It feels like yesterday. Honestly, the frenzy surrounding Tanjiro’s journey was so massive that it’s hard to believe we’ve already moved past the source material's conclusion. If you’re looking for the quick answer, the Demon Slayer manga ended on May 18, 2020. That’s the day Chapter 205 hit the shelves (or digital screens) in Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #24.
Koyoharu Gotouge, the mysterious creator behind the series, didn't drag it out. They finished the story right at the peak of its global popularity. Most series wait until the wheels fall off. Not this one.
The Timeline of the Final Chapter
You might see a few different dates floating around online. That usually happens because of the time difference between the Japanese release and the English translations. While May 18 was the official Monday release in Japan, many fans in the West actually read the finale on May 17 due to the way Manga Plus and the Shonen Jump app sync up globally.
It was a weird time. The world was in the middle of lockdowns. Everyone was stuck at home, and suddenly, the biggest manga on the planet was just... over.
There were 23 volumes in total. The final volume, Volume 23, didn't actually come out until December 4, 2020, in Japan. This volume was a big deal because Gotouge added several "new" pages that weren't in the original magazine run. They included extra epilogue details and a few heartfelt messages to the fans. If you only read the magazine version, you actually missed out on the true, complete ending.
Why People Get the Dates Wrong
Wait, didn't the anime just have a big finale? Yeah, that's usually where the confusion starts.
The anime, produced by Ufotable, is on a completely different schedule. Because the Mugen Train movie and the subsequent TV seasons (Entertainment District, Swordsmith Village, and Hashira Training) have been released years after the manga finished, casual fans often think the story is still being written. It isn't. The "ink" has been dry for over five years now.
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The Gap Between Manga and Anime
- Manga Start: February 15, 2016
- Manga End: May 18, 2020
- Anime Premiere: April 6, 2019
- Anime Status: Ongoing (Final "Infinity Castle" Arc announced as a movie trilogy)
Basically, if you’re an anime-only fan, you are living in the past. That’s not a bad thing—Ufotable’s animation is gorgeous—but the "When did the Demon Slayer manga end" question has a very definitive, historical answer that predates most of the anime's biggest cultural moments.
What Actually Happened in Chapter 205?
Without spoiling every single beat for the three people who haven't read it yet: it was a time skip. A big one.
Gotouge decided to jump forward to modern-day Tokyo. We saw the descendants and reincarnations of the characters we spent years following. Some fans loved it. Others? Not so much. It felt a bit jarring to go from 1910s Taisho-era Japan to a world with smartphones and skyscrapers.
But it served a purpose. The whole point of the Demon Slayer Corps was to create a world where people could live peaceful lives without the fear of being eaten. By showing us a mundane, quiet modern world, Gotouge was proving that Tanjiro and the Hashira actually won. Their sacrifices meant something.
The Rumors of a Sequel
Ever since May 2020, people have been hunting for rumors of a Demon Slayer Part 2. You’ve probably seen the clickbait. "Tanjiro Returns!" or "New Sequel Announced!"
None of it is true.
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Koyoharu Gotouge has been pretty quiet since the series wrapped. There were some reports in Japanese media, specifically from Weekly Shonen Jump insiders, suggesting that Gotouge had some family matters to attend to after the series finished. Whether that’s true or not, the creator hasn't started a new long-running serialization.
We did get some "Gaiden" stories. These are side stories focused on characters like Giyu Tomioka and Kyojuro Rengoku. However, these weren't actually drawn by Gotouge; the art was handled by Ryoji Hirano. They are great additions to the lore, but they don't move the timeline forward. They are flashbacks.
The Impact of the Ending
When the manga ended, it didn't just stop—it exploded. In 2020, Demon Slayer (Kimetsu no Yaiba) did something no one thought possible: it outsold One Piece for the yearly Oricon sales chart. That broke a streak that had lasted over a decade.
The ending was a cultural event in Japan. Newsstands were sold out. People were crying on the subway. It's rare for a series to go out on its own terms while it's still making billions of yen. Most publishers would beg a creator to keep going, to find a new villain, to go to space—whatever it takes to keep the cash cow alive.
Gotouge said no. The story was about the Kamado family and the end of Muzan Kibutsuji. Once that was done, the story was done.
How to Read the Full Story Today
If you’re trying to catch up because you can't wait for the movie trilogy, you have a few options.
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The easiest way is the Shonen Jump app (Viz Media). It’s a couple of dollars a month, and you can binge the entire thing from Chapter 1 to 205. If you prefer physical books, the "Demon Slayer Box Set" is usually the way to go. It contains all 23 volumes.
Just a heads up: the manga's art style is a bit different from the anime. It's a little more "rough" and "sketchy." Some people find it more charming and personal, while others miss the flashy neon lights of the Ufotable adaptation. But the emotional weight? That's all there.
Key Details to Remember:
- Total Chapters: 205
- Final Arc: The Sunrise Countdown Arc
- Final Villain: Muzan Kibutsuji (obviously)
- Status: Fully Completed
What's Next for the Franchise?
Even though the manga ended years ago, the brand is arguably bigger than ever. We are currently waiting for the "Infinity Castle" movie trilogy. This will cover the massive, final confrontation between the Demon Slayer Corps and the Upper Moons.
Because the manga is already finished, we know exactly what's going to happen. There are no "filler" endings coming. We know who lives, who dies, and how it all shakes out. This puts Ufotable in a unique position where they can focus entirely on making the fights look as insane as possible without worrying about catching up to an ongoing book.
Actionable Steps for Fans
If you're looking to dive deeper now that you know the timeline, here is how you should handle the "post-ending" world of Demon Slayer:
- Check out the "Stories of Water and Flame": As mentioned, these are the Gaiden chapters. They are officially collected in a single volume and provide some much-needed backstory for Giyu and Rengoku.
- Read the Fanbooks: There are two official fanbooks (the second one is called The Wing of a Butterfly). They contain stats, "Taisho Secrets," and small tidbits about what happened to the survivors after the final battle.
- Ignore the "Part 2" Leaks: Unless you see an official announcement from the Weekly Shonen Jump X (Twitter) account or the official Kimetsu.com website, it’s fake. Don't let the "leakers" get your hopes up for a Boruto-style sequel that doesn't exist.
- Compare the Ending: If you've only seen the anime, read Chapter 190 through 205. It will give you a different perspective on the pacing and the sheer desperation of the final fight before the movies come out.
The Demon Slayer manga ended exactly when it needed to. It didn't overstay its welcome, and it left a legacy that's still dominating the anime industry years later. Whether you read it for the lore or just to see how it all ends, the 2020 finale remains one of the most significant moments in modern manga history.