Gin

Biodata

Power Progression

Gin also learned Bankai by figuring it out in battle, though when he achieved it is not specified 84.

Background and History

Gin and Rangiku lived together in Rukongai and built a small house. After Aizen’s subordinates attacked Rangiku and stole part of her soul, Gin filled the wound with a fragment of his own. He later built her a sturdier house and left to become a Soul Reaper, determined to make Aizen pay 107 153.

Gin rose rapidly through the Fifth Division before becoming captain of the Third Division. Although he continued to work with Aizen, his pursuit of what Aizen had taken from Rangiku shaped his own plans 94 107 117.

Appearance

Gin is tall and slender, with a distinctive foxlike smile 86.

• Hair: Short and silver-white 86.
• Complexion: Very pale 86.
• Eyes: Usually narrowed to slits 86.
• Clothing: Wears a Soul Reaper’s black robes and, as captain, a Third Division haori 44 84.

Personality

Gin typically speaks in an airy, teasing manner and keeps his intentions hidden behind a smile. His division members distrusted him and called him a “viper”; Gin admitted that people had found his smile unsettling since childhood 70 79.

He is deeply protective of Rangiku and reacts sharply to threats or insults directed at her. He is also capable of warmth and loyalty toward friends: after Hu welcomed him despite learning his identity, Gin called him a dear friend and risked severe injury helping him train 55 84 85 97.

Abilities and Skills

Shinsō

Gin’s Zanpakuto extends and retracts at high speed. Its Shikai release command is “Shoot to kill, Shinsō!” 84.

• Alternates between short-range swordplay and long-range thrusts, changing the blade’s reach and rhythm to disrupt opponents 84.
• Can strike precisely enough to pierce a Hollow without Gin turning to face it 49.
• Can propel Gin through the air by extending against the ground or a wall 117.

Bankai: Kamishini no Yari

Gin’s Bankai is a quiet, highly lethal form that shows little visible change in the blade. He learned it on his own in battle 84.

• Delivers thrusts so fast that Hu could not initially see the blade 84.
• Combines extreme speed with changing blade length; Gin can also use it as a short sword for close combat 117.
• During training, Gin limited the depth of its thrusts rather than deal Hu a killing blow 84.

Swordsmanship and Combat

Gin favors precise strikes into openings and uses changes of angle and tempo to break an opponent’s rhythm. He can use Shunpo to evade attacks, but considers Kidō a weak point and avoids taking Hu’s heavy close-range blows head-on 44 84 97 107.

Soul Fragment

Gin placed part of his own soul inside Rangiku to fill the wound left when Aizen stole a fragment of the Soul King from her 107.

• Through the fragment, he could sense Rangiku’s location, condition and Reiatsu fluctuations 107.
• Sylvan later helped Rangiku integrate with the fragment after obtaining its consent 152 153.
• A Soul Link subsequently formed between Gin and Rangiku, allowing each to hear the other’s sigh 175.

Equipment and Items

• Shinsō — Gin’s Zanpakuto 84.
• Persimmon-colored bracelet — A gift from Rangiku, engraved with 帰 and bearing a silver firework pendant; its clasp forms a complete circle with hers 79 84.
• Still Water — A Reiatsu-made object Cilian gave Gin that can briefly break illusions and hypnosis. Gin later showed a smaller, duller sphere to Yamamoto 97 125.

Relationships

• Rangiku Matsumoto — Gin’s longtime companion from Rukongai and the person at the center of his struggle against Aizen. They exchanged matching bracelets, and Gin promised to return to her 79 107.
• Yexing Hu — A close friend Gin first met under the name Kaki. Gin helped him against the Parasitic Hollows, trained with him for Bankai and later fought him on Sōkyoku Hill 44 84 117.
• Sōsuke Aizen — Gin worked alongside Aizen and received his recommendation for captain, but secretly hated him for what he had done to Rangiku 42 94 107.
• Cilian — A wary ally who questioned Gin’s loyalties and fought him before offering him Still Water 94 97.
• Izuru Kira — Gin’s lieutenant in the Third Division. Kira intervened when Hinamori attacked Gin, and Gin later helped him after his fight with Tōshirō 101 107.
• Shimizu — Gin delivered his Shin’ō Academy admission notice and later encouraged him to develop Daku despite its connection to Aizen 55 175.

Story Role

Bamboo Creek Plain

Using the name Kaki, Gin warned Hu that spies were following them and helped confront hosts possessed by Parasitic Hollows. He later joined the fight against Hongming and helped create the opening for Hu’s finishing attack 43 44 54.

At the victory banquet, Fon Shaoling exposed Gin’s identity as the Third Division captain. Gin delivered academy admission notices to Hu and Shimizu, and he and Hu promised to drink together again 55.

Bankai Training and the Ryoka

Gin agreed to help Hu train for Bankai. Their spar escalated until Gin used Kamishini no Yari; both were badly wounded, and Gin carried Hu toward the Fourth Division. When Hu later struggled with his materialized Zanpakuto, Gin encouraged him to face it again 84 89.

At Hakutōmon, Gin drove Ichigo’s group back but spared them. He then suggested to Hu that Rukia’s sentence might be overturned if Central 46 had not issued it properly. Cilian subsequently confronted Gin about his loyalties, and their fight ended with Cilian giving him Still Water 93 94 97.

Sōkyoku Hill and Aftermath

After Aizen’s apparent death, Hinamori accused Gin of murder. Gin later fought Tōshirō, stopping when Rangiku intervened; he told her what Aizen had taken and promised to make him pay. He also visited Rukia in prison, where his withdrawn offer to help her escape reignited her determination to live 101 107 110.

On Sōkyoku Hill, Gin fought Hu under Aizen’s orders. Hu’s Bankai overwhelmed him, but Gin remained behind rejoicing that Rangiku could be saved. After the battle, Yamamoto named Gin a traitor; Gin secretly met him, provided intelligence on Aizen’s Arrancar forces and said he could sense Hu was still alive 113 117 125.

During the Zanpakuto uprising, Sylvan helped Rangiku integrate with Gin’s soul fragment. Gin later sparred with Shimizu, and a new Soul Link formed between him and Rangiku 153 175.

Notable Quotes

“Someone who knows nothing shouldn’t presume to judge how others live.” 97

“I will never forgive the one who hurt you that way, at that moment, on that day. I’ll make him pay! Don’t worry. When it’s all over, I’ll come back. That’s a promise.” 107