The topic of this article may not meet Wikipedia's general notability guideline. Please help to establish notability by adding reliable, secondary sources about the topic. If notability cannot be established, the article is likely to be merged, redirected, or deleted. Find sources: "Mayuri Kurotsuchi" – news · books · scholar · JSTOR · free images (October 2012)

Mayuri Kurotsuchi (涅 マユリ, Kurotsuchi Mayuri) is a fictional character in the Bleach anime and manga created by Tite Kubo. He is the Captain of the 12th Division of the Gotei 13 and the President of the Shinigami Research and Development Institute. His Vice Captain is Nemu Kurotsuchi.

History [edit]

110 years ago, Mayuri Kurotsuchi was an inmate in the Maggots Nest. He was the only one dangerous enough to be put behind bars and chained to the wall. 'Kisuke Urahara and Hiyori Sarugaki visited him there. Kisuke told him that he was creating the SRDI and wanted Mayuri to work under him. After initially refusing, he accepts when Urahara reminds him that should he die, Mayuri would be the President. 101 years ago, Kisuke and Hiyori left the Soul Society and Mayuri became the Captain. He created Nemu and she became his Lieutenant. During this time he experimented on Quincy's including, Soken Ishida the grandfather and trainer of Uryu Ishida.

Plot Overview [edit]

He aided in the search for the Ryoka and found Uryu Ishida and Orihime Inoue. Orihime escaped and Mayuri fought Uryu.^[3] Uryu is initially too weak to fight Mayuri Kurotsuchi, but after Mayuri tells him that he experimented on Soken Ishida, Mayuri realizes that Uryu unlocks his Quincy Final Form. During their fight Uryu is poisoned and Mayuri escapes.^[4][5] When Mayuri learns of Sosuke Aizen's betrayal, he doesn't aid the other Captains in capturing him because he's uninterested.

Mayuri joins Byakuya Kuchiki, Kenpachi Zaraki, Retsu Unohana, and their subordinates in Hueco Mundo. He saves Uryu and Renji Abarai from Szayel Apporo Granz.^[6] He is upset by Szayel Apporo Granz's claims to being a perfect being and after Mayuri defeats him he gives him a lecture on why scientists shouldn't claim or even want perfection.

Along Nemu Kurotsuchi, Mayuri sends Ichigo Kurosaki and Unohana through the Garganta, but before leaving Ichigo tells him that he's similar to Urahara to his discontent. Byakuya and Mayuri note that both of them have faith in Ichigo's ability to end the War. After the War, Mayuri attempts to seal off the Fake Karakura Town with shinigami still inside, but is stopped by the members of the 12th Division.

After Soul Society is attacked by Quincy, Mayuri and Akon inform the Captains of the group that attacked them, the Vandenreich. After the attack, Mayuri orders the deaths of 28,000 civilians in the Rukongai to correct the balance of Souls. Yamamoto Genryusai blames Mayuri for the attack, but Mayuri says it's his fault for failing to kill the Vandenreich's leader. When the Vandenreich attack once more and successfully destroy most of the Seireitei, Ichigo goes to Mayuri in hopes of repairing his bankai, only for the captain to tell him that a damaged bankai can never go back to its original form.

Abilities [edit]

Mayuri's greatest ability is his scientific intellect. He's able to think many steps ahead of his opponents and has created numerous inventions to aid him in battle. He is also a master of Kido and has a very high level of Reiatsu.

Zanpakuto [edit]

Mayuri's zanpakuto is Ashi-Sogi Jizo. It has the ability to paralyze or liquify anything it touches. His Bankai is Konjiki Ashi-sogi Jizo. It can release many blades from its neck and releases a deadly poison. Should it be used against him, Mayuri can destroy his Bankai. It takes the appearance of a giant caterpillar with a baby's head.

Other Media [edit]

He appears in almost every Bleach Video Game as a playable character and was in the first three Bleach movies. In Bleach: The DiamondDust Rebellion Byakuya Kuchiki, Jushiro Ukitake, and Shunsui Kyoraku go to his lab to ask him if it's possible for people to have the same Zanpakuto. In Bleach: Fade to Black his lab is attacked and he is driven to insanity. Nemu, the members of the 12th Division, and Kenpachi Zaraki attempt to get him under control before they're engulfed by a white liquid from one of the machines in his laboratory.

Reception [edit]

Mayuri Kurotsuchi ranked 28th place in the 3rd Popularity poll.^[7] His fight with Uryu was ranked 8th plae in the Bleach Best Bout.^[8] His sword, Ashi Sogi Jizo was the 26th ranked zanpakuto in the 5th poll.^[9] Mayuri has appeared in much merchandise including key chains, arm bands, and action figures.

Carlos Santos of Anime News Network said that there was "a certain amount of ridiculousness" in watching Szayel Apporo Granz and Mayuri try to get the upper hand on each other during their fight. However, he went on to say that Mayuri finishing the battle was a "wonderfully jaw-dropping conclusion" to Volume 34.^[10] D.F. Smith of IGN.com praised Terrence Stone's voice acting and noted that it's "more than weird enough to match the character."^[11] Bryce Coulter characterized Mayuri as sinister,^[12] twisted and pragmatic. He also said that he was a creepy old man and an absolute freak, but an empirical scientist at heart.^[13]

References [edit]