Ikkaku Madarame

Ikkaku Madarame (斑目 一角, Madarame Ikkaku) is a character in the manga and anime series Bleach. He is the 3rd seat of the 11th Division in Gotei 13. His captain is Kenpachi Zaraki.

Character outline

First and foremost, Ikkaku is bald, a fact that is made fun of by many. The 11th Division lieutenant, Yachiru Kusajishi, calls him a cue-ball and pachinko head. As a result of the constant ridicule he gets, Ikkaku is very self-conscious about his baldness, to the point where he will threaten anyone that points it out. He also has distinctive small red patches near his eyes, which were probably painted on.

Despite being ranked as a third seat officer in his division, it has been stated multiple times that he is at lieutenant level. According to Yumichika Ayasegawa, Ikkaku is the 2nd strongest man in the 11th Division. It is unclear whether this explicitly means that he is stronger than any other male in the division (other than Kenpachi), or whether he is the second strongest person in the division (stronger than Yachiru). It was then revealed that Ikkaku in fact has achieved the final release (bankai) and is actually at captain level, a fact he intentionally hides from everyone with the exception of Yumichika and Renji Abarai. The reason is that he believes that if others knew they would try to force him into becoming a captain. Ikkaku however wishes to remain under Zaraki's command.

In terms of attitude, Ikkaku is exactly the stereotypical 11th Division member - violent, fight-loving, and rude; this has been noted by Tetsuzaemon Iba, among others. However, he has a sense of loyalty and responsibility unlike many other 11th Division members. Ikkaku is fiercely loyal to Kenpachi, under whose command he wants to fight and eventually die.

Ikkaku has many personality traits in common with his division's captain Kenpachi Zaraki, which is why they seem to have so much respect for one another. Ikkaku considers fighting fun, and tries to get as much "fun" as he can out of his opponents, so much that he will take deadly risks to drag out the fight for as long as possible. During a fight with a challenging opponent he has a wide grin on his face not far off of what Zaraki has while fighting Ichigo. He refuses to get assistance in battle even if it means his own death due to his belief that the winner is only determined when the other is dead. However, if he does survive the battle, he considers it good luck.

Ikkaku has almost never been referred to by his last name (Madarame), which is rare in Bleach, although possibly more common in the 11th Division. Only Makizō Aramaki and Tōshirō Hitsugaya have called him Madarame so far. As an odd side note, Ikkaku appears to be one of only two Bleach characters who are left handed (the other being Uryū Ishida). However, Ikkaku has been known to switch hands as he did versus Edorad. He could very well be ambidextrous as seen in his fight with Ichigo; he holds his sword in one hand and attacks with the sheath (saya) in the other.

History

Not much is known about Ikkaku's history, but it's likely that he has been in the 11th Division since becoming a shinigami.

Like Rukia Kuchiki and Renji Abarai, he came from the Rukongai. At some point, he met Yumichika Ayasegawa and the two became friends. They would later have an encounter with Kenpachi Zaraki and Yachiru Kusajishi before they entered the Seireitei. Zaraki and Ikkaku fought, with Ikkaku losing and nearing death. When he asked Zaraki why he didn't kill him, Zaraki replied that if he killed Ikkaku now, he would never get another opportunity to fight Ikkaku again. He then told him not to seek death, but to consider himself lucky for not having died.

That encounter still remains clear in Ikkaku's memory and he would have no greater honor than another opportunity to fight Zaraki to the death. He had however become so loyal to Zaraki since then that he refused to become a captain because he wished to serve under Zaraki, and possibly fight him again.

Ikkaku was Renji Abarai's senpai and taught him how to fight.

Synopsis

During the events of the Soul Society arc, Ikkaku acts as foe and later friend to the main character, Ichigo Kurosaki. By the end of the arc it is clear that the two are friends, however they continue to argue over small things and try to fight each other constantly, in a similar relationship to Ichigo's with Renji Abarai, a close friend of Ikkaku's.

When Ichigo and Ganju Shiba first enter Seireitei, they come across Ikkaku and Yumichika Ayasegawa. Ganju runs away, and Yumichika gives chase, leaving Ichigo and Ikkaku alone to fight. They do so, with Ichigo narrowly winning, though both he and Ikkaku are badly injured. Ikkaku considered himself lucky first at having found an opponent without trying, and then for not being killed in the battle.

Later on in the arc, he accompanies his captain to take Ganju, Uryū Ishida, Sado Yasutora and Inoue Orihime to Ichigo, so that the former may fight again with him, and ends up fighting Tetsuzaemon Iba. This fight consists of the two fighting for the right to relax while the other brings sake for them to drink.

After the events of Soul Society, he joins Yumichika, Renji Abarai, Rukia Kuchiki, Tōshirō Hitsugaya and Rangiku Matsumoto on their mission in Karakura Town.

During Grimmjow Jaggerjack's attack on anyone in the human world with any semblance of spirit power, Ikkaku fought one of the arrancar Grimmjow brought with him, Edorad Leones. Staying true to his personality, Ikkaku takes great delight in the battle. Eventually he defeated Edorad by reluctantly revealing his final release (bankai).

After striking a deal with Keigo Asano, Ikkaku and Yumichika found a place to stay while in the real world. Keigo's sister, Mizuho, also seems to really like Ikkaku.

The Espada launched a second attack on the human world, where Ikkaku, Yumichika, Rangiku Matsumoto and Tōshirō Hitsugaya fight Luppi. Luppi gains the upper hand but Hitsugaya turns the fight around with ease. Ikkaku and the rest of Hitsugaya's task force then learn that Orihime Inoue has followed the arrancar back to Hueco Mundo, and they have returned to Soul Society to help prepare for the war against Aizen.

Hōzukimaru

File:Hozukimaru.jpg

Hōzukimaru's initial release

Ikkaku's zanpakutō is Hōzukimaru (鬼灯丸, lit. demon light/lamp; Viz version: Winter Cherry). It is a normal katana, although the hilt of Hōzukimaru is hollow, containing ointment that halts bleeding when applied to a wound.

Its initial release (shikai) looks like a naginata, causing many opponents to believe it to be such, but it is actually a three-section staff (三節棍 sansetsukon). It is triggered by Ikkaku slamming the sheath into the hilt of the katana and saying the word 'Grow!' (延びろ nobiro). In order to split it into a three-section staff, Ikkaku says 'Split!' (裂けろ sakero). The sections can independently reconnect and separate again at will.

File:Ryūmon Hōzukimaru.jpg

Hōzukimaru's final release

Ikkaku has also achieved the final release (bankai), the name of which is Ryūmon Hōzukimaru (龍紋鬼灯丸, lit. dragon crest demon lamp). However he hides this fact so that he can continue to serve under his captain Zaraki Kenpachi. It keeps the three-section theme — one end is an oversized Chinese Monk Spade and the other an equally large Dadao, or Chinese Broadsword. Both have a traditional horsehair tassel at the hilt and a long cylindrical weight for a pommel. These sections are connected by a heavy chain to the center section, which resembles a huge Halberd blade, with a parallel handle forged into the blunt side. Utterly massive, the ease with which Ikkaku wields this monstrous weapon is evidence of his inhuman strength. Ikkaku usually holds one blade in each hand and lets the central portion "float" behind him, though he will occasionally spin the entire configuration about using the center handle as a pivot.

This final release is unusual in that it offers no demon arts (kidō) powers, and doesn't increase Ikkaku's defense or speed; it only increases his power. Once he performs his final release, the ink on the dragon crest will slowly release crimson dye as Ikkaku's spiritual pressure rises. When the crest is completely empty, Ryūmon Hōzukimaru is at its full power.

Ikkaku, Renji, and Ichigo are the only shinigami so far known to have achieved the final release and never been captains within the Gotei 13.

Trivia

• According to Yachiru Kusajishi's profile in volume 13, the wheels on her zanpakutō were put on by Ikkaku, who turns out to be handy with tools, after she continually pestered him to do it.
• Ikkaku's bald scalp is light reflective. In the anime, his head was mistaken for a full moon by members of the 8th and 11th Divisions, much to Ikkaku's annoyance.