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Get to know the eccentric Gotei 13 head captain, Shunshui Kyoraku. Explore his character and role in Bleach.
Anime fans often call Bleach one of the big three of shonen, along with Naruto and One Piece. It is one of the most popular franchises of all time. The story follows Ichigo Kurosaki’s journey as he meets a Shinigami, Rukia. Shinigami is someone who guides and sometimes forces souls to the afterlife.
The Bleach anime adaptation is now covering the Thousand Years Blood War arc, with the story centering around conflicts between Soul Society and The Quincy. On the Shinigami side, Ichigo Kurosaki and the Soul Society’s military force, the Gotei 13, take on the Quincy race, who swore to wipe out all Shinigamis and Hollows.
Among the upper echelon of this military, there is a certain eccentric captain. Meet the current first-division captain and head captain of the Soul Society military, Shunsui Kyoraku.
Who is Shunsui Kyoraku in Bleach
Shunsui Kyoraku was the Captain of the 8th division before climbing to his current position, the captain of the first division and head captain of Gotei 13. Although his position is serious and demands authority, he always had a relaxed personality and disliked fighting most of the time. It is evident in how he addresses his fellow Shinigamis with their first names, showing a more casual and soft-spoken tone in his speech. Also, he loves drinking sake and lazing around in his spare time.
Despite the unserious impression he often gives, Shunsui Kyoraku’s good quality lies in his wisdom and level-headedness. As a peace lover, he prefers to talk things over fighting it out. His first fight against Chad in the series is a perfect display of this quality. Instead of immediately putting Chad down to his knees, Kyoraku offered him to back off multiple times. However, he eventually respected Chad’s resolve and fought him properly.
Shunsui Kyoraku had never shown the full extent of his power. There was never a display of his Zanpakuto’s Bankai. A Shinigami’s Bankai is the trademark of their Zanpakuto’s spirit in its ultimate form. However, Kyoraku’s Bankai was a mystery, until the eventual reveal in chapter 647 of the manga.
What Are Shunsui Kyoraku Powers
The main weapon a Shinigami wields is their Zanpakuto. Shunsui Kyoraku’s comes in a twin-blade form, being one of the only two wielders of dual Zanpakuto. This is a rare phenomenon since it means there is an abnormality in the Shinigami’s soul.
In Kyoraku’s case, his Zanpakuto’s manifestation is tied to his backstory. In the past, before he became a Shinigami, he was asked to hide the Ise clan’s Zanpakuto. His relation with the Ise clan came about when his brother married a woman from this royal family. However, the missing Zanpakuto became a reason for her execution and prompted Kyoraku to be a Shinigami. When his own Zanpakuto manifested its form, it created another blade to hide the Ise’s clan Zanpakuto.
Shunsui Kyoraku’s twin Zanpakuto is called Katen Kyokotsu. Much like the other Zanpakutos in Bleach, it has two heightened forms, Shikai and Bankai. Interestingly, Katen Kyokotsu’s Shikai and Bankai revolve around the theme of children’s games and theatrical play. However, all of the effects are indiscriminate, affecting foes and friends alike, including Shunsui Kyoraku himself.
His Bankai, Katen Kyokotsu Karamatsu Shinju, is more abstract than the others. It follows the story of a couple who took their own lives under a black pine tree. It is a representation of Kyoraku’s melancholy and reflects his interest in romance stories since he wrote one himself. The Bankai comes in four acts. Each one weakens the enemy, and the final one executes them with Kyoraku cutting the opponent’s neck.
Aside from the power he gets from being a Shinigami, Shunsui Kyoraku is already a competent fighter. He is one of the first Shinigami academy graduates who became a Gotei 13 captain. In fact, he is Yamamoto’s favorite student alongside Jushiro Ukitake.
Kyoraku is also adept in hand-to-hand combat. He is an expert in the Shinigami Hakudo fighting style. One of his techniques is Tsukiyubi, where he simply stretches his index and middle fingers to fling his opponents to a considerable distance.
Shunsui Kyoraku is also a master in Kido. This is a Shinigami technique that uses advanced spells. Normally, these spells need the user to say some incantation. But Kyoraku can unleash the Hado #78 without saying a word.
How Important Is Kyoraku in Bleach
Shunsui Kyoraku plays a major role in Bleach. His initial role was more of a supporting character in the early stages of the story. However, his role in the Thousand Year Blood War arc makes him one of the most influential characters, story-wise.
By the time of the Thousand Year Blood War arc, he is among the strongest and most experienced Shinigami. Furthermore, his decision to bring back Aizen to aid in the war against the Quincy brings a whole new ripple in the story.
Does Kyoraku Die in the Thousand-Year Blood War Arc?
Although Kyoraku has gone through deadly battles in this arc, he survives at the end of the story. This arc reveals many details about Kyoraku, including his backstory, his Bankai, and his Zanpakuto’s relation with his lieutenant, Nanao Ise.
In his battle against Lille Barro, Kyoraku reveals to Nanao that the one who gave him the Ise clan’s Zanpakuto is none other than her mother, which makes Kyoraku, Nanao’s uncle. He then hands Kyokotsu over to Nanao as her Zanpakuto. At the end of this arc, Kyoraku visits Ukitake’s grave, who sacrificed himself in the battle against the Quincy King.
Conclusion
Shunsui Kyoraku is the current first division captain and head captain of Gotei 13. His status as a nobility, his feats as a Shinigami, as well as his prowess and wisdom, earned him the position.
His eccentric personality is a stark contrast compared to his predecessor. While Yamamoto is stern and strictly ties the rules of Soul Society to tradition, Kyoraku is more relaxed and pragmatic. He brings a breath of fresh air to Gotei 13. Although it also means that he doesn’t oppose unconventional ways to protect Soul Society.
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