Kisuke Urahara
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is a character in the anime and manga series Bleach. He runs the Urahara Shop which sells shinigami items. The shop is maintained by Kisuke himself as well as Ururu Tsumugiya, Jinta Hanakari and Tessai Tsukabishi.
Character outline
Kisuke Urahara always wears traditional Japanese wooden sandals and a cylinder hat, which has earned him the nickname geta-bōshi (ゲタ帽子, lit. sandal-hat). He is generally a laid-back, jovial fellow, although he can be deadly serious when the situation warrants it. Yoruichi notes that he tends to go over the top with whatever he becomes passionate about.
Usually he can be found near the scene of an important event, but will never step in to intervene, preferring to be in control from outside. After the event is over (i.e. the battle between Ichigo Kurosaki and Renji Abarai), he kindly pops up and helps the side he deems fit. Thus far, it has tended to be the side of the protagonists.
History
Kisuke Urahara is a former captain of the 12th Division of the Gotei 13 (shinigami army in Soul Society). He is also the founder and the first President of the Shinigami Research Institute (succeeded by Mayuri Kurotsuchi in both positions).
At some point (over 100 years before the main Bleach storyline), Kisuke was sentenced into exile by Soul Society for creating an untraceable gigai, which also caused the spiritual power of the shinigami inside it to deteriorate, along with his creation of the Hōgyoku.Bleach manga; chapter 175, page 15. Yoruichi Shihouin ran away with him as well, for reasons yet unknown. He also seems to be an acquaintance of Isshin Kurosaki, Ichigo's father.
Inventions
Kisuke founded the research institute in Soul Society and proceeded to invent a number of items, the known ones are as follows:- Gikongan (義魂丸) - AKA Soul candy - candy that forces the soul out of the body when eaten and replaces it with an artificial soul. Its name was changed to 'Soul Candy' later because the Shinigami Women Organization complained that the name gikongan wasn't 'cute'.
- Tenshintai (転神体, lit. change [death] God body) - doll which forces the materialization of a soul slayer which strikes it into the real world (as opposed to the slayer's world).
- HōgyokuBleach manga; chapter 175, page 13. (崩玉, lit. orb of distortion) - an orb which dissolves the boundary between shinigami and hollow powers and lets shinigami and hollows beyond normal shinigami/hollow power limits. Because of the implications of what this could create, Urahara hid the orb inside Rukia Kuchiki's soul.
- Variations of faux bodies (gigai) - Urahara experimented with faux bodies and created at least two variations: an untraceable faux body, for which he was exiled from Soul Society, and a portable inflatable one.Bleach manga; chapter 235, pages 5-6.
He also likes to build large underground training spaces in secret. He built the first one in Soul Society with Yoruichi for their training, and then created the second one in the mortal realm for a similar purpose.
Benihime
Kisuke Urahara's zanpakutō is named Benihime (紅姫 lit.: Crimson Princess). It is one of the very few female zanpakutō. By default, Benihime is hidden inside Kisuke's cane, its hilt being also the round part of the cane. Its abilities appear to be related to the manipulation of blood.The shikai (initial release) command of Benihime is Okiro, Benihime (起きろ 紅姫, lit. Awake, Crimson Princess). The shikai first appears in chapter 65 of the manga and episode 20 of the anime. Benihime's blade doesn't change (it's still long and thin, but a bit wider than the default). The hilt becomes that of a normal sword with a crimson ribbon around it and other elaborate decorations.
By speaking a second command, Nake (啼け, lit. Sing, Cry), Urahara can fire energy blasts of considerable strength.Bleach manga; chapter 194, page 13. Benihime can also create a blood mist shield to protect Urahara.
Benihime's final release (bankai) has yet to be revealed. Urahara has remarked to Renji Abarai that the bankai form of his zanpakutō was not the type to help others increase in strength, specifically meaning that Benihime's bankai would not be able to help train Yasutora Sado.
Trivia
- In episode 78 of the anime, Ganju Shiba calls Kisuke an "old man," and Kisuke replies that he is the same age as Ganju's sister, Kūkaku Shiba.
References
See also
External links
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