Shihōin Clan

Shihōin Clan
Titles	Tenshi Heisōban
Family Head	Yūshirō Shihōin
Family Seat	Shihōin Clan Manor, Seireitei, Soul Society
Affiliation	Onmitsukidō, 2nd Division, Gotei 13, Soul Society
Specialty	Caretakers of the Hōgu and Bugu.

The Shihōin Clan (四楓院家, Shihōin-ke; lit. "Shihōin family") is one of the Four Great Noble families of Soul Society.

Overview

By tradition, the head of the Shihōin family leads the Onmitsukidō. Also known as the Tenshi Heisōban (天賜兵装番, Guard of the Heavenly Gifted Armaments; Viz "Defender of the Realm"), they are the Caretakers of the Hōgu (宝具, Treasured Tools) and Bugu (武具, Armaments) said to have been bestowed on them by the gods.

Every generation the head of the Shihōin is tasked to protect the Tenshi Heisō (天賜兵装, Heavenly Gifted Armaments), an incredible spiritual tool that is said to have been handed down from the Heavens. If they attain a captain seat in the Gotei 13, the Onmitsukidō are led under that captaincy as well.

Clan members are all masters of Hakuda, using it as their primary form of combat to great effects.

Clan Structure

Unknown

Family Members

Shihōin Clan
Name	Title	Relation	Status
Chika Shihōin	Unknown	N/A	Deceased
Yoruichi Shihōin	22nd Head of the Shihōin Clan Princess (姫君, Himegimi; alt. "Lady")	Older Sister of Yūshirō	Alive
Yūshirō Shihōin	23rd Head of the Shihōin Clan	Younger Brother of Yoruichi	Alive

Retainers

Shihōin Clan Retainers
Name	Job	Status
Suì-Fēng	Commander-in-Chief of the Onmitsukidō & Corps Commander of the Executive Militia	Alive
Marechiyo Ōmaeda	Corps Commander of the Patrol Corps of the Onmitsukidō	Alive

Equipment

Ukitake with the Shihōin Shield.

• Shihōin Shield: a device used by Jūshirō Ukitake and Shunsui Kyōraku to destroy the Sōkyoku. It is a large, shield-like item with the Shihōin Family Emblem (四楓院家の紋, Shihōin-ke no Mon) stamped on it and a long cord connected to it. When the cord is wrapped around the Sōkyoku and two Zanpakutō are stabbed into two vertical slots running from its top, their Reiryoku flows through the cord and destroys the Sōkyoku. The Shield is normally kept under a seal that is difficult to remove even for a captain.

Yhwach surrounded by the Hissaki Kumoi.

• Tenshi Heisō: Hissaki Kumoi (天賜兵装・引っ裂き蜘蛛網, Heavenly Gifted Armament: Shredding Spider's Web): razor-sharp, yellowish-orange wires that have been used by Yoruichi in a failed attempt to entrap Yhwach. Supposedly even the latter would have been cut up if he had come into contact with the wires.

Trivia

Klub Outside Trivia

• According to Q&A #465 by Tite Kubo on his fansite "Klub Outside", Yoruichi's ability to become a cat is a quirk from her Shihōin heritage; occasionally Shihōin members are born with the ability to transform into a specific animal.
• According to Q&A #695 by Tite Kubo on his fansite "Klub Outside", in the Shihōin family, children who may inherit the family title receive names that include numbers and characters symbolizing times of day.
  • Chika (千日) consists of "Thousand" and "Day".
  • Yoruichi (夜一) consists of "Night" and "One".
  • Yūshirō (夕四郎) consists of "Evening" and "Fourth Son".