, making his fighting skills unique from others.
His blade turns into an axe, when used on the battlefield. The spiked flail is attached to the axe with the help of the chains. Since he has a very heightened sense of sound, he uses chain sounds to position the flail and attack the enemies.
What’s his personality like?
The strongest Hashira of all has a very gentle and calm type of personality. Having a big build but a soft and emotional side, he is often referred to as the Gentle Giant.
Because of his religious upbringing, he is also shown carrying prayer beads and praying.
He has this sensitive and soft side to him that makes him love and value the lives of the living creatures.
To the other Hashiras, he is like a leader to them, as he has immense strength and possesses a deeper understanding of the world. He does take his time in trusting people around him but once he puts his trust in someone he is a very loyal friend.
So we can say that he is a very well-respected character who always sticks to the principles that have allowed him to become a Hashira.
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What are his strengths?
Gyomei Himejima possesses a lot of strengths as if the title “The strongest” doesn’t give it away.
So first of all, as everyone knows he has a great body contributing to his immense physical strength. We can see him lifting and swinging his massive spiked flail and axe. As mentioned in the Manga, they are constructed from pure iron. And handling such weapons at such speed surely needs power.
Along with his incredible physical strengths, Gyomei has a sharp intellect and judgemental abilities on the battlefield. During his fight with the Upper-Rank demon, he even manipulated his blood flow and breathing to disrupt the attacks. He is good at analyzing the situation and deducing them to come up with strategies.
What are his powers?
Just like the demons have their unique powers, the Hasiras despite being humans do possess some unique powers themselves as well.
Being the strongest one, Gyomei states that he was naturally born with incredible physical strength.
He does have some powers that he possessed after he became a member of the Demon Slayer Corps. Some of the powers that we know of are:
- As a Stone Hashira, he has mastered the Stone Breathing style
- He incorporates this style with his physical abilities and uses the flail and axe in an effective way
- He has developed a technique, Repeated Action, which he uses by remembering old painful memories. This technique works in a way similar to Total Concentration Breathing, which maximizes concentration
- He has an acute sense of hearing to accurately grasp the space and movements around him making it advantageous on the battlefield.
He has mastered the Stone Breathing up to its fifth form.
- First Form: Serpentinite Bipolar
- Second Form: Upper Smash
- Third Form: Stone Skin
- Fourth Form: Volcanic Rock, Rapid Conquest.
- Fifth Form: Arcs of Justice
How did he get the scar on his forehead?
A prominent scar can be seen running across his forehead. It is believed to be a scar he got during his fight with the demons. Moreover, his eyes are white and he has no iris or pupils. It’s because he lost his eyesight when he was just a kid. Despite his blindness, he managed to rank up to the top because of his hard work and willpower.
Has he fought any Upper-Rank Demons?
He has indeed fought the Upper-Rank Demon Kokushibo, the highest-ranking demon just behind the demon king, Muzan himself.
Gyomei Himejima along with his fellow Hashiras, Muichiro Tokito, Genya Shinazugawa, and Sanemi Shinagawa face Kokushibo in the Infinity Castle.
In the fierce battle between the Hashiras and Upper Rank 1 demon, Gyomei along with Sanemi defeat Kokushibo by combining their breathing techniques.
Does Gyomei die?
Sadly, yes.
In the Sunrise Countdown arc, Gyomei fights against Muzan alongside Tanjiro and other fellow demon slayers. He jumps into the fight after saving Mistsuri Kanjori, which shows how selfless he is. He gives his best in attacking Muzan, but as his strength is no match for the Demon King, he is defeated badly at last losing his life at the hands of Muzan.
Before his last breath, Gyomei still assisted Tanjiro by restraining Muzan. Proving he didn’t give up until his last moments.
Finally, not only among the fans but in the manga as well, he is said to be the strongest one by Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and other members of the Demon Slayer Corps. Even Kokushibo admitted to having never met anyone stronger than Gyomei in the past 300 years.
The Hashiras are the Pillars of the Demon Slayer Corps, each with their own abilities and strengths. Here are ranked ccording to their strengths from the strongest to the least.
- Gyomei Himejima, The Stone Hashira
- Sanemi Shinazugawa, The Wind Hashira
- Giyu Tomioka, The Water Hashira
- Muichiro Tokito, The Mist Hashira
- Mitsuri Kanroji, The Love Hashira
- Obanai Iguro, The Serpent Hashira
- Shinobu Kocho, The Insect Hashira
- Kyojuro Rengoku, The Flame Hashira
- Tengen Uzui, The Sound Hashira
