Koyoharu Gotouge’s decision to make Hantengu (Upper Moon 4) extremely difficult to defeat has sparked intense debate among Demon Slayer fans. Probably one of the most popular arcs in the series, the Demon Slayer: Swordsmith Village arc has been considered a pivotal point in the story’s narrative. However, many fans express frustration with how unfortunately, though, for all his boasting, he lacked any depth, which made his screen presence almost unbearable for many fans.
Table of Contents
Upper Moon 4 Hantengu: Character Overview
| Character Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Hantengu (Upper Moon 4) |
| Arc Appearance | Swordsmith Village Arc |
| Main Ability | Emotion Manifestation |
| Defeat Requirement | Multiple Hashira + Main Characters |
| Fan Reception | Most Hated Upper Moon |
| Backstory | Serial Killer/Thief (200+ years ago) |
| Unique Trait | Splits into Multiple Forms |
Why Hantengu is So Difficult to Kill
As his title suggests, Hantengu is the fifth-strongest demon in existence (counting Muzan), making him extremely difficult to kill even for the Demon Slayer Corps’ top brass. It took Tanjiro, Nezuko, Genya, and the Love Hashira, Kanroji, all fighting together to finally defeat him.
Multiple Form Combat: Known as Hantengu, the demon was able to manifest his emotions into separate demonic creatures. Tanjiro eventually killed him, with the combined efforts of Nezuko, Genya, and Mitsuri. This ability made him exceptionally challenging as he could essentially fight multiple battles simultaneously.
Regeneration Powers: Hantengu’s regenerative abilities surpassed most other demons, requiring sustained attacks from multiple elite fighters to overcome his healing factor.
Fan Frustration with Hantengu’s Design
Lack of Character Depth: The primary criticism stems from Hantengu’s shallow character development despite extensive screen time. As a human, Hantengu lived over 200 years ago as a serial killer and a thief who pretended to be innocent through his elderly appearance and his frail look, and constantly blamed others for his crimes as a way to gain sympathy for himself.
Unsympathetic Backstory: Unlike other Upper Moons who evoke some sympathy, As a human, Hantengu did not have a known name. What we do know is that he was a frequent liar, even as a child. This made him purely detestable without redeeming qualities.
Impact on Tanjiro’s Character
Tanjiro is known for his compassionate disposition toward demons, but his treatment of Hantengu may call that aspect of his character into question. This departure from Tanjiro’s usual empathy toward demons highlighted just how irredeemable Hantengu was as a character.
Gotouge’s Narrative Choice
Strategic Villain Design: That way, it doesn’t repeat the same formula and makes us feel sorry for all of them. Some of them, during their human lives, were unforgivable or complex, which makes them all the more interesting. Gotouge deliberately created variety in Upper Moon sympathability.
Combat Complexity: The author designed Hantengu to require unprecedented teamwork, showcasing how dangerous Upper Moons could be when fought individually.
Why Fans Consider This Poor Writing
Extended Battle Duration: The fight against Hantengu consumed significant screen time without proportional character development or emotional payoff that fans typically expect from major battles.
Repetitive Combat: His emotion-based forms led to repetitive fighting patterns that many found monotonous rather than engaging.
Lack of Emotional Investment: Unlike other Upper Moon defeats that carried emotional weight, Hantengu’s death felt more like relief than catharsis.
Comparison with Other Upper Moons
More Beloved Villains: Characters like Akaza, Doma, and Kokushibo generated complex fan reactions due to their tragic backstories or compelling personalities, making Hantengu’s shallow characterization more noticeable.
Balanced Difficulty: Other Upper Moons provided challenging battles while maintaining character depth, something fans felt Hantengu failed to achieve.
Creator’s Perspective
Koyoharu Gotouge (Japanese: 吾峠 呼世晴, Hepburn: Gotōge Koyoharu; born May 5, 1989) is the pen name of a Japanese manga artist, known for the manga series Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (2016–2020). By July 2025, the manga had over 220 million copies in circulation worldwide.
Despite fan criticism, Gotouge’s overall success suggests deliberate narrative choices, even if not all resonate equally with audiences.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why do fans hate Upper Moon 4 Hantengu in Demon Slayer?
A: Fans hate Hantengu because despite being extremely difficult to kill and taking up significant screen time, he lacked character depth and was purely detestable without redeeming qualities. As a human over 200 years ago, he was a serial killer and thief who pretended to be innocent and blamed others for his crimes. Unlike other Upper Moons who evoke some sympathy, Hantengu’s shallow characterization made his extended battle sequences feel monotonous rather than emotionally engaging.
Q: How difficult was it to defeat Hantengu and who was involved in killing him?
A: Hantengu was the fifth-strongest demon in existence (counting Muzan), making him extremely difficult to kill even for elite Demon Slayers. It required the combined efforts of Tanjiro, Nezuko, Genya, and Love Hashira Mitsuri Kanroji to finally defeat him. His ability to manifest emotions into separate demonic creatures meant he could essentially fight multiple battles simultaneously, requiring unprecedented teamwork to overcome his regenerative abilities and multiple forms.
