Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-10587310-20130620071127/@comment-11051098-20130709005238

It's been stated somewhere that the Soul King has a series of special duties he/it carries out. I don't remember where, and it's not been stated what those duties are. But I don't think he/it spend all his/its time sleeping.

About Ikkaku, he hides his Bankai and its very existence from everyone anyway.

As for characters playing a role in the future, Byakuya is a powerful captain despite losing his Bankai, and Renji and Rukia are quite decent lieutenants. Ichigo will likely become exceptionally strong now that he's unlocked his real Zanpakutô.