Chōjirō Sasakibe
Race	Shinigami
Birthday	November 4[1]
Gender	Male
Height	179 cm (5'10½")[2]
Weight	66 kg (146 lbs.)[2]
Professional Status
Previous Affiliation	Gotei 13, Soul Society
Previous Position	Lieutenant of the 1st Division
Division	1st Division
Partner	Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto
Base of Operations	None; formerly 1st Division HQ, Seireitei, Soul Society
Zanpakutō
Shikai	Gonryōmaru
Bankai	Kōkō Gonryō Rikyū
First Appearance
Manga Debut	Volume 10, Chapter 83
Anime Debut	Episode 30
Video Game Debut	Bleach: Soul Carnival 2
Voices
Japanese Voice	Taro Yamaguchi
English Voice	Michael McConnohie

"Man of little words, always standing by the Captain Commander's side in waiting is Lieutenant, Sasakibe Chōjirō. While they are a famous combination that is easily distinguishable, the only difference between them that cannot be reconciled seems to be their food preference..." - Tite Kubo

Chōjirō Tadaoki Sasakibe (雀部 長次郎 忠息, Sasakibe Chōjirō Tadaoki) is the former lieutenant of the 1st Division, under the command of Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto. He had kept this post for at least 110 years.^[3]

Contents 1 Appearance 2 Personality 3 History 4 Plot 4.1 Soul Society arc 4.2 Arrancar arc 4.3 Hueco Mundo arc 4.4 The New Captain Shūsuke Amagai arc (anime only) 4.5 Fake Karakura Town arc 4.6 Zanpakutō Unknown Tales arc (anime only) 4.7 The Thousand-Year Blood War arc 5 Powers & Abilities 5.1 Zanpakutō 6 Quotes 7 Trivia 8 References 9 Titles 10 Navigation

Appearance

Chōjirō has pupil-less eyes, short silver-gray hair and a small black handlebar mustache with lightly tanned skin. He wears a white jinbaori over a standard Shinigami uniform with long white arm guards. He wears a white turtle-neck under his uniform and has his lieutenant armband on his left arm. As a lieutenant approximately 110 years ago, Chōjirō lacked his black mustache.^[4]

When he was young, Sasakibe had short, light hair and short eyebrows. He wore the standard Shinigami uniform with a white robe over it which was clasped at the front by a simple knot.^[5]

Personality

Sasakibe is fiercely loyal to his captain, having sworn to serve as his lieutenant for as long as Yamamoto is alive.^[6] During missions to the Human World, Sasakibe saw English society, which had a big impact on him. As such he has a habit of making tea with his own personally grown black tea leaves, sometimes with drastic results, such as blowing up a tower by trying to turn on a boiling machine. His adoration of Western culture is to such degree that he only likes Western cuisine and dislikes Japanese cuisine, this is a noticeable difference between him and his captain, though he represents the Tea Ceremony Club on occasion.^[2] His jinbaori, which he made himself, is also meant to give him a more Western look. He passes his free time by endeavoring to adopt more aspects of Western culture.^[1]

History

When he was younger, Sasakibe routinely visited Yamamoto at his school, always referring to him as "Eijisai-dono", a reference to the scar on his forehead. This annoyed Yamamoto and he apologized for doing so, but insisted that it would be wrong to use Yamamoto's real name. During one of his visits, Sasakibe told Yamamoto that he wished to be his right arm and compensate for anything that Yamamoto could not do. He declined an offer to become an instructor as he thought that he would simply end up copying Yamamoto. At Yamamoto's behest, he tried to defeat Yamamoto with his Bankai. Though he failed to defeat him, he left a permanent scar on Yamamoto's face. Sasakibe was told that his Bankai was like a child's, which he agreed with and said he would spend his life improving it in order to be of use to Yamamoto. He spent many years training intensely. When others began to call Yamamoto by a different name as a result of his new scar, Sasakibe continued to call him "Eijisai" as he could not change the way he called him because of a scar he inflicted.^[7]

Though Sasakibe was able to master his Bankai before Jūshirō Ukitake and Shunsui Kyōraku did, he did not participate in battles and did not use his Bankai in front of others in the entire existence of the Gotei 13. He was sometimes insulted because of perceived weakness. He declined to act as a substitute captain when a position as captain became vacant due to his loyalty to Captain-Commander Yamamoto.^[8]

Plot

Soul Society arc

During a meeting of the Gotei 13's lieutenants, Sasakibe and the other gathered officers hear the alarm as the Ryoka are launched into the Seireitei by Kūkaku Shiba.^[9] Chōjirō accompanies Captain Yamamoto to Rukia Kuchiki's execution on the Sōkyoku Hill, where he stands by as Yamamoto asks Rukia if she has any last words.^[10]

He is directly ordered by Yamamoto to stop Renji Abarai after the latter runs off with Rukia. Along with Isane Kotetsu and Marechiyo Ōmaeda, he gives chase, but Ichigo Kurosaki soon appears in their way, blocking their path. Chōjirō and his fellow lieutenants releases their Zanpakutō, but Ichigo launches a swift bare-handed attack. Out of the three, Sasakibe is the only one fast enough to react and attack, though Ichigo easily dodges. He then defeats Sasakibe by punching him in the jaw.^[11] After recovering, Sasakibe is among those that receive Isane's message revealing Captain Sōsuke Aizen as a traitor.^[12] As Aizen flees Seireitei, Sasakibe stands by Yamamoto and listens as the treacherous captain bids them farewell.^[13]

Arrancar arc

When an assembly of captains is called due to the appearance of the Grand Fisher Arrancar in Karakura Town, Sasakibe is present at the start of the meeting, standing behind Yamamoto.^[14] Later, he assists his captain in restraining Momo Hinamori after she goes off course on saving Sōsuke Aizen in a conversation with Tōshirō Hitsugaya.^[15]

Hueco Mundo arc

Initially among the Shinigami during the arrival of Aizen, Gin Ichimaru, and Kaname Tōsen, he subsequently disappears once the battles starts.^[16]

The New Captain Shūsuke Amagai arc (anime only)

Note: Events occurring in this arc are only in the anime and do not constitute canon material.

Fake Karakura Town arc

During the battle, Sasakibe waits outside the barrier surrounding the Fake Karakura Town. When the Visored arrive, they find him and he allows them to pass through the barrier and enter the battle zone. Chōjirō accompanies them to Yamamoto's location where he apologizes to Yamamoto for allowing the Visored to enter, saying that he thought it was necessary given the circumstances, but he is forgiven before he could finish.^[19] Later, after Aizen's defeat, Chōjirō rushes to the injured Visored and Retsu Unohana to warn them that Mayuri Kurotsuchi is about to switch back Karakura Town and its fake counterpart and that they had limited time to get away or else they could be seriously hurt by the transfer.^[20]

Zanpakutō Unknown Tales arc (anime only)

Note: Events occurring in this arc are only in the anime and do not constitute canon material.

The Thousand-Year Blood War arc

Sasakibe and other members of the 1st Division are attacked by Driscoll Berci at one of Seireitei's gates. During the 182 second long battle, 106 members of the 1st Division are killed and Sasakibe sustains mortal wounds.^[22][23] Sasakibe, with his Shikai active, is propelled across Yamamoto's room and pinned to the wall, impaled by an arrow larger than his own body.^[24] Following the departure of the Vandenreich, he warns Yamamoto that they can do something with Bankai.^[25] Soon after, he succumbs to his wounds.^[22] At his funeral, it is stated that in his fight against Driscoll, he had used his Bankai for the first time in actual battle. He is then cremated atop a large funeral pyre as Yamamoto and other Gotei 13 officers pay their last respects to him.^[8]

Powers & Abilities

Kidō Expert: Chōjirō is shown to be experienced enough in Kidō to open and close large powerful barriers, like the one around the Fake Karakura Town.^[19]

Shunpo: Chōjirō is proficient in the use of Shunpo, appearing behind Shinji Hirako as he talks about the barrier that the Gotei 13 placed in the Fake Karakura Town.^[26][19]

Great Spiritual Power: Being stated as a Shinigami with Captain-level ability, he has a great amount of spiritual power.

Zanpakutō

Gonryōmaru redirects here. For the manifested spirit that appears in the Zanpakutō Unknown Tales arc see Gonryōmaru (spirit).

Gonryōmaru (厳霊丸, Stern Spirit): In its sealed form, it is an average katana with an ornate double-fanned hand guard and a yellowish-green handle.

• Shikai: Its Shikai command is "Pierce" (穿て, ugate) ("Bite" in the dub). In its Shikai, Gonryōmaru transforms into a rapier.^[27]

Shikai Special Ability: Unknown

• Bankai: Kōkō Gonryō Rikyū (黄煌厳霊離宮, Yellow-Glittering Royal Villa of the Stern Spirit): Chōjirō raises his Zanpakutō above his head and produces a bolt of lightning from the blade which extends and transforms into a dome of lightning, stationed far above his head and fastened to the ground by a large number of lightning pillars. A single pillar also reaches from the top of the dome toward the sky.^[28]

Bankai Special Ability: Kōkō Gonryō Rikyū is a Bankai that can exert a very powerful Reiatsu. It is capable of affecting the weather similar to the way that Tōshirō Hitsugaya's Hyōrinmaru can, though its power is geared toward thunder and lightning storms, and it brings forth dark clouds to facilitate the use of its powers. Through the use of hand gestures, Chōjirō can direct powerful lightning bolts to strike his opponents from the sky.^[29] The lightning is strong enough to scar Yamamoto's forehead.^[30]

Quotes

• (To Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto) "As a member of your school, I would only be able to imitate you. The role of a right-hand man should be to compensate for those areas which you cannot address!"^[31]

Trivia

• In the third character popularity poll, Chōjirō was ranked 45th.[1]
• At Sasakibe's funeral, Byakuya revealed that Sasakibe's full name was Chōjirō Tadaoki Sasakibe. Sasakibe is usually known by the name "Chōjirō", which means, "chief second son", or "second son of the main line". His first name, Tadaoki, means "Loyal breath", or "loyal son."
• In the anime, Chōjirō's eyes have pupils, while in the manga they do not have any.^[32]

References

Titles

Preceded by Unknown

Lieutenant of the 1st Division ? - 2003 (~110yrs)

Succeeded by Nanao Ise and Genshirō Okikiba

Navigation

v • d • eGotei 13
1st Division	Captain-Commander Shunsui Kyōraku • Lieutenant Nanao Ise • Lieutenant Genshirō Okikiba
2nd Division	Captain Suì-Fēng • Lieutenant Marechiyo Ōmaeda
3rd Division	Captain Rōjūrō "Rose" Otoribashi • Lieutenant Izuru Kira • 3rd Seat Rikū Togakushi • 5th Seat Taketsuna Gori • 6th Seat Asuka Katakura
4th Division	Lieutenant Isane Kotetsu • 3rd Seat Yasochika Iemura • 7th Seat Hanatarō Yamada • 8th Seat Harunobu Ogidō
5th Division	Captain Shinji Hirako • Lieutenant Momo Hinamori
6th Division	Captain Byakuya Kuchiki • Lieutenant Renji Abarai • 9th Seat Mihane Shirogane
7th Division	Captain Sajin Komamura • Lieutenant Tetsuzaemon Iba
8th Division	3rd Seat Tatsufusa Enjōji
9th Division	Captain Kensei Muguruma • Lieutenants Shūhei Hisagi & Mashiro Kuna • 20th Seat Toshimori Umesada
10th Division	Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya • Lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto • 7th Seat Kōkichirō Takezoe
11th Division	Captain Kenpachi Zaraki • Lieutenant Yachiru Kusajishi • 3rd Seat Ikkaku Madarame • 5th Seat Yumichika Ayasegawa • 10th Seat Makizō Aramaki
12th Division	Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi • Lieutenant Nemu Kurotsuchi • 3rd Seat Akon
13th Division	Captain Jūshirō Ukitake • Lieutenant Rukia Kuchiki • 3rd Seats Kiyone Kotetsu & Sentarō Kotsubaki • 6th Seat Hidetomo Kajōmaru
Former Members
Left Service	Yoruichi Shihōin (2nd Division Captain) • Gin Ichimaru (3rd Division Captain) · Shūsuke Amagai (3rd Division Captain) • Sōsuke Aizen (5th Division Captain) • Ginrei Kuchiki (6th Division Captain) • Love Aikawa (7th Division Captain) • Kaname Tōsen (9th Division Captain) • Isshin Shiba (10th Division Captain) •Marenoshin Ōmaeda (2nd Division Lieutenant) • Chikane Iba (3rd Division Lieutenant) • Seinosuke Yamada (4th Division Lieutenant) • Ginjirō Shirogane (6th Division Lieutenant) • Jin'emon Kotsubaki (7th Division Lieutenant) • Jirōbō Ikkanzaka (7th Division 4th Seat) • Lisa Yadōmaru (8th Division Lieutenant) • Mashiro Kuna (9th Division Lieutenant) • Kirio Hikifune (12th Division Captain) • Hiyori Sarugaki (12th Division Lieutenant)
Dishonorably Discharged	Kisuke Urahara (12th Division Captain) • Kōga Kuchiki (6th Division 3rd Seat) • Kagerōza Inaba (12th Division 7th Seat)
Killed In Action	Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto (Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, 1st Division Captain) • Retsu Unohana (4th Division Captain) • Kenpachi Kiganjō (11th Division Captain) • Chōjirō Tadaoki Sasakibe (1st Division Lieutenant) • Sōjun Kuchiki (6th Division Lieutenant) • Heizō Kasaki (9th Division 3rd Seat) • Shinobu Eishima (9th Division 4th Seat) • Izaemon Tōdō (9th Division 6th Seat) • Kaien Shiba (13th Division Lieutenant) • Miyako Shiba (13th Division 3rd Seat)

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