Shinigami (Bleach) encyclopedia topics

Soul Reaper court divisions

The , is the central organization which most Soul Reapers join. It is split into thirteen divisions, hence the name, some of which have certain specializations. The 4th Division is the medical/supply division, the 11th Division is the primary combat division, and the 12th Division is the research/scientific division and the second division is the stealth squad.

Ranking system

Captains

are the leaders of the thirteen divisions. Each controls a specific division with the exception of the , who acts as both captain of the 1st Division and the leader of the Gotei 13; the implication is that this is an ex officio position.

Captains are the most respected and powerful Soul Reapers in Soul Society. With one exception (Kenpachi Zaraki), all captains are able to perform the bankai of their zanpakutō. Knowing bankai gives Soul Reapers an average of five to ten times the strength of those Soul Reapers who are unable to perform it. They have also extensively trained with their bankai, allowing them to actually use the enormous power effectively in battle. Most captains are also skilled in the use of flash steps and kidō, and generally have excellent knowledge of Soul Reaper history and battle tactics. All of these factors create an extremely large gap in power between captains and lower-ranked officers, even lieutenants.

Lieutenants

are the adjutants to the captains in each division. In terms of rank, they hold the 2nd seat in the squad. They usually only know the shikai of their zanpakutō, but are still considered the second strongest officer in their division. In the case of a division captain's death, departure, or other circumstances making them unable to perform their duties, the lieutenant acts as the substitute captain until another captain can be assigned.

Officers

hold ranks from 3rd Seat to 20th seat. While the single digit ranks are usually only assigned to a single officer, the lower ranks will often be held by several. Higher digit ranks may also lead secondary teams within the division; for instance, Hanatarō Yamada is the 4th Division's 7th seat and leader of the 14th Advanced Relief Team therein. The bulk of each division is made up of an unspecified number of unseated Soul Reapers, roughly equivalent to enlisted soldiers. Rukia Kuchiki of Division 13 is one notable example of an unseated Soul Reaper, among other named, but otherwise minor, tertiary characters.

Soul Reaper characters

When asked which of the 13 Court Guard captains and lieutenants were his favorites, Tite Kubo answered by saying that he liked "all of them" and that he likes to "support" characters "disliked by readers.

1st Division

Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai

Rank: Captain

is the leader of the Gotei 13. He is an old man with a long beard. Despite his old age, he has a very muscular body. There are many scars on his torso and head, suggesting numerous battles in his past. He wears the standard Soul Reaper captain uniform, but its size is greatly exaggerated. He also drapes his haori over his back instead of actually wearing it. Yamamoto believes that laws must be upheld for the benefit of the community and despises those who break them. He founded the Soul Reaper academy about 2000 years before the main Bleach storyline, where he personally instructed Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake. He thinks of the two as his own sons, and was proud of both of them when they achieved their captaincy.

Yamamoto's zanpakutō is . It is released with the command . When released the sword, sealed as Yamamoto's staff, consumes him and the surrounding area in flames, earning it the title as the most powerful fire-based zanpakutō in Soul Society. The sheer power of the flame can disintegrate almost anything the sword is waved at. While able to easily fight two captains with Ryūjin Jakka, Yamamoto's spiritual pressure alone is strong enough to paralyze lieutenant-class Soul Reapers simply by releasing it. He is also able to use the technique called jōkaku enjō (lit. Blazing Fortress) to create a sphere of flame to imprison his enemies.

Chōjirō Sasakibe

Rank: Lieutenant

is the least seen of all the lieutenants, not being named in the manga until long after his first appearance. He wears a white jinbaori over his uniform and arm guards. In the manga, Chōjirō is illustrated without pupils, though in the anime he is depicted with yellow or light brown eyes. Chōjirō is enamored with British culture, and takes great strides to Westernize his life. His zanpakutō is . When released with the command , Gonryōmaru transforms into a rapier. Its special abilities, if any, remain unknown.

2nd Division

Soifon

Rank: Captain

Soifon (砕蜂, ), born Shaolin Fon (蜂梢綾, ), is a hard worker who believes strongly in following orders. She is generally reserved and does not hesitate to strike down her subordinates if they pose a challenge to her plans. In her childhood, she served as a bodyguard of Yoruichi Shihōin, with whom she developed a close relationship, eventually even becoming Yoruichi's protégé. After Yoruichi left Soul Society, Soifon was crushed and angered at Yoruichi's betrayal. In retaliation she trained to surpass her mentor, having replaced Yoruichi as the captain of the 2nd Division by the start of the series. Following her battle against Yoruichi in Soul Society in which she is defeated, she tearfully asks why Yoruichi did not take her with her. While Yoruichi's answer is not heard, Soifon seems to have forgiven her, the two's relationship has become somewhat of a running gag. Soifon consistently displays an obsessive, almost romantic, interest in Yoruichi. She likes anything resembling a black cat (a form Yoruichi can assume at will), often suggests that spending time with Yoruichi is the definition of fun, and displays jealousy should Yoruichi be in someone else's company. IGN has commented that Soifon and Yoruichi share one of the more interesting histories in the series, though feels more could have been done to flesh it out.

Soifon's zanpakutō is . When released with the command , it shrinks into a stinger that is worn on the middle finger of Soifon's right hand. Whenever it cuts an opponent, a butterfly symbol called a spreads from the point of contact. Should Suzumebachi stab the same location again, the opponent dies. During her days training with Yoruichi, the crests could only be maintained for half an hour. Since then, she has improved to the point that the crests can never be removed unless she wills it.

Marechiyo Ōmaeda

Rank: Lieutenant

is a large man with an equally large mouth who comes across as arrogant and dull. In an omake he is shown to come from a rich family, where he is revealed to have a comically long name, . He looks very similar to all of his family members except for his sister who, though considered normal-looking and sweet by most characters, Marechiyo considers ugly. Other characters suspect that he received his position as a lieutenant because of his family's influence, as he is usually seen eating or picking his nose. Despite these negative qualities, Marechiyo is a kind person who enjoys beadwork and who paid for the renovation of the 2nd Division headquarters with his own money. Marechiyo's zanpakutō is . When released with the command , it transforms into an oversized spiked ball and chain. Its special abilities, if any, are unknown, as it is quickly destroyed by Ichigo Kurosaki the only time it is released.

Former officers

Former Captain:

Yoruichi is the captain of the 2nd Division during the Turn Back the Pendulum miniseries. She abandons her post when she aids Kisuke Urahara in leaving Soul Society.

Former 3rd seat:

Kisuke was the 3rd seat of 2nd division at some point before the Turn Back the Pendulum miniseries. He was the commanding officer of the dentention unit until he became captain of the 12th division.

3rd Division

Shūsuke Amagai

Rank: Captain

is the new captain of the 3rd Division during the anime's The New Captain Shūsuke Amagai arc. He is noted to be the only captain to ever be picked out of a patrol group, a significant change in Soul Society policy. Because he is not known to many of the 3rd Division's members, they initially do not trust him, and many of the captains do not know who proctored his captain's exam. He manages to gain the trust of his men by saving their lives during a mission against some Gillians in the dangai. He has an unkempt appearance and is usually bright, lively and unpretentious. He believes strongly that teamwork and trust in one another is extremely important in the strength of the 13 squads, even suggesting joint training to improve teamwork between them. He claims that Aizen, Ichimaru, and Tousen took advantage of the distance between all the squads, and that the rift between them caused enough turmoil during Rukia's execution for the success of Aizen's rebellion. He seems to have a very low tolerance for alcohol, as he passes out after drinking one cup of sake, and becomes thoroughly drunk after inhaling its fumes. Because he doesn't know Ichigo he proposed himself to capture him when the substitute is accused of kidnapping Kannogi Shu. He carries two weapons: his yet-to-be-named zanpakutō, which he wears to his side in the standard fashion, and a tuning fork-like weapon held-up by a loose-hanging brown strap. He used the latter to eradicate one of the cleaners in the dangai by using it to emit large green waves of spiritual energy, protecting a large number of his squad and earning their respect. He can also choose to activate another ability of the tuning fork by striking it against the hilt of his zanpakutō, causing it to emit a blade of highly concentrated spiritual energy. He always carries cleaning papers for his weapons; he uses these in a fashion similar to that of samurai when cleaning blood off their swords.

Izuru Kira

Rank: Lieutenant

is a friend of Momo Hinamori and Renji Abarai from their days in the Soul Reaper academy. They are often seen spending time together, and all joined 5th Division together. Though no longer in the same division, Kira is loyal to both his friends and his duties, perhaps to a fault. He defends his captain from a grief-stricken Hinamori, and later calls himself a "monster" raising his sword against her. In the anime he is the first in the 3rd Division to accept their new captain, Shūsuke Amagai, and tries to convince his peers of Shūsuke's trustworthiness but is somewhat skeptical of 3rd Seat Kifune.

Kira's zanpakutō is . Its release command is . When activated, Wabisuke's blade bends into a squared hook. In this form, Wabisuke doubles the weight of whatever it strikes. The effect is cumulative, so each following hit exponentially increases the weight of the target. Thus, after seven or eight blocked attacks, his opponents are unable to lift their own swords. Once Wabisuke's effect becomes noticeable, Kira's opponents often fall to their knees with their heads bent down, as if in apology, thus the name of his zanpakutō.

Makoto Kiqune

Rank: 3rd Seat

is added to the 3rd Division during the anime's The New Captain Shūsuke Amagai arc. He bears a strong resemblance to the arrancar Szayel Aporro Granz, but with brown hair and a calm, collected personality. He wears the standard Soul Reaper uniform with a purple sweater underneath and purple-rimmed glasses. Before his assignment to 3rd seat of the division, he was under Shūsuke Amagai's patrol group, and both of them know each other well. While he outwardly appears friendly towards his subordinates, he is highly intolerant towards failure, calling those who fall in battle 'trash', similar to the arrancar Ulquiorra Schiffer, and also seems to blame Izuru for being too "soft" to stop Gin's defection. He appears to be in the employ of Gyōkaku Kumoi. though his exact role in Kumoi's plans is unclear. His zanpakutō is , and is released with the command . In its shikai form it is a large, three bladed weapon, which he can telekinetically control, allowing him to attack enemies from any direction.

Former officers

Former Captain:

Rose is the captain of the 3rd Division during the Turn Back the Pendulum miniseries. He leaves Soul Society after becoming a vizard.

Former Captain:

Gin was once the lieutenant of the 5th Division, but by the time of the start of the series he is captain of the 3rd Division. He joins his former captain, Sōsuke Aizen, in defecting from the Soul Reapers at the conclusion of the Soul Society arc.

4th Division

Retsu Unohana

Rank: Captain

is a soft-spoken, polite, and caring woman. She wears the standard Soul Reaper captain's uniform with long sleeves, and wears her hair in long black braid to the front of her neck rather than the back. She uses honorifics when addressing everyone, including her subordinates, and rarely shows panic or distress. Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake treat her as their senior, implying she may have been a captain or at least involved in Soul Society longer than either of them. As the head of the 4th Division, Unohana is usually tasked with healing others, commonly treating the most severe injuries. Though she is always polite to her patients, anyone who tries to leave her care before they are discharged are promptly scared into submission merely by her presence.

Unohana's zanpakutō is . In sealed form, Minazuki is slightly longer than ordinary katana, and resembles a nodachi. Instead of tying it to her obi, Unohana carries her zanpakutō over her shoulder by a rope strap or lets Isane carry it for her. When unsealed, the entire sword transforms into a giant, flying, one-eyed manta ray. It has the ability to heal people by swallowing them. When Unohana reseals Minazuki, it dissolves into green mist and reforms into the sheath of her zanpakutō. Though the series never shows her performing the actual release, Bleach Advance: Kurenai ni Somaru Soul Society labels this form as Unohana's shikai.

Isane Kotetsu

Rank: Lieutenant

is the older sister of Kiyone Kotetsu. Unlike Kiyone, Isane is generally quiet and observant, though she shares her sister's sense of loyalty. She looks to Unohana as a mentor and mother figure. It is noted by Unohana that Isane suffers from frequent and recurring nightmares. This is sometimes used as material for jokes, as Isane's nightmares are often odd or whimsical in their contents. For example, she once had a nightmare involving fish paste. Isane's zanpakutō is . The guard is shaped like a snowflake. When released with the command , two smaller blades protrude from Itegumo's hilt at 45° angles. Its special abilities, if any, remain unknown as she was quickly knocked unconscious by Ichigo the only time it is released.

Hanatarō Yamada

Rank: 7th Seat

is the leader of the 14th Relief Squad of the 4th Division. Hanatarō is very timid and nervous, and he tends to be clumsy and easily duped. Despite this, he is shown to be very bold at times, as he risks his standing as a Soul Reaper to help Rukia Kuchiki escape execution. Instead of his zanpakutō, Hanatarō usually carries around a 4th Division medical pack on his back that he uses to heal others in the field. Though he does possess a zanpakutō, named , he tends to misplace it as he rarely needs to use it. Hisagomaru is released with the command . When it strikes an opponent, Hisagomaru heals their wounds rather than causing them damage. A red gauge on the blade then fills depending on the severity of the healed wound. Once the gauge is filled Hisagomaru, upon Hanatarō's uttering of the release command, transforms into a scalpel and changes its name to . In this state, it is able to concentrate the combined damage of all the wounds it has healed into a single devastating attack, and subsequent attacks are able to cause harm, though its size in its released form makes that difficult. When the sword releases the combined damage it is enough to stun a Gillian-level menos.

5th Division

Momo Hinamori

Rank: Lieutenant

is an upbeat and easy-going girl who is generally quite trusting, if not naïve. She is a childhood friend of Tōshirō Hitsugaya, who called her "bed-wetter Momo" in retaliation whenever she called him "Shiro-chan" ("Lil' Shiro" in the English dub), literally meaning "Whitey". She befriended Izuru Kira and Renji Abarai when she joined the Soul Reaper academy, and the three later joined the 5th Division under Sōsuke Aizen. Being the only one of them to have stayed with the division, Hinamori greatly admires Aizen, still believing he is a good person even after he tries to kill her and subsequently betrays Soul Society, suggesting that Gin is controlling him. Her appearance is fairly ordinary compared to other Soul Reapers; she wears her hair up in a bun with a cloth wrapped around it and tied with a ribbon.

Hinamori's zanpakutō is . When released with the command , Tobiume's blade straightens and produces several jitte-like prongs along its length. In this form, Tobiume acts as a focus for Hinamori's spiritual power, concentrating it into energy bursts capable of cratering floors and breaching walls. She can also compress her power into massive energy balls and toss them from the blade's tip. Hinamori is very talented with kidō.

Former officers

Former Captain:

Shinji is the captain of the 5th Division during the Turn Back the Pendulum miniseries. He leaves Soul Society after becoming a vizard.

Former Captain:

Aizen was once the lieutenant of the 5th Division under Shinji Hirako. He replaced Shinji as captain of the division sometime after Shinji became a vizard. He defects from the Soul Reapers at the conclusion of the Soul Society arc, fleeing to Hueco Mundo.

Former Lieutenant:

Gin was once Sōsuke Aizen's lieutenant before becoming the captain of the 3rd Division.

6th Division

Byakuya Kuchiki

Rank: Captain

becomes captain of the 6th Division sometime after his grandfather, Ginrei Kuchiki, vacates its captaincy.

Renji Abarai

Rank: Lieutenant

begins his Soul Reaper career in the 5th Division, but is transferred into the 11th Division and eventually moves to the 6th to become Byakuya Kuchiki's lieutenant.

Former officers

Former Captain:

Ginrei is the captain of the 6th Division and the head of the Kuchiki family during the Turn Back the Pendulum miniseries. His grandson, Byakuya Kuchiki, eventually replaces him as captain and head of the Kuchiki family.

7th Division

Sajin Komamura

Rank: Captain

is an anthropomorphic canine. He is initially very self-conscious about his appearance, wearing a large helmet that concealed his entire head. After his fight with Kenpachi Zaraki (during which his helmet is destroyed), he gains enough confidence to go without the helmet. His canine appearance is often the source of jokes; for example, when his lieutenant asks where to find a bathroom, he appears to direct him to a fire hydrant, though he is in fact pointing at a bathroom just around the corner. Komamura has a close friendship with Kaname Tōsen, and is shocked when the latter chooses to defect from Soul Society, feeling that his friend has abandoned his morals. Komamura resolves to awaken Tōsen with his own hands.

Komamura's zanpakutō is . It is released with the command . Once released, Tenken creates various body parts of a giant to copy whatever body part Komamura moves; for example, should Komamura swing his sword, a gigantic disembodied arm wielding a sword appears and does the same thing. Tenken's bankai, brings forth the entire giant, which also copies Komamura's movements.

Tetsuzaemon Iba

Rank: Lieutenant

is originally from the 11th Division, having transferred once determining he would never be promoted to lieutenant had he stayed. As a result, his former compatriots look down upon him. Despite this, Iba has a habit of hanging around their division's headquarters, and he still enjoys a good fight. Iba has a distinctive hair cut and wears black sunglasses with his standard Soul Reaper uniform. He also smokes, thus somewhat resembling a typical yakuza gangster. He has a large tattoo on his back consisting of a cat on fire and kanji meaning . He and Ikkaku Madarame seem to have something of a working relationship, though it consists mainly of them dueling, drinking sake, then dueling again to see who has to get more.

Iba is well-rounded in both swordsmanship and kidō, only because it made becoming a lieutenant easier. The name and abilities of Iba's zanpakutō are unknown, as well as its release command. It takes the form of a tantō when sealed, and he usually keeps it inside his Soul Reaper uniform with the hilt sticking out. In its shikai, Iba's zanpakutō extends into a falchion or a large bladed scimitar with a pick-like protrusion a short distance below the tip of the sword.

Former officers

Former Captain:

Love is the captain of the 7th Division during the Turn Back the Pendulum miniseries. He leaves Soul Society after becoming a vizard.

8th Division

Shunsui Kyōraku

Rank: Captain

is a laid back and flamboyant man, evident in his style of dress and general attitude. He wears a straw hat and a pink flowered haori over his captain's uniform. In his off time, he can be seen drinking sake and napping. Other times, he likes to chase after women, particularly his lieutenant. Kyōraku tends to use a more familiar speech style than most other characters in Bleach; he generally refers to his fellow captains and Soul Reapers by their first name followed by an honorific. Kyōraku is a peace-loving man who will always try to find a nonviolent solution, though he doesn't wish to insult opponents by refusing to fight. He and his friend Jūshirō Ukitake are two of the oldest captains in the Gotei 13. They both trained under General Yamamoto, who Kyōraku calls .

Kyōraku's zanpakutō is . His zanpakutō is unique in that it exists as two completely separate swords, being as a daisho sword pair. It is released with the command . In Katen Kyōkotsu's released state, the daisho sword pair transforms into two large scimitars or falchions. While the anime and manga have yet to depict what special abilities Katen Kyōkotsu possesses, some Bleach video games portray it as having wind manipulation abilities.

Nanao Ise

Rank: Lieutenant

is a very serious and pragmatic person, which is at odds with her captain's silly antics. Despite this, she is extremely respectful of her captain and follows his instructions without hesitation. Nanao is often accosted by her captain, whose teasing takes various forms. Nanao's usual reaction is to scold him or hit him with something, usually a fan. When she is particularly annoyed she takes off her glasses. Though her face has never been seen while doing so, this act is apparently quite frightening, as most characters who see it are reduced to gibbering wrecks just by witnessing it. She has been with the 8th Division since she was a small child, and she enjoyed reading with former lieutenant Lisa Yadōmaru. Not much is known about Nanao's zanpakutō and she is very rarely seen with it. An illustration in the art book "All Color but the Black" reveals that her zanpakutō takes the form of what appears to be either a wakizashi or tantō, which she seems to conceal within her sleeve.

Former officers

Former Lieutenant:

Lisa is the lieutenant of the 8th Division under Shunsui Kyōraku during the Turn Back the Pendulum miniseries. She leaves Soul Society after becoming a vizard.

9th Division

Shūhei Hisagi

Rank: Lieutenant; acting Captain

is an extremely mature and calm individual. He usually seen wearing what appears to be a choker around his throat with a matching armband on his right arm. As a child he was saved by the then 9th Division captain, Kensei Muguruma. In later years Shūhei got a 69 tattoo on the left side of his face, matching the one Kensei has on his stomach. Once entering the Soul Reaper academy, his prodigious talents allowed him to join the Gotei 13 without completing his education. While acting as an instructor at the academy, Shūhei's group was attacked by a hollow, and in fighting it he received a distinctive scar consisting of three vertical lines. After his captain, Kaname Tōsen, defects from Soul Society, Shūhei assumes the duties of his captain as an acting replacement. Tōsen's betrayal greatly surprises him, as they both shared an almost virtuous philosophy. Shūhei's zanpakutōs name and release command have not been revealed, but the second Bleach movie suggests that its shikai is some sort of crystalline rod or staff.

Former officers

Former Captain:

Kensei is the captain of the 9th Division during the Turn Back the Pendulum miniseries. He leaves Soul Society after becoming a vizard.

Former Lieutenant:

Mashiro is the lieutenant of the 9th Division under Kensei Muguruma during the Turn Back the Pendulum miniseries. She leaves Soul Society after becoming a vizard.

Former Captain:

Tōsen becomes captain of the 9th Division sometime after Kensei Muguruma leaves Soul Society. He joins Sōsuke Aizen in defecting from the Soul Reapers at the conclusion of the Soul Society arc.

10th Division

Tōshirō Hitsugaya

Rank: Captain

is the captain of the 10th Division, and the youngest captain in the history of Soul Society.

Rangiku Matsumoto

Rank: Lieutenant

is a strawberry-blonde woman renowned for her large breasts. She makes no efforts to hide them, wearing loose-fitting robes that expose much of her cleavage, using them to try to win over male characters, and using them as a topic in casual conversation. She is very carefree and lazy, usually avoiding the jobs of a lieutenant so that she can sleep or go drinking. Despite her avoiding her responsibilities, Matsumoto can be serious when need be, and often gives important and useful advice. She tends to many equal- or lower-ranking individuals in the familiar, referring to Ichigo, Orihime, and several fellow lieutenants by first name. Matsumoto has known Gin Ichimaru since they were children, and spent much of their childhood living together and looking out for each other. They remain close after joining the Soul Reapers, though she is surprised when he later betrays Soul Society. She recruited her captain, Tōshirō Hitsugaya, into the Soul Reapers and the two have grown quite close ever since. She has an unwavering loyalty and devotion for him and frequently tries to get him to lighten up and have some fun. Matsumoto's zanpakutō is . Its guard is in the shape of a cat's head. When released with the command , it dissolves into ash, which Matsumoto can then control to cut through objects as easily as a sword would. Because Haineko is just as lazy as herself, Matsumoto has had difficulty achieving bankai.

11th Division

Kenpachi Zaraki

Rank: Captain

is the most recent captain of the 11th Division. Like all of his predecessors, he has earned the title of "Kenpachi"; the best warrior among all of the Soul Reapers.

Yachiru Kusajishi

Rank: Lieutenant

is child-like in most respects, as she is small, cheerful, and carefree most of the time. She was found as an infant by Kenpachi Zaraki who, despite being drenched in blood, did not frighten her. He named her "Yachiru" in memory of the only person he ever admired, and "Kusajishi" from the district in which she was found. Since that day she has spent much of her time clinging to his back for transport. Like Zaraki, she has no sense of direction, even though he relies on her to find his way. Yachiru resents being criticized in any way and will often attack the perpetrator in comical fashion. Further reflecting her child-like nature, Yachiru likes to give people nicknames; for example, she calls her captain Ken-chan ("Kenny" in the English version). She also tends to give others random placeholder names. Various omake chapters and character profiles show that Yachiru has a love for candy, which is often used by other characters to make her leave them alone.

Despite her child-like appearance, Yachiru is apparently quite strong, since she is strong enough to lift Kenpachi and leap between buildings while carrying him. She is also very fast for her size. She can emit a large amount of spiritual power when angry, which forms into a large, pink, angry cat face, as opposed to her captain's, which forms as a skull. The name and ability of Yachiru's zanpakutō are both unknown. She carries her zanpakutō around with a loose cord, rather than at the sash of her uniform, and its guard is shaped like a flower. Her zanpakutō's scabbard is also unusual in that it has a pair of wheels for transport (installed by Ikkaku Madarame after continued pestering).

Ikkaku Madarame

Rank: 3rd Seat

is a bald, battle-loving man. His lack of hair is often the source of jokes for other characters, who confuse the sheen of his head with the light of the moon. He fought and was defeated by Kenpachi Zaraki sometime in the past, though was strong enough to survive the battle. Once Zaraki became captain of the 11th Division, Ikkaku and his friend Yumichika Ayasegawa joined the Soul Reapers so that they could fight and die under Zaraki's command. He shares a number of similarities with his captain; he feels insecure if he doesn't have a sword, prolongs battles so that he can get as much enjoyment from them as possible, and smiles near-constantly when fighting for his life. He is purportedly the second strongest man in the division. Although Renji remarks that he is easily powerful enough to be a captain and that following the defection of Aizen and his comrades Ikkaku could easily replace any one of them, he insists his one mission in life is to die under the command of Zaraki.

Ikkaku's zanpakutō is . Though ordinary in appearance, he stores a blood-clotting ointment in its hilt. When released with the command , it transforms into a naginata with a wax wood shaft. While he usually treats it as such, he can also turn it into a three section staff with the command , surprising the opponent. Ikkaku has achieved bankai, though he keeps this a secret to most characters so that he isn't pressured to become a captain. Hōzukimaru's bankai, named , takes the form of three oversized weapons: a blade resembling a Monk's spade in his right hand, another resembling a Guan dao in his left, and a fan-shaped blade, adorned with a carving of a Chinese dragon, which floats behind him, all connected by lengths of thick chain that Ikkaku can wield with ease. Aside from the increase in power, his bankai offers no special abilities, and is noted to be unusual for a bankai in this respect. As a fight progresses, the dragon crest will slowly begin to glow crimson, increasing its power as it does so. Ikkaku states that this is because Hōzukimaru, unlike his wielder, is "a lazy bum," and must be woken up in battle before it can reach full power.

Yumichika Ayasegawa

Rank: 5th Seat

is the narcissist friend of Ikkaku Madarame. The two joined the Soul Reapers so that they could serve under Kenpachi Zaraki. Yumichika wanted to become the 3rd Seat, as he thought three (三 san) was the most beautiful kanji. Since Ikkaku took that position, Yumichika settled for 5th Seat, thinking that 5 (五 go) looks almost like a 3 and that the kanji for 4 (四　shi) looks ugly. He has colorful feathers on his eyelashes and eyebrow, and shiny skin and hair, giving him a rather womanly appearance in the early manga. Yumichika judges everyone and everything by beauty (Going so far as to not open his eyes when fightng arrancar Charlotte Coolhorn, deeming him as fugly) , and is also incredibly vain.

Yumichika's zanpakutō is . When released with the command , it takes the form of a sickle-shaped blade, distinguished from the khopesh by the cutting edge being located on the inside. A hinge at the hilt allows Fuji Kujaku to split into four identical blades. Since the 11th Division has an unspoken rule that zanpakutō are only to be used for direct attack, Yumichika keeps it secret that Fuji Kujaku is a kidō-type sword. By using the command , Fuji Kujaku flares up and takes the appearance of many peacock feathers, after which it drains the opponent's spiritual pressure and apparently replenishes his own (the one time he uses it, Yumichika returns from the battle with his wounds healed and more energetic than when it began). He's trying to learn his bankai, but because Fuji Kujaku is just as narcissistic as himself, Yumichika has had difficulty getting along with it, making bankai a challenge to achieve.

Former Officers

Maki Ichinose

, introduced during the anime's Bount arc, left the 11th Division after Kenpachi Zaraki killed the previous captain. He traveled the human world, but one day, while in a weakened state in a desert, he fell upon a hollow that almost killed him; the hollow was subdued by Jin Kariya, who allowed Maki to kill it. Maki swore his loyalty to Jin after that, only breaking the vow once to fight Zaraki. He helps the Bount by infiltrating Soul Society, though is turned on by Kariya once his purpose is fulfilled and killed. His zanpakutō later helps in Kariya's defeat, acting as a lightning rod for Kariya's attacks.

Maki's zanpakutō is called . It is released by the command . In its shikai stats, Nijigasumi glows with rainbow colors and has the ability is to control light for various purposes. It can make Maki turn invisible or douse the area in light, both playing havoc with opponents' counterattacks. It can also use light offensively, creating blades of light to cut an opponent. Finally, in its form, it can compress light around an opponent, crushing him.

12th Division

Mayuri Kurotsuchi

Rank: Captain

was once the 3rd Seat of the 12th Division, having been recruited by then captain Kisuke Urahara to help him with his research. He replaced Urahara as captain sometime after Urahara left Soul Society.

Nemu Kurotsuchi

Rank: Lieutenant

is the artificially created daughter of Mayuri Kurotsuchi, a combination of his research in and . This past has driven her to become rather introverted and melancholic, preferring to stay silent in her captain's presence. Their relationship is far from the average father-daughter one, as Mayuri doesn't seem to care much for Nemu's well-being (using her as bait in combat). The most that can be said in his favor is that he has occasionally implied concern over her life as a point of personal pride in his own skill as her creator. Despite being abused and mistreated in every possible way by her father, Nemu still shows great loyalty to him, and has openly expressed worry at the prospect of his death. Unlike her father, however, she seems to have compassion for others, saving Uryū Ishida's life as thanks for not killing Mayuri.

Nemu's body was designed to withstand fatal wounds, though she still suffers the pain brought on by her injuries. This extends to being able to survive impregnation by Szayel Aporro Granz, a process meant to bring him back to life while leaving his host as an empty husk. Mayuri can repair Nemu very quickly in these situations, allowing her to continue doing her father's bidding. Nemu is also immune to Mayuri's many poisons. Despite this, she carries around a variety of antidotes to be used as she sees fit. She also holds various poisons and potions derived from Mayuri's research in her own body, making her highly dangerous to those that attack her internally. Nemu does not normally carry a zanpakutō, but she is revealed to have one in an illustration in the artbook "All Color but the Black." Her zanpakutō takes the form of what appears to be a thin katana.

Rin Tsubokura

is a character originally created by Tite Kubo for the Bleach-Fan Japanese Bleach news site as a mascot. She regularly interacts with Ichigo's seiyū in brief video segments on the site. Later, she was brought into the manga and anime as one of Hiyosu's assistants. She has an obsession with candy and any other sort of sweets, jumping at the chance to visit the real world just to buy sweets unavailable in Soul Society. She is just as timid and simple minded as Hanatarō Yamada and Ururu Tsumugiya. According to Hiyosu, she usually runs and hides from any assignment and is surprised at her willingness to go to to the real world.

Former officers

Former Captain:

Hikifune left the 12th Division soon before the start of the Turn Back the Pendulum miniseries under the guise of retirement. In actuality, she was transferred to the Royal Guard. Her lieutenant, Hiyori Sarugaki, thought of her as a mother-figure. She was succeeded by Kisuke Urahara.

Former Captain:

Urahara, once the 3rd Seat of the 2nd Division, replaces Kirio Hikifune as the captain of the 12th Division during the Turn Back the Pendulum miniseries. His hollowfication experiments and a ploy formed by Sōsuke Aizen cause him to be exiled to the human world a century before the start of the series.

Former Lieutenant:

Hiyori is the lieutenant of the 12th Division under Kisuke Urahara during the Turn Back the Pendulum miniseries. She was also the lieutenant of Urahara's predecessor, Kirio Hikifune. She leaves Soul Society after becoming a vizard.

13th Division

Jūshirō Ukitake

Rank: Captain

is a sickly looking man with long white hair. He suffers from tuberculosis, which caused his hair to turn white, and acts as an inhibition for him throughout the series; if he fights for too long, or even becomes too agitated, the illness flares up. He is forced to leave most of his duties as a captain to his subordinates so that he can rest. Despite this, Ukitake is respected by many Soul Reapers for his honesty, loyalty, and personal sense of justice. He and his friend Shunsui Kyōraku are two of the oldest captains in the Gotei 13, both having trained under General Yamamoto thousands of years before the current Bleach storyline.

Ukitake's zanpakutō is . His zanpakutō is, along with that of Kyoraku Shunsui's, one of only two zanpakutō in Soul Society to exist as a pair. Where it differs from Kyoraku's is that it only becomes a pair after its shikai release, while Kyoraku's is a daisho sword pair even in its sealed form. It is released with the command . In Sōgyo no Kotowari's released state, it splits into two thin blades resembling fishing javelins with reverse jitte prongs on the dull side of the blade, that are connected by a cord lined with several small charms. While the anime and manga have yet to depict what special abilities it possesses, some Bleach video games portray it as having the ability to manipulate water and electricity.

Kaien Shiba

Rank: Former Lieutenant; not replaced

was the lieutenant of the 13th Division under Jūshirō Ukitake and was considered something of a prodigy. He was reluctant to take the position, feeling that there were others more deserving of the job. He closely resembled Ichigo Kurosaki in both appearance and personality, particularly his desire to protect those close to him regardless of the law or the personal consequences, something that is brought up multiple times in the series. Though he had a good relationship with all of his subordinates, he was particularly close with Rukia Kuchiki; he taught her how to fight and helped her find a place within the 13th Division. Unlike other Soul Reapers, Kaien treated Rukia like any other, not judging her by the name Kuchiki, which in turn helped her to gain some self-confidence. After his wife, Miyako, was killed by a hollow, Kaien went out to kill the hollow to seek revenge. He was possessed by the hollow in the process and attacked Rukia who held up her sword in self-defense. He briefly regained control of his body and thrusted himself on her sword. Though he thanked her for doing so and apologized for his actions, Rukia forever feels guilty about her role in his death.

The hollow that possessed Kaien was designed to return to Hueco Mundo when killed. Still merged with the hollow at the time, the two were sent back as one entity. The hollow was eventually consumed by Aaroniero Arruruerie, who was able to use Kaien's appearance and abilities, namely his zanpakutō, . When released with the command , Nejibana transforms into a crystalline cross between a trident and a ji. In this form it has the ability to manipulate water and can create shockwaves to split the enemy in two. Rukia is able to defeat Aaroniero despite his taking the appearance of Kaien, freeing her mentor at long last.

Kiyone and Sentarō

Rank: 3rd Seat
Kiyone
Sentarō

and share the duties of the lieutenant, though neither appear suited for the actual position. They squabble quite often, each believing that they are more respectful of their captain than the other is. They both mean well, but are highly competitive and constantly critical of the other (to further their rivalry, they also happen to share the same birthday, September 22). Kiyone is the younger sister of Isane Kotetsu.

Rukia Kuchiki

, though a prime candidate for a position as a seated officer, has been made ineligible by order of her older brother, Byakuya Kuchiki.

Other

Ichigo Kurosaki

becomes a Soul Reaper after meeting Rukia Kuchiki. Though Soul Society regards him as a criminal when first learning of him, he becomes their ally after the Soul Society arc and earns the title of "deputy Soul Reaper", something most other Soul Reapers have never heard of.

Isshin Kurosaki

is the father of Ichigo Kurosaki. He was a Soul Reaper up until twenty years before the current Bleach storyline, after which he began residing in the human world. What he did as a Soul Reaper and why he left remain unknown, though apparently, he was of captain level.

Tessai Tsukabishi

is the captain of the Kidō Corps during the Turn Back the Pendulum miniseries. He has since left Soul Society and now works at the Urahara Shop.

Hachigen Ushōda

is the lieutenant of the Kidō Corps under Tessai Tsukabishi during the Turn Back the Pendulum miniseries. He leaves Soul Society after becoming a vizard.

Zennosuke Kurumadani

is a Soul Reaper with an afro who appears almost exclusively in omake chapters. He replaces Rukia Kuchiki in guarding Karakura Town from hollows after she is sentenced to be executed. Working in Karakura Town causes him great annoyance; not only are most of hollows destroyed by other, more central, characters before he arrives on the scene, but an unusually high number of townsfolk can see him. When he complains of this to Soul Society, he is brushed off and told not to interfere with the other spiritually aware people around town. Zennosuke's zanpakutō is . When released with the command , it takes the form of a chakram with a wooden handle embedded in the blade. Its special abilities, if any, remain unknown.

Rantao

is introduced during the anime Bount arc. She was the leader of the research team that created the Bount. Out of guilt for creating them she tried to help the Bount find a peaceful place to live free of persecution. When the order was made to exterminate the Bount, she helped them escape to the human world. Soul Society sealed off her Soul Reaper powers as punishment, and she has since lived as an exile on its outskirts carrying out small experiments to better utilize spiritual energy. Rantao has stated that she is much older than she looks and has found a way to stay young in appearance, but needs to take very long naps to maintain her image.

Sōjirō Kusaka

was an old friend and rival of Tōshirō Hitsugaya when they were younger in the Soul Reaper academy in Bleach: The DiamondDust Rebellion. He is the main antagonist in the movie and a Soul Reaper which Hitsugaya encounters while searching for the thieves who stole the "King's Seal". He has the same zanpakutō, Hyōrinmaru, as Hitsugaya.

Ashido Kanō

is introduced during the anime's adaption of the Hueco Mundo arc. He was originally to appear in the manga during the same part in the series, but had to be cut by series creator Tite Kubo due to time issues. He wears the standard Soul Reaper uniform, in ragged condition and without any footwear, with a fur coat draped over himself. The coat consists of several hollow masks adorned on it; one (resembling a gazelle's skull) killed his best friend. The others he uses to block hollow attacks. Along with his fellow Soul Reapers, Ashido followed a group of hollows into Hueco Mundo hundreds of years before the current Bleach storyline. However, the Soul Reapers are instead hunted down by the hollows and killed one by one, leaving Ashido as the sole survivor. Though he was to return to Soul Society once he wiped out the hollows (an impossible task given how many reside in Hueco Mundo), he decided to stay and kill as many hollows as possible, hoping to reduce the numbers appearing in the human world. After meeting Rukia Kuchiki he tries to join her in leaving the realm, though is trapped in a cave in while protecting her group from some attacking hollows in a self-sacrificial effort. His further whereabouts and condition are left unknown.

Kenzaki "Kenryū" Ryūsei

Kenzaki Ryūsei, commonly called , introduced during an anime exclusive arc, is a servant of Rurichiyo Kasumiōji, the princess of the Kasumiōji noble family. He is fiercely loyal to Rurichiyo, and often reprimands Ichigo for not showing her proper respect. He has somewhat similar facial features to the arrancar Tesla but with short dark hair, and wears a normal Soul Reaper uniform and a light garment underneath, as well as long gloves. His zanpakuto is named is released with the command . When released, it takes the form of a long black sword with five flowers attached to it; two flowers on either side and one on the tip. The flowers release a pollen which causes more flowers to bloom on his opponent's weapon, rendering it useless. The flowers will wither if the pollen is blown away. Kenryū can also scatter the flowers on the blade to blind an enemy to allow in the aid of Rurichiyo's escape in battle. After trying to initiate a failed rescue attempt of Rurichiyo along with Ichigo and the others, he and Enryu are currently apprehended by the 2nd division.

Enkōgawa "Enryū" Rusaburō

Enkōgawa Rusaburō, commonly called , introduced during an anime exclusive arc, is a silent, largely built man with a small mohawk shaped like a lightning bolt. He wears a light undergarment under his Soul Reaper uniform, as well as a pair of sunglasses. From the opening credits, it would seem that he has superhuman strength. Like Kenryū, he is a servant of Rurichiyo Kasumiōji. He takes the responsibility of punishing anyone he believes to be being rude to their princess. His zanpakutōs shikai, though unnamed because of his aforementioned silence, takes the form of a pair of fists attached to chains.

References

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Last updated on Saturday July 26, 2008 at 11:03:38 PDT (GMT -0700)
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