2600:1F18:360E:F601:4376:5BE5:9929:21D9 
Kisuke Urahara
| Kisuke Urahara | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Age | ??? |
| Gender | Male |
| Height | 6'0" |
| Weight | 152 lbs |
| Zanpakutō | Benihime |
| Release Command | Awaken |
| Bankai | ??? |
| Current occupation(s) | Owner of Urahara Shop |
| Previous occupation(s) | Founder and 1st President of the Research and Development Institute Captain of the 12th Division 3rd Seat of the 2nd Division Corps Commander of the Detention Unit of the Covert Ops |
| First Appearance | Manga: Vol. 1, Chapter 13 Anime: Season 1, Episode 6 |
Kisuke Urahara is the owner of Urahara Shop and acts as Ichigo Kurosaki's mentor and trainer. Prior to the onset of the main Bleach storyline, he was a soul reaper in the Gotei 13 with various high ranking positions. Initially, he was the 3rd Seat of the 2nd Division, also serving as the Corps Commander of the Detention Unit of the Covert Ops. He was later promoted to captain of the 12th Division, and shortly after founded the Research and Development Institute, becoming its first president. Not long into his prestigious career as 12th Division captain and president of the research institute, he was involved in a criminal conspiracy which resulted in his exile from Soul Society. Nevertheless, he has still consistently assisted Soul Society when dealing with dangerous enemies threatening both the human world and Soul Society.
Appearance[edit]
Kisuke is an average sized man with blond, somewhat long hair and grayish-brown eyes. He wears traditional Japanese clothing, which consists of a green, long-sleeved jinbei, a dark green haori with white diamond patterns along the bottom, a pair of geta and a striped bucket hat, which earned him the nickname geta-bōshi (roughly "hat-and-scandals"), dubbed "Mr. Hat-and-Clogs." When he resided in Soul Society, Kisuke wore the black uniform common to all soul reapers, a white haori after his promotion to captain, or a white lab coat when he worked in his laboratory. However, he wore a pair of geta instead of the standard scandals, a practice which he continues up until now.
Personality[edit]
Kisuke is a very eccentric man with a generally nonchalant, jovial attitude and a somewhat twisted sense of humor, which has driven away customers occasionally. However, he can be just as solemn if the situation calls for it. When he was captain, Kisuke was very modest, timid, and compassionate which sometimes drew criticism from Yoruichi and his lieutenant Hiyori Sarugaki. Nevertheless, up until now he always maintains a mysterious aura about himself and hardly ever explicitly reveals his goals or purpose, however unorthodox his methods are. In spite of having a genial disposition, Kisuke doesn't hesitate to speak his mind on serious matters, even if it comes across as being harsh or insensitive. Furthermore, he often resorts to cruel antics to get certain tasks done or for the sake of the greater good. Periodically he will leave his shop for long periods of time to work on various projects. Though he did train Ichigo in order to help him regain and advance his soul reaper powers, Kisuke usually avoids teaching or mentoring new students, instead leaving it up to them to sort out their problems. Kisuke is very intelligent with comprehensive knowledge of paranormal subjects. Moreover, he's an avid inventor who spends a lot of his time creating new items (which has led to the eventual founding of the Research and Development Institute and Urahara Shop, where he sells most of these items), some of which have gone against Soul Society's tenets. Nevertheless, most of his inventions have been an invaluable asset to Soul Society and other allies such as Ichigo.
Background[edit]
Kisuke grew up in the Shihōin estate with his best friends Yoruichi Shihōin and Tessai Tsukabishi. When he was young, Kisuke often sparred with Yoruichi in a secret underground site under Sōgyoku Hill that they constructed. Eventually they both became shinigami and joined the 2nd Division, Kisuke taking the 3rd Seat position and Yoruichi becoming its captain.
While serving as the 3rd Seat of the 2nd Division, Kisuke also held the position of Corps Commander of the Detention Unit in the Covert Ops. After attending extensive examinations and reviews from other captains, he was promoted to captain of the 12th Division with the recommendation of Yoruichi, who was then also the Commander-in-Chief of the Covert Ops. Following his promotion ceremony, Kisuke quickly set up his laboratory his new quarters and recruited Mayuri Kurotsuchi, who was imprisoned for being a potential dangerous threat, to be his assistant. Upon doing so he founded what he called the Research and Development Institute in which he could freely perform experiments and invent new things. Not long after, news was circulating in Soul Society of people who had mysteriously vanished while leaving the clothes they wore behind. The 9th Division captain and his vanguard was initially sent to scout the area where the disappearances occurred. Kisuke wanted to investigate the cause of the disappearances, so he dispatched his lieutenant Hiyori Sarugaki to recover samples of the victims clothes. Soon after, a report was sent to headquarters saying that the 9th Division captain, lieutenant, and vanguard was involved in an accident and all sustained serious injuries. Realizing that he sent Hiyori there earlier, Kisuke pleaded with the captain-commander to let him go. He was immediately denied, but after returning to his barracks he decided to go against orders. Before he left, Kisuke was confronted by Kidō Corps captain Tessai Tsukabishi, who was sent by the captain-commander to monitor him. Fortunately, Tessai offered his assistance, and they both set out to the area. Kisuke managed to make a timely arrival just as Sōsuke Aizen prepared to slay 5th Division captain Shinji Hirako, two other captains and lieutenants, and Hiyori who were sent earlier. Kisuke accused Aizen of attempting hollowification, to which Aizen admitted but Kisuke and Tessai failed to capture him and his accomplices. Kisuke and Tessai brought the victims to Kisuke's laboratory where he unveiled the Hōgyoku, his new invention that breaks down the boundary between shinigami and hollows. However, before he could treat the victims' condition, Kisuke was arrested and convicted on charges of assault, kidnapping, and performing illegal experiments on fellow shinigami. The Central 46 sentenced him to exile while the victims be treated as hollows and therefore executed. However, before officers could escort him away, Yoruichi Shihōin rescued him and they fled. Taking the hollowified victims with him, Kisuke along with Tessai and Yoruichi escaped to the world of the living, never since returning to Soul Society.
Plot Synopsis[edit]
Kisuke seldom makes an appearance in the canon and noncanon plotline. Whenever he does, it is generally to provide assistance to Ichigo Kurosaki and his friends or Soul Society.
The Substitute[edit]
Kisuke debuts in Bleach as a simple shop owner selling soul candy to Rukia Kuchiki. Later on, he assists Ichigo in resolving the issue with Kon, the artificial soul residing in the candy he sold Rukia, who was wreaking havoc in Karakura Town. Sometime later, Kisuke came into contact with Orihime Inoue and Sado Yasutora after noticing the development of their spiritual powers, and explained to them the critical decision they had to make having been exposed to spiritual beings. Shortly afterwards, he, Tessai, Jinta, and Ururu went to the area in Karakura Town where Ichigo and Uryuu Ishida were fighting a horde of hollows, though Kisuke himself provided no assistance. The problem escalated when a gillian appeared, which left Rukia, who had just arrived at the scene, terrified. Ichigo hastily charged at the beast but was immediately pushed back. However, before a protesting Rukia could thwart Ichigo's efforts, Kisuke restrained her with a binding spell, telling her to leave Ichigo to his own devices. Unfortunately, the gillian then prepared and fired a cero, which Ichigo managed to reflect, thus forcing the menos to retreat to Hueco Mundo. After the incident, Kisuke discreetly observed Ichigo growth in strength and experience.
After Ichigo was seriously injured in his confrontation with Renji Abarai and Byakuya Kuchiki, Kisuke found him and took him back to his shop so he could recover. Upon waking up, Ichigo pleaded with Kisuke to let him go and rescue Rukia in Soul Society. Knowing that Rukia was to be executed in a month, Kisuke instead offered to train Ichigo to regain his soul reaper powers and then allow him to go on his rescue operation.
Bount arc (anime only)[edit]
In order to successfully track down the Bount, a group of spiritual beings with the power to materialize Dolls, Kisuke developed a trio of artificial souls with the ability to detect the Bounts' unique spiritual wavelength.
Arrancar arc[edit]
When Ichigo finds himself being beaten senseless by the arrancar Yammy Riyalgo, Kisuke and Yoruichi arrive in a timely fashion to rescue him, Orihime, and Sado, who were all critically injured. They briefly combat Yammy and his parner Ulquiorra until the latter retreat to Hueco Mundo, claiming they had completed their objective.