One of the most intriguing parts of Demon Slayer season 3 so far has been the introduction of all the Upper-Moon demons.
In the very first episode, the anime kicks off with Muzan Kibutsuji summoning all the remaining Upper-Moon Demons, which include Akaza, Gyokko, Hantengo, Doma, and Kokushibo.
Out of all the Upper-Moon demons, the ones that stand out the most are Upper-Moon 1, Kokushibo, with his uncanny resemblance to Yoriichi Tsugikuni; Upper-Moon 2, Doma, with his cheerful and bubbly personality, which is very uncharacteristic of a demon, especially someone who is the second most powerful in Muzan’s army; and Upper-Moon 3, Akaza, with his profound hatred for Doma, even though throughout their interaction Doma has acted with nothing but friendliness and tolerance towards Akaza, even after his repeated aggression and animosity towards him.
So why is it that Akaza hates Doma for seemingly no reason? There are multiple ideological differences and underlying character differences between Akaza and Doma, which stem from their past experiences and contribute to his contempt for Doma.
To understand the feud between Akaza and Doma, it is essential to grasp their backgrounds and beliefs. Both demons were once humans, transformed into demonic entities after succumbing to despair and consuming human flesh. However, their paths diverged, leading to a fundamental divide in their values and outlooks.
Demon Slayer: Why Does Akaza Hate Doma?
1. The Pursuit of Power: Akaza, originally known as Hakuji, came from a humble background plagued by poverty and discrimination.
He was born to a sickly father, whom he deeply loved, but because of his dire circumstances, he had to steal even to pay for his father’s medicines. Desiring strength and a way to escape his tragic circumstances, he hones his combat skills and seeks to prove himself.
His driving force was the desire for power; he saw strength as a means of transcending his past and the limitations imposed upon him.
Doma, on the other hand, was born with extraordinary features. He had rainbow-coloured eyes and pale hair, which led people to believe that he was special and could communicate with God. Because of these attributes, he became the head of a cult formed by his parents. He was spoiled and indulged in a life of luxury, often showing disregard for others.
Doma embraced his demonic transformation as a means of gratifying his hedonistic desires, reveling in the chaos and pleasure that his newfound power provided. Unlike Akaza, who sought strength for personal growth and redemption, Doma sought it for his own twisted amusement.
2. Conflicting Approaches to Demonhood:
Conflicting Approaches to Demonhood (Image credit: Netflix)Akaza and Doma’s contrasting approaches to their demonic existence also contribute to Akaza’s hatred for Doma. Akaza, after becoming a demon, lost all his memories, but he still retained a semblance of his human morals and principles.
Because of this, as mentioned by Doma, he refuses to harm or consume women. He also refuses to kill a strong opponent before giving them the choice to become a demon.
Akaza continuously seeks strong opponents and wishes to suppress his human emotions and embrace his demon nature fully, believing it to be the key to achieving ultimate strength.
In contrast, Doma revelled in his demonic nature without remorse or guilt. He embraced the darkness within him and indulged in sadistic acts, deriving pleasure from the suffering of others. He justifies the consumption of his own followers in the “Eternal Paradise Faith” with his twisted sense of morality by calling it an act of salvation and the only way by which a human can reach paradise.
Doma’s lack of self-awareness and his false sense of moral superiority brought on by his hypocritical personification as a man of God, combined with his twisted justification for killing his followers, make Akaza despise him even more.
3. Mode of Conduct:
Akaza has a very serious and rigid demeanour.
He is not very talkative and likes to keep to himself. He believes that absolute obedience to Muzan Kibutsuji’s will is required for them to keep moving forward and achieve their goal, and even the slightest deviation from this rule is unacceptable to him. Doma, on the other hand, is much more externally friendly and approachable.
His carefree and unassuming nature sometimes leads him to act on his own without any orders from Muzan; this directly contrasts with Akaza’s principles, which makes Doma even more disliked by him. This is apparent when Doma approaches Gyokko after their meeting with Muzan in the Infinity Castle in season 3, episode 1, to accompany him on his mission without being ordered by Muzan himself.
Akaza sees it as a sign of disrespect and attacks Dome, ripping the top half of his head apart with a single blow.
4. The Battle for Power and Rank:
The Battle for Power and Rank (Image credit: Netflix) As members of the Twelve Kizuki, Akaza and Doma constantly vie for power and rank within the demon hierarchy.
The hierarchical structure of the demons creates a competitive environment where each member strives to climb the ranks and gain the favour of Muzan Kibutsuji.
Doma joined as the upper rank six within the twelve Kizuki but surpassed Akaza with unprecedented speed, becoming the upper rank two and displacing him to the upper rank three. Driven by his past struggles and desire to prove himself, Akaza harbours aspirations to rise in the ranks and surpass his fellow demons, including Doma.
Doma, with his unpredictable nature and disdain for authority, often becomes an obstacle in Akaza’s quest for advancement.
The constant power struggle and rivalry between the two demons intensify their animosity and fuel Akaza’s hatred towards Doma.
In conclusion, the complex relationship between Akaza and Doma in “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” encapsulates the convergence of conflicting ideologies and divergent paths and the battle for power and rank. Akaza’s journey for strength and redemption collided with Doma’s hedonistic pursuit of dominance, deepening the chasm of hatred between them.
Their clash serves as a testament to the nuanced storytelling of the series, which captures the essence of human emotions and explores the depths of complex character dynamics.
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