Character Information: Hitsugaya Toushiro

GENERAL INFORMATION
Anime/Manga: Bleach
Seiyuu: Romi Paku
Nickname: Shiro-chan
Gender: Male
Height: 133 cm
Weight: 28 kg
Birthday: December 20
Division: 10th Division
Rank: Captain
Zanpakuto: Hyourinmaru
Bankai: Daiguren Hyourinmaru


NOTE: some things below may not be understood by those who do not watch/read the anime/manga. Since this is a Character Information, I have no duties to summarize the story. I will however, one day set up a review for the series.

APPEARANCE
Hitsugaya is short, standing at 133 cm. He has teal-colored eyes and short, spiked, white/silver hair. He wears a standard sleeveless captain's haori with a green sash around his shoulders, held together by a round clip. The sash holds his Zanpakutō's sheath in place on his back and is tied to it at either end. He sometimes walks around in his tabi. He is relatively young by Shinigami standards. In the Human world, he wears a black, short-sleeved, golf shirt and gray pants.


PERSONALITY
As a young child, Hitsugaya was a bit of a brat who likes to eat watermelons and poke fun at Hinamori Momo. She calls him "Shiro-chan" and he retorts by calling her "Bed-wetter Momo." The two are close friends and Hitsugaya, despite being younger and much shorter than his friend, always feels that he needs to protect her.

Hitsugaya is a generally mature and serious individual. He has been shown to be easily annoyed by others goofing off or drawing unneeded attention to themselves. He hates anything that he deems childish as well as being described as something close to a child, such as an elementary school child, though he is often mistaken as one.

Hitsugaya has developed a cold attitude toward most people; he tolerates jokes and goes on with his duties. Although he has shown anger toward these jokes, he doesn't take action against whomever insulted him unless they are his enemies, but has never overreacted because of them.

The only thing he can't tolerate is not being addressed as "Captain Hitsugaya," or an inappropriate use of his name, as he worked very hard for the title so he gets angry when not addressed as such. Coincidentally, though, he does not address any other officer with their title, only their last names. The only people that actually call him by his given name are Ichigo, who is constantly reminded to address him properly, and Hinamori, who is the only person allowed to get away with it.

Hitsugaya dislikes summer and warm weather in general. It is also known that Tōshirō's favorite foods are watermelon and amanattō. His grandmother even occasionally sends amanattō to him into the division quarters. He does not like dried persimmons.

He is a hard worker. He believes in the saying "children who sleep well, grow well," and hopes to grow quickly, a wish shared by his subordinates. But even by regularly practicing this adage for so long, he didn't really grow in height.


BACKGROUND
Hitsugaya comes from the province of Junrinan in the 1st District of West Rukongai. There, he lived with his grandmother and Hinamori. Also, while living there, he was so skilled with spinning tops that he became the local undefeated champion.

Even at a young untrained age, Hitsugaya could hear the calling of his Zanpakutō spirit, Hyōrinmaru. Despite this he never told anyone and couldn't accurately determine what was happening other than to assume it was an ever recurring dream.

It was at this time that Hinamori left to become a Shinigami. He acted as though he was happy to see her go though it was no where near his true feelings. Their neighbors were all scared of him. The only people not scared of him were Hinamori and his grandmother. When Momo had been in the Shinigami Academy for 5 years, he began to notice how he hadn't grown an inch. He noticed that Hinamori's hair grew longer and she visited less often, seemingly having a goal in her life now. He also noticed that "Granny" was getting skinnier.

While out at the market one day, he meets Matsumoto Rangiku for the first time when a shopkeeper was treating him disdainfully. Matsumoto yells at the shopkeeper for being rude and at Hitsugaya for supposedly 'lying there and crying about it and not standing up like a man'. They argue and Hitsugaya shakes her off and runs away.

Later that night, he has a vivid dream of a gigantic, icy blue, serpentine dragon with large wings and an echoing voice. This dream is markedly different from the previous ones, where he had only experienced sensations but nothing substantial to what the meaning might be. This time, however, the reason behind the dreams not only materializes but tries to tell him its name. Hitsugaya cannot hear him, however, as his voice is muffled by strong winds. He then wakes up in a cold sweat. Upon waking up, he sees Matsumoto and is surprised to see her in his home. She immediately tells him to stop leaking his reiatsu everywhere and to get some sleep. She further explains that his grandmother looks pretty cold, which causes Hitsugaya to notice for the first time that the room is exceedingly cold and affecting his grandmother. Rangiku then tells him he should become a Shinigami, stating that kids with power as strong as his need to learn how to bring their power under control. She explains that if he stays the way he is, his power will end up killing his grandmother.

At first, Hitsugaya isn't sure what she is talking about but she calmly places her hand on his chest and asks him if he hears a voice calling out to him. She explains to him that once he has found that voice, he'll understand how to control his power. She then notes that for that to happen he must become a Shinigami.

Soon after, he tells his grandmother of his intentions of becoming a Shinigami. Much to Hitsugaya's surprise, she is happy for him. She tells him that she had always felt that he holds everything in because he didn't want to leave her, but doing so was only hurting him and in turn seeing him that way, hurt her. Hitsugaya then leaves to follow his own path with his grandmother's blessing.

With Hitsugaya's natural talent, he quickly entered the Shinigami Academy and graduated early despite his age. Because of a promise she had made, Hinamori only began to call him "Hitsugaya-kun" after he had achieved his Zanpakutō's Shikai and was recognized as a Shinigami. Highly capable and knowledgeable, he quickly became the youngest ever to achieve the rank of the captain within the Gotei 13 in the entire history of Soul Society.

POWERS and ZANPAKUTO
Hitsugaya's zanpakuto or soul slayer is Hyourinmaru. Hyourinmaru is considered the strongest of all Water/Ice-type zanpakuto. Because of its strength, Hitsugaya doesn't ned any present water to control and use Hyourinmaru's abilities. In its sealed state, Hyourinamru is a normal katana with the exception of the guard, which is in the shape of a four-pointed bronze-colored star. Its hilt is light blue and sheath dark blue. The sheath completely dissolves when he draws his sword which is at about 1.4 meters long.

Hyourinmaru's shikai command is 'souten ni zase'. It roughly translates to 'Sit Upon the Frozen Heavens'. In shikai, it gains a crescent-shaped blade attached to its hilt by a long metal chain, which can extend greatly if necessary by force of will. The chain itself can be used as an attack or to entangle a target. Tenso Jurin is Hyourinmaru's most basic powers. It allows Hitsugaya to control the weather and all surroundings waters. It may also be used in bankai but Hitsugaya claims that he doesn't want to as he still cannot perfectly control it and may accidentally kill anyone in the vicinity.

Hyourinmaru's bankai is Daiguren Hyourinamru. When in bankai, Daiguren Hyourinmaru causes ice to flow onto Hitsugaya, starting at his right arm which ice forms onto in the shape of a dragon's head around his sword hand, encasing the sword up to the hilt; which also changes from the shape of a four-pointed star to that of eight-pointed star. The ice continues forming up over his shoulders with two large wings sprouting from his back and a long tail. The ice forms down his left arm encasing his hand which ends in a claw. Hitsugaya's feet are encased in ice in a similar manner to his left hand which as they to end in claws.

In bankai, Hitsugaya is able to do more techniques. Ryusenka is used when the opponent is stabbed and ice bursts from the blade to encase and freeze them as well as shatter it thereafter. Sennen Hyoro creates ice pillars that attack the opponent by crushing them. Shield of Ice Wings is used when Hitsuagya uses his wings around him to protect himself. Hyoten Hyakkaso is an extension of the Tenso Jurin. It creates a hole from which snow fall. Ice flowers sprout from whoever the snow falls onto, trapping them in a pillar of ice. Bankai Regeneration is when Hitsugaya is able to regenerate his bankai using the waters in the vicinity. Ice Clone creates a clone of Hitsugaya from ice. Guncho Tsurara tranforms water into ice and fires ice daggers at the target. Hyoryu Senbi creates ice in the form of a crescent. Zekku controls the where Hyoryu Senbi is fired at.

Because of Hitsugaya's control over Hyourinmaru's power, he may unleash ice even in its sealed state and can use some of his bankai techniques in shikai. Aside from his zanpakuto's powers, Hitsugaya is a master swordsman, resulting in him rarely relying on his released zanpakuto. He also has immense spiritual powers that others describe as very large and cold. Even before becoming a shinigami, his spiritual power was so powerful and immense that it caused people around him to freeze. Also, despite his lean figure, he is a very resilient fighter. He is also an Kido expert, able to use high-level spells without incantation. As well, he is very proficient in the use of flash steps. Hitsugaya has also been shown to be a good hand-to-hand combatant but his proficiency has yet to be seen thoroughly.

Even in his young age, Hitsugaya is a good tactician and strategist. He is able to keep his cool in battle and analyze his opponents very well. He is observant and can see through most deception. In addition, he is very cautious of his actions and does not waste energy on random attacks. On many occassions, Hitsugaya is said to be a child genius. He has great brains and natural talent and became the youngest ever captain in soul society. Ichimaru Gin has called him the embodiment of the "heavenly white angel that blesses Soul Society once a century". Even Shunshui Kyouraku has stated that in 100 years time, Hitsugaya may just surpass him already.

PERSONAL COMMENTS
The reason I love Hitsugaya is with two things. First of all, isn't he such a cutie? Of course he is! Second, who wouldn't admire such a genius? The youngest ever to become captain, my dear people! But anyway, all the things I write in this part are my personal comments so I wouldn't be surprised if someone doesn't think like I do. Well, you've read most of the good about him. But if you haven't watched Bleach, I suggest you start now as you have a lot to catch up on! If you turn out to like Hitsugaya, OMG! Don't you dare forget to watch the second bleach movie, Bleach: The DiamondDust Rebellion! I so hate the copier there (you wouldn't understand if you haven't watched the movie! xD)! But that was just in the movie anyway, so let's forget about him and concentrate on our dear Shiro-chan! Also, please join the Hitsugaya Toushiro fanlisting listed in TAFL.org. LOL!