In Episode 6 of the “Demon Slayer: Hashira Training Arc” anime, inspired by Gyomei Himejima's training, Hiro Shimono (Voice of Zenitsu Agatsuma) and Yoshitsugu Matsuoka (Voice of Inosuke Hashibira) took on their first-ever waterfall training in real life. Narrated by Tomokazu Sugita, who voices Gyomei Himejima, a special video capturing this challenge has been released.
“Demon Slayer” is an anime based on Koyoharu Gotouge's manga, published by Shueisha’s “Jump Comics,” which has sold over 150 million copies across 23 volumes. It tells the story of Tanjiro Kamado, a boy whose family was killed by demons. To save his sister Nezuko, who turned into a demon, Tanjiro joins the Demon Slayer Corps and battles demons. The anime, produced by ufotable, started with the “Tanjiro Kamado, Unwavering Resolve Arc” in April 2019 and continues with the latest “Hashira Training Arc,” airing from May 2024. The series is beloved worldwide for its emotional human-demon story, intense sword fights, captivating characters, and occasional comedic moments.
The newly released special video shows Hiro Shimono and Yoshitsugu Matsuoka taking on the waterfall training challenge. During the recent “Demon Slayer TV – Hashira Training Arc Special” on ABEMA, they rolled dice and received the task, “Shimono and Matsuoka, Do Waterfall Training.” They finally took on this challenge in Minamiashigara City, Kanagawa Prefecture, known for the legend of Kintaro from Ashigara Mountain. With the help of a waterfall training expert, Ashigara Sennin, their rigorous training began.
Upon arrival, they were greeted by a massive waterfall with a drop of about 23 meters and a width of about 5 meters. Overwhelmed by the waterfall's power, they first performed a purification ritual before the training. Following the quirky Sennin, Shimono and Matsuoka, with a determined shout of “Hey!” braved the cold waters. They endured the unexpectedly freezing water and made their way to the waterfall’s plunge pool. Like Demon Slayers undergoing Gyomei Himejima’s training, they resolutely reached the base of the waterfall, withstanding the powerful water flow, and completed the training successfully.
After overcoming the challenge, Shimono exclaimed, “This is amazing!” while Matsuoka, reflecting on the experience's toughness, expressed, “(Natsuki) Hanae and (Akari) Kito wouldn’t make it.” Despite the harshness, they both felt a profound sense of accomplishment. “My body feels hot,” Shimono noted, deeply feeling the training’s impact. They both gained a new appreciation for the rigorous training the Demon Slayers undergo, saying, “We now truly understand how intense the Slayers’ training is!”
In the upcoming Episode 7, the focus remains on Tanjiro and his companions tackling Gyomei Himejima’s waterfall and rock-pushing training. The next episode, extended to 40 minutes, airs on June 23 at 11:15 PM. With just two episodes left until the finale, the excitement continues for the “Demon Slayer: Hashira Training Arc.”
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