Isshin Kurosaki (Cayo85)

Isshin Kurosaki (黒崎 一心, Kurosaki Isshin) is the father of Ichigo, Karin and Yuzu and head of the Kurosaki family. He runs their private clinic, the Kurosaki Clinic. A skilled doctor, Isshin can perform almost any medical procedure except major surgery.

Appearance
As a doctor, Isshin is usually seen wearing a white lab coat. Beneath it, he wears a yellow shirt with an orange pattern on it. His Shinigami uniform is much like a normal one; the only glaring difference is that he wears what appears to be a captain's haori, worn like a sash over his left shoulder. However, it has no visible division insignia.

Personality
In the beginning of the series, Isshin is portrayed as a silly, fight-loving father who is "extremely over-energetic" and takes a keen interest in what his children are doing. He shows this interest either offensively or with an all-too-happy tone, which elicits comical reactions from his kids, usually in the form of a kick. Because his kids choose to keep to themselves, he often doesn't know what they are doing. His lack of knowledge about his children's lives mainly pertains to Ichigo, but Isshin feels that since he's a boy, Ichigo doesn't need to be watched over as much as his twin daughters. Isshin also seems to enjoy making fun of Ichigo and has a tendency to talk to the large memorial poster of his late wife Masaki (which he has pinned up in their kitchen) whenever he feels particularly emotional. Isshin is a big fan of Don Kanonji's TV show.

Despite his outrageous guise, Isshin can be serious and grim at times. On the anniversary of Masaki's death, Isshin smokes a single cigarette in front of her grave, since she told him when they were dating that she thought it made him look cool. He reflects that it was the first, and maybe the last, time she ever complimented his appearance. He also told Ichigo that he shouldn't blame himself for his mother's death because she gave her life to protect him. In addition, during his confrontation with the Arrancar Grand Fisher and the subsequent chat with Kisuke Urahara, he remains completely serious (aside from a short argument between him and Kon about his parenting, and another short exchange between him and Urahara after the latter likens him to his son).

He also reveals to Kon that he has been aware of Ichigo's Shinigami activities and Kon's substitutions since Grand Fisher's first attack. He also notes that he has never called Kon "Ichigo" while Kon is in Ichigo's body and that the traveling charm he gave to Ichigo before he went to rescue Rukia was actually for Kon, as it was a protection talisman. This shows the sensitivity and propriety that he possesses in his role as Ichigo's father, which is rarely portrayed in the series.

Around Karin and Yuzu he still remains a goof. His explanation for why Ichigo was gone was that he was "PREPARING FOR MATING SEASON!" to which Karin coolly responded, "That's called puberty, Dad." He often tells very random stories of his life. While Ichigo was gone he calmly had a flashback of his life during puberty. During this flashback he was seen as a chibi version of himself, wearing a school uniform and yelling at the sunset, "I'M A MAN!"

Background
Little is known about Isshin's history, except that he was once a captain-level Shinigami, though his division is currently unknown. At least twenty years before the main storyline, he ceased being a Shinigami, although it is unclear whether he officially quit his duties with the blessing of Soul Society, or if he left Soul Society in a manner similar to Urahara or Yoroichi and is in hiding. His current Shinigami uniform retains a captain's robe, but it has no visible division insignia and is worn like a sash over his left shoulder. After leaving the Shinigami, Isshin lost most of his powers for unknown reasons.

Isshin also shares a relationship with Ryūken Ishida not unlike that of their sons. When Ryūken discovers that his son is missing, Isshin pays him a visit and the two chat about their respective styles of parenting. It is then revealed that Ryūken was aware of Isshin's status, and he comments on Isshin's powers. The two have some prior history together, and they have been acquaintances for quite some time. It can also be noted they are both doctors: Isshin runs a clinic while Ryūken runs a hospital and it was hinted that the two cooperate on a professional level.

Isshin appears to be an associate of Kisuke Urahara and possesses knowledge of Sōsuke Aizen's alliance with the Menos. He mentions in his conversation with Urahara that he encountered Arrancar at some point before the main storyline, though they were nowhere near as complete as Grand Fisher was.

He married Masaki Kurosaki and they had three children: Ichigo, Karin and Yuzu. Masaki later died at the hands of Grand Fisher, who was a simple Hollow at the time, six years before the main storyline. Isshin was unable to prevent Masaki's death and blamed himself for it; later in the series, he eventually kills Grand Fisher, both protecting Kon (inhabiting Ichigo's body) from attack and finally avenging his wife's death.

Isshin plays the role of a bothersome father early in the story, often attacking Ichigo or annoying his daughters. In the first episode it appears that he has no clue what is going on in Ichigo's life, since he did not know that more and more souls had been talking to Ichigo, something that Ichigo had told his sisters. After a major car accident, Isshin is overheard on the phone arguing with a hospital employee who is refusing to transfer the overload of patients. He says that the employee should tell his boss that Kurosaki needs a favor and then beds will open right up, then slams the phone down. When Ichigo asks if he can help, Isshin tells him to hide in a corner so that he would not be in the way.

Later, after Karin is protected from a Hollow by Yasutora Sado, she gets Isshin so that he can help the injured Sado. However, Sado is gone and Isshin speculates that Karin lied about the injured man so that she could spend time with him, and he rips open his shirt for Karin to jump into it. Instead, Karin kicks him and calls him an idiot. When Ichigo leaves for his "trip" during his summer vacation, Isshin once again tries to assault him only to miss, smashing his head into the pavement in the process. Isshin gives Ichigo a protective talisman that he received from Masaki, saying that he does not need it anymore. When Ichigo has his first school day after summer vacation, Isshin notes that Ichigo is not wearing the talisman that he gave him at the start of the summer (when he he left for his "trip"). When Ichigo says that he does not need it, Isshin quickly sews it to his school uniform.

Later, when Grand Fisher is about to attack Kon (while he is inhabiting Ichigo's body), the talisman Isshin gave Ichigo is activated, creating a barrier in between them. Isshin then appears dressed as a Shinigami and berates Kon (still in Ichigo's body) for not wearing the talisman although he told him to wear it wherever he went. He then addresses Grand Fisher as "Mr. Hollow" and says that Ichigo is not home, and suggests that he "play" with him instead When Grand Fisher questions who he might be, Isshin apologizes and introduces himself. Hearing the name Kurosaki, Grand Fisher realizes that Isshin is the father of Ichigo. Isshin confirms this and throws the talisman to Kon, and addresses him as Kon. Kon then asks how long Isshin has known about Kon taking Ichigo's place, and Isshin reveals that he has known since the beginning when he saw him enter Ichigo's body in the graveyard, and further notes that he has never called him by Ichigo's name when he was in Ichigo's body. When Grand Fisher realizes that Ichigo is the son of a Shinigami and therefore descended from Shinigami blood, he notes that he finally understands how he lost to him. Grand Fisher also states that he has no interest in Isshin and that he only came to kill Ichigo, and orders Isshin to hand him over. Isshin reveals that he does not know where Ichigo is because Ichigo is no longer a kid, and that he had always been very relaxed with the rules in his house (to which Kon makes a comment about how he is very strict with Yuzu and Karin, resulting in Isshin trying to explain himself in a very comedic fashion). He then explains that even if Grand Fisher has no interest in him, he himself came to kill Grand Fisher.

Grand Fisher begins to laugh and questions if they believe that he is nothing but a regular Hollow, then proceeds to reveal his transformation. Kon, looking shocked, says that Grand Fisher is nothing like the Menos he has seen before. Isshin then reveals that Grand Fisher is an Arrancar, a Hollow who has removed his mask to gain Shinigami powers. Grand Fisher draws his Zanpakutō, saying that the size of his sword shows the amount of power that he has, and then says that Isshin can't win with his twig sized sword. Isshin only smiles and challenges Grand Fisher to give it a try, drawing his own Zanpakutō. Isshin and Grand Fisher then clash. Isshin states that all captain-level Shinigami learn how to compress their Zanpakutō; otherwise all captains of the Soul Society would be swinging around swords the size of skyscrapers, much like Grand Fisher was doing. Isshin kills the Arrancar with a single cut from his sword, and tells him to remember never to judge an opponent by the size of their Zanpakutō. As Grand Fisher is falling, Isshin insults him, calling him a kid and saying that he should not talk about a Shinigami's strength until he could understand that.

Urahara then appears, and begins talking about Isshin's powers returning. Urahara asks what it's like to be a Shinigami again after twenty years, to which Isshin replies that it's "so-so". When asked if he'd had his revenge, Isshin replied that he never really held a grudge against Grand Fisher, but still regrets that he was not there on that night so many years ago when Masaki was killed. Isshin and Urahara discuss the Vizard, touching on Ichigo's involvement with them, and the Arrancar. They note that Grand Fisher was by far the most powerful Arrancar they had seen up to that point. They also question whether the Vizard would take the side of Sōsuke Aizen in the battles to come. Later, when Rukia Kuchiki needs a place to stay, she lies to Isshin, telling him a sad story about how she has lost everything - a story that both Isshin and Yuzu apparently take at face value, resulting in Isshin screaming emotionally to the big poster of Masaki that they now have a third daughter.

When Ichigo leaves for Hueco Mundo, Isshin visits Ryūken at the hospital, commenting on what a horrible father Ryūken is and also accepting the fact that he himself is a horrible father. He was able to get into the underground training spot even though Ryūken attempted to hide it. His old friend is genuinely surprised that Isshin has regained his powers, while Isshin notices that Ryūken still smokes despite being in a hospital and even ignores the "No Smoking" sign right next to him.

Fake Karakura Town arc
After Aizen's defeat of the Shinigami captains, Aizen begins to goad Ichigo Kurosaki with everything he knows about him. However, he is interrupted by Isshin, who appears on the battlefield between his son and Aizen and with his Zanpakutō drawn, stating that Aizen "talks too much". As Ichigo calls out to him, Isshin turns to his son and head butts him with enough force to send him flying over to a building where he almost falls of the roof but grabs hold of the side just in time. Isshin then moves to kick Ichigo off the side and then looks back at Aizen and retreats with his son. After getting enough distance and finding a place to hide, Isshin holds Ichigo down to keep him quiet prompting Ichigo to kick him in face. Ichigo then explains he knows enough to keep quiet he just could not breathe. Isshin assures his son that he is seeing correctly and that he knows he must have a lot of questions but they need to wait until later. Ichigo surprises Isshin by stating he has no questions and assumes that if he kept this secret he must have had his reasons to do so. He therefore decides to not force the issue and allow Isshin to explain when he wants to. Isshin compliments his son on talking so competently. Ichigo tells him to think nothing of it as someone else told him something similar and it helped at the time. He then thanks his father for bringing him back into a mood to handle the current situation. As Ichigo moves to attack Gin Ichimaru, Isshin goes on the offensive and attacks Aizen but his attack is blocked. Isshin then takes his left hand and lays it upon the back of his right wrist and takes his middle finger and flicks it, which has the effect of pushing Aizen back and sending him flying away with enough force that he crashes through two buildings. As Isshin continues the assault, Aizen finds an opening and unleashes Hadō #63 Raikōhō on Isshin.

s their battle progresses, Isshin notices Aizen panting and that he is becoming less sharp and asks him if he is already at his limit. Aizen replies that he has reached his limit as a Shinigami and that his soul is being reformed, prompting Isshin to ask what he is talking about. Aizen responds that the will of the Hōgyoku has finally begun to understand what he desires. As Aizen elaborates, Isshin remarks that it still sounds like nonsense to him. Aizen continues, shocking Isshin with his claims. Their conversation is interrupted by Gin smashing Ichigo into a nearby building. Isshin tries to say something to Ichigo, but he tells his father not to talk to him and to stay out of his way, as he nearly has Gin. When the Hōgyoku begins to envelop Aizen, Ichigo asks Isshin what is happening, Isshin explains that he had been thinking to himself that he had no idea what was going on when Ichigo flew passed them, and that he still does not know. Ichigo says that he should know as he had been fighting him, causing Isshin to reply that he should ask Aizen, who is attacked from behind by Kisuke Urahara.Isshin and Ichigo stand shocked and watch, as Kisuke and Aizen battle.

After Aizen transforms, Isshin attacks him from behind as he is talking to Urahara. Aizen, however, kicks his sword away. Urahara and Isshin attack him simultaneously and entangle him, allowing Yoruichi Shihōin to attack Aizen from above.The attack fails, however, when Aizen easily breaks the armor Yoruichi is wearing. Urahara and Yoruichi argue about how the armor, made by Urahara, had failed while Isshin awkwardly looks on. After the fighting resumes Urahara uses his Benihime's special abilities to immobilize and attack Aizen. Just as Aizen tells Urahara that such techniques would never affect him, Isshin appears right in front of Aizen and uses Getsuga Tenshō to slice the latter down the middle.As the dusts settles, Isshin notes that Aizen's reiatsu was unreadable and it was like Aizen was not even really there. Upon finishing his statement, Aizen emerges with a large crack in his form's face, but otherwise unfazed. Aizen states that he understood that attack and declares that they will now come to understand his power. Aizen then defeats the trio. Along with Gin, he leaves for Soul Society to attack the real Karakura Town. Managing to get back on his feet, Isshin goes to a shaken Ichigo. He tells his son to open a Senkaimon so that they can follow Aizen and reminds him of their job to protect Karakura Town.

chigo just stands in shock, saying that there's no way to defeat the monster that Aizen has become. Isshin snaps him out of it by asking him if he plans to let something precious to him be destroyed again. With his son's resolve restored, Isshin and Ichigo enter the Dangai to follow Aizen. After entering, Isshin notices that Aizen has destroyed the  Kōtotsu . Isshin then decides to take advantage of the warped time-space and tells Ichigo that he will teach him the "final" Getsuga Tenshō. Isshin explains to a confused Ichigo the nature of the Dangai's time distortion and its past as a penal colony, revealing that while they are inside the Dangai, time passes 2,000 times slower. He also reveals that it is thanks to Urahara's technological prowess that Ichigo's group were only thrown back in time a few days when they went to Soul Society to rescue Rukia rather than hundreds of years. Isshin informs Ichigo that he will hold suppress the Kōtotsu and embeds four implements, which are attached to his wrists by cord, into the Dangai's walls. He says that he will use his own reiatsu to hold back the current, which he believes he can do for around 2,000 hours, or nearly three months. He tells his son to use that time to get information from Zangetsu about the true nature of the "final" Getsuga Tenshō.

As Ichigo sits in a meditative pose, Isshin tries to hit him, but Ichigo dodges. Isshin complains that being able to dodge proves that Ichigo's mind was not inside his sword and questions if he can converse with Zangetsu. Frustrated, Ichigo tells him that he has never gone to his inner world by meditating. Isshin tells him about Jinzen and notes that all the techniques he has obtained thus far were probably obtained by forcing them with sheer power.Sometime later Ichigo receives a slash in his shoulder, indicating to Isshin he "did it". Isshin then warns him to be careful as this time around Zangetsu is going to be on a rampage. He then recalls that his Engetsu was the same way, making note that their Zanpakutō spirits do not want to teach them this technique and Ichigo will soon find out why. While Ichigo is battling in his inner world Isshin is slumped over on his knees as his spiritual power is ebbing to its last bit, he ponders why Ichigo is still training.

Ichigo later arrives in Karakura Town in the Soul Society, carrying an unconscious Isshin, who now sports a much longer beard. Ichigo places his father on the ground and thanks him.

Equipment
Kaikyō Kotei (界境固定, Realm Boundary Fixation): These are prong-shaped rod-like devices, about the size of throwing knives. They are attached, by long cords, to bracelets worn around the wrist, two to a bracelet for a total of four. They are thrown into the Kōryū in the Dangai Precipice World to stop the flow of the Kōryū. Usually, dozens of Shinigami are required to pour their reiatsu into the current to fixate it; however, high level Shinigami are capable of doing this without assistance.

Powers & Abilities
Expert Hand-to-Hand Combatant: As shown from his repeated attacks on his son, Isshin is a very skilled fighter even when barehanded.

Enhanced Durability: Even without his Shinigami powers, Isshin can take severe physical punishment (e.g. fighting with Ichigo and being kicked by Karin).

Immense Spiritual Power: Isshin possesses a considerable amount of spiritual energy. Ichigo and Shinji are able to sense its strong presence from miles away. Kon is also stunned by the level of Isshin's power, as he watched Isshin kill Grand Fisher with one swing of his sealed Zanpakutō.[ Using his reiatsu he is capable of fixating the Kōryū in the Dangai Precipice World by himself for up to 2,000 hours (roughly 3 months) before it runs out--something that lower echelon Shinigami come in by the dozens to do under normal circumstances.

Master Swordsmanship Specialist: Despite being rusty, Isshin's skill in swordsmanship is still powerful, allowing him to effortlessly slice through Grand Fisher's body and his Zanpakutō with a single swing of his sealed sword.While fighting against Aizen, Isshin's preferred fighting style is kendo, which he performs rather proficiently, capable of breaking concrete into pieces with a single strike.

Immense Strength: Isshin is capable of incredible feats of strength. He has been shown sending Aizen through two buildings with a simple flick of his finger upon his own arm in order to push him back.

Kidō Master: Isshin is capable of creating charmed objects to act as a defense against hostile forces, such as the Arrancar Grand Fisher. He is also able to erect powerful barriers capable of erasing traces of Reiatsu altogether.

Flash Steps Expert: Isshin possesses skill in the use of Shunpo. He can also keep highly fast opponents on their toes from his continuous assaults.

Zanpakutō
Engetsu (剡月, Scathing Moon) It has a red handle and hexagonal hand-guard. It is carried from a string wrapped around his belt in an iaidō style, and worn with the edge down like a tachi instead of the edge up like a katana. The end of the hilt has a blue tassel


 * Shikai: The release command and form of Engetsu is unknown.


 * Bleach_-_301_-_Large_17.jpgga Tenshō (月牙天衝, Moon Fang Heaven-Piercer): During his battle with Aizen in the Fake Karakura Town, Isshin uses Getsuga Tenshō by gathering spiritual energy in his Zanpakutō's blade and slashing down his opponent.When used against Aizen, Isshin's blast was able to demolish a large radius of the fake Karakura Town and leave behind a huge crater.


 * Bankai: Not Yet Revealed

Quotes

 * (To Ichigo) "It's just that, the woman I fell in love with was a woman who could die protecting her son. And don't forget, you are the guy the woman that I loved gave her life to protect."
 * (To Ichigo) "Live well, age well, and go bald well. And die after me. And... if you can, die smiling."
 * (To Grand Fisher) "I'm sorry, Mr. Hollow, but Ichigo's not in right now. As a replacement or something, how about playing with me instead?"
 * (To Grand Fisher) "I'll teach you the basics. All captain class Shinigami are controlling the size of their Zanpakutō. Otherwise, they would all have to swing around a Zanpakutō the size of skyscrapers, just like you. You cannot gauge an opponent's strength by how large his Zanpakutō is."

Trivia

 * His theme song, as chosen by Tite Kubo, is "Don't Drag Me Down" by Social Distortion.
 * Initially Tite Kubo wanted to portray Isshin as a mortician, because of this Kubo believes Isshin looks better in black.