Kisuke Urahara

is the owner of the Shinigami-item-selling Urahara Shop, and one of the central protagonists of the series. The shop is maintained by Urahara himself, as well as Ururu Tsumugiya, Jinta Hanakari, and Tessai Tsukabishi.

After Ichigo Kurosaki becomes a Shinigami, he becomes his informal teacher, helping and tutoring him in the ways of the Shinigami, and preparing him to face off with tough opponents. Later, it is revealed that he was a captain and an inventor during his time in the Soul Society, having developed numerous devices used by the Shinigami. He was exiled for a crime which he had not committed, and has taken up residence in the Human world since that point. Nevertheless, he remains to be a valuable ally to Soul Society in their ongoing war with the Arrancar, and is often considered to be one of Aizen's greatest adversaries, the others being Shinji Hirako and Ichigo Kurosaki.

Appearance
Kisuke Urahara has messy, pale blonde hair and dark blue eyes, which are usually shadowed by his hat. He always wears traditional Japanese wooden sandals (geta) and a bucket hat, which has earned him the nickname. He wears dark green pants and a dark green shirt, and on top of his shirt and wears dark grayish-green coat that has large white diamond shapes all along its bottom half.

When he was a captain, he wore a standard Shinigami uniform, a long-sleeved captain's haori and his geta.

Personality
Though generally seen as a laid-back, jovial fellow, this side of Urahara is deceptively different from his cunning and serious side of his personality, when the situation warrants it. Despite his carefree attitude, his speech is always polite, though it is sometimes sarcastic. He can also seem serious, but his tone doesn't seem so. Yoruichi Shihōin notes that he tends to go over the top with whatever he becomes passionate about. He once described himself as a "mere honest, handsome, perverted businessman."

One-hundred and ten years ago Urahara is seen as nervous, flustered and quiet. He is somewhat unsure of himself and lacking in confidence in his ability to be a good captain. He is commonly seen confused with how to deal with his squad and is also easily overwhelmed by his lieutenant, Hiyori Sarugaki. Despite this, while uncomfortable in his new roll he seemed at relative ease in his previous position in the 2nd Division. He eventually gains the resolve to take on his new role as captain becoming more serious and determined. His personality during his captaincy is a direct opposite of his personality in the current time, showing that he has undergone several changes while hiding in the Human world.

Urahara can usually be found near the scene of an important event, showing up just in time or just a bit too late, but will rarely step in to intervene, preferring to be in control from outside. He often knows more than he reveals and tends to have some form of relationship with most of the people he has come into contact with. While he is a major driving force, he is usually portrays himself as only the catalyst, having others do the work for him. He also likes building large underground training spaces in secret. He built the first one under the Sōkyoku hill in Soul Society with Yoruichi for their training, and created a second one under his shop in the Human world for a similar purpose.

History
At an undefined point before he became a captain, Urahara lived at Yoruichi's mansion along with his future assistant, Tessai. He joined the Gotei 13 along with Yoruichi, and eventually became the third seat in the 2nd Division under her. As part of his duties, he also headed the Third Unit of the Special Forces, the Detention Unit. Sometime later, Captain of the 12th Division at the time, Kirio Hikifune, was promoted to the Royal Guard, or Zero Division. It was at this time that 2nd Division Captain, Yoruichi Shihōin, recommended that Kisuke become Hikifune's replacement. After his exam, he became the new Captain of the 12th Division of the Gotei 13. His lieutenant, inherited from the former captain, was Hiyori Sarugaki.

He later became the founder and the first president of the Shinigami Research and Development Institute. Mayuri Kurotsuchi succeeded him in both positions after his exile.

Not long after becoming captain (at most a decade), there were reports of of people disappearing in the forests of Rukongai. As the 9th divisions discovers the empty cloth of the vanguard send to do research earlier, Captain Kensei Mugurama of the 9th division speculates that there may be some sort of pathogen causing the souls to break down, so he send a request to the 12th Division for a researcher. Choosing Hiyori for this, Urahara would later come to regret this, as they suddenly loose the connection to the 9th Division vanguard. Fearing for his lieutenant Urahara requests to follow the special investigation team, something that is denied by Yamamoto.

As Urahara later tries to escape to the forest using a cloak that blocks of all reiatsu, he is stopped by Tessai, who, knowing his plans, wants to help him as he to has a bad feeling about the situation as well. Urahara and Tessai arrive just in time to stop Sōsuke Aizen from attacking Hirako. When Urahara asks Aizen what he was doing there, Aizen plainly gives an explanation about how he happened upon the situation and how he is just a lieutenant trying to help his injured captain. Urahara sees through the lie and states that there is no injuries on the victims, they are in fact inflicted by Hollowfication. Aizen tells Urahara he is happy he is the man he thought he was and then proceeds to leave the scene of the crime, saying there is no more to do there. Tessai proceeds to stop their retreat with a high-level Kidō spell which is countered by Aizen's own high-level Kidō spell, surprising both Urahara and Tessai. Urahara and Tessai are then left to attempt to help the Shinigami investigation team who were deep in the process of Hollowfication. After Urahara admits he can possibly help them but not at the current area, Tessai resolves to use forbidden Kidō to transport them as they are to the 12th Division barracks. Urahara tries to reverse the process using a creation of his, called the Hōgyoku, but it ends up a failed process, not having the desired effect Urahara expected.

Soon after Urahara and Tessai are arrested by the Special Forces and placed on trial by the Central 46 Chambers. Immediately it became evident that he had been set up by Aizen, but was given no right to defend himself and prove his innocence. They are then quickly sentenced with Tessai being sentenced to imprisonment in the 3rd underground prison for using forbidden techniques and Urahara is to be made Human and exiled to the real world for the crimes of researching and invoking a forbidden phenomenon, as well as deceiving his colleagues and inflicting grievous injury upon them.

However, before any of their sentences can be executed, both of them are rescued by a cloaked Yoruichi who brings them to a secret underground area. She explains how mad she is at them for not telling her about what they were planning the previous night. She goes on to explain that she has brought the eight Hollowfied Shinigami and the prototype for the new type Gigai that Urahara was working on. Urahara then resolves to make ten reiatsu blocking Gigai to aid in their escape to the real world, where they will find a way to undo the Hollowfication.

He also seems to be an acquaintance of Isshin Kurosaki, Ichigo Kurosaki's father, and of Ryūken Ishida, Uryū Ishida's father.

Agent of Soul Society Arc
Soon after Rukia Kuchiki gives all her powers to Ichigo Kurosaki, Urahara gives Rukia a Gigai (later revealed to be a special Gigai that would slowly drain her reiatsu and transform her into a Human, hiding the Hōgyoku within her forever). Rukia later buys some Gikongan from Urahara's Shop to make Ichigo's job as a Shinigami easier, more specifically lowering the suspicions of his family and friends so that they wouldn't know of his Shinigami activities, though this goes horribly wrong and leads to the unleashing of the Mod-Soul Kon. Urahara eventually realizes that he made the mistake of giving Rukia the defective merchandise and decides to go and get the mod-soul back before it causes any trouble. Sometime after Ichigo and Rukia find Kon who had gotten himself attacked by a Hollow trying to save some kids, Urahara shows up and releases Kon from Ichigo's body and proceeds to take back the faulty merchandise. Rukia takes back Kon and tells Urahara he isn't defective and that she is happy with the merchandise. Realizing that he works outside of Soul Society law, he can deny all knowledge of the merchandise as he isn't responsible for it.

During Don Kanonji's first trip to Karakura Town, Urahara transforms Ichigo into his Shinigami form when Rukia was unable to do so. He then creates a diversion to take Ichigo's body with Rukia following closely behind to escape from the authorities.

When Rukia goes to Urahara for information about the Quincy, Urahara reveals their history to her. Following Orihime Inoue and Chad's battles with Hollows, Urahara takes them to his shop and explains to them about their powers, Ichigo's Shinigami activities, and the relations between Quincy and Shinigami. While Uryū Ishida and Ichigo battle a Menos Grande, Urahara stops Rukia from interfering, telling her that the battle will be important to both of them. After the battle, Urahara has the other workers from his shop fill the hole torn from Hueco Mundo to the Human world by the Menos, and also realizes that Soul Society has begun to track Rukia.

The next day Yoruichi Shihōin, in cat form, visits Urahara, and the two discuss Byakuya Kuchiki and Renji Abarai, the two Shinigami chasing Rukia Kuchiki. When the two attempt to capture her, Urahara transforms Ichigo into a Shinigami, though he later reveals he only did this to show Ichigo how little a chance he had in fighting against them.

Following Ichigo's loss to Byakuya and Renji, Urahara appears and heals both Uryū and Ichigo, though he has to take Ichigo to his shop due to the extent of his injuries. While there, Urahara reveals to Ichigo just how much time he has to save Rukia, and also begins to train Ichigo so he will be capable of rescuing her. Before Ichigo leaves, Urahara gives Ichigo a special medicine that will heal his wounds at unbelievable speed.

The next day, Ichigo, now fully healed, begins his training with Urahara, who takes him to the underground training camp under his shop. Urahara has Ururu battle Ichigo while Ichigo is in his soul form, so Ichigo will be able to regain some of his speed. After Ichigo passes this, Urahara has Tessai cut off Ichigo's Soul Chain, and sends Ichigo into a large hole in the ground that will speed up Ichigo's Encroachment, to force Ichigo into a Shinigami state quickly before Ichigo becomes a Hollow.

Three days later, he, Jinta, and Ururu watch as Ichigo begins to transform into a Hollow, and are surprised at how he has resistance. During the process, Ichigo regains his Shinigami abilities, though the very moment he does his Encroachment ends, giving him both a Shinigami Shihakushō and a Hollow mask. Ichigo, however, removes his mask and becomes a Shinigami. Because of this, however, Ichigo is now a Vizard, a Shinigami who has illegally acquired Hollow powers.

Urahara then begins Ichigo's third test, which has him battling Ichigo, with Ichigo winning if he knocks off his hat. The point of this, however, is so that Ichigo will learn his Shikai. During the battle, Ichigo thinks that Urahara's sword, being from inside his cane, can't be a zanpakutō, and lets it cut him. This backfires, however, as Urahara reveals it is indeed a zanpakutō and initiates his own Shikai. Urahara then easily fights off Ichigo with his Shikai, almost killing Ichigo, though Ichigo learns his zanpakutō's name, Zangetsu, at the last second, and uses a then-unnamed special attack to which Urahara blocks with his Shikai's special ability, though it still knocks off Urahara's hat.

Soul Society Arc
Urahara then begins to create a Senkaimon, a tunnel to the Soul Society. Urahara then explains to Ichigo, Orihime, Chad, and Uryū the details of what the gate does and what to expect from its use. Yoruichi then assures them that they will make it through to Soul Society by his guidance.

Once they return, Kisuke gathers the group on a flying paper transporting them all home. There he reveals his involvement in placing the Hōgyoku within the soul of Rukia and says he knowingly neglected to tell them because he thought it would made them change their mind about saving her. After receiving a kick to the face by Ichigo, he promises to apologize to Rukia.

Bount Arc
He sends three modified souls to train Ichigo, Renji, Rukia, and Ishida to engage as a group in battle situations by pretending to be enemies. It is also at this time that he relays to the group that Ishida no longer has his Qunicy powers. At Urahara's Shop Urahara discusses with Ichigo and his friends the existence of the Bount, who plan on invading Soul Society. He then orders the modified souls Lirin, Noba, and Kurodo to go along with Ichigo and friends to help them stop the Bount.

Urahara allows Ishida and Renji to train under his shop. The next day Urahara comes to the conclusion that the two should go and investigate the Bount mansion. He then has Ichigo take the modified souls home with him to develop Bount countermeasures.

Arrancar Arc
When the Arrancar Ulquiorra Cifer and Yammy Rialgo begin to terrorize Karakura Town, Urahara and Yoruichi show up to save Ichigo from the Arrancar Yammy. After Urahara blocks his punch with his blood mist shield, Yoruichi easily dispatches Yammy, only for the enraged Arrancar to try to attack her with a point blank Cero, but it makes no contact as Urahara counters it with a similar attack to nullify Yammy's. When Yammy becomes confused at the concept of this Urahara decides to show and sends a blast of spiritual energy from his zanpakutō toward Yammy, but it is deflected by Ulquiorra with his bare hand. Ulquiorra incapacitates Yammy for his rash actions and brutishness and proceeds to explain to him who it is that he is fighting. The two Arrancar then retreat.

Sometime later Urahara is approached by Chad who asks Urahara to train him. Urahara eventually decides to train Chad by having Renji do so, as his Bankai is not fit for training or lending power to others. Later Urahara is seen observing the training session between Renji and Chad, commenting to himself on how while fighting against a Bankai will increase Chad's powers he is still concerned about how Chad's powers are not like a Shinigami's or a Quincy's.

Shortly after Urahara sends Yoruichi to bring Orihime to him. Orihime arrives at the underground training area to speak to Urahara. He proceeds to share with her the details of the coming war between Soul Society and Aizen as they watch Renji and Chad battle. He explains that he called her to him to ask her to stay out of the upcoming battle. He goes on to explain that since Tsubaki was destroyed in her confrontation with Yammy days earlier her inability to restore him means she has no means of attack. Therefore he can not naturally allow her to participate in the battle. Chad immediately disagrees with the assessment, saying she is their friend and helped in Soul Society and she still has healing and defensive abilities that are more important then attacking. Urahara reminds him that Orihime is still a human and the 4th Division will be on the front line, as they possess healing abilities and combat abilities. Orihime breaks up the argument by agreeing with Urahara and thanking him for being honest with her. In truth this was an attempt to hide Orihime from Aizen's view so that the latter cannot kidnap her, though this plan fails.

During the second Arrancar incursion into Karakura Town Urahara shows up in time to save 10th Division Lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto from being impaled by the 6th Espada Luppi, by severing his tentacle. After introducing himself he is seemingly almost attacked by Wonderweiss Margera only to bat the Arrancar away using blast of spiritual energy from his zanpakutō. Wonderweiss proceeds to fire a spiritual energy blast that even Urahara has never seen, but Urahara dodges it only to be hit by another blast from behind. As Urahara falls from the sky Yammy is revealed to be his attacker and laughs as he explains the attack was a Bala a weaker but faster version of a Cero. He then proceeds to fire multiple blasts at Urahara's falling body.

Urahara then appears behind Yammy unscathed, taunting him, enraging the Espada. Yammy asks him how he was able to survive and proceeds to send another volley of Bala blasts at him. Urahara easily uses Shunpo and appears behind Yammy and hold his zanpakutō to the Espada's throat. He explains that he has seen him fire off tons of the blasts, and wont be hit by them anymore. Concluding the Yammy can't figure out how Urahara was hit by the blasts and not hurt. Then he shows that he has been using a portable Gigai as a decoy. Yammy again becomes enraged and begins to charge a Bala blast. Urahara effortlessly negates the blast with his zanpakutō, and explains that the blast will no longer work against him having sufficiently analyzed the spirit particle composition and the Espada's muscle movements allowing him to dodge it. He then tells Yammy they should finish the fight. Before they continue the battle Yammy is escapes back to Hueco Mundo after Ulquiorra successfully captures Orihime.

Hueco Mundo Arc
After Orihime is captured, Kisuke opens a Garganta for Ichigo, Chad, and Uryū to enter Hueco Mundo to rescue her. Upon their departure Urahara makes it known that he is aware of the presence of Ichigo's three friends from school, telling them to come out from hiding. He then tells them he has a job for them.

Urahara appears again acting as a benefactor to a super team that he set up, made up of Kon, Don Kanonji, Tatsuki, Chizuru, Keigo, and Ururu. The idea being that while Ichigo and his friends are away someone must protect the town from Hollows. When the team sufficiently takes out the threats, Urahara erects a barrier around the town.

Meanwhile in Hueco Mundo it was revealed by Kenpachi that Urahara was given some orders by Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto: to create a Garganta that will allow some of Soul Society's forces to enter Hueco Mundo, and to prepare the remaining forces for Sōsuke Aizen's eventual invasion of Karakura Town.

New Captain Sūsuke Amagai Arc
Urahara notices a shortage of a particular type of spirit particle, and he begins to think it has something to do with Kasumiōji clan.

Sometime later Urahara is seen presiding over a soccer tournament between Rurichiyo Kasumiōji, Ryūsei Kenzaki, Rusaburō Enkōgawa, Ichigo, and his friends.

Fake Karakura Town Arc
It is explained that Urahara's major job for preparations of the coming war involved making it possible for the Gotei 13 to battle in Karakura Town. He accomplished this by creating a device called the Tenkai Kecchu which allowed him to swap the real Karakura town with an elaborate duplicate made by Mayuri Kurotsuchi's 12th Division.

Inventions
Having founded the research institute in Soul Society, Urahara has developed a number of unique items. The notable ones are below:
 * Gikongan: More commonly known as Soul Candy, this item is an artificial soul in the form of a green ball of candy. When ingested, it forces the user's soul out of their body. The artificial soul then operates in a pre-programmed manner while inhabiting a body. Its name was changed to "Soul Candy" after its creation because the Shinigami Women Organization complained that the name gikongan wasn't cute.


 * : This item is a vaguely human-shaped, man-sized doll used to forcibly materialize the spirit of a zanpakutō into the real world when stabbed by the zanpakutō. In doing so, the user can subjugate the spirit and attain the Bankai of their zanpakutō. The materialization lasts for about three days, after which the spirit reverts back into the doll that spawned it. Without this invention, achieving the Bankai takes at least ten years, not to mention the many years of combat experience needed. This method, however, is very dangerous due to the fact that it forcibly materializes the zanpakutō's spirit. If used more than three times consecutively, it is possibly fatal to the user.


 * also referred as The Orb of Distortion: This item is a small orb that dissolves the boundary between a Shinigami and a Hollow. It can allow a Shinigami to use Hollow powers and vice-versa. As Sōsuke Aizen reveals to Orihime Inoue, continued use of the orb seems to weaken it.


 * Variations of Gigai: Having experimented with Gigai at length, Urahara has created at least two variations. The most notable one is an untraceable Gigai which drains the user's spiritual power instead of restoring it, effectively making them Human if used long enough. He also developed an inflatable Gigai for use as a decoy in combat.


 * Soul Burial: In addition, Urahara has also developed several novel techniques throughout the course of his research as the Captain of the 12th Division, most notably the technique to bury matter within a soul and later remove it without any damage to the bearer. He used this technique to hide the Hōgyoku in the Rukia's body, and allowed Aizen to remove it from there without killing her.


 * Reiatsu Suppression Cloak: Urahara also created a cloak that hides his spiritual pressure, seen when he used it to sneak up on Aizen during the Hollowfication of the soon-to-be Vizards.


 * Tenkai Kecchu: a device which creates an enormous one spiritual unit of area radius Senkaimon bound by four linked points. When activated the device swaps something that it encircles with something else in Soul Society.


 * Karakura-Riser Transformation Watch: A watch shown in a filler arc made to give to Kon to protect Karakura Town in Ichigo's absence the watch has the following features:


 * Transformation: The watch's main function, it covers Kon in a puff of smoke as gives him a superhero outfit designed by Uryū. Despite its flashy appearance, the suit has little to offer, giving the user no increases in strength or speed or allow them to fly.


 * Raiser Beam: The only effective weapon in the suit. Kon spells out Raiser with his body then slaps his hands together to emit a beam strong enough to kill a large Hollow. However, this attack takes up a lot of energy and can only be used once per transformation.


 * Communicator: the watch also serves as a communicator between Kon and Urahara.


 * Electrocute: Urahara can also have the watch shock Kon if he disobeys his orders.

Powers & Abilities
Master Swordsmanship Specialist: Despite his appearance, Urahara is an extremely skilled fighter, using a combination of powerful attacks and cunning deceptions. While formally being part of the unarmed-combat specializing Special Forces, Kisuke's preferred style of combat seems to be swordsmanship. His skill in the said area have repeatedly been shown as very high. He achieved Bankai within a short time (through a process he devised) relying on the sheer skill of his ability to wield his zanpakutō against its own spirit. During his training sessions for Ichigo, he repeatedly kept Ichigo, who was armed with a much bigger blade, on his toes. His skills at swordsmanship have been shown to be so high, that he rarely ever relies on more than his Shikai as shown when fighting Yammy, an Espada-level Arrancar.

Master Hand-to-Hand Combatant: As the former corp commander of the Detention Unit of the Special Forces, he was not allowed to use weapons so he was required to become highly proficient in hand-to-hand combat. His skills in this area have been seen great enough to force even the likes Yoruichi to fight seriously as shown from one of their regular sparing sessions. During his days as a Shinigami, while only a third seat officer at the time, his skills were great enough to effortlessly take down several Shinigami-deserters unarmed.

Flash Steps Master: As the former 3rd seat of the 2nd Division and Special Forces, Urahara has an exceptional understanding and skill in the use of Flash Steps even being so fast that an opponent does not notice when he replaces himself with a portable Gigai as a means of misdirection. In addition, the fact that he was always able to keep up with Yoruichi's speed during sparing sessions is further proof of his high mastery in this skill.

Kidō Master: being a former captain of the 12th Division, Kisuke has at least an above lieutenant knowledge of the demon arts. During Uryū and Ichigo's fight against a Gillian-class Menos, Kisuke effortlessly restrained Rukia, a highly skilled Kidō expert, with a low-level Kidō without incantation.

Master Scientist/Inventor: As the founder and former head of the Shinigami Research Institute, Urahara is a talented inventor and scientist, having created a number of devices or techniques to aid him in battle or otherwise. His high intellect is evident in this field having created the most amazing things in soul society history. As he has been inventing and creating things since the time before becoming a seated member in the 2nd division. His knowledge has led him to a innate understanding of the abilities of others as well as what happens when independent variables are entered into an equation.
 * Garganta: The technique used by Hollows to move to and from Hueco Mundo. Urahara has demonstrated the ability to use the technique. It literally tears open the dimensional fabric separating the worlds, revealing a tunnel of whirling, torrential energy that must be focused and solidified to create a discernible pathway. The incantation he used is: "In my right hand I hold the stone that connect the borders of the worlds. In my left hand I hold the blade that binds existence. The black-haired shepherd, the seat of the noose. A bank of clouds come, striking us and the crested ibis."

Master Strategist & Tactician: Despite his aloof and unkempt appearance, Kisuke has repeatedly shown himself to be a very insightful and cunning many with a talent for thinking things well in advanced as well and able to perceive any situation at hand. After Orihime revealed her powers to Ulquiorra, Kisuke correctly deduced that Aizen would try and use Orihime against the Soul Society (although he believed Aizen intended to actually use her powers rather than use her as bait). He generally has shown himself to also be a crafty tactician from how easily he can deceive both allies and enemies. He has also shown to be a very perceptive and analytical man from how quickly he can analyze an opponent's power and attack patterns to ultimately make them useless against him.

Enhanced Strength: Kisuke's physical prowess has been shown to go beyond superficial skill. During his time as commander of the Detention Unit, he was shown able to effortlessly stop a punch from a giant of a man with a single hand.

Immense Spiritual Energy: As the former Captain of the 12th Division Urahara boasts a great amount of spiritual energy.

Zanpakutō

 * has been described by Urahara as "not nice" as well as being one of the few known zanpakutō with a female spirit. When sealed, Benihime takes the form of a shikomizue (a blade hidden inside Urahara's cane). Because it resides in a cane its hilt is still the handle of the cane, so it looks different from most zanpakutō. Flashbacks to when he served in the Gotei 13 shows that Benhime was originally sealed in an ordinary katana-form with a flower-shaped guard and black handle. The shaft of the cane is able to separate a soul from a body, much like Rukia Kuchiki's glove.


 * Shikai: The Shikai command of Benihime is . In its Shikai, its hilt is a little on the longer side, mostly because the last two or three inches are bent at an angle. A crimson little tassel dangles off the end. Instead of a crossguard, there is a red decorative string wrapped thrice around the hilt, with a three-loop bow on one side and a folded paper decoration on the other. A U-shaped decoration covers the first three or four inches of blade, with a flower petal design right as it meets the string-crossguard. Benihime's blade is straight and slim, though somewhat short, with the tip ending in a slanted razor-like edge instead of being tapered to a point.


 * Shikai Special Ability: Its abilities apparently lie in the manipulation of blood, and is believed to possess multiple abilities. The abilities are activated by the verbal command . There are only two abilities that have been shown:


 * Benihime's defensive ability forms an oval-shaped "blood mist shield" in front of Urahara. The barrier is able to block Ichigo's first use of his Getsuga Tenshō while only slightly eroding, after which Urahara comments that he would have lost an arm were it not for the shield.


 * Benihime's yet unnamed offensive ability fires crimson-colored energy blasts. He is also shown to control these blasts, and can even change the intensity of them. Urahara was able to match Ichigo's improvised Getsuga Tenshō and easily cancel out Cero and Bala blasts from the Espada Yammy by striking it head-on with this attack after he was able to study the amount of power it took to use it.


 * Bankai: Not yet revealed, but has been vaguely commented upon. Yoruichi comments that Urahara managed to learn Bankai using the very same three day method he created. When Yasutora Sado comes to Urahara for training, he instead gives the task to Renji Abarai, remarking that Chad needs to face the strength of a Bankai to improve. When Renji asks why Urahara, who also possesses Bankai, does not train Chad himself, he states that his Bankai is not fit for training others or lending power to them.

Trivia

 * Kisuke Urahara was inspired by Snufkin, a character that appears in Tove Jannson's Moominvalley novels. Tite Kubo confirms this in an interview with Shonen Jump that was published in Shonen Jump volume 6, issue 11 of November 2008, number 71.


 * Yamamoto is aware of Urahara and Tessai being in exile in the Human world and has the Gotei 13 use their services on the regular bases, most notably asking in for Urahara's assistance in making preparations for war with Aizen as well as transporting the real Karakura Town into the Soul Society.


 * Urahara is one of only four Shinigami to know how to open a Garganta. He also has shown the knowledge of how to break barriers set up by spiritually superior noble families, that even captains are incapable of naturally breaking.


 * In slashing off Aizen's lieutenant badge, Urahara has come closer to injuring him than anyone else.

Quotes

 * (To Chad and Orihime) "Your transformation is not a disease. You were just given the key to the door in front of you. There's no need to know the cause. No need for sorrow or sadness. What comes next is up to you. You can use your keys to open the door...or lock it tight. And if you do choose to open it...you can still decide not to pass through."


 * (Urahara writes Ichigo a message in blood) "Urgent, meet us outside the Urahara shop immediately" (After Ichigo freaked out) P.S: If you're thinking that this message is like some written in the victim's own blood cliché from some TV show...then you obviously have no sense of humor."


 * "There is nothing but fear reflected in your sword. When you dodge, you're afraid of getting killed. When you attack, you're afraid of killing someone. Even when you try to protect someone, you're afraid of letting them die. Yes, your sword speaks to me only of absurd fear. What's necessary in a fight isn't fear. Nothing can be born of that. When you dodge, "I won't let them cut me." If you protect someone, "I won't let them die." If you attack, "I will kill them." Well, can't you see the resolve to kill you in my sword?"


 * "That wasn't very nice...I do believe you killed my hat."


 * "Sing, Benihime."


 * "Noooo, there's no way I, a mere handsome and sexy shopkeeper, could possibly have Bankai!"