Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-5398287-20130626022750/@comment-8986886-20130629173004

Back to the topic of symbolism then. :)

Ganju Shiba and his gang of toughs are all riding wild boars. The wild boar is a Celtic symbol of the warrior spirit and of leadership and so the focus here will be on Ganju.

''-"The boar is a traditional symbol of the hero's eternal adversary, the wild animal nature that must be overcome in order for wisdom to triumph."


 * Ganju's hatred of Shinigami caused him and Ichigo to start fighting the first time they met. Later they overcame their differences and became friends.

''-"Sometimes, the boar is a king or warrior enchanted, a sign that things are not what they seem."


 * When Ganju meets Rukia it is revealed that she had a part in the death of Ganju's brother Kayen. Now we also know that Ichigo's father Isshin used to be a member of the same clan as Ganju; the Shiba clan.

The boar also symbolizes courage and fearlessness, which Ganju demonstrates when he challenges Byakuya, a Shinigami Captain, on the bridge.

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