How the author builds characters in Kimetsu no Yaiba
Kimetsu no Yaiba/Demon Slayer often portrays its characters as flawed and humane, rather than outright evil. Even some of the villains have sympathetic backstories. There are some exceptions, of course, including the main villain, Muzan.
Who is the most hated character in Kimetsu no Yaiba?
However, if we had to compare to choose the most hated character in Kimetsu no Yaiba, Muzan would “lose” to one name. That is Kaigaku, his personality is worse in some way.
Kaigaku in Demon Slayer
Kaigaku is always proud of himself, willing to abandon everything for personal gain, valuing his own life above all others. He even easily abandoned his status as a swordsman when facing Kokushibo, begging him to turn him into a demon to survive.
Kaigaku was not originally an antagonist, he was close to the two main characters before betraying them both. Kaigaku was a disciple of the former Ming Hashira Jigorou, but eventually died as the Upper Six of the Twelve Demon Moons under Muzan.
As a child, Kaigaku was an orphan who was cared for by Gyomei. But when cornered by a demon, he betrayed his caretaker and the other orphans, leading to their deaths and Gyomei being wrongfully imprisoned for murder.
Kaigaku later became a demon slayer and was adopted by the former Ming Hashira Kuwajima Jigoro along with Zenitsu. However, his lust for power drove him to become a demon. In pain and shame over Kaigaku's betrayal, Jigoro committed suicide by disemboweling himself.
Jigoro's death changed Zenitsu forever. During the Infinity Castle arc, he finally faced Kaigaku, who had now become Upper Rank 6 after the deaths of Gyutaro and Daki. Their battle was a sight to behold.
A KnY fan commented on Kaigaku: “This guy is involved in the tragic story of not one but two core characters in the plot. How despicable.”
Another person expressed: “This is despicable. First betraying Gyomei, and then the way this guy treats Zenitsu.”
The third person wrote: “Being human is bad, being a ghost is bad too.”
Kaigaku will play a major role in the upcoming Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle film trilogy.
