In the manga and anime adaptations of the immensely famous Demon Slayer series, the main character, Tanjiro Kamado, wears earrings almost all of the time and can almost never be spotted without them.
It seems that they are rather particular, and they also have significance in the actual world. If you have been curious about Tanjiro’s Hanafuda earrings, their significance, and the symbolism behind them, you are in luck because we have compiled a post that explains all you need to know about them.
What exactly are these Hanafuda earrings that Tanjiro wears, and why does he have them? The Hanafuda earrings that Tanjiro wears are, in reality, Japanese playing cards that have been mounted on earrings. His earrings, which depict red and white blooms, are not a component of any formal Hanafuda set. Instead, they were made especially for the manga and do not come with any other Hanafuda accessory. They are significant in the sense that they signify Tanjiro’s relationship to his ancestors and the fact that he will be the inheritor of the Breath of the Sun when he dies.
This post will clarify all that we understand regarding the Hanafuda earrings that are featured in Demon Slayer, in addition to the actual significance of these earrings in the outside world. You will learn not just what they imply but additionally how significant they are in the context of the Demon Slayer world.
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The Meaning of Hanafuda Earrings
In both the manga and the anime based on the Demon Slayer franchise, the Hanafuda earrings are a particularly special set of earrings. Regardless of the reality that they are used in the popular franchise, in actual life, their interpretations and applications are very distinct.
Hanafuda, which translates to “flower cards” in Japanese, is really a deck of Karuta cards, which are historical decks of playing cards in Japan that were first developed in the middle of the 16th century.
Using it, players may practice a variety of board games that involve matching pairs, which are often referred to as “fishing games” in that region.
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Along with uta-garuta (also known as “the game of a hundred poets”), it represents one of the 2 karuta decks that are considered to be the most common in Japan.
In the next section, we will discuss the background of the Hanafuda cards as well as their importance in the culture and tradition of Japan.
Although polished card games have been practiced in Japan by the aristocracy for generations, they were not in popular usage, nor were they enjoyed by the poor people.
When Francis Xavier came to Japan in the 18th year of Tenmon, which corresponds to the year 1549 AD, this switched.
The crew of his ship brought back with them from Europe a deck of cards known as Hombre (Portuguese for “48 cards”), as well as the rules for playing these activities and, more especially, gambling card games, that quickly became quite popular among the Japanese people.
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After this, in 1633, Japan severed all ties with the rest of the Western world, and as a result, western playing cards were made illegal. But besides, they continued to enjoy significant levels of popularity.
Throughout the time of the Tokugawa shogunate, gambling for private gain was against the law. However because playing cards themselves were not restricted in any way, new decks of cards were produced in a wide variety of styles to circumvent restrictions.
For instance, a player who wishes to remain nameless created a deck called Unsun Karuta. The cards in this deck included artwork from China, including images of Chinese soldiers, weapons, armor, and dragons.
The deck had 75 cards, and the game did not achieve the same level of popularity as Western card games had in the past owing to the fact that it was more difficult to get acquainted with the system.
Gambling with a certain deck design got too widespread, so the government outlawed those cards to regulate activities. This, in turn, inspired the production of other cards because of the increased demand for gambling with different deck designs.
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The authorities and the players on the rebel side engaged in a game of cat and mouse, which led to the development of a wide variety of distinct designs. Mekuri Karuta was a card game that became popular during the Edo period and continued to be played throughout the Meiwa, Anei, and Tenmei periods (about 1765–1788). Unsun Karuta was eventually phased out.
It was played using a deck of 48 cards that was split into four suits of 12 cards each, and it eventually became one of the most widespread and extensive kinds of gambling during this time period. It was utilized for gambling so often that in 1791, throughout the Kansei period, it was declared illegal because of its prevalence.
In the years that followed, numerous more decks were created, but they were eventually outlawed since gambling was their primary purpose and the only legal use for them.
Ultimately, the authorities started to recognize that regular people would always use some version of the deck for card games, therefore it started to soften its rules prohibiting gambling. This was done in response to the government’s realization. This entire process culminated in the creation of a card game known as Hanafuda, which was a hybrid of traditional Japanese games and Western-style playing cards.
Because hanafuda cards don’t really carry numerals (the primary objective of the game is to connect pictures), and because it requires an exceptionally long time to complete a game in comparison to other games, its usage for gambling is rather restricted.
In spite of this, it remains allowed to bet by giving points to different combinations of pictures. In spite of this, card games did not enjoy the same level of popularity as they formerly had because of the actions of the government in history.
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Hanafuda cards gained greater popularity in contemporary times when the Nintendo firm was established in 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, who also started creating the cards by hand at that time.
Card games are once again becoming popular in Japan as a direct result of the activities of the yakuza, who utilized the deck in underground casinos all throughout the nation. As a result, the Japanese firm that produced the deck saw phenomenal development.
The background of the term “yakuza,” which refers to the Japanese mafia, is mysterious; however, the assumption that it derives from the characters ya (8), ku (9), and za (3) is common. This is due to the fact that 8, 9, and 3 add up to 20 points, and this is the worst possible hand in one variation of this game of cards.
Furthermore, in the year 1950, the corporation extended its ambitions beyond Japan. Hiroshi Yamauchi, Fusajiro’s great-great-grandson and the future CEO of Nintendo, signed a contract with Disney to manufacture Hanafuda cards with Disney characters on them.
The success of Disney’s Hanafuda trading cards, which fetched millions of dollars, enabled Nintendo to finance the launch of new ventures. You may discover video games created by Nintendo that let you enjoy an electronic copy of this classic card game nowadays.
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These games enable you to play the game on electronic devices. Although it is known by a number of other names, the Hanafuda deck is a popular card game in Japan, South Korea, and Hawaii right now.
Sakura, Higobana, and even Hanafura are all names that are used to refer to it in Hawaii. The most popular card game in South Korea is known as “Va Stop,” and the local name for the cards is “Hwatoo” (Go Stop).
It is a tradition that is widely practiced in South Korea to play this music throughout important holidays like the lunar new year as well as the Chuseok festival that is celebrated in Korea.
Over the course of many years, playing “Go Stop” with one’s family at holiday parties has evolved into a traditional component of Korean culture. In Micronesia, the game is called Hanafuda, and it is likewise practiced there. Micronesia was a Japanese colony in the past.
Even though few people are aware of it, Nintendo still manufactures Hanafuda cards in contrast to Western cards, even though they are exclusively sold in the Japanese marketplace. This is despite the fact that Nintendo is now focused on the creation of platforms and games.
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Now you know that Tanjiro’s Hanafuda earrings are inspired by a traditional Japanese card game and that their shape is directly derived from the look of the cards themselves.
What Symbolism Is Hidden Within the Hanafuda Earrings?
After going through the background of the cards and explaining how they came to be, we may go on to discuss their significance. To be more specific, the earrings themselves have no literal significance; rather, they serve as a reminder of the legacy that Tanjiro’s father bestowed on him when he inherited them.
They appear to be the successors of the technique known as “Breath of the Sun,” which further validates the significance of these individuals.
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The traditional Hanafuda cards each have their own unique interpretations. In all, there are 48 primary cards, and the following is the significance of each one of them:
| Month / Suit Flower | Hikari (20 points) | Tane (10 points) | Tanzaku (5 points) | Kasu (1 point) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January Pine | Crane and Sun | Poetry tanzaku | 2 cards | |
| February Plum blossom | Bush warbler | Poetry tanzaku | 2 cards | |
| March Cherry blossom | Curtain | Poetry tanzaku | 2 cards | |
| April Wisteria | Cuckoo | Plain tanzaku | 2 cards | |
| May Iris | Eight-plank bridge | Plain tanzaku | 2 cards | |
| June Peony | Butterflies | Blue tanzaku | 2 cards | |
| July Bush clover | Boar | Plain tanzaku | 2 cards | |
| August Susuki grass | Full moon | Geese | 2 cards | |
| September Chrysanthemum | Sake cup | Blue tanzaku | 2 cards | |
| October Maple | Deer | Blue tanzaku | 2 cards | |
| November Willow | Ono no Michikaze | Swallow | Plain tanzaku | Lightning |
| December Paulownia | Chinese phoenix | 3 cards |
Additionally, there are several other cards, including:
| Month / Suit Flower | Hikari (20 points) | Tane (10 points) | Tanzaku (5 points) | Kasu (1 point) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snow Bamboo | Princess Yaegaki | Sparrows | Poetry tanzaku | 1 card |
| Earth Bamboo | Tiger | Plain tanzaku | 2 cards | Earth Bamboo |
| Heaven Lotus | Dragon | Plain tanzaku | 2 cards |
As you can see, the stud earrings that Tanjiro wears do not in fact match any Hanafuda card that exists in the real world. The first design generated a lot of debate, resulting in the writers deciding to switch to a different approach. In the next paragraph, we are going to discuss the factors that led to this conclusion.
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Are Tanjiro’s Earrings Supposed to Be a Symbol of the Sun Rising?
The basic model of the earrings was the subject of a great deal of debate due to the fact that the illustration on the earrings overpowers a striking similarity to the so-known Rising Sun Flag.
This flag was flown by Japan during the Second World War and it was flown while the country was responsible for a number of horrific acts and war crimes during that timespan.
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Because of this, the initial design of the earrings was modified so that they no longer reflect the Rising Sun but instead a bouquet of red and white flowers.
Where Did Tanjiro Get Those Earrings?
According to Tanjiro, the Hanafuda earrings appear to be some kind of cherished artifact passed down through the family. Although their precise significance in the narrative is still shrouded in mystery, we do realize that the two of them have ties to both Tanjiro’s forefathers and Muzan, the series’ main enemy.
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Tanjuro Kamado, Tanjiro’s father, was the previous owner of the earrings. Tanjiro inherited them from him. In the Natagumo Mountain storyline, Tanjiro faced Lower Rank 5 Rui and was almost slain by his Blood Demon Art when a memory of his father ordering him to take a deep breath and transform into Hinokami surfaced.
Then, Tanjiro recalls a time when he and his sister Nezuko were younger and they saw their father do the Hinokami Kagura all across the night when they were youngsters.
When Tanjiro questioned his mother about how Tanjuro was capable to do the Hinokami Kagura on a frigid night, she explained to him that there was a technique to breathe so that his father would perform regardless of the weather.
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This allowed Tanjiro’s father to dance even when it was very cold outside.
After that, Tanjuro instructed Tanjiro to make certain that the Hanafuda earrings and the kagura were handed down without interruption, regardless of what the circumstances were.
Tanjiro abandons the Water Breathing, Tenth Form: Constant Flux method and instead employs the technique that he received from his father, the Hinokami Kagura: Dance.
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Why Does Muzan Place Such a Strong Value on Hanafuda Earrings?
In order to find the solution to this issue, we will need to go much farther into the past of the Demon Slayer universe.
To be more specific, Muzan was the 1st demon that ever existed, and he has a long battle history with Demon Slayers, which dates back to the beginning of existence.
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It wasn’t until Muzan and Tamayo ran across the demon slayer Yoriichi Tsugikuni that he started having problems with the earrings.
At that same moment, Yoriichi sensed the malevolence of Muzan and compared him to bubbling magma. Simultaneously, Muzan did not feel threatened or concerned about Yoriichi since he did not recognize any hazardous qualities in her.
Muzan made an effort to assassinate Yoriichi without giving him any prior notice since he was content with Kokushibo serving as his servant at the time.
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Yoriichi, on the other hand, was able to avoid the punches and unearthed Muzan’s vulnerabilities, which consisted of seven hearts and five brains that could travel independently about his body.
Afterward, Yoriichi merged all of his forms into one stroke and made his blade blazing crimson, which enabled him to cut through all of Muzan’s vulnerabilities and effortlessly dominate him.
The everlasting demon Muzan was astonished and incapable of healing for the first time in his existence; he crouched in a pool of his own blood and aggressively scowled at Yoriichi, who had just asked him what he believed was the worth of life.
This was the 1st time in Muzan’s life that he had ever been incapable of healing himself.
Muzan utilized the remnants of whatever little strength he had left to split his body in a strong blast that seemed to be an explosion when Yoriichi stepped closer to murder him.
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It seemed like Yoriichi was capable of eliminating virtually all of the newly formed fragments; however, the parts that he missed fled away, which enabled Muzan to regenerate after a short period.
After this fight, Muzan was left with profound wounds, and with Kokushibo’s help, the two of them hastened to murder anybody who utilized the Sun Breathing technique, in the hopes of preventing another Demon Slayer who possessed the ability to murder Muzan.
They came very close to being successful and were virtually capable of eradicating Sun Breathing completely.
Muzan never personally challenged the Demon Slayers again because he had a great deal of dread for the man he regarded to be a genuine demon.
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Instead, he dispatched demons to do his calling since he did not wish to put himself in danger of being murdered. Even though Yoriichi has passed away, he still has a healthy respect and reverence for him.
Why Does Muzan Dislike Hanafuda Earrings?
The question now is, how exactly does the narrative that was just told pertain to the Hanafuda earrings? Yoriichi Tsugikuni, the demon slayer who came close to killing Muzan and wore the Hanafuda earrings as his signature, and we made sure to keep that spoiler concealed on purpose (even though it is obvious in the film), but here’s something else you should know.
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This is the reason why Muzan despises these earrings and the reason why he is so terrified of them. This is exactly the reason why Tanjiro will have such a significant part in the development of the series.
Given that Tanjiro is not in any way connected to Yoriichi or his family, the only question that really matters is how he came to possess the earrings in the first place, given that they are a family heritage.
It would appear that this tale is connected to Sumiyoshi, a very senior ancestor who belonged to the Kamado line.
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Sumiyoshi is a relative of the Kamado family; he resembles a younger Tanjiro, and we don’t understand their precise relationship, but we do know that he is connected to them.
Sumiyoshi also existed at the same time period as Yoriichi; however, the 2 of them are not linked to one another in any direct way; nonetheless, it appears that the two of them had a very deep connection with one another; however, Demon Slayer has to dwell on that particular facet further.
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Earrings may have been a gift from Yoriichi to Sumiyoshi, and the Kamado family may have kept them as an inheritance out of admiration for the relationship between Yoriichi and Sumiyoshi.
This reveals why Muzan was so terrified of the earrings; it seems that Yoriichi was the sole Demon Slayer capable of killing him, a job that had previously been considered unachievable; also Muzan himself believed he was indestructible. In order to get further information on this matter, we will, of course, have to sit tight and see how the narrative unfolds in the next scenes.
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What’s the Matter with Tanjiro’s Stud Earrings?
There is not the slightest bit of a problem with Tanjiro’s earrings in and of themselves. People may have been aware of the contentious Rising Sun Flag when they saw them, however, this issue has been resolved since it was brought up earlier. That was the only problem with them, and it was addressed previously.
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