"They used to call me Lightning Tenjirō for my Hohō skills, and it's not like I've lost my touch..." |
Tenjirō Kirinji (麒麟寺 天示郎, Kirinji Tenjirō) is a member of the Royal Guard, holding the title "Hot Spring Demon" (泉湯鬼, Sentōki).[4] He holds the position of First Officer of the Zero Division (零番隊 第一官, Zerobantai Daiichikan),[3] as well as "Divine General of the East" (東方神将, Tōhō Shinshō; Viz "Holy Guardian of the East").[5]
Appearance[]
Kirinji is a lean-built and very tall man with black hair arranged into an outlandishly large pompadour, or "regent" hairstyle, with tapered sideburns. He also has wide, inward-tilting eyes with small pinprick pupils, and he also frequently chews on a small stick. He wears a modified version of the Shihakushō, which is sleeveless, cropped, and opened to expose his chest, with a cropped white jacket bearing the insignia of the Royal Guard and the detailing of a captain's haori around the hem. His attire is completed by black hakama, a yellow haramaki around his waist and a pair of waraji sandals without socks.[6]
Personality[]
Kirinji speaks of the Gotei 13 as if they are no more than children and is at times condescending to many of his fellow Shinigami, even captains.[7] This patronizing attitude frequently results in him being disciplined by the rest of the Royal Guard, usually through physical force, with a strike to the head.[8] He is also confident in his fighting abilities, being the first member of the Royal Guard to confront Yhwach upon his arrival to the Soul King Palace, and proclaiming that he wouldn't confront him if he didn't think victory was a possibility.[9]
History[]
Before joining the Royal Guard, Kirinji was a Shinigami captain in Soul Society. At some time in the past, he invented Kaidō, which he then taught to Retsu Unohana.[10] The Soul King would recognize this invention as a significant contribution to the Soul Society and as a result, Tenjiro was promoted to the Royal Guard.[11]
Plot[]
The Thousand-Year Blood War arc[]

Tenjirō reunited with Unohana.
After the death of Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, he returns to Soul Society with the other members of the Royal Guard, where they are met by most of the surviving Gotei 13 captains and Ichigo Kurosaki.[12] Bearing a flag with the Royal Guard's emblem, he greets the assembled Shinigami before going to talk to Unohana. He asks her about the number of deaths that have occurred and wonders if she is using the healing methods he taught her. Ichibē Hyōsube tells them to catch up later, as they have things to do, annoying him.[13]

Hyōsube knocks him to the ground for talking down to Suì-Fēng.
When Captain Suì-Fēng berates them about how they did not help in the battle with the Wandenreich, he grabs her and tells her that their job is to protect the Soul King, not Seireitei and that the Gotei 13 did not live up to its name. Hyōsube knocks him to the ground and tells him to talk later. When Unohana objects to Senjumaru Shutara bringing the critically injured Captain Byakuya Kuchiki, as well as Lieutenants Renji Abarai and Rukia Kuchiki to the Royal Palace, he tells her that they cannot fully recover with her abilities and that he can. He then tells her that it is not the time for her to focus on healing.[14]

Kirinji strikes Ichigo to prove he is healed.
They later proceed to take Ichigo and some of the injured Shinigami with them to the Royal Palace, but before they leave, they are interrupted by Kisuke Urahara. He listens while Ichigo talks with Urahara before they head to the Royal Palace.[15][16] Once there, Kirinji brings Ichigo and the wounded Shinigami to his Kirinden where he heals them in a hot spring.[17] After several dunks into the hot springs, Kirinji hits both Ichigo and Renji, declaring them healed from how easily they took his punch. After the two younger Shinigami are sent on ahead, he talks with his underlings, Kazuo and Kazuhiro. Kirinji openly admits to being impressed with Ichigo, particularly his ability to react to his punch fast enough to counter and damage Kirinji's hand, stating it's no wonder why the Soul King has taken an interest in Ichigo.[18]
He later informs Rukia of Byakuya's recovery. Following the call, Kirinji notes that Byakuya stayed in the hot spring longer than any other visitor. He asks if Byakuya's dizzy, but Byakuya says no and decides to get stronger so he can justify the pride he once held. This response causes Kirinji to grin. [19]
Later, as the Wandenreich invades for a second time, Kirinji calls Ichigo over. As he tells Ichigo that he'll be walking down to the Seireitei, Shutara unveils a massive spiraling staircase. Kirinji tells Ichigo it isn't that far, and that by using Shunpo, the journey should only take him a week. Jokingly anticipating a different reaction, Kirinji is surprised when Ichigo replies calmly. Reiterating that the journey might take him a while, Kirinji is stunned by Ichigo's calm demeanor. He is interrupted by the arrival of Ichibē, whose booming laughter hurts Kirinji's ear. Kirinji tells Hikifune, who arrives late, that Ichigo has already left. As she comments on how much Ichigo has grown, Kirinji agrees with her, the two of them watching him leave. When Ichibē corrects her by saying that Ichigo has grown strong, Kirinji flatly states it is the same thing.[20]

Kirinji fails to land a blow on Yhwach.
Later, when Yhwach, Jugram Haschwalth, and Uryū Ishida arrive at the Soul King Palace, Kirinji notices their presence.[21] When Haschwalth summons several Soldat to invade the palace, Kirinji appears and defeats them all with his sealed Zanpakutō before stating they do not allow uninvited guests. After introducing himself to Yhwach, Kirinji proclaims he believes he can defeat Yhwach and summons the water from his hot springs, which engulfs those present. After explaining the properties of his hot spring water, Kirinji releases his Zanpakutō, Kinpika, and attacks Yhwach.[22] However, Tenjirō is unable to land any blows on the Quincy King, and as he wonders why he is unable to hit Yhwach despite the Wandenreich's leader not attempting to dodge his attacks, Yhwach notes that there is a stalemate and asks the Shinigami to let him pass. Tenjirō tries to strike him once again, but his attack misses once again. Senjumaru Shutara then appears wth her Divine soldiers to take on Yhwach.[23] After Nianzol Weizol reveals himself, Kirinji listens as the Sternritter explains how he used his ability, The Wind, to prevent Kirinji's attacks as well as those of Senjumaru's guards, from hitting Yhwach.[24] Now aware of the reason these attacks were unsuccessful, Nianzol is swiftly defeated by Senjumaru, leading to Yhwach summoning his elite guard, the Schutzstaffel. After Senjumaru appeared to be killed in the ensuing confrontation by these Sternritter and her body was disposed of, the whole landscape suddenly pulled away in the form of fabrics being lifted, revealing a totally unharmed Senjumaru. The events that had taken place since the Quincy ascended to the Royal Palace turned out to have merely occured within illusory fabrics she had woven with her Shikai and which featured a mock-up Royal Palace, while the real one was hidden by Ichibē Hyōsube; which meant the Quincy had yet to engage the Royal Guard members in person. Senjumaru's subterfuge allowed Kirio Hikifune to finish the construction of her Cage of Life intended to confine the Quincy. With the Royal Guard's scheme unveiled, Kirinji, Hikifune and Ōetsu Nimaiya appeared, successively introducing themselves alongside Senjumaru, all now ready to take on the Schutzstaffel properly.[25]

Kirinji clashing with Haschwalth.
With the battle between the Royal Guard and Schutzstaffel underway, Kirinji comes to battle the Sternritter Grandmaster, Jugram Haschwalth, and effortlessly defeats him.[26] Shortly after, Kirinji comes to the assistance of Nimaiya, using the red water of his Blood Pond Hell to fully replace the blood in Nimaiya's body after it was made poisonous to him by Askin Nakk Le Vaar's The Deathdealing; Nimaiya subsequently cuts down the latter, marking the defeat of all the Sternritter Yhwach had brought to the Royal Palace with him.[27]

Kirinji and Hikifune attempt to protect Nimaiya.
In the events that followed the revival and empowerment of the Schutzstaffel by Yhawch's Auswählen, Hikifune and Kirinji both attempt to block Lille Barro's attack on Nimaiya, but he is shocked to see that the latter was struck anyway, prompting Lille to explain his power, The X-Axis.[28] Once Senjumaru restores the wounded Nimaiya, the Royal Guard engages the Schutzstaffel once more; Kirinji fighting Askin this time, empowered by his partially-manifested Vollständig form. Though initially having the upper hand, he is ultimately incapacitated by Askin and tossed to the ground, as were the rest of the Royal Guard by their respective opponents. Kirinji, Nimaiya and Hikifune, then take their own lives, in order to break the Blood Oath's Seal, allowing Senjumaru to release her Bankai.[29]
Inventions[]

White Bone Hell
- White Bone Hell (白骨地獄, Hakkotsu Jigoku): A clear hot spring surrounded by a number of small waterfalls and featuring a giant sōzu. By submerging the injured beneath the waters of this spring, any damaged Reiatsu within their body is slowly driven out along with their blood; however, due to the high-speed healing and intense properties of the water, it can cause the bodies of the afflicted to erode and rupture if they are not durable enough, which requires special protective suits made from super spiritual threads to reduce any injuries sustained to mere burns, with even the garments bursting into flames from the damage sustained once discarded.[30] Kirinji can manipulate the water's temperatures and movement, using it offensively to burn opponents.[31]
- Blood Pond Hell (血の池地獄, Chi no Ike Jigoku): A steaming hot spring that looks to be filled by a pool of boiling blood. Its purpose is to replenish the blood of those who have already undergone treatment in the White Bone Hell.[30] The water can be used during battle to replenish a comrade's lost blood.[27]
Powers & Abilities[]

Kirinji being hands-on in his unconventional way of healing.
Master Healer: Kirinji's competency as a healer is unrivaled among the Shinigami, surpassing even the skills of 4th Division Captain Retsu Unohana, who is otherwise regarded as the best healer that Soul Society can bring to bear. In fact, Kirinji is the one who invented and taught Unohana Kaidō, the Kidō art of healing,[32] and the recognition of Kaidō as a major contribution to Soul Society is what earned Kirinji his promotion to the Royal Guard.[11] Kirinji was adamant that he could heal the grievous injuries of several Shinigami whom Unohana herself was unable to treat,[33] and was indeed proven correct in so thinking, as he successfully brought Byakuya Kuchiki back from the brink of death.[34] Kirinji's signature and most potent healing method involves a peculiar form of balneotherapy, using two special hot springs that he innovated and are housed in his Kirinden: one for cleansing wounded bodies of their damaged blood and Reiatsu with a special white water, and another replenishing their blood with a red water (in a repeat cycle that can mend the most serious of injuries).[30]

Kirinji summons the water of his hot springs.
Hot Spring Water Manipulation: Kirinji can call forth the specialized waters of his hot springs and manipulate their movements and temperature as he desires, allowing him to use them in battle (and he seems to use his Zanpakutō to direct the water, though if it is summoned by Kinpika itself is unclear). Kirinji's white water (白い湯, shiroi yu) can envelop enemies to burn and rot their bodies through its scalding temperature and over-healing,[31] while the red water (赤い湯, akai yu) can be used to instantly replenish, or outright replace, any blood that his comrades have lost.[27]
Kidō Master: As the inventor of Kaidō and its most proficient master, which requires being gifted with exceptional talent for Kidō, Kirinji's knowledge and prowess in the discipline are stellar.[11]

Kirinji easily takes Suì-Fēng's back.
Shunpo Master: Kirinji's Shunpo mastery earned him the epithet "Lightning-Fast Tenjirō" (雷迅の天示郎, Raijin no Tenjirō) during his time in the lower Soul Society.[35] His speed exceeds even that of 2nd Division Captain Suì-Fēng, who herself is one of the best Shunpo masters in all of Soul Society; despite being right in front of her, Kirinji easily maneuvered behind Suì-Fēng's back and put her in an arm lock, at such speed that the Gotei captain could not comprehend what had just happened.[36] Later, Kirinji's terrific Shunpo prowess was once again demonstrated when he effortlessly defeated Jugram Haschwalth.[26]

Kirinji cuts down Haschwalth.
Master Swordsman: Kirinji is an extremely proficient Zanjutsu master. He was able to effortlessly defeat the Sternritter Grandmaster Jugram Haschwalth, an incredibly talented master swordsman himself, with his Shikai. After outmaneuvering him and depriving him of his shield, he got the better of Jugram in their final exchange, switfly cutting him down, without sustaining a single injury.[26]
Immeasurable Spiritual Power: As a member of the Royal Guard whose collective power surpasses the entire Gotei 13's,[37] Kirinji possesses overwhelmingly vast Reiryoku, as demonstrated when he easily overpowered and defeated Jugram Haschwalth, the Sternritter Grandmaster (and Yhwach's "other half") with just his Shikai, while still limited by the Blood Oath's Seal.[26] If Kirinji unleashed his power in full, his Reiatsu would make Soul Society, the Human World, and Hueco Mundo tremble.[29]
Immense Strength: Kirinji possesses incredible physical strength, able to effortlessly pick up and throw a grown man several meters away from himself.[38] He can punch with enough force to send someone of Ichigo Kurosaki's stature flying a considerable distance away[39] and send several Soldat flying with a single swing of his sealed Zanpakutō.[40]
Immense Durability: Kirinji is an incredibly resilient man, able to endure the unique healing properties of his hot springs for an extended period of time, unprotected, without rotting.[41]
Ōken: As one of the Royal Guards, Kirinji has the Ōken imparted in his bones, which grants him the ability to travel in and out of the Soul King Palace as he pleases, as well as grant permission to others simply by willing it.[42]
Zanpakutō[]

Kirinji wields Kinpika.
Kinpika (金毘迦, Gilded Splendor):[43] Its sealed form takes the form of a polearm: a a small, single-edged blade head being attached to a long wooden pole. The blade is covered by a wooden sheath with "Kirinji" (きりんじ) written on it,[44] and when sheathed Kinpika resembles an eku.[45]

Kirinji uses Kinpika's Shikai.
- Shikai: Kinpika's release command is "Flash from Illuminating Heavens" (天照一閃, Tenshō Issen; Viz "Heavenly Flash").[46] Upon release, the blade of Kinpika glows brightly.[43]
- Shikai Special Ability: Kirinji uses the light from the blade that Kinpika radiates to momentarily blind his enemies, and it also seems to give him an increase in striking power.[29]
- Bankai: Not Revealed. Kirinji can only use his Bankai when the Blood Oath's Seal has been lifted.[29]
Appearances in Other Media[]
Video Game Appearances | |||||

Promotional art of Kirinji wielding his hot spring water in Bleach: Brave Souls.
- A playable version of Kirinji was added to Bleach: Brave Souls as part of the commemoration for the Thousand-Year Blood War arc tie-in. In this form, Kirinji is a melee strong attack character with the "Speed" Attribute and the "Shinigami Killer" ability who has a chance to inflict Paralysis with every attack. His unlockable skills are "Party Speed Attribute Soul Reaper Strong Attack Damage +20%", "Berserker +20%", "Bruiser +20%", "Debilitator +5 secs.", "Devastation +40%", "Frenzy +1", "Havoc +20%", and "Sprinter +2", while his Soul Trait is "Strong Attack Recharge Time -12%"; meanwhile, his Arena Traits are "Strong Attack Damage +13%" and "Spiritual Pressure +90", while his Arena Abilities other than "All Stats +5%" are "Paralysis Duration -100%" at level 5 and "Strong Attack Damage +30%" at level 10. Kirinji's special is Heavenly Flash! Kinpika! (天照一閃 金毘迦, Tenshō Issen, Kinpika; Japanese for "Flash from Illuminating Heavens, Gilded Splendor!"), where he summons a wall of water from his hot springs that inflicts immense damage and Paralysis while automatically reviving subsequently fallen team members once.
Quotes[]
- (To Suì-Fēng) "The Royal Guard's duty is to protect the Soul King Palace, and the Gotei 13 is to protect Soul Society. As someone who bears the name of Gotei, don't go crying to us about how help didn't come just because you couldn't do anything. It's already bad enough you're a disgrace to that title!"[47]
Trivia[]
- Kirinji was voted the 37th most popular Shinigami character in the fifth character popularity poll.[48]
- Kirinji's pompadour can support 120 kg of weight.[49]
- The release command for Kirinji's Zanpakutō, Kinpika, was originally "Sparkle" (煌け, kirameke) prior to the release of volume 65.[45]
- Kinpika literally means "shiny" in Japanese. Chinese letters for Kinpika (金毘迦) strongly resembles that of Konpira (金毘羅), the name referring to several deities, including one of the Twelve Heavenly Generals in Buddhism, and an animal-shaped water deity that was originally a vāhana of Gaṅgā and later became the basis of Makara.
- Kirinji's titles, First Officer of the Zero Division and Divine General of the East, also somewhat resemble Konpira for being the first member of the Twelve Heavenly Generals. Kirinji's affinity with liquids also resembles Konpira to be a water deity.
- Kirinji's hot springs are likely inspired by the Hells of Beppu (別府の地獄, Beppu no Jigoku), a popular hot spring (onsen) system in the Japanese city of Beppu, meant for viewing rather than bathing, whose waters are so hot as to be steaming on a constant basis:
- The fifth of the (total of seven) hells is called Shiraike Jigoku (白池地獄, White Pond Hell), similar to Kirinji's White Bone Hell. The sixth hell has the exact same name as Kirinji's red spring, Chinoike Jigoku (血の池地獄, Blood Pond Hell), being so called because of the red-colored hot mud visible in its water, making said water resemble steaming blood.
Klub Outside Trivia[]
- According to Q&A #570 by Tite Kubo on his fansite "Klub Outside", Tenjirō is incredibly skilled at the second stage of Shunpo, called Bakkyaku, allowing him to achieve unbelievable speed.
References[]
- ↑ https://bleach-anime.com/character/?chara=55
- ↑ https://bleach-anime.com/character/?chara=55
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 13 BLADEs, page 170
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 519, page 16
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 588, page 7
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 517, pages 1 & 6
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 517, pages 4-6 & 11-12
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 519, page 6
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 588, pages 7-13
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 517, page 6
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Bleach 13th BLADEs, page 170
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 516, pages 14-17
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 517, pages 2-7
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 517, pages 10-17
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 517, pages 1-18
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 518, pages 9-17
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 519, pages 5-16
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 520, pages 5-12
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 545, pages 7-8
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 555, pages 4-10
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 588, pages 1-2
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 588, pages 7-13
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 597, pages 5-7
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 598, page 11
- ↑ Bleach anime; Episode 390
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 Bleach anime; Episode 391
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 Bleach manga; Chapter 602, pages 12-13
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 604, pages 11-13
- ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 Bleach anime; Episode 392
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 Bleach manga; Chapter 519, pages 12-14
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 Bleach manga; Chapter 588, pages 10-11
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 517, page 7
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 517, page 16
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 545, page 8
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 520, page 12
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 517, page 12
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 516, page 14
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 519, page 13
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 520, page 9
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 588, page 8
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 520, page 14
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 519, pages 2-3
- ↑ 43.0 43.1 Bleach manga; Chapter 588, page 12
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 588, page 8
- ↑ 45.0 45.1 Bleach manga; Chapter 588, page 11
- ↑ Bleach manga; Volume 65, page 147
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 517, pages 12-13
- ↑ 13 BLADEs., page 253
- ↑ Bleach Volume 58; Chapter 519, end-of-chapter sketch
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Soul King | Adnyeus • Heart • Left Arm • Right Arm |
Soul King Palace | Soul King Palace • Gatonden • Hōōden • Kirinden • Irazu Sandō |
Royal Guard | Kirio Hikifune • Ichibē Hyōsube • Senjumaru Shutara • Tenjirō Kirinji • Ōetsu Nimaiya |
Related Articles | Ōken • Yhwach • Soul King Palace Residents • Primordial Sea • Torrent of the Soul King's Power |
Soul King Hosts | Jūshirō Ukitake • Hikone Ubuginu • Aura Michibane • Rangiku Matsumoto • Fullbringers |
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