The ongoing rerun of the complete Kimetsu no Yaiba (Demon Slayer) anime series continued on May 24, 2026, with the broadcast of Episode 8, “Smell of Enchanted Blood.” Before it aired, fans online were already talking about it in advance, saying things like “Tonight’s Kimetsu is going to be brutal, isn’t it?” and “This episode is absolutely packed with flags — amazing.”

About the Kimetsu no Yaiba Anime

The anime adaptation of Koyoharu Gotouge‘s manga follows Tanjiro Kamado, a boy whose family is slaughtered by a demon, who then sets out to find a way to restore his sister Nezuko — who has been turned into a demon — back to human form, joining the Demon Slayer Corps along the way. The series has been a massive global phenomenon, with cumulative sales of all 23 Jump Comics volumes (Shueisha) surpassing 220 million copies worldwide.

The anime is produced by ufotable and began with the Kamado Tanjiro Rissshi-hen arc in 2019. Most recently, the first film in the theatrical trilogy Gekijouban “Kimetsu no Yaiba” Mugen-jou-hen — “Chapter 1: Akaza Returns” — opened on July 18, 2025.

⚠️ This article contains plot details from the anime. Spoiler warning.

Tanjiro Declares War on Muzan!

In Episode 8, Tanjiro arrives in Asakusa and catches the scent of a demon. Tragedy then unfolds before his eyes when a man transformed by Kibutsuji Muzan bites his own wife, throwing the city into chaos. Tanjiro pins the man down and shouts at Muzan’s retreating back: “I won’t let you get away! No matter where you go!”

Fans commented online: “This is, in a sense, the beginning of the end for Muzan-sama,” and “Muzan-sama playing completely oblivious here is so good.”

Tamayo Appears — Fans Go Wild!

After Muzan disappears, police officers who heard the commotion rush in and try to drag Tanjiro away. Suddenly, beautiful patterns wrap around the officers, and a woman in a kimono appears.

Fans erupted with “Tamayo-san is here!!” and “Tamayo-san’s Blood Demon Art is so beautiful~” Tamayo — who will later play a crucial role in restoring Nezuko to human form — introduces herself to Tanjiro: “I am a demon, but I am also a doctor, and I want to destroy Muzan.”

A Chilling Scene — Muzan in a Dark Alley

Meanwhile, Muzan slips away from his family and walks into a dark alley. When a drunk man confronts him, he deals with the situation in an instant — then turns to ask a woman who had been following him, “Do I look pale?” before a horrifying sequence follows.

Fans reacted: “This scene was terrifying even on the first watch,” and “It airs at 9 in the morning — I’m worried it might be too intense for young kids (laughs).”

“Nezuko Is the Most Beautiful Girl in the Village!” — Tanjiro Explodes

After things calm down, Tanjiro encounters Yushiro, the young man who accompanies Tamayo, who offers to take them to her. But then Yushiro remarks: “That thing is a demon, and an ugly one at that.” Tanjiro stands there puzzled for a moment before realizing Yushiro is talking about Nezuko — and fires back immediately: “Nezuko is the most beautiful girl in our village!”

Fans had a field day with the moment:

• “The second Yushiro said ‘ugly,’ Tanjiro just snapped (laughs)”
• “Big brother is absolutely furious, lol!”
• “Nezuko’s sad little face when she gets called ugly is way too cute”
• “Yushiro considers every woman besides Tamayo-sama ugly — that’s hilarious”

Tamayo Asks Tanjiro for Help

At Tamayo’s home, she introduces herself formally and reveals that she sustains herself on only a small amount of human blood, and that she was the one who turned Yushiro into a demon. Tanjiro, sensing the sincerity in Tamayo’s scent, decides to trust her and asks directly: “Is there a way to turn someone who has become a demon back into a human?”

Tamayo replies: “Every wound and every illness has a cure or a treatment.” She cannot do it yet, but she wants to “create a way to cure it” — and asks Tanjiro for two things:

• Permission to examine his sister’s blood
• Help collecting blood samples from demons whose blood contains the highest concentration of Muzan’s blood possible

All through this serious conversation, Nezuko is lazily rolling around on a tatami mat, prompting fans to squeal: “Nezuko is so cute~” and “She looks more like a cat than a demon.” The episode ends with an attack by Muzan’s minions!

Tamayo Voiced by Maaya Sakamoto

The character Tamayo is voiced by Maaya Sakamoto, the acclaimed voice actress best known for roles such as Mari Illustrious in the Evangelion franchise, Ciel Phantomhive in Black Butler, and the Witch of Greed Echidna in Re:Zero.

In a comment published on Kimetsu no Yaiba’s official account for the complete-series rerun occasion, Sakamoto reflected on her recording experience: “Finding ways to convey her elegance, sadness, and gravitas through voice was truly a pleasure.”

The Rerun Continues to Draw Strong Reactions

The full-series rerun began on April 5, 2025, close to the 7th anniversary of the original premiere on April 6, 2019. Many fans remarked “I can watch it fresh again!” and “I’m watching live because this is the episode where Yushiro first appears” — reflecting just how enduring Kimetsu no Yaiba’s popularity remains.

In the episode’s “Taisho Gossip” segment, it was also revealed that Yushiro’s hobby is writing a “Tamayo-sama diary” — sending fans into fits of laughter.

---

Source: aniani