Kaien Shiba

Name: Kaien Shiba

Age: (Unknown)

Visual Age:

Gender: (Male or female)

Division: Division 13

Personality: Kaien was an upbeat and kind young man from the Shiba house, tattooing his arm with the Shiba house symbol, who treated all his subordinates equally. He made friends very easily, earning the respect and trust of most fellow Shinigami with not only with his above-average combat prowess but mainly with his kind and honest nature. He especially treasures bonds with others, believing that "heart" exists in them and remains with people's comrades after people die, and as such, believes that people must not die alone.

It is known that his favorite food was ohagi, and he liked to take afternoon nap if he could



Appearance: Kaien has a youthful appearance and is a fairly tall person, with white skin and brown eyes. Kaien has spiky black hair. He wears the normal shinigami uniform with his lieutenants badge on his left arm as standard. He has a tattoo of the Shiba family crest on his arm.

It is widely believed that Ichigo Kurosaki closely resembles Kaien in appearance. While Rukia was training Ichigo she often became exasperated by his lack of understanding of things Kaien would have known, and Ukitake is stunned by Ichigo's appearance. Byakuya Kuchiki also notes the resemblance, even stating that Ichigo's attitude annoyed him as Kaien's had.

Though Kaien's siblings, Ganju and Kūkaku, do not remark upon or even openly notice Ichigo's supposed resemblance to Kaien.


History/Background: Kaien Shiba served as Lieutenant of the 13th Division under Jūshirō Ukitake, taking the position 108 years prior to the start of the story though at first he did not want the position but after a few years he accepts due to caring for his family. When he was alive he often took over Ukitake’s duties because of the Captain’s illness.

Kaien was the oldest of the Shiba siblings, and grew up in Rukongai, though the Shiba house was once one of the great noble houses. His sister Kūkaku and their younger brother Ganju don’t like Shinigami very much, and they are still baffled by their older brother’s desire to become one. However, Kaien was a prodigy as a Shinigami. He completed the six year curriculum of the Shinigami Academy after only one year, and went on to become Lieutenant of the Thirteenth Division.