Summary
Zanpakutou spirits are an important element ofBleach. Each Zanpakutou belonging to the Soul Reapers are characters in their own right. However, onlya few of them have substantial screen timeor an actual presence in the story. And no other Zanpakutou has as much importance and nuance as Zangetsu, Ichigo’s Zanpakutou. Zangetsu is comprised of two separate beings: Old Man Zangetsu, representing Ichigo’s Quincy side, and White Zangetsu, the main spirit, representing Ichigo’s Soul Reaper and Hollow powers. The two beings have completely different personalities and how they treat Ichigo.
Together, Zangetsu helps Ichigo grow stronger and more mature. They help him achieve victory against the strongest foes and act as a parental figure to him. Here’s why Zangetsu is the most important character inBleach.
Old Man Zangetsu, The Parental Figure
A Mother’s Love Manifested
Old Man Zangetsu is the manifestation of Ichigo’s dormant Quincy powers as one of Ichigo’s Zanpakutou spirits. OM Zangetsu is the first of the two Ichigo meets, and by far, he has the best relationship with him. OM Zangetsu guides and motivates Ichigo throughout some of his battles, and he does so in a very parental way. He treats Ichigo with great care. Some of the most memorable moments of his are those where he shows how much he cares for Ichigo, going so far as to shed tears for him.
I hate rain. It rains in here, too. When you are moody, it becomes cloudy. When you are sad, the rain comes down… I can’t stand it.
Some other Zanpakutou spirits defy or have rocky relationships with their Soul Reaper masters.Rangiku Matsumoto has a love-hate relationship with Haineko, while Yumichika Ayasegawa openly hates Ruri’iro Kujaku. OM Zangetsu does all he can to protect Ichigo, the way a mother would. And that’s the point, since OM Zangetsu represents Ichigo’s Quincy side, he represents Masaki Kurosaki, Ichigo’s mother, who was a pure-blood Quincy. Masaki protected Ichigo with her life, she dedicated her all to her three children. And so, OM Zangetsu channels this parental love.
It is debatable who was Ichigo’s most meaningful mentor.Kisuke Urahara, Yoruichi Shihouin, the Vizoreds. But they’re all far behind what OM Zangetsu meant to Ichigo. While his other mentors merely trained Ichigo, OM Zangetsu personally guided him and allowed him to understand himself better. OM Zangetsu was the most important person for Ichigo’s growth.
White Zangetsu, The Violent Protector
The Inner Struggle
White Zangetsu is the manifestation of Ichigo’s Soul Reaper and Hollow powers, meaning, he’s the true form of Ichigo’s powers. W Zangetsu continuously acted hostile and antagonistic towards Ichigo, and yet, without Ichigo noticing, he always protected him. Every time Ichigo suffered grave injuries or was in mortal danger, it was W Zangetsu who saved him. He manifested his mask to protect Ichigo from enemy attacks, andhe took over his body to help him defeat strong enemies. Behind W Zangetsu’s violent demeanor was someone constantly trying to protect Ichigo.
Ichigo, what’s the difference between a king and his horse? Instinct!
Ichigo battled W Zangetsu time and time again because he believed him to be an evil entity he had to keep in check and get rid of. While W Zangetsu outright told Ichigo his true name more than once, Ichigo didn’t believe him, he constantly rejected him. Ichigo simply couldn’t accept him. Ichigo’s father, Isshin, is a very silly man who’s constantly trying to make his kids happy. But he also physically attacks Ichigo constantly, albeit in a more comedic way. He didn’t mean to abuse his son, but rather keep him alert and strong. Isshin is a former Soul Reaper captain,and he knows about Sousuke Aizen,he knows what Ichigo is, and he knows that eventually, Ichigo will have to fight strong enemies. Isshin always knew Ichigo was a substitute Soul Reaper, and that the Ichigo he had near him was a mod soul named Kon, and yet he gifted him a protection charm. Isshin personally killed Grand Fisher when he became an Arrancar. Just like W Zangetsu, Isshin was always protecting him.
W Zangetsu represents his Soul Reaper and Hollow side, and just like OM Zangetsu represented his mother’s love,W Zangetsu represented Isshin’s training and protection. But there’s more to him than this. W Zangetsu is part of Ichigo, a very important part at that. And yet Ichigo continuously rejected him. Ichigo couldn’t accept that a violent Hollow was a natural part of his soul, of his origins. Part of Bleach’s story is how Ichigo struggles to understand and accept himself. How he is constantly at odds with himself, and W Zangetsu is the literal representation of this.
Ichigo’s conflict with W Zangetsu, meaning himself, is a metaphor to the internal conflict most teenagers go through when they’re growing up. Most teenagers go through several phases of self-loathing, self-discovery, and self-acceptance. Just like Ichigo’s journey with W Zangetsu. From struggling to understand who he is, to rejecting himself, to finally accepting himself.
The Blade is Me, Ichigo Becomes Whole
Thank you, Zangetsu
During the Fake Karakura Town arc, Ichigo trains with White Tensa Zangetsu, the perfect union of both sides, to learn the Final Getsuga Tensho. During this encounter, Tensa Zangetsu outright tells Ichigo that both of them are Ichigo’s power, that they are one and the same. However, once again, Ichigo doesn’t listen, he keeps rejecting himself. Then Ichigo understands that the way to make peace with White Tensa is to accept his attack instead of fighting him like he has for weeks. When he gets stabbed by White Tensa, he realizes the attack causes no pain, and Tensa tells him it doesn’t because it is his own power. Ichigo and Zangetsu are the same. He must not fight them, he must accept them as himself. White Tensa says goodbye to Ichigo with tears in his eyes.
Ichigo. The things thatyouwish to protect are not the things that I want to protect!
After knowing the truth of his origins, Ichigo finally understands that the Hollow is a natural part of him. But his world is turned upside down when he’s told that OM Zangetsu isthe manifestation of his Quincy powers, taking the form of Yhwach. Ichigo hears the truth from OM Zangetsu himself, and this time, he finally accepts it all. Accepting both sides as his true Zangetsu, and the same is him.
It is when Ichigo has fully accepted Zangetsu that he becomes his true self. From there,he becomes exponentially more powerful and confident in battle. After years of personal struggle, coming to terms with himself is what gives him true power. Parental guidance from OM Zangetsu, violent protection from W Zangetsu. Ichigo’s growth and acceptance of them is synonymous with real young adults finding themselves. Ichigo’s journey reflects that of real people, all through the image of a shadowy old man with glasses and a white-clad monster.
Bleach
Based on Tite Kubo’s battle shonen manga, Bleach centers around Ichigo, a high school student who is dragged into the world of Soul Reapers. The original anime ended in 2012, but it was revived in 2022.
