Kaname Tōsen

Kaname Tōsen (東仙 要, Tōsen Kaname) is a character in the manga and anime series Bleach. He was originally captain of the 9th Division of the Gotei 13 but has since left Soul Society for other goals. His lieutenant was Shūhei Hisagi.

Character outline

Tōsen has dark skin and (from the anime) dark purple hair. Because of his skin tone and cornrows, many assume he is of African descent, although there is no official information confirming this.

He wears the traditional shinigami uniform with the sleeves rolled up to the shoulder and his captain's haori over it (with the sleeves). His hair is twisted in very small dread locks or single braids and he wears an orange scarf. He has also been blind since birth, and therefore wears a clear visor, although this was not always the case.

Tōsen's creed in life is to "take the path with the least bloodshed". However, it is later revealed that this phrase is another way to say "take the path that Tōsen himself chooses", since his eyes cannot see blood and therefore they only "see blood" when he is personally unhappy.

History

Tōsen took his life of taking the path with the least bloodshed when someone special to him died. She followed this path, he idolized her, and had thus made it his. Her love of peace and desire not to fight, even when her husband threatened and killed her, left a deep impression on Tōsen. He took her zanpakutō upon her death and vowed that he would fight for justice without unnecessary bloodshed from then on. Shortly after, Tōsen joined the shinigami.

Tōsen met up with his good friend, Sajin Komamura while he was still in the shinigami academy. They took to each other quickly, because at that point Komamura was ashamed of his fox/wolf head and Tōsen could not see it. Komamura joined the shinigami and they became close friends and eventually captains in the Gotei 13, though the exact details aren't known (it is known that they didn't defeat the previous captains of their divisions).

Tōsen believes that siding with Aizen in his betrayal of Soul Society was the path of least bloodshed. When Aizen fooled everyone into believing he was dead by use of his zanpakutō's ability to induce complete hypnosis, Tōsen was not affected because the ability had no effect on the blind. As a result, it was revealed that Tōsen voluntarily chose this path. Komamura was shocked by this choice and felt that Tōsen had lost his morals.

Tōsen's betrayal is revealed when 4th Division Retsu Unohana confronts supposedly dead Aizen as to his role in the conspiracy surrounding Rukia Kuchiki's execution and when Tōsen appears before Renji and Rukia and brings them to Aizen, who is waiting for them.

Tōsen makes an appearance in chapter 212 of the manga. He wears clothing similar to the arrancar along with longer gloves and his hair let down. He was sent, presumably by Aizen, to bring Grimmjow Jaggerjack back to Hueco Mundo, for breaking orders and getting five other arrancar killed. Back in Hueco Mundo, Tōsen requests permission to execute Grimmjow, but is denied by Aizen. It becomes apparent that he views Grimmjow, like Kenpachi Zaraki, as having no morals and that killing him in the name of justice would be righteous. But, respecting Aizen's wishes, rather than killing him, he just proceeds to cut off Grimmjow's left arm and burns it up using a demon arts spell. Grimmjow threatens to kill Tōsen after a few curse words; however, Aizen immediately stops the quarrel with the threat that he would kill Grimmjow if he assaulted Tōsen.

Suzumushi

The name of Tōsen's zanpakutō is Suzumushi (清虫, cricket, lit.- pure insects). In its regular state, Suzumushi looks like the regular katana. Its crossguard is shaped like a tear drop, and at the wide part of the teardrop are several teardrop-shaped holes. Hanging off the tear's tip is a small ring.

• Initial release (shikai) - the command is Chime, Suzumushi! (鳴け, 清虫 Nake, Suzumushi). The sword rings a high-pitched tone, causing those who hear it to fall unconscious instantly, though the level of the opponent for this to work aren't known as of yet.
  • Suzumushi nishiki - Benihikō (清虫二式「紅飛蝗」, lit. pure insects second style: crimson flying locusts) - Using the phrase 'shishi wo tsubusu yo' (四肢を潰すよ, lit. smash his limbs) Suzumushi vibrates momentarily and, after moving the blade around him in a circle, a trail appears from the sword's path. The trail turns into blades that rain down on his opponents.

File:Enma korou.JPG

Kaname Tōsen's final release (bankai)

• Final release (bankai) - Enma Koorogi (閻魔蟋蟀, lit. Enma* cricket) - This is Suzumushi's 'tsuishiki' (終式, lit. final style). For his bankai, Tōsen has a unique and powerful ability. It creates a large, black dome with 10 rings hanging off it which anchor it to the ground. It forms around the battleground, forcing anyone inside the dome that is not touching Suzumushi to lose their sense of sight, hearing, smell, and the ability to sense spiritual pressure. Since Tōsen wields the blade he is unaffected by this. His opponent does retain the sense of touch, however - this allows them to feel the pain from Suzumushi's strikes. Tōsen says that his opponents are trapped in a lightless mumyō (無明) world - that is, a world without enlightenment.

 * - Enma is the devil (ruler of hell) according to Japanese legend.

Notable battles

• Uryū Ishida - After Ishida's battle with Mayuri Kurotsuchi, Ishida, weak and weary, began climbing the stairway to the White Tower where Rukia was being kept. However, he was stopped by Tōsen, who quickly used Suzumushi's initial release ability to put Ishida to sleep and then imprison him.

• Kenpachi Zaraki - This battle saw the use of the Benihikō ability and then Tōsen's bankai. Zaraki manages to defeat Tōsen by grabbing the hilt of Suzumushi and disrupting the bankai. Komamura blocked Zaraki's final strike against Tōsen with his helmet (see Kenpachi Zaraki for more information).