Bleach: Genryusai Yamamoto’s Bankai Explained!

The former commander and founder of Gotei 13, Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto, is the strongest Shinigami in the Bleach.

By simply releasing his Bankai, the entirety of Sereitei can feels its effects as the water from everything starts to evaporates.

Let’s understand what Genryusai is capable of doing with his Bankai. Although before that, we need to understand his Shikai and its powers.

Genryusai Yamamoto’s Zanpakuto: Ryujin Jakka

Yamamoto’s Zanpakuto is called Ryujin Jakka. It is the oldest and most powerful fire-type Zanpakuto.

Compared to every Bankai present in the soul society, it’s offensive power towers all others.

In its sealed form, it takes on the appearance of a wooden staff, but this is just a disguise.

At Yamamoto’s wish, the wood disintegrates, and the zanpakuto reveals its beautiful katana form.

It has a dark purple handle, a circular bronze handgaurd, and a red sheath.

Shikai: When Genryusai utters “Reduce All Creation to Ash”, Ryujin Jakka reveals its shikai form.

This release is accompanied by an extremely strong release of reiatsu; its effects can be felt in all of Seireitei.

Ryujin Jakka is also seen engulfed in fire. The aura of the blade is so strong that it incinerates anything and everything Yamamoto waves his sword at.

The surrounding landscape gets engulfed in a firestorm, releasing heat intense enough to scorch the sky and consume the clouds. Only shinigami like Ukitake and Shunsui can resist, but only indirectly.

Now that we understand the 1st Division Captain’s Shikai, let’s dive into his Bankai!

Bankai: Zanka no Tachi

When Haschwalt first witnessed Yamamoto’s Banaki, he got confused as all the flames in the surrounding area vanished and Genryusai’s blade looked like a worn and scorched katana.

When Genryusai released his Bankai, all the flames previously released by Ryujin Jakka were absorbed instantly.

Zanka no Tachi condenses all of Yamamoto’s flames into the blade.

The blade released such a strong heat wave that Shunshui’s lips cracked, and even Toshiro Hitsugaya’s Bankai became useless as it quickly started to melt away.

Retsu Unohana believes that the flames of Zanka no Tachi are so strong that they could incinerate the enritrety of Seireitei if left active for too long.

We must not forget that she is one of the original Gotei 13 captains.

According to Yamamoto himself, his bankai clads both his blade and his body in the scorching flames of the sun.

There are multiple attacks that Yamamot can use through his Bankai. Let’s see what they are.

Zanka no Tachi, Higashi: Kyokujitsujin: This ability concertates the intense flames of the sword along the tip of the sword.

However, the tip does not look like it is burning or even bursting. Although the moment the tip touches anything, it is eradicated to nothingness.

Even the defensive technique of Quincy, Blut Vene, cannot stand up against this technique.

Zanka no Tachi, Nishi: Zanjitsu Gokui: This ability can only be seen by anyone if Genryusai wishes to be seen.

In this, his body is covered in scorching flames so hot that they touch the temperature of 15,000,000 degrees Celsius. This makes it impossible to even get close to him.

Zanka no Tachni, Minami: Kaka Jumanokushi Daisojin: By impaling the tip of his sword on the ground, Genryusai Yamamoto calls upon the corpses and ashes of the dead killed by his flames.

The emergy from the rupture created on the ground, a rupture so strong that it even decimated Kirchenlied: Sankt Zwinger, the single most powerful protective technique of a Quincy.

These corpses will attack whomever Yamamoto deems his enemy and keep on attacking until they become dust.

Yamamoto can also bring forth specific corpses that he wills in front of his opponent, allowing him to inflict psychological damage on his opponent.

Zanka no Tachi, Kita: Tenchi Kaijin: Genryusai lauches a single slash of extremely concentrated fire and heat, which incinerates whatever it touches out of existence.

This summarises the strongest Shinigami in Gotei 13, Genryusai Yamamoto’s Bankai Zanka no Tachi.