Hanatarō Yamada
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| Bleach character | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Hanatarō Yamada | |
| Occupation | Shinigami 7th Seat of the 4th Division; temporary convenience store clerk (anime) |
| Birthday | April 1 |
| Height | 153 cm (5' 0¼") |
| Weight | 45 kg (99 lb) |
| Zanpakutō | Hisagomaru |
| Seiyū | Kouki Miyata |
| Voice actor | Spike Spencer |
Hanatarō Yamada (山田 花太郎 Yamada Hanatarō?) is a character from the manga and anime series Bleach. He is the 7th Seat of the Gotei 13's 4th Division.[1]
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[edit] Character outline
Hanatarō is very timid and nervous. His black hair is a bit long and his bangs frame his face. He tends to be clumsy and easily duped. Hanatarō's kind nature and nervousness results him becoming the victim of many bullies and practical jokes. In fact, he states in an omake chapter in volume 13 that he is "the most bullied kid in the world." Hanatarō's birthday is even on April Fool's Day, so people spend the whole day tricking him as a result.[2] While Hanatarō looks like a wimp, he shows on more than one occasion he is courageous and dedicated to what he believes in.
Hanatarō states when he introduces himself that his name is relatively easy to remember, though Ichigo says otherwise, stating that if his name was Hanako (a girl's name) or Tarō (a boy's name) it would be easy. The name Hanatarō, according to Ichigo, is just confusing. Hanatarō's name is actually a play on the name Yamada Tarō, the Japanese equivalent of John Doe, and Yamada Hanako, the Japanese equivalent of Jane Doe. By combining elements from both, Tite Kubo is probably saying Hanatarō is literally a complete nobody.
[edit] History
Hanatarō's past is unknown. As a shinigami, his skill in medical arts had him placed in the 4th Division of the Gotei 13, which serves as the medical division. He rose to the 7th Seat and became the leader of the 14th Advanced Relief Squad.
[edit] Synopsis
[edit] Soul Society arc
Because the 4th Division's combat ability is very poor compared to the other divisions, they are often assigned to perform the chores of cleaning in the Seireitei, such as sweeping the sewers and jail cells. Because of this, Hanatarō and other members of the 4th Division know the sewer system and other esoteric passageways very well and have access to the keys of most buildings.
When he is assigned cleaning duty for the 6th Division during one particular week, he comes to know Rukia Kuchiki, who is being detained for an impending execution. He grows to admire her, despite his initial fears of her as a noble, and also of Ichigo Kurosaki, whom he learns of through Rukia.
His clumsiness leads him to become a useless hostage for Ichigo and Ganju Shiba, who were hoping that shinigami from the 11th Division wouldn't attack them if they had a hostage. Unfortunately, the 11th Division despises the weakness of the 4th Division and wouldn't have a second thought about killing Hanatarō along with Ichigo and Ganju. The three of them escape, with Ganju unwittingly dragging Hanatarō along. While Ichigo and Ganju argue about how to get to Rukia, as well as about Ganju dragging Hanatarō along in the first place, Hanatarō reveals that he can take them to the tower where Rukia has been moved now that her execution date has been set.
Travelling through the sewer system, Hanatarō leads Ichigo and Ganju to the base of the tower. After Ichigo wins his battle against Renji Abarai, Ganju and Hanatarō take Ichigo to the sewers again, where Hanatarō heals him. Once again, Hanatarō takes them through the sewers to another passageway close to the tower where Rukia is being held, and once again Ichigo is forced to battle a shinigami (Kenpachi Zaraki this time) while Ganju and Hanatarō go ahead to save Rukia.
Thanks to Hanatarō, who stole a key to the tower earlier, they get in easily and free Rukia. However, when they try to escape, Byakuya Kuchiki appears to stop them. Hanatarō bravely confronts Byakuya, despite knowing that there is no way he could win. Ganju then overcomes his unwillingness to help Rukia, forcefully taking Hanatarō's place in order to buy time. Ganju is quickly dispatched and severely injured in the process, but the timely arrival of Jūshirō Ukitake and Yoruichi Shihouin saves both him and the others.
Although Hanatarō is a traitor, Ukitake has his officers send him back to the 4th Division with a report that Hanatarō was kidnapped and coerced to obey the intruders' bidding. Nonetheless, he is imprisoned. Later, Hanatarō is broken out of his cell by his friend Rikichi from the 6th Division so that he can help heal Renji when the latter is badly injured after a fight with Byakuya.
[edit] Bount arc
In the anime's Bount arc, Hanatarō arrives in the human world after being granted permission to visit by Retsu Unohana. Ichigo jumps over Hanatarō when he is thrown out of a store for using bad money (shinigami currency), and while Ichigo thinks that Hanatarō looks familiar, he doesn't recognize him. In an extra after episode 70, Hanatarō tries to find a job (by presenting a résumé listing his shinigami education and work experience) but is unsuccessful. He eventually passes out due to hunger in front of a convenience store, where the manager finds him. He eventually starts working there, later accompanied by Ganju. In the second OVA (Sealed Sword Frenzy), which takes place in roughly the same time frame, Hanataro also works as a waiter at a restaurant.
When the Bounts start attacking living humans and shinigami, Hanatarō goes to the Urahara Shop to help heal the seriously injured. The omake chapters also portray his return to Soul Society as comical. When Hanatarō hands in papers from the convenience store and states that he was careful, the third seat doubts him and turns to Unohana, who merely asks for makeup. Isane, who was also present, was silent the entire time.
[edit] Powers
As a member of the 4th Division, Hanatarō possesses remarkable healing powers. Instead of his zanpakutō, he often carries around a 4th Division medical pack on his back. Presumably, it contains medical supplies, including a salve, bandages, and rejuvenation pills. One of the known items in this pack is shinten (震点), a green liquid which can knock out anyone with weak spiritual power with one drop, presumably for use as an anesthetic. He is also known to carry a type of large pill with a skull symbol, which is a supplement exclusive to the 4th Division that increases stamina. While the pill given to other 4th Division members works as intended, Hanatarō's is merely a flour-filled placebo given to him as a prank by his upperclassman.[3]
[edit] Hisagomaru
Like all other shinigami, Hanatarō possesses a zanpakutō, even though he is rarely seen carrying it. Since his skills lean more towards medical support and not battle, Hanatarō tends to misplace his zanpakutō as he rarely needs to use it. Hanatarō's zanpakutō is named Hisagomaru (瓠丸, lit. gourd of purity), which is revealed in the Bleach Character Book.[4] Hisagomaru's initial release command is "fulfill."
Prior to its initial release, Hisagomaru has a red gauge on its hilt. Hisagomaru is strange in that it heals every wound it causes. While this would seem to make attacking fairly pointless, doing so fills the gauge on the hilt. When the gauge is full, Hisagomaru automatically initiates its initial release and transforms into Akeiro Hisagomaru (朱色瓠丸, lit. crimson-colored gourd). In this form, it takes the shape of a scalpel and Hanatarō can return every wound Hisagomaru has absorbed in a single attack. Subsequent attacks also have the healing restriction lifted, allowing Hanatarō to attack normally after the transformation.[5]
