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There was a time when Bleachwas one of the most popular anime and manga series in the world. It mainly focused on spiritual beings fighting each other. These beings do not age as normal humans do; in fact, many of them have lived for a few centuries and look as though they are in their early 20s or 30s. That being said, there are certain characters who are especially old.
8 Tenjirō Kirinji
As a member of the Royal Guard, Tenjiro Kirinji is one of the strongest Soul Reapers in Soul Society. He treats other Soul Reapers like they are children, including Captains, and he often patronizes them until he is physically reprimanded by one of his fellow Guards.
He earned his position because of his healing mastery. He invented special hot springs that can heal serious injuries and replenish lost blood. He is the one who taught Captain Unohana how to heal, and he can heal injuries that even she cannot treat. Tenjiro’s exact age is unknown, but if he taught Unohana, who is extremely old, he must be similar in age.
7 Yhwach
Yhwach is the son of the Soul King, and he wishes to create a world that is free from the fear of death. He is the progenitor of the Quincy, and unlike other villains in the series, he was fond of many of his subordinates. He respected the first generation of the Gotei 13, and he held Yamamoto in especially high regard.
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Yhwach’s ability is called The Almighty, and it allows him to see all possible futures at once. More importantly, he can alter the future to suit his desired outcome. It took him about 1,000 years to regain his body and power, but he is actually more than 1,200 years old.
6 Ōetsu Nimaiya
Oetsu Nimaiya is another member of the Royal Guard, and he holds the title of Divine General of the West. He is quite lively and energetic, and he can be very unpredictable. He likes to make grand entrances, but when push comes to shove, he will choose to sacrifice himself.
He earned his spot with the Royal Guard because he created the Zanpakutō; in fact, he is responsible for forging every Zanpakutō that has ever awakened. Oetsu has been doing this since the birth of Soul Society, which means that he is well over 1,000 years old.
5 Ichibē Hyōsube
As the commander of the Zero Division, Ichibē Hyōsube is arguably the strongest Soul Reaper in the series. He is a Kido master who is very mission-driven, and he tends to be upbeat in most situations. In battle, however, he is known for being ruthless.
He was appointed by the Soul King because he wields power over names. Ichibē named everything within Soul Society, including the Zanpakutō. His Zanpakutō was also the first to achieve the Bankai release. Since Zanpakutō have been around since the beginning, Ichibē has to be well over 1,000 years old.
4 Captain Unohana
Retsu Unohana is known for being the gentle and kindhearted Captain of the 4th Division, but she is actually the original Captain of the 11th Division and the first person to wield the title of Kenpachi. Prior to becoming a Captain, she was the worst criminal in Soul Society’s history, and her fight with Kenpachi Zaraki will be a highlight of the Thousand Year Blood War Arc.
She is a founding member of the Gotei 13, which explains why she holds superiority over tenured Captains like Kyoraku and Ukitake. The Gotei 13 have existed for more than 1,000 years, and Unohana has been around since before it was even created.
3 Ginrei Kuchiki
Ginrei was the 27th head of the Kuchiki Clan, but he was also the Captain of the 6th Division before Byakuya took over. As the head of one of Soul Society’s noble houses, he acts like an aristocrat, and he was quiet and calm. He was very patient as well, which is understandable given his age.
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Ginrei was an elderly man when he was introduced, which means that he was incredibly old. Aging works differently in Soul Society, as evidenced by the fact that Toshiro is about 150 years old despite looking like a teenager. If Ginrei looked like he was in his 70s, he is far older than Unohana.
2 Captain Commander Yamamoto
Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto was the Captain Commander of the Gotei 13, a position which he held since the group’s inception. He sought out all of the original Captains himself, and this first generation is said to be the strongest in history. He wielded the strongest and oldest fire-type Zanpakutō, which gave him access to arguably the most powerful Shikai and Bankai releases.
Yamamoto looks old because he is old; in fact, he looked as though he was in his early 50s when he founded the Gotei 13. He is more than 2,100 years old, which makes him the oldest known Soul Reaper.
1 The Soul King
The Soul King rules over all of Soul Society, but he is not an ordinary man. He is a God who regulates the flow of souls that enter and leave Soul Society. He maintains the balance between the human world, Soul Society, and Hueco Mundo. Without him, all these worlds would collapse into one.
The Soul King’s limbs and organs eventually gained sentience, which forced the Soul Reapers to seal him and place restraints on him. He was technically alive before Soul Society even existed, which means that his age is unfathomable.
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