Unit Commander
A Taicho, commonly referred to as Captain, are the leaders of the thirteen divisions (with the special case of the Commander-General). While "captain" is not an accurate translation of the rank, it's appropriate considering the size of the unit they lead. A single Gotei 13 'unit' is estimated at about 200-500 troops. Viz renders the units as 'companies' rather than 'divisions' because captains lead companies in real life. However, given that each Captain in Bleach leads a major part of a military wing or corps, they could be division commanders or Generals. Most literally, the name simply means 'unit commander', which could be practically any officer rank.
Captains are generally the most respected shinigami in Soul Society, with the Central 46 Chambers, Demon Art Corps, and special forces leaders possibly being on equal status. With one exception (Kenpachi Zaraki), all captains are able to perform the final release of their zanpakut¨ and are generally much more powerful than even their lieutenants. Knowing the final release gives captains an average of five to ten times the strength of shinigami who are unable to perform it. They have also extensively trained, if not mastered, their final releases, allowing them to actually use the enormous power effectively in battle. Most captains are also skilled in the use of shunp¨, kid¨, and generally have excellent knowledge of shinigami history and battle tactics. All of these factors create a huge power-gap between captains and lower-ranked officers.
There are three different ways to become a Gotei 13 captain:[16]
To take the captain proficiency test, which requires the ability to perform the final release. Presumably, most shinigami become captains using this method. At least three existing captains, including the Commander-General, have to witness the test.
To have personal recommendations from at least six captains and approval from at least three of the remaining seven.
To defeat a captain one-on-one with at least 200 witnesses from the captain's division. Kenpachi Zaraki is the only known captain to have achieved his rank using this method.
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
