Shinigami (死神, death god(s); Viz "Soul Reaper(s)") are the spiritual guardians of the Three Worlds who protect and guide Souls going through the cycle of transmigration between the World of the Living and Soul Society. Having been called Balancers (調整者 (バランサー), Baransā; Japanese for "Regulators") in ancient times,^[1][2][3] they purify Hollows who do evil in the World of the Living and ensure the safe crossing of souls — the Pluses who have lost their way after death — by giving them a soul burial.^[4] Shinigami are the opposite of the Quincy,^[5] as they cause imbalance between the Three Worlds by exterminating Hollows and their souls completely.^[6]

Overview

Shinigami are fundamentally supernatural beings that reside in an afterworld with different logic than the World of the Living. Their anatomy is composed entirely of pure Reishi with their bodies possessing a high Reiryoku capacity and are normally invisible to living beings without spiritual awareness.^[7]

When Souls with exceptional spiritual energy train their bodies, they reach the level of Shinigami. The majority of these potential Shinigami candidates are often found among the residents of the Seireitei, but in rare cases some are born in the Rukongai.^[8] The most talented of them become affiliated with various organizations like the divisions of the Gotei 13, the Onmitsukidō, the Shinigami Research and Development Institute, or the Kidō Corps.

Much like laborers in the Human World, Shinigami are entitled to receive salaries and wages,^[9][10] and also earn bounties for defeating Hollows.^[11] Retirement from further military duties can occur, though this is rare.^[12][13]

All Shinigami have vents at their wrists which release their Reiatsu. If they are blocked off, the Shinigami in question would be incinerated by their own Reiatsu from the inside out.^[14] If a Shinigami's Saketsu (鎖結, Chain Binding; Viz "Chain") and Hakusui (魄睡, Soul Sleep) are pierced, their spiritual powers are sealed up and they most likely can never regain their lost powers again.^[15][16]

Shinigami have a number of supernatural abilities:

• Longevity: Shinigami can live for far longer and likewise age much slower than Humans. Byakuya Kuchiki, one of the youngest current Gotei 13 captains, appeared to be a teenager 110 years before the White Invasion.^[17] When Rukia Kuchiki first met Ichigo Kurosaki, she stated to be at least 150 years old.^[18] Shunsui Kyōraku, Jūshirō Ukitake, and Kenpachi Zaraki are hundreds of years old,^[19][20] Retsu Unohana is over 1,000 years old,^[21] and Chōjirō Sasakibe, Ōetsu Nimaiya, and Ichibe'e Hyōsube have lived for over 2,000 years.^[22] Despite all their immense ages, they still appear and perform in their prime.^[23][24][25] Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, the oldest known Shinigami, was middle-aged when he was still an instructor at the Shin'ō Academy 2,100 years before the White Invasion^[26] and hundreds of years before the Quincy Blood War.^[19]

• Enhanced Durability and Endurance: While Shinigami can be injured and killed like regular Humans, it takes considerably more attack power and greater injuries to kill a Shinigami than it would to kill Humans.^[27][28] Some Shinigami have sustained multiple slash and stab wounds,^[29] completely ignored dismemberment,^[30] and even survived horizontal bifurcation with treatment.^[31] Decapitation is the only guaranteed method of outright killing a Shinigami.^[32]

• Reiryoku: Shinigami naturally possess high levels of Spiritual Power,^[8] which varies greatly in magnitude with the strength of a Shinigami. The more power a Shinigami has, the sharper their movements will be.^[33] A consequence of having Spiritual Power is that unlike powerless spirits, Shinigami need to eat.^[34]

• Reiatsu: Reiatsu is the pressure exerted from a Shinigami's Reiryoku. The Reiatsu of a Shinigami will continue to flow for as long as the heart is still beating; if the heart beats, it is impossible for the Reiatsu to cease. Due to this, prisoners, such as Aizen, who cannot have their heart stopped by any executioner in Soul Society are kept in Muken.^[35]

• Zanpakutō: A Shinigami weapon, its shape is typically similar to a Japanese katana. Low ranking officers are issued an Asauchi sword, but high-ranking officers can evolve their Zanpakutō into different transformations based on the imprint of their own souls.^[36] A Zanpakutō is a physical manifestation of this force concentrated into a blade.^[37] All Shinigami have a Zanpakutō, but not all of them carry one with them. Its shape differs depending on its owner.^[7]

Visored

Main article: Visored Shinigami who have gained Hollow abilities, through Hollowfication, and use those abilities to gain power far exceeding and beyond that of a normal Shinigami or Hollow. Initially treated as Hollow-adjacent and considered to be enemies of Soul Society,^[38] they are later formally recognized as Shinigami with some members occupying Lieutenant- or Captain-level positions in the Gotei 13.^[39]

Exiled Shinigami

There are some Shinigami who exist in exile, namely Yoruichi Shihōin, Tessai Tsukabishi, and Kisuke Urahara.^[40] They will work with the Shinigami at times but still remain in exile.^[41]

Appearance

Most Shinigami appear like average Humans. There are, however, a few Shinigami who are less Human-like in appearance. For example, there are much greater variations in body-sizes between Shinigami than between Humans, with small childlike Shinigami such as the 109 cm tall Yachiru Kusajishi^[42] and giant Shinigami such as Sajin Komamura, who is 288 cm tall.^[43] Variations do not just occur in size but in overall appearance, too, the most notable example being Captain Komamura, who is an anthropomorphic wolf.^[43]

Shihakushō (死覇装, Death-Conquering Garb): The black kimono worn by Shinigami. It is customary to wear a white undergarment underneath. Some wear bright colored scarves with it or shorten the sleeves.^[7] They commonly carry their Zanpakutō, which is in most cases tied to their obi sash.^[44]

Duties

World of the Living

• Konsō (魂葬, Soul Burial): the process by which a Shinigami sends wandering Pluses in the Human World to Soul Society if they are good in life or Hell if their life was full of evil acts (such as murders, theft, etc.). Konsō is performed by using the hilt of the Shinigami's Zanpakutō, tapping the soul on their forehead and transporting them to the afterlife.^[45]

• Hollow Cleansing: When a Shinigami slays a Hollow with their Zanpakutō, they cleanse their sins. Once this takes place, a Hollow will return to its former state as a Plus and is led into Soul Society. This is called sublimation. Souls that live in Soul Society are reborn again into the Human World. Not all Hollows are sent to the Soul Society. Since Zanpakutō are only capable of cleansing sins committed after becoming a Hollow, Hollows that committed serious crimes when they were still Human are sent to Hell when they are slain.^[46]

• Soul Governance: Shinigami are responsible for governing the flow of spirits between the Human World and Soul Society. This is commonly carried out by balancing the total number of souls by moving and managing them in the Human world. All of the soul-related jobs are under their authority.^[47]

Training

Shinōreijutsuin (真央霊術院, Spiritual Arts Academy; Viz "Shin'ō Academy"): An educational organization with a 2,000-year-old history, founded by Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto. It was once called the Shinigami Academy. It changed to Spiritual Arts Academy when it developed into an institute for the next generation of the Kidō Corps and Onmitsukidō as well the Gotei 13. In the Rukongai, it is still referred to as the Shinigami Academy. The Shinigami Academy is one of two groups that is not under the jurisdiction of the Central 46 Chambers.^[48]

Combat

Zankensoki (「斬」「拳」「走」「鬼」, Cut-Fist-Run-Spirit): Basic Shinigami fighting techniques. Zan refers to sword fighting techniques. Ken refers to unarmed fighting techniques. So refers to moving techniques. Ki refers to Kidō.^[49] According to Sousuke Aizen, each technique requires a certain level of power, and mastery is determined by one's own potential.^[50]

• Zanjutsu: Sword fighting techniques for the Zanpakutō. The most basic fighting technique.^[8]

• Hakuda: An unarmed fighting technique that makes use of one's own body in a fight.^[8]

• Hohō: The name for all high-speed fighting movements based on the art of Shunpo.^[8]

• Kidō: Advanced spells that require strong spiritual power: Hadō and Bakudō.^[8]

Mission Aids

To aid in their missions, particularly when said missions involve more than simply dispatching a Hollow, Shinigami have a number of unique items to assist them in their duties.

• Gigai: The temporary bodies that Shinigami use in the World of the Living. They were created by the Shinigami Research and Development Institute.^[51]

• Jigokuchō: The butterflies that Shinigami use to lead them to the World of the Living. They are also used as messengers in Soul Society.^[51]

• Spiritual Limiter: All Shinigami captains and lieutenants have their spiritual energy reduced by about 80% when they enter the Human World by use of a spiritual limit, represented by a seal called the Gentei Reiin (限定霊印, Soul-Limiting Symbol; Viz "Spirit Restriction Seal"), which resembles the symbol unique to their Division, in order not to cause unnecessarily high damage while there. In extreme cases, where their full power is needed, they can request a limit release. The command to release the seal is Gentei Kaijo (限定解除, Limiter Release; Viz "Restriction Removal").^[52][53] The Shinigami of the Royal Guard are even limited further by the Blood Oath's Seal (血盟の封印, Ketsumei no Fūin) to prevent their full power from destabilizing the Three Worlds.^[54]

• Denreishinki: A vital tool for any Shinigami stationed in the Real World, this variation on a cell phone functions both as a regular phone and as a communication line with the Soul Society. It receives information about the time and exact location of a Hollow's emergence via GPS. A Shinigami's kills are also recorded in the phone and can be used as currency (according to the bounty placed on each Hollow).^[55]

• Zajiku (座軸, Set Axis; Viz "Target Axis"): Similar in function to a Denreishinki, this scroll-like object lists a Shinigami's targets and instructions for their mission.^[56]

• Gokon Tekkō: A glove which has a skull symbol on it, which can be used to force the soul out of a body.^[57] Kisuke Urahara also has a skull symbol on the end of his cane, which can be used in the same manner.^[58]

• Artificial Souls: Souls designed by Shinigami scientists to separate a Shinigami's spirit from a Gigai, should they be inhabiting one, or to evict stubborn spirits from their corpses if necessary. It is commonly called Soul Candy, as the Shinigami Women's Association complained that the name "Artificial Soul" was not cute and had it changed.^[59]

• Modified Souls: Artificial souls designed to enhance regular Human physiology, making them capable of battling Hollows equally. The Mod-Souls are condensed into tiny, candy-like orbs and placed into corpses to achieve their function as soldiers to combat Hollows. The Mod-Souls were exterminated after the experiment was halted due to ethical reasons since they were intended to be used to reanimate Human corpses to use as weapons against the Hollows. But there are still a small amount left; namely Kon, Ririn, Kurōdo, and Noba.^[60]

• Kikanshinki (記換神機, Account-Replacing Spirit Device; Viz "Celestial Text Messenger"): A memory substitution device used on humans who have seen Shinigami or Hollows. Also called Kiokuchikan (記憶置換, Memory Replacement).^[61] When used, a bird's head pops from the top of the device and produces a puff of smoke. The Human it is used on is knocked unconscious and wakes up a while later with a new memory. However, the new memory that the Human acquires is random and often based on the limits of what they will believe. For example, Ichigo's family merely believed they slept through a truck crashing into their house when it was used on them. Conversely, Orihime Inoue, who has a much more active imagination, believed that her house was attacked by a yakuza gunman.^[62]

Substitute Shinigami

A Substitute Shinigami (死神代行, Shinigami Daikō) is a human who became a Shinigami by obtaining another Shinigami's power, or by going through a much harder and riskier process to transform him/herself into one. Obtaining another Shinigami's power is done by thrusting his/her Zanpakutō into the person's chest who wants to obtain the power. However, the percentage of success is low.^[63] In the case of success, the person normally obtains around half of the Shinigami's power^[64], and only temporarily at that.^[63] The transferral of a Shinigami's powers to a Human is forbidden by the Soul Society.^[65]

In the case of the individual borrowing the power being a Human, several difficulties arise, illustrated by the example of Ichigo. In order to be able to fight as a Shinigami, he has to leave his body and get into soul state, which can only be by use of a Gokon Tekkō or Soul Candy. In the former case, his body needs to be taken care of until he finishes his job and re-enters it.^[66][67]

If a Substitute Shinigami appears, Soul Society gives that Shinigami a special badge which they use to monitor and restrict the Substitute. However, the Substitute is told that it is a license which is given to Substitutes that prove beneficial to Soul Society to allow them to do their work and identify them as a Substitute.^[68][69] The badge alerts the user if Hollows are nearby via an alarm sound which can only be heard by the owner and the item itself is only visible to other spiritually aware beings.^[70] The Badge can also allow the soul to leave the body.^[71]

Trivia

• In Ryōgo Narita's novel Bleach: Spirits Are Forever With You, Shinigami lifespans are implied to be even longer, as Sōya Azashiro, who had not achieved immortality, was sentenced to 19,250 years in Muken.^[72]
• In Narita's novel Bleach: Can't Fear Your Own World, the Royal Guard are revealed to have eternal life granted by their Ōken, as Ichibe'e has defended the Soul King for over a million years without growing older.^[73] Nimaiya had also been alive since before Yamamoto even had a Zanpakutō,^[74] yet by the time of the Quincy Blood War, has not aged in the same way as the now elderly Shinigami.^[25]
• In Bleach JET Kubo spoke about the pay and housing for Shinigami.^[75]
  • Captains receive an initial salary of ¥2,000,000 per month, from there a raise is issued through each fiscal year and a performance based merit system. They are also assigned Captain's Chambers to live in.^[75]
  • Lieutenants receive an initial salary of ¥700,000 per month. If a Lieutenant takes an additional job, like Hisagi with the Seireitei Communication they can earn an additional salary from that.^[75]
  • An ordinary Division member earns ¥200,000 as a starting Salary. As they rise in the ranks they earn raises.^[75]
• In NO BREATHES FROM HELL, it is shown that officers can live in the Officer Mansion district. Ikkaku Madarame also owns a Martial Arts Dojo there.^[76]

See also

• List of Shinigami
• Soul Society
• Gotei 13
• Onmitsukidō
• Kidō Corps

References

Navigation

Shinigami
Shinigami Skills
Combat	Zanjutsu • Hohō • Kidō • Hakuda
Abilities	Zanpakutō • Reiryoku • Reiatsu • Reiraku • Konsō • Shunkō
Organizations
Government	Soul King • Central 46
Nobility	Kuchiki Clan • Shihōin Clan • Noble Houses • Kasumiōji Clan • Ise Clan • Tsunayashiro Clan • Formerly: Shiba Clan • Ryōdoji Family • Dark Ones
Military	Gotei 13 • Onmitsukidō • Kidō Corps • Royal Guard • Gatekeepers
Institutions	Seireitei Communication • Shinigami Research and Development Institute • Shin'ō Academy
Recreational	Shinigami Women's Association • Shinigami Men's Association • Tea Ceremony Club • Ikebana Club • Calligraphy Club
Related Articles
Locations	Soul Society • Seireitei • Central 46 Compound • Nest of Maggots • Sōkyoku Hill • Gin Tonbo • Kuchiki Manor • Central Great Underground Prison
Items	Shihakushō • Jigokuchō • Gigai • Reigai • Gikon • Modified Soul • Denreishinki • Ōken • Gokon Tekkō • Kan • Blood Oath's Seal