A note before you read — I wrote this essay years ago, sitting in Sydney with more time than I knew what to do with, long before children and the years that followed. I found it recently while going through old journals and decided it deserved to be read. Some things we write before life interrupts us are worth keeping.
With all the spare time I have had recently, I finally did something I had been putting off for far too long — I started watching Bleach.
I am already calling it one of the best anime I have watched, second only to Death Note. High praise, I know. But Bleach earns it.
For those who are new to it — Bleach is a Japanese anime series based on the manga of the same name, written by Tite Kubo. It follows Ichigo Kurosaki, a teenager who obtains Soul Reaper powers from a Soul Reaper named Rukia Kuchiki. His newfound abilities force him to take on the duties of defending humans from evil spirits and guiding departed souls to the afterlife. What sounds like a straightforward action story turns out to be something far richer.
The Characters I Could Not Stop Watching
Part of what makes Bleach so compelling is its cast. I found myself genuinely attached to several of them.
Uryu Ishida — The Quincy. What I admire about Uryu is his intelligence. He thinks calmly in the most strenuous situations, absorbing spiritual power to form his weapon with precision and restraint. In a world full of fighters who rely on brute strength, Uryu relies on his mind.
Byakuya Kuchiki — Captain of Squad 13. I like his name first of all. But beyond that — he is the most serious character in the series, strong and composed, fighting only when truly necessary. And yet underneath that formidable exterior, his love for his clan and his family is quietly, implicitly revealed. That contrast is what makes him fascinating.
Kisuke Urahara — Former Captain of Squad 12. Funny, sharp, and always saying exactly what matters. The master of research and development, and one of those rare characters who manages to be both comic relief and the most intelligent person in the room.
Yoruichi Shihoin — Former Captain of Squad 2. I love her in cat form and as a guide to Ichigo. There is something delightful about a character of immense power who chooses to appear as a small black cat until the moment she does not.
Chad — Ichigo’s friend. Simple reason. The way he treasures his friendship with Ichigo. Loyalty like that is rare, in fiction and in life.
And then there are the others I enjoyed watching throughout — Rukia Kuchiki, Renji Abarai, Toshiro, Ikkaku — each one layered enough to feel real.
What Ichigo Taught Me
What I have always loved about anime is the way it carries quiet, powerful messages — about family, friendship, self-belief, and what it means to keep going. These themes reach children and adults alike, and they tend to land harder than any self-help book because they arrive wrapped in story.
Bleach is no different. It was Ichigo’s qualities specifically that made me sit with my thoughts long after the episodes ended. I found myself making a list — not because these are new ideas, but because sometimes we need a story to remind us of things we already know but have stopped living.
1. Have a motive in life. Having an aim makes everything easier. When you know what you are working toward, you stop asking yourself the big existential question — what is the reason for my existence? I call it the Being Question. It visits most of us at least once. A purpose does not eliminate the question, but it gives you somewhere to go when it arrives.
2. Good friends. Friends who trust you and do not give up on you. The ones who stand beside your goals and your dreams, not just your victories. Next to family, these people are everything.
3. Believe in yourself. If you have an aim, have faith that you can reach it. It is always an ongoing task — not a single moment of confidence but a daily practice. Listen to your inner voice. More often than not, it already knows the way.
4. Never give up. The strength to overcome any struggle comes from your power of will. I have tested this enough times to say with certainty — it always works. Not always quickly, and not always the way you expected. But it works.
5. Have some jest. Life is not always about being serious and measured. It is perfectly acceptable — necessary, even — to be relaxed and have some fun. Ichigo knows this, even when everything around him is falling apart.
6. Forgive. I saved the hardest for last. Forgiveness is not effortless — I will be honest, it is something I am still working on. But it clears the mind. It releases the grip of things that are holding you back from focusing on what actually matters.
These are probably things you already know. They were for me too. But sometimes a story gives you permission to revisit the thoughts you have bottled up, and that revisit is worth something.
It will take me a couple of days to emerge from this Bleach hangover. Until then I am gearing up for the next one on my list — Fullmetal Alchemist.