Bleach Wiki
Register
Advertisement
Bleach Wiki

Kenpachi (剣八, Sword-Eight) is the title that is only given to the strongest Shinigami.[1] It is an ironclad rule that there can be only one Kenpachi per generation, meaning that the predecessor must die for the killer to succeed the title.[2] To inherit this title, the candidate must kill the current Kenpachi in battle.[3]

The title is traditionally held within the 11th Division of the Gotei 13. There have been a total of 11 holders of this title. Claimants include:

Appearances in Other Media[]

Ryōgo Narita's novels, Bleach: Spirits Are Forever With You, feature a number of original characters, which include two former Kenpachi, and made mention of a third:

  • Kenpachi Kuruyashiki, the 7th Kenpachi and a former 11th Division Captain.
  • Sōya Azashiro, the 8th Kenpachi and a former 11th Division Captain.
  • The 9th Kenpachi, a former 11th Division Lieutenant, received the title as a means to keep it alive after Azashiro was imprisoned in Muken undefeated.[4]

Trivia[]

  • Despite the fact there are 11 holders of the name Kenpachi,[5] it is revealed that the first Kenpachi was never killed in a duel[6] until she and the 11th faced off in Muken, bringing into question the legitimacy of the 2nd to 10th holders of the name.[7]

References[]

  1. Bleach manga; Chapter 520, page 19
  2. Bleach manga; Chapter 526, pages 13-14
  3. Bleach manga; Chapter -108, page 11
  4. Bleach novel; Spirits Are Forever With You, Chapter 9
  5. Bleach Official Character Book 2: MASKED
  6. Bleach manga; Chapter 520, pages 15-16
  7. Bleach manga; Chapter 527, page 7
Advertisement