Demon Slayer: Mugen Train has become the highest grossing film ever released in Japan, surpassing Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away.

Originally reported by Nikkei Asian, the film sequel to the Demon Slayer anime series has become a profitable success in a year of otherwise tepid movie releases. The film’s success comes in spite of surging COVID-19 cases impeding movie theaters.

As reported here on Nicchiban earlier, the film managed to blow past multiple sales records only weeks after its release. Demon Slayer: Mugen Train managed to enter the top 10 of highest grossing films in Japan in less than three weeks of the premiere.

The film adapts the Mugen Train arc that ran from chapters 54 through 69 of the manga. Tanjiro and friends board the Mugen Train to find demon slayer Kyojuro Rengoku, hoping to learn the Hinokami Kagura breath style.

However, Kyojuro has been sent to investigate strange disappearances on the train, and kill the demon assumed to be behind it. As people begin to fall asleep, no one can be sure who will be left alive when the train reaches its final stop.

Demon Slayer: Mugen Train could potentially be on track to break even more records. The current highest grossing film in Japan is Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away which hit the 10 billion yen mark 19 days after its premiere. Demon Slayer: Mugen Train has grossed over 15 billion yen in just 17 days in comparison.

The manga has also enjoyed continued popularity despite its ending earlier this year. According to Anime News Network, the 22 volumes that compose the entirety of the series have put themselves in the first 22 spots of Japan’s weekly book sales. This occurred on the week of October 19th to the 25th, the week following the Japanese premiere of Demon Slayer: Mugen Train.

The creator of Demon Slayer Koyoharu Gotouge has also been awarded the Noma Publishing Culture Award by publisher Kodansha.

Demon Slayer: Mugen Train will be available for western audiences sometime next year.

Image: Hulu