Photo/Illutration Visitors can enjoy videos, backstories and hidden secrets about the nine hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps. (Provided by Tomoko Yamamoto)

Fans of global anime sensation “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” can now immerse themselves in a spectacular exhibition highlighting “hashira,” the high-ranking swordsmen of the Demon Slayer Corps.

The newly opened Creative Museum Tokyo in the capital’s Kyobashi district features life-sized panels of the hashira and the eerie atmosphere of the Infinity Castle.

The Demon Slayer anime TV series, adapted from Koyoharu Gotoge’s manga, follows Tanjiro Kamado, a boy whose family was killed by demons. He joins the Demon Slayer Corps to turn his demon-transformed sister back into a human.

The anime broadcast began in 2019 and has since gained popularity in Japan and abroad.

The exhibition welcomes visitors with large graphics of the nine hashira, including Giyu Tomioka and Kyojuro Rengoku.

Upon entry, visitors can select their favorite hashira and receive a “hashira-fuda” (hashira card) featuring that character.

By scanning the QR code on the card, they can hear the hashira’s voice through their smartphones.

Exhibit panels introduce the hashira’s techniques, personalities and hidden secrets.

Fans may be surprised to discover a softer side of these formidable swordsmen, such as Obanai Iguro’s jealousy or Sanemi Shinazugawa’s love for “ohagi” (a traditional Japanese sweet made of sticky rice and red bean paste).

The next section features the life-sized graphics of the hashira, each holding their iconic Nichirin Blade. Visitors can grip the replica hilts of these weapons.

For example, the towering Gyomei Himejima holds a Nichirin Blade with a chain-linked ax and spiked ball, and a notably thick hilt.

Muichiro Tokito, a prodigious swordman known for defeating demons with lightning-fast strikes, is small in stature.

By scanning a hashira card at a designated station, visitors can watch a video of their chosen character and hear some of their most memorable lines.

The venue echoed when Kyojuro Rengoku bellowed out his famous “umai” (delicious), as he devoured beef pot bento boxes.

The exhibit also includes a gallery showcasing more than 1,000 anime keyframes, capturing the full range of emotions of the nine hashira.

While their fighting styles are powerful, the keyframes also show the adorable and endearing charm of the hashira, such as Mitsuri Kanroji’s radiant smile and Shinobu Kocho’s gentle whisper with her hand resting on her cheek.

The exhibition crescendos with an immersive experience of the Infinity Castle, starting with a call of “emergency summon, emergency summon,” as videos are projected onto the walls and floor.

Scenes of flames rising and falling into the Infinity Castle are enhanced by cutting-edge technology that combines projections, 3-D sound, floor vibrations and wind effects.

Wind brushes against visitors’ cheeks, and the floor trembles with a resounding boom.

Beyond that point, visitors may feel as if they have stepped into the actual castle, with its uneven walls, intricate lighting, tiered floors and mirrors creating a maze-like structure.

Shadows flicker across sliding doors and dimly burning candles enhance the eerie atmosphere.
The exhibition concludes with a display of the nine hashira, standing together with their backs turned.

The exhibition runs until March 2 at the Creative Museum Tokyo. It is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., with last entry at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets for adults and university students cost 2,200 yen ($15) for same-day purchase and 2,000 yen for advance purchase.

The official website has more details: https://kimetsu.com/hashiraten/

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