What Is Jushiro Ukitake’s Power in Bleach?

Explore Jushiro Ukitake’s unique power in Bleach, as well as his connection to the Soul King and legacy as a Soul Reaper.

Juushiro Ukitake as seen in the Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War anime (image via Studio Pierrot)
Jushiro Ukitake as seen in the Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War anime (image via Studio Pierrot)

Jushiro Ukitake stood out in Bleach as a compassionate and powerful Soul Reaper. Due to his calming presence on screen, he unsurprisingly became a fan-favorite character. At the same time, he possessed an enigmatic power that prevented him from going all-out in any battle. So, what is Jushiro Ukitake’s power in Bleach?

In Bleach, Ukitake hosted the right arm of the Soul King, Mimihagi, and, as a result, also had its power in his body. Let us take a closer look at what this meant.

Who Is Jushiro Ukitake in Bleach?

Jushiro Ukitake was the captain of the 13th Division in the Gotei 13, the main organization protecting the Soul Society. In a series filled with eccentric personalities, Ukitake was a composed and fair person who treated everyone with respect.

He also had a deep sense of responsibility and would blame himself for any harm affecting his loved ones. This was because Ukitake was chronically ill and could not perform his duties as a captain to the same extent as other divisions.

However, this did not mean that he was weak. On the contrary, Ukitake was one of the strongest captains in Bleach. Many fans believed that, apart from Shunsui and Captain Yamamoto, Ukitake was the most proficient fighter who commanded the admiration of others.

Additionally, there was an element of mystery to Ukitake. Despite being such a likable figure, his screen time was very limited. This was linked to his bodily condition, which also restrained his powers. So, what exactly was Jushiro Ukitake’s power in Bleach?

What Is Jushiro Ukitake’s Power in Bleach?

Jushiro Ukitake and Shuhei Hisagi as seen in the Bleach anime (image via Studio Pierrot)

Jushiro Ukitake’s main power in Bleach was connected to the right hand of the Soul King, Mimihagi. As a child, Ukitake had severe lung problems, which left him on the brink of death.

Left with no options, his parents prayed and reached out to a deity of the Soul Society, Mimihagi. Having been dismembered from the Soul King’s body by the Five Great Families in Bleach, Mimihagi had been left without a host.

Accepting the prayers of Ukitake’s parents, Mimihagi decided to take over his lungs, replacing the disease with its own presence and spiritual power.

Through this ritual known as Kamikake, or divine possession, Ukitake came to possess the powers of a god in Bleach. While he could not freely use these powers and saved them until the Thousand-Year Blood War Arc, they still gave him an option that could defeat almost anyone in the series.

Interestingly, rather than use this power to fight enemies, Ukitake eventually applied it to a greater purpose.

How Is Jushiro Ukitake Connected to the Soul King?

As mentioned earlier, Ukitake’s body hosted the right arm of the Soul King, which automatically connected him to the Ruler of Soul Society. 

At the same time, Mimihagi had also been preparing Ukitake to take its place as the new right hand of the Soul King in exchange for saving his life.

Soul King as seen in the Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War anime (image via Studio Pierrot)
Soul King as seen in the Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War anime (image via Studio Pierrot)

When Yhwach defeated Squad Zero and manipulated Ichigo into killing the Soul King, the balance between the realms was destroyed. This would eventually cause them to merge into one world.

To prevent this and buy the Shinigami more time, Jushiro Ukitake chose to use Mimihagi’s powers. Realizing that this was the purpose of his existence, he allowed Mimihagi to take over his body. Using the Kamikake, Mimihagi extended itself through Ukitake’s body and helped in replacing the power of the Soul King.

Unfortunately, Yhwach ended up absorbing the powers of Mimihagi, which caused Ukitake’s death. Nevertheless, this helped in bringing temporary balance to the realms again.

Thus, by indirectly becoming the right hand of the Soul King himself through the Kamikake, Ukitake sacrificed himself to share an extremely close connection with the most powerful figure in Bleach.

Does Jushiro Ukitake Have a Bankai in Bleach?

On his own, Ukitake was still a very talented Soul Reaper. He was an extremely accomplished swordsman who wielded the Zanpakuto Sogyo no Kotowari.

Using his Shikai, Ukitake’s blade would split into two blades connected by a special rope. This gave him the ability to absorb any opponent’s spirit attack through one blade and fire it back at the opponent with the other. The power effectively countered strong enemies and was lauded by Captain Yamamoto during his fight with Ukitake in Bleach.

On the other hand, Ukitake’s Bankai was never revealed in Bleach. This was possibly due to his chronic illness or his role as Mimihagi’s host. Given his talent as a Shinigami, however, we can confidently assume that Ukitake possessed the ability to perform a Bankai.

Ichibe and Yhwach as seen in the Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War anime (image via Studio Pierrot)

Fans have also made several theories regarding Ukitake’s Bankai. The most popular speculations include the creation of an object or multiple objects that would perfectly reflect and counter both spirit energy and physical attacks on opponents. Others also believe that Ukitake’s Bankai would create more swords that would further amplify and even restrict the attacks of opponents for a longer period.

The mystery of Ukitake’s Bankai may frustrate fans, yet it inspires creative theories that deepen our immersion in the series.

Jushiro Ukitake’s Legacy in Bleach

Jushiro Ukitake has gone down as one of the most monumental and iconic figures in Bleach, which is very unexpected considering his relatively “ordinary” personality.

He was one of the early members of the Gotei 13 and inspired younger generations through his benevolence and empathy. Despite having lived a straining life, Ukitake made the most of it while staying loyal until the end.

Most importantly, his ultimate act of self-sacrifice for the sake of saving the world of Bleach touched the hearts of all his allies. He reinstated their purpose of protecting the spiritual world, and his influence far outlived his life in the series.

Conclusion 

To conclude, Ukitake was an unforgettable figure in Bleach who had a strong spirit as well as mysterious power behind him. Even in the face of all his troubles and illnesses, Ukitake’s dedication to the Soul Society was unwavering.

His heroic life, which concluded with a courageous end, made him a symbol of devotion in Bleach.


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