Bleach: What is Katen Kyokotsu: Karamatsu Shinju?

The world of Bleach features a plethora of exciting spirit-based powers, but none are as formidable as the Bankai. As the trump card used by the most proficient Soul Reapers, the unveiling of a Bankai has led to some of the most memorable scenes in the series.

In particular, Shunsui Kyoraku, the new Commander of the Gotei 13, has an extremely dangerous yet beloved Bankai. Titled Katen Kyokotsu: Karamatsu Shinju, this Bankai is a tragic four-act play that drags all parties within Shunsui’s range into an unavoidable narrative.

As the most easygoing Soul Reaper, Shunsui is not an intimidating man at first glance. He often makes jokes and enjoys spending his time leisurely in the company of women. However, he is also an immensely powerful captain whose Bankai is banned by the Soul Society due to the threat it poses to allies and enemies alike

Fans got a glimpse of Shunsui’s powers when he unleashed his Shikai, Katen Kyokotsu, during the Fake Karakura Town Arc. This overpowered the top Espada, Starrk, and forced him to take part in any children’s game Shunsui desired.

However, his Bankai took things to a whole other level. During Bleach's Thousand-Year Blood War Arc, Shunsui was compelled to use his banned ability against Lille Barro, one of Yhwach’s strongest Sternritters. Fans and characters soon understood why Shunsui refused to use his disastrous ability.

Karamatsu Shinju roughly translates to “Withering Pine Lovers’ Suicide,” setting the tone for its morbid and sorrowful nature. When the Bankai is activated, shadow-like tendrils extend from Shunsui, while a large area around him is enveloped with a chilling aura. Everyone within its vicinity can feel this, and their surroundings are covered by yellowish squares.

Shunsui’s opponent, however, faces a bigger tragedy and takes part in a play enacting a double lovers’ suicide. Lille Barro suffered this firsthand in Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War and was left without an answer.

The first act of Katen: Kyokotsu Karamatsu Shinju is Tameraikizu no Wakachiai, or “The Sharing of Pain”. This makes the wounds inflicted on Shunsui felt by his opponent, too. Similarly, those on Lille are also shared by Shunsui. Both parties, however, cannot die from the wounds.

Act Two is Zanki no Shitone, or the Pillow of Shame makes black spots appear on Shunsui’s opponent, leading them to bleed profusely. It signifies a man who regrets wounding his partner, falls to the floor in shame, and suffers from an incurable disease.

Without giving him a chance to rest, the third act begins immediately after. Titled Dangyo no Fuchi, or The Abyss, both parties accept their fate and sink into rising water until their spiritual pressures are exhausted. Shunsui was able to acclimate to his conditions, but Lille couldn’t breathe due to being drowned. Despite being able to fly, he was also not able to go past the water.

Finally, Katen: Kyokotsu Karamatsu Shinju ends with Itokiribasami Chizome no Nodobue, which stands for Thread Cut Blood-Soaked Throat. As the name suggests, Shunsui leaves a cut across his opponent’s throat using his fingers, which he believes holds the thread of regret. The cut expands the partner’s throat until they burst. This concludes the play, symbolizing the woman cruelly killing her lover.

Shunsui brutally beat down Lille using these, but was ultimately unable to kill him, as the Quincy evolved to the second form of his Vollstandig, where he resembles an owl.

Who are Katen and Kyokotsu in Bleach?

Shunsui’s Zanpakuto is made up of two separate spirits, Katen and Kyokotsu. Katen is lovingly called Ohana by Shunsui, which means “Heavenly Flower”. Her first official appearance in the story came during the third act of Shunsui’s Bankai, where she shared a playful and endearing relationship with him.

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The other spirit within Shunsui’s Zanpakuto is Kyokotsu, also called Okyo. She does not appear on screen for much time since Shunsui had assigned her to hide Nanao’s Zanpakuto. However, when his Bankai failed against Lille and the situation looked dire, she appeared and returned the blade to Nanao.

Both Katen and Kyokotsu are only present canonically in Bleach during the Thousand-Year Blood War Arc, but played a role in the filler Zanpakuto Unknown Tales Arc and the Beast Swords Arc in the anime.

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