The hit anime series Bleach stars Ichigo Kurosaki, a tough high schooler who gains Soul Reaper powers and joins the fight against evil spirits. At times, this anime feels like a soft isekai series, when Ichigo visits the rustic Soul Society or the bleached, midnight world of Hueco Mundo. But he always has the opportunity to return home.
Ichigo never fully left his human life behind, and he really does care about his school grades and keeping his friends safe. He's also got a family, in the form of his twin younger sisters Yuzu and Karin and his goofball father Isshin Kurosaki. They all run the Kurosaki family together, and at first, Isshin seems oblivious to Ichigo's Soul Reaper ways. But the head of this household has a few secrets of his own! Here are ten facts that Isshin who he is.
10 He once commanded Squad 10
Every squad in the Gotei 13 needs a Captain to lead it, and some 20 years ago, squad 10 had a leader in Isshin Kurosaki. At the time, Rangiku Matsumoto was his Lieutenant, and Toshiro Hitsugaya was the 3rd seat.
What a fun trio they were! Isshin took his duties seriously, but he didn't always act like it, and he doted on Rangiku and Toshiro alike. Even then, Toshiro had his hand full of annoying people.
9 He is capable of self-sacrifice
Even before becoming a parent, Isshin was ready to sacrifice anything, and take heavy risks upon himself, for the sake of others. Now that is some true leadership material.
In Isshin's and Masaki's flashback, Isshin went alone to investigate Soul Reaper deaths, unwilling to expose Toshiro to any danger. And once he slew the hollow called White, he transferred his powers to Masaki to save her life. And he did it without a second thought, taking Kisuke Urahara by total surprise.
8 He has limited self-image
Does Isshin fancy himself a cool guy? He really doesn't. For the most part, Isshin isn't one to brag or act like he's the big man on campus, despite his considerable power. Both for comic effect and for honest reasons, he wonders out loud what the late Masaki would do to handle their children.
Isshin is a fine family head, but he doesn't have much confidence in that. What is more, he once mentioned that during a date with Masaki, she called him cool because he was smoking, and that was the only time she called him cool. So, in her memory, he sometimes lights up.
7 His goofball ways are just for show
This is a continuation of the earlier post. Isshin, when we first meet him, is a total goof and he seems totally oblivious. More than once, he gets on both Karin's and Ichigo's nerves, and he acts like a kid at times.
This is all a front, though, and Isshin probably does it to cope with his many heavy burdens. Honestly, he needs an outlet, and in a way, he's a reflection of the show at large. Goofy one moment, then serious the next.
6 He would rather not be compared to Ichigo
If you ask us, Isshin is contradicting himself a bit. Like Ichigo, he is a stalwart defender of all innocent life, and he will take on any danger and use powerful sword techniques, including Getsuga Tensho, to win the day.
But don't tell him that! For whatever reason, Isshin doesn't like being told that he's like his son. Maybe it's Isshin's Soul Reaper pride talking since he was born into the Soul Society and his son is fully human. Or maybe it's just his petty side.
5 He's a big softie for those in need
This is one of Isshin's better personality traits, and Rukia was quick to pick up on it. Early on, Rukia (as a wayward Soul Reaper) needed a place to stay, and she chose the Kurosaki clinic.
To win the family over, Rukia used her ample acting skills and almost cried, and Isshin's heart just melted! He and Yuzu are eager to bring Rukia into the household, and he even boasted to Masaki's memorial photo that he finally got another daughter!
4 He and Ryuken are proud of their sons
Here's another part of Isshin's personality we can't help but love. But being himself, he would much rather not admit it out loud! He is boundlessly proud of Ichigo and all his son as accomplished, and he trusts Ichigo to get the job done no matter what.
This makes him Ryuken's mirror, as both guys are proud of their prodigious sons and their quest in Hueco Mundo to rescue their friend. Both men were verbally at odds, though, and Ryuken made his disdain for Isshin pretty clear. Still, Ryuken went to great lengths to train his son, much like Isshin does for Ichigo once in a while.
3 He's a medicine specialist
Isshin is more of a healer than a fighter, and during his Soul Reaper days, he actually paid close attention to medical lectures at the academy. This allows him to run a medicinal clinic as a mortal man, and business is good.
He opened that clinic with Urahara's help, and we like to think that he was a good combat medic during his time as a Soul Reaper Captain, too. Someone's gotta restore your HP to full, right?
2 He was going to be a mortician
It is no secret that Bleach is ultimately about death, from Soul Reapers guiding the souls of the dead to the skulls and black clothing we see everywhere. It's not gothic like D.Gray-Man, but it's dark stuff if you think about it.
Isshin, for his part, was slated to be a mortician early in the series, and author Tite Kubo thought he would look good in black. But that's pretty grim, and we like the goofy doctor version of Isshin better. Besides, his white lab coat is reminiscent of a Captain's robe. How symbolic!
1 He can deliver a lecture
For the most part, Isshin would rather not sit down and lecture someone. He is content to let Ichigo figure out the ways of the Soul Reapers themselves, and he is such a doting father to Yuzu and Karin, we can't even imagine him scolding them!
But Grand Fisher is different, and Isshin really shows his Soul Reaper side against him in more than one way. Grand Fisher is a novice at sword fighting and mistakes Isshin for an easy target. Isshin cuts him down and explains that Soul Reapers of his caliber limit their sword size on purpose, or else they would have enormous blades. Isshin concludes by saying something like "don't show off until you know at least that much." A cool moment for sure!