So strong it's tragic... What Kokushibo Yoriichi's famous quotes teach about true strength
Among the characters in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Yoriichi Tsugikuni stands out with exceptional popularity.
His words—born from overwhelming strength paired with profound compassion—resonate deeply with readers.
Many of his sayings question how we should live as humans and what it means to be alive, offering fresh insights even for those of us in the modern world.
In this feature, we introduce the unforgettable quotes engraved in Yoriichi Tsugikuni’s heart.
You’re sure to find words that will guide your life’s path.
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Too Strong It’s Sad… What Kokushibo Yoriichi’s Quotes Teach About True Strength (1–10)
Rather than talking about swords, I’d like to play sugoroku and fly kites with my elder brother.Yoriichi Tsugikuni 'Demon Slayer'
A famous quote he said to his older brother, Michikatsu Tsugikuni, who talked only about swords during their childhood: “Rather than talking about swords, I want to play sugoroku and fly kites with you, Brother.” It’s a line that highlights the contrast between Yoriichi Tsugikuni—born with unparalleled sword talent yet repelled by the sensation of striking others—and Michikatsu, who, despite all his efforts, felt he could never surpass his prodigy younger brother and sought to uncover the secret of his strength.
While he longs to play innocently with the brother he adores, his own talent won’t allow it—making this a poignant quote filled with quiet misfortune.
I’m glad you two look happy. Seeing happy people makes me feel happy.Yoriichi Tsugikuni 'Demon Slayer'
The famous line spoken upon seeing Tanjiro Kamado’s ancestor Sumiyoshi and his family—“I’m happy to see that you look happy.
Seeing happy people makes me feel happy”—resonates precisely because of Yoriichi Tsugikuni’s character and the harrowing life he had walked until then.
There’s a saying that “other people’s misfortune is sweet as honey,” but perhaps it’s precisely because he knew true suffering that he could understand how precious the happiness before him was.
It’s a quote that makes us reflect on the breadth of heart it takes to feel that someone else’s happiness is also our own.
I am someone who failed to protect anything important and failed to do what I ought to do in life.Yoriichi Tsugikuni 'Demon Slayer'
A famous quote laying bare profound despair as he looks back on his life: “I am someone who could protect nothing I held dear and failed to do what I ought to have done in life.” It conveys his regret and self-denial over his beloved wife and child being killed by demons, his inability to stop his brother who became a demon, and letting Muzan Kibutsuji, the progenitor of demons, slip away even after cornering him.
In reality, he laid the foundation for swordsmanship later used by the Demon Slayer Corps, making his achievements immeasurable.
Even so, this quote seems to express the anguish of a man who could not obtain what he truly wanted in his life.
Too strong it’s sad… What Kokushibo Yoriichi’s quotes teach about true strength (11–20)
I will become the second-strongest samurai in this country.Yoriichi Tsugikuni 'Demon Slayer'
A famous line from the young Yoriichi Tsugikuni to his brother, Michikatsu Tsugikuni: “I will become the second-strongest samurai in this country.” It follows, “Is your dream to become the strongest samurai in this country, Brother? I want to be like you, too,” and shows how deeply Yoriichi admired his brother.
When Michikatsu, who later became Upper Rank One, Kokushibo, recalled his childhood, this message came back to him and prompted him to question what he truly desired.
It’s a quote that makes you think that, if it had been taken to heart back then, a different future might have been possible.
The moment we met, I knew I was born to defeat this man.Yoriichi Tsugikuni 'Demon Slayer'
The famous line from when Yoriichi Tsugikuni met Muzan Kibutsuji, the first demon: “The moment we met, I knew I was born to defeat this man.” It’s a line that shows he realized everything—being born with swordsmanship that surpassed his brother’s, leaving home after his mother’s death to become a demon slayer—was for that purpose.
Unfortunately, although Yoriichi drove Muzan into a corner, he let him escape.
Even so, his techniques and will were passed down to later generations, producing many outstanding Demon Slayer Corps swordsmen.
It’s a quote that symbolizes Yoriichi Tsugikuni, who fought all his life for his mission.
I will think of this flute you gave me as my elder brother, and no matter how far apart we are, I will not lose heart and will devote myself to daily training.Yoriichi Tsugikuni 'Demon Slayer'
The famous line Yoriichi Tsugikuni addressed to his elder brother, Michikatsu Tsugikuni, when he left the family home: “I will think of this flute you gave me as you, and no matter how far apart we are, I will not falter and will devote myself every day.” The fact that he kept it tucked close to him even when fighting his brother—who later became Upper Rank One, Kokushibo—shows how precious it was to Yoriichi.
It’s a quote that reveals how deeply he respected and cherished the brother from whom he was separated at a young age.
And since Kokushibo kept that flute with him until the very end, the line has come to symbolize the bond between the brothers.
Someday, the children who are yet to be born will surpass us and climb to even greater heights.Yoriichi Tsugikuni 'Demon Slayer'
A famous line spoken during a conversation with his older brother, Michikatsu Tsugikuni: “Someday, the children who will be born after us will surpass us and climb to even greater heights.” This quote highlights the contrast between the brother, who believes they themselves are the strongest, and Yoriichi Tsugikuni, who places his hope in the future.
For Michikatsu—who wants the strongest, his younger brother, to acknowledge him as the only one who can stand at his side—it must have been a message that made him painfully aware of the overwhelming gap between them.
It’s a memorable quote that conveys how differences in talent can lead to differences in worldview.