Ambassador and Consul General of Japan in New York Kanji Yamanouchi delivered a surprising excellent rendition of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba's iconic theme song, "Gurenge."
Ambassador Yamanouchi stated, "Japanese pop culture is an important bond and a great bridge between the American people and the Japanese people, especially for the people who love anime, manga [and] cosplay!" The online response to the cover has been overwhelmingly positive with many commenters describing the ambassador as amazing, brilliant and cool. Some have even gone as far as to state that content like this is what keeps their faith in humanity alive.
Based on the manga series of the same name by Koyoharu Gotouge, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba made its debut on April 6, 2019. Its second season is currently ongoing. The story follows Tanjiro Kamado, an intelligent and kind-hearted boy who lives in the mountains with his family. However, his entire life changes when his parents are attacked and slaughtered by a demon, and his sister, Nezuko, is transformed into one.
Animation studio Ufotable produces Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba with Haruo Sotozaki (Ninja Nonsense, Tales of Zestiria the X) serving as director, Akira Matsushima (Rave Master, Maria Watches Over Us) designing the characters and Manabu Kamino (Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works, Attack on Titan) handling the editing. Kayoko Kusano composed "Gurenge," and the theme song is so popular that it has made Kusano a millionaire from royalties.
Demon Slayer: Kimestu no Yaiba has a passionate fanbase, which includes not only Ambassador Yamanouchi but also Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. The series won multiple awards at the 2020 Crunchyroll Anime Awards, including Anime of the Year, Best Boy and Best Fight Scene. Moreover, the sequel film, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - The Movie: Mugen Train, set multiple box office records upon its release.
Because of the anime's immense popularity and massive fan following, there is a wealth of Demon Slayer merchandise. Recent examples include three limited edition hoodies by clothing brand Crunchyroll Loves, a sushi train by Takara Tomy Arts and Premium Bandai's line of miniature replicas of the series' iconic swords. Moreover, there is even now a Demon Slayer jetliner thanks to a collaboration with airline ANA.
While Netflix only has the first season, both seasons of Demon Slayer: Kimtesu no Yaiba are available to watch on Funimation, Hulu and Crunchyroll. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - The Movie: Mugen Train can be streamed on Crunchyroll.
Source: YouTube
