Animated 'Demon Slayer' strikes chord with pandemic Japan
Japanese hairstylist Akina Nasu shows a picture she got when she went to see the film “Demon Slayer,” which has become the nation’s top-grossing film, and opened in Miami to be eligible for the 2021 Academy Awards, in Tokyo Wednesday, March 3, 2021. Nasu and other fans says they identify with the story because of the hardships and fears during the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Yuri Kageyama)

Japanese hairstylist Akina Nasu shows a picture she got when she went to see the film “Demon Slayer,” which has become the nation’s top-grossing film, and opened in Miami to be eligible for the 2021 Academy Awards, in Tokyo Wednesday, March 3, 2021. Nasu and other fans says they identify with the story because of the hardships and fears during the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Yuri Kageyama)

Mar. 03, 2021 11:16 PM EST
People walk past a theater where the film “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train" is screened on its opening day, Oct. 16, 2020. “Demon Slayer,” directed by Haruo Sotozaki, has become the biggest grossing film for Japan, including live-action films, and has struck a chord with pandemic-era Japan, and possibly with the world. (Tsuyoshi Ueda/Kyodo News via AP)

People walk past a theater where the film “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train" is screened on its opening day, Oct. 16, 2020. “Demon Slayer,” directed by Haruo Sotozaki, has become the biggest grossing film for Japan, including live-action films, and has struck a chord with pandemic-era Japan, and possibly with the world. (Tsuyoshi Ueda/Kyodo News via AP)

Mar. 03, 2021 11:12 PM EST
People wearing face masks walk past a poster of the film “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train" at a theater in December 2020. “Demon Slayer,” directed by Haruo Sotozaki, has become the biggest grossing film for Japan, including live-action films, and has struck a chord with pandemic-era Japan, and possibly with the world. (Tsuyoshi Ueda/Kyodo News via AP)

People wearing face masks walk past a poster of the film “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train" at a theater in December 2020. “Demon Slayer,” directed by Haruo Sotozaki, has become the biggest grossing film for Japan, including live-action films, and has struck a chord with pandemic-era Japan, and possibly with the world. (Tsuyoshi Ueda/Kyodo News via AP)

Mar. 03, 2021 11:13 PM EST
Copies of the final and 23rd volume of the "Demon Slayer" manga series are lined up on bookshelves at a store in Tokyo on Dec. 4, 2020. “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train,” directed by Haruo Sotozaki, has become the biggest grossing film for Japan, including live-action films, and has struck a chord with pandemic-era Japan, and possibly with the world. (Kyodo News via AP)

Copies of the final and 23rd volume of the "Demon Slayer" manga series are lined up on bookshelves at a store in Tokyo on Dec. 4, 2020. “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train,” directed by Haruo Sotozaki, has become the biggest grossing film for Japan, including live-action films, and has struck a chord with pandemic-era Japan, and possibly with the world. (Kyodo News via AP)

Mar. 03, 2021 11:14 PM EST
This image released by KIMETSU NO YAIBA©2016 by Koyoharu Gotouge/SHUEISHA Inc. shows a scene of the manga book “Demon Slayer.” “Demon Slayer,” directed by Haruo Sotozaki, has become the biggest grossing film for Japan, including live-action films, and has struck a chord with pandemic-era Japan, and possibly with the world. (KIMETSU NO YAIBA©2016 by Koyoharu Gotouge/SHUEISHA Inc. via AP)

This image released by KIMETSU NO YAIBA©2016 by Koyoharu Gotouge/SHUEISHA Inc. shows a scene of the manga book “Demon Slayer.” “Demon Slayer,” directed by Haruo Sotozaki, has become the biggest grossing film for Japan, including live-action films, and has struck a chord with pandemic-era Japan, and possibly with the world. (KIMETSU NO YAIBA©2016 by Koyoharu Gotouge/SHUEISHA Inc. via AP)

Mar. 03, 2021 11:15 PM EST
This image released by KIMETSU NO YAIBA©2016 by Koyoharu Gotouge/SHUEISHA Inc. shows a scene of the manga book “Demon Slayer” “Demon Slayer,” directed by Haruo Sotozaki, has become the biggest grossing film for Japan, including live-action films, and has struck a chord with pandemic-era Japan, and possibly with the world. (KIMETSU NO YAIBA©2016 by Koyoharu Gotouge/SHUEISHA Inc. via AP)

This image released by KIMETSU NO YAIBA©2016 by Koyoharu Gotouge/SHUEISHA Inc. shows a scene of the manga book “Demon Slayer” “Demon Slayer,” directed by Haruo Sotozaki, has become the biggest grossing film for Japan, including live-action films, and has struck a chord with pandemic-era Japan, and possibly with the world. (KIMETSU NO YAIBA©2016 by Koyoharu Gotouge/SHUEISHA Inc. via AP)

Mar. 03, 2021 11:15 PM EST
Japanese hairstylist Akina Nasu wearing a face mask shows a picture she got when she went to see the film “Demon Slayer,” which has become the nation’s top-grossing film, and opened in Miami to be eligible for the 2021 Academy Awards, in Tokyo Wednesday, March 3, 2021. Nasu and other fans says they identify with the story because of the hardships and fears during the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Yuri Kageyama)

Japanese hairstylist Akina Nasu wearing a face mask shows a picture she got when she went to see the film “Demon Slayer,” which has become the nation’s top-grossing film, and opened in Miami to be eligible for the 2021 Academy Awards, in Tokyo Wednesday, March 3, 2021. Nasu and other fans says they identify with the story because of the hardships and fears during the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Yuri Kageyama)

Mar. 03, 2021 11:16 PM EST