Today’s a big day in the anime world. Kenichi Suzumura, the Japanese voice behind Demon Slayer‘s Snake Hashira, Obanai Iguro, is celebrating his birthday! If you’ve ever been hit right in the feels by Obanai’s quiet devotion or his heartbreaking goodbye with Mitsuri, you should thank Suzumura’s performance for it.
He brings one of the most underappreciated Hashira to life and gives him a voice that sticks with you long after the final episode. And come on, Obanai may not steal the limelight like Rengoku with his flame and flair or Uzui with his ‘flashy’ catchphrases, but when it comes to pure loyalty and tragic sacrifice, he’s easily one of the most unforgettable.
Kenichi Suzumura: From Demon Slayer‘s Obanai Iguro to Legendary Roles Across Anime
Kenichi Suzumura has built his career voicing some of anime’s most beloved characters, and his performance as Obanai Iguro is proof of his ability to capture depth and subtlety. Obanai is such a layered character: he seems tough on the outside but has a ton of insecurities and struggles underneath.
Suzumura’s way of delivering lines, which combines strength with that touch of vulnerability, totally captures Obanai’s battle between his sense of duty and his own personal pain. Also, besides Demon Slayer
He’s voiced Shinn Asuka in Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny, Hikaru Hitachiin in Ouran High School Host Club, and Sougo Okita in Gintama. In each, he showcases a different aspect of his skill: like Shinn being all hotheaded, Hikaru being super mischievous, and Sougo with his sharp humor.
He’s also voiced characters like Atsushi Murasakibara in Kuroko’s Basketball and Lavi in D.Gray-man. His ability to switch between so many characters made him one of the top voice actors out there, always making characters relatable for fans. So, here’s a quick summary of Kenichi Suzumura’s most iconic anime roles:
| Character | Anime |
|---|---|
| Obanai Iguro | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba |
| Shinn Asuka | Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny |
| Hikaru Hitachiin | Ouran High School Host Club |
| Sougo Okita | Gintama |
| Lavi | D.Gray-man |
| Atsushi Murasakibara | Kuroko’s Basketball |
From Cold Glares to the Warmest Goodbye: Obanai’s Tragic End in Demon Slayer
Obanai Iguro in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is portrayed as one of the most intimidating Hashira in the series. His bandaged face, mismatched eyes, and pet snake Kaburamaru make him a mysterious figure. However, beneath his icy exterior lies a tragic backstory, which is shaped by his cursed family and his own inferiority complex.
However, his only source of warmth is Mitsuri Kanroji, the Love Hashira, to whom he quietly devotes his heart. In Demon Slayer, Obanai’s true spotlight moment comes during the final battle against Muzan Kibutsuji. He fights alongside the other Hashira and Demon Slayers, and pushes himself to his absolute limit.
Obanai fights bravely, his swordsmanship enhanced by Kaburamaru’s guidance even when his vision begins to fail. Although even after giving his best, the fight severely weakens him, and just like a few other Hashira, he doesn’t make it.
His death is particularly heartbreaking because it’s connected with Mitsuri’s. In the aftermath of Muzan’s defeat, Obanai and Mitsuri share a brief but tender reunion, which is nothing short of devastating. Obanai tells Mitsuri that if there is another life, he hopes they can be together, free from the burdens of their world.
It’s the kind of goodbye that sticks in your throat, making you want to scream, “This man deserved better!” And Kenichi Suzumura brings all of that to life with his voice: every bit of Obanai’s pain, loyalty, and love. So while today we say “Happy Birthday” to Suzumura, we’re also tipping our hats to Obanai, the Hashira who may not have been the loudest, but whose sacrifice was one of the most unforgettable in Demon Slayer.
So, did Obanai Iguro’s tragic farewell in Demon Slayer hit you as hard as it did us? Share your thoughts in the comments section below, and let’s wish “Happy Birthday” to Suzumura together.
Demon Slayer is currently available to watch on Crunchyroll.
