Shinji Hirako/Expanded Universe


 * Shinji redirects here. For the anime-exclusive character from episode 133, see Shinji Iijima

is the captain of the 5th Division in the Gotei 13. His lieutenant is Momo Hinamori. He also served as a recruiter and the de facto leader of the Visored. He was also a captain over 100 years ago prior to his exile and was reinstated to his old post sometime after the defeat of Sōsuke Aizen.

Zanpakutō

 * In its sealed form, it resembles a normal katana. The hilt and sheath are red, and its guard is shaped like an hourglass.


 * Shikai: The release command is . In its Shikai state, the pommel becomes a large ring that allows Sakanade to rotate around Shinji's hand without him actually gripping any part of the Zanpakutō. This movement relates to his sword's special ability. The first few inches of the blade are covered by an extension of the cross-guard. Sakanade's blade is straight and slim, with the tip ending in a slanted razor-like edge instead of being tapered to a point. There are five holes along the sword's length.


 * Shikai Special Ability: Sakanade's Shikai ability creates a . When spun, the sword creates a pink mist. Those who smell its pleasant aroma fall subject to an optical illusion. Shinji describes the release technique as something like a trump card. Up and down, left and right as well as forward and backward are reversed. However, it is not just the sense of direction that is changed; the opponent's eyesight, direction of incoming attacks, and injury locations are also inverted. Shinji claims that countering the damage from the inverted directions simply by processing it all within the mind is not possible. No matter how powerful the opponent, especially if one is accustomed to fighting, their body will not be able to adapt due to their reflexes preventing proper reaction, which causes them to continuously succumb to the power's effect. The effect of the Inverted World can be targeted at or neglected from specific opponents, making it ideal for use in group fighting. It also severely affects the equilibrium of those it's power is used on giving them vertigo, causing confusion, disorientation and/or nausea. Shinji has further trained with his Shikai to allow it to invert the words that he says as well. Shinji has voiced a desire to further train himself in order to reverse "hot" and "cold".


 * Bankai: : Sakashima Yokoshima Happōfusagari turns Shinji's sword into a staff with a large ring on the front end, while Shinji himself stands on a large flower construct.


 * Bankai Special Ability: Sakashima Yokoshima Happōfusagari is a wide-area Bankai that targets opponents and allies alike without discrimination and without exception. It inverts the perception of friend-and-foe across anyone within the vicinity of his Bankai, with Shinji himself being the sole person unaffected.

Zanpakutō
Omnidirectional/Area Attacks: By attacking in all directions an opponent can bypass the disorientation effects caused by his ability. Closing one's eyes and using sound can also allow for Shinji's position to be discerned.

Indiscriminate Effect (Bankai): Sakashima Yokoshima Happōfusagari has a large area-of-effect that targets friend and foe alike without exception.

Overspecialization (Bankai): As Shinji himself notes, Sakashima Yokoshima Happōfusagari is nigh-useless at best in any situation where he is not surrounded by hostiles. Even in a one-on-one fight the Bankai can be dangerous to Shinji if his opponent is an individual who has no scrupules attacking an ally.