Gin Ichimaru

Gin is fairly ordinary in terms of clothing, aside from the inside of his captain’s cloak being a lime green color, and doesn’t wear any unique items. His overall appearance, however, is not as normal: his eyes are constantly slitted, he is unusually thin, and he bears unusual silver hair which has a purple tint to it in the anime. He also keeps a wide smile most of the time, which he has only been known to wipe off on rare occasions.

As Gin doesn’t display any emotion while speaking combined with his use of sarcasm, he is distrusted by many, most notably Toshiro Hitsugaya and Rukia Kuchiki. Rukia once commented on how she felt like snakes were wrapping around her neck whenever Gin spoke. Kaname Tousen notes that Gin has a similar effect on just about everyone when explaining Wonderwice Margera’s frightened reaction to Gin. In the anime, Gin speaks with a distinct Kyoto dialect, which is indirect and polite. His English dubbed voice is also formal and polite, but with a rather mocking and facetious undertone.

Gin is often nicknamed “Kitsune” (Fox-Faced) from Ichigo.

Not much is known about Gin’s prior history, except that he once saved 10th Division Lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto’s life. They have been friends since then. Hence, Matsumoto is one of the few people Gin seems to truly care about.

He graduated from Shinigami academy around the same time as Kisuke Urahara became a captain and was immediately given a seated position because he was hailed a genius, graduating in only a year at a very young age, this being the fasted graduation in history.

It is also known that Gin served as the lieutenant of 5th Division Captain Sosuke Aizen before becoming captain of the 3rd Division and that he became captain at the same time as Byakuya Kuchiki.

His true reason for joining Aizen was so that he could kill him one day. He once secretly observed Aizen stealing the souls of people from Rokongai, and understood almost instinctively that Aizen was a very dangerous man who had to be destroyed. During his second fight with Ichigo, Gin kept dropping bits of wisdom and advice, knowing that Ichigo stood no chance against Aizen, as long as he kept doubting his own abilities. After arriving in the soul society with Aizen during the “Fake Karakura Town” arc, Gin finally made his move and revealed the true name and power of his zanpakuto. However, though he appeared to be successful in taking the hogyoku from Aizen’s chest, he underestimated the level at which Aizen had bonded with the hogyoku, and was quickly felled. Barely clinging to life, Gin lasted long enough for Rangiku to rush to his side, and died just after Ichigo shows up. Noting the look of resolve in his eyes, Gin says that he can finally die now and leave the rest to Ichigo.