Tite Kubo has always been one to make the most beautiful creations in Bleach by connecting together characters through metaphors and allegories. Through various methods, be it their names, the way they dress, or most importantly, their bankai; their personalities seep through threads of creativity. Kubo isn’t one to shy away from introducing symbolism in many forms, personifying them, and spreading them out for the readers and audiences to understand.
He has often used Zanpakutos as a static symbol of who their user is. From Ichigo to any other Soul Reaper, their Zanpakuto isn’t just a weapon but a part of themselves. He is also one to use flowers as a means of representation. One of the biggest examples of the same would be Byakuya Kuchiki and his Senbonzakura. However, that is not all.
Tite Kubo’s Metaphors in Flowers
Byakuya Kuchiki’s surroundings are similar to that of a garden of cherry blossoms but he isn’t the only one that Tite Kubo gave the symbolism of flowers. Bleach has many characters who have symbolism through their Zanpakuto, one of them being none other than Izuru Kira. His Zanpakuto is named after the Wabisuke flowers or the Camellia Wabisuke.
There had been a theory about his connection to those flowers, their meaning stronger than just that of a flower that dies as the season passes. Kira is often taken into consideration for being a master at decapitating his opponents without a second glance. His skill is extraordinary and swift. Camellias were deeply connected to samurai, symbolizing bravery and and strength against all those who stood before them.
When flowers die, they wilt and gradually fall. Each petal falls slowly, as humans fade with time and age takes away parts of them slowly, steadily. Camellias are unlike those flowers. They fall in one go, giving no time nor slow death. It is quick and almost peaceful.
Tite Kubo’s Dismay with the Obliviousness of His Fans
During an interview (via Tumblr), Tite Kubo came clean about his disappointment towards the Bleach fans. He believed that Izuru Kira’s symbolism and connection to the Wabisuke Camellia were almost obvious and should have been caught by everyone. It was never just a passing theory but an obvious declaration.
I thought everyone would take notice about the Wabisuke camellia but at the time it wasn’t really picked up on that much.
It had been a clear indication of the way Kira attacked his opponents. It wasn’t a wilting flower that he fought but one that fell in one go. He thought that the name gave away a lot of what Izuru Kira did with his fighting style but early on, that seemed to not be the case.
His enemies weren’t one to decay with time, they were to die in an instant. He gives his opponents a peaceful death, not chasing after bloodshed but to fulfill his duty as a Soul Reaper. He is not one to enjoy watching the petals fall but to see the head drop in one go.
Bleach is available to watch on Hulu.
