Forum:What is the significance of tossing unsheathed katanas?

In both Ichigo and Rukia's inner worlds, unsheathed katanas are tossed to them by spiritual guides right before new techniques and/or greater abilities are realized.

For Ichigo, this occurs when Old Man Zangetsu tosses him a katana in "Dark Side of the Universe," chapter 110; right before Ichigo meets his hollow counterpart. This scene ultimately leads to Ichigo's full understanding of the nature of the relationship between zanpukto and shinigami, giving him the power to defeat Zaraki Kenpachi.

For Rukia, this only happens in the anime during her remembrance of training with Kaien Shiba. This memory provides Rukia with an epiphany about the nature of what "Heart" is, and frees her from the guilt of killing Kaien. This new understanding ultimately leads to her discovery of her zanpukto's third technique: shirafune. With this new power she defeats the 9 espada.

What does this motif imply, if anything, about the nature of power and internal epiphany in the series? Is it coincidence that these actions occur in these similar scenes? or is Tite/Noriyuki trying to tell us something?

Well the significance in my peronsal opinion (and as mentioned by Zangetsu) is that in their defeat they are not worthy holding their own sword (Zangetsu/Sode No Shiaruki) and unitl they are all they may wield is a broke weak basic one. it is whilst using an inferior katana that both characters have their epiphany on why their respective zanpaktou is so special.

When both swords are introduced they are obvioously both very powerful and in order to give the power of each a curve the story put it down to the users in experience wielding said power. I think the significance of the other swords being unsheathed when thrown to them is that the sword they are given is so dull that it doesn't even need a guard.thereby going back to the whole "walk before you run" idea that until you can wield such a dull useless blade then you are not worthy to have such a power. Wolfwood (Shoot)  10:20, June 25, 2010 (UTC)