User blog comment:Njalm2/Nanja's Point of View: Shinigami Edition/@comment-24384232-20150504221239

Well, I think I can speak for everyone in that we've all had enough of arguing varying topics, so why not do something productive instead? Since my previous questions went unanswered, and Ive given them some thought myself I thought I'd share a bit of my observations, and theories regarding the afterlife in Rukongai and the Shinigami.

One of the first, most apparent things about Soul Society is the lack of widespread technological development, available in the hands of the average citizen. Given what we've seen in Toshiro's backstory, Gin's, and Matsumoto, the majority of Rukongai is racked by crippling poverty. Citizens live in 15th century housing at best, with only the bare necessities, and even then that's subject to debate. We can probably assume that gangs run amok unchecked, given that anyone with above average spiritual power is going to be stronger, faster and more durable, it now becomes a world in which the strong rule and weak suffer. Only the nobles seem to hold any degree of power, influence or wealth and their lineage can probably be traced back for centuries.

But lets go back a bit and analyze the nature of a newly deceased Plus and their journey to Soul Society. We all now Shinigami employ Soul Burial as a means to transport souls to the afterlife, but is it really heaven? Where do they end up? My guess is that its likely random, Rukongai is made up of 360 districts, and if you can appear in any random one, then what kind of life greets you? Snobbish nobles who look upon your modern dress with disdain? Ruthless gang members who see only how they can exploit you? What about the most important thing of all -- family. We have no evidence to suggest that where a soul ends up in Rukongai is anything but random, and if we follow that line of logic, what are the chances that assuming you finally make the journey to Soul Society that you'd have any chance of meeting them? That's a pretty horrific future. Even if you ended up dying with close friends or relatives, is there any guarantee that you'll actually meet on the other side? That doesnt seem to be the case.

So on the topic of family, Japan is well known for how close knit those can be. Whether you are part of a group or an extended family line, heritage is important. Reverence for one's ancestors is apart of their very culture, and provided Kubo's upbringing, and the representation of the Noble Houses in Soul Society these clues paints a pretty clear picture that those same values are held to even greater significance. With that in mind it stands to reason that even if you did recently die there is a chance, however minor that your family line may have attained prestige or power in the afterlife. Its possible they might have lost whatever prominence they had in life in death. But if you were a recently deceased soul, unknowing of the ways of Rukongai, how can you be expected to find your lineage?

Tying in with family is the incentive to become a Shinigami. Now, Rukia and Renji's backstory provided context as to why clanless (those lacking the backing of any prominent noble family) would desire to become a Shinigami. The escape from poverty, prestige, power are all enticing things but they are hardly the calling of your average person. What if, by becoming a Shinigami, you could be reunited with your family? What if, by demonstrating the proper spiritual control and degree of power, you could be elevated to a position even nobles would have to respect to some degree? I find this train of thought to be a far more compelling argument for why Plus's would be so eager to become a Shinigami. To be reunited with your loved ones, all for the price of donning the raiment of the death god and swearing alleigance to the Gotei 13. If you betray them however ... your family may suffer.

Taking into account the above observations and conjectures I can summarize why the technological level of Rukongai has yet to increase beyond any meaningful way. If a soul appears in Rukongai at random, it means that there's little chance that like-minded individuals could congregate together, assuming they survived long enough to do so. At least not without the approval or sanction of a ruling noble family. It means that civil rights, that standardized education, healthcare and the plethora other privelages we enjoy in our everyday lives are now under the scrutiny of the nobility. If they dont want something, it doesnt happen. There are no laws to protect the Rukongai citizens. As Njalm mentioned, their lives are often fleeting, so why bother catering to a mass whose existence is transient at best?

Well, please feel free to critize, discuss or add your own topics. Have I missed something myself? Are there other possible conclusions that can be made for their everyday life?