The real tragedy of life that Kurotsuchi represents

The following is a graphic description of unspeakable human cruelty and various forms of violence that may upset some readers. Proceed at your own risk.

SUMMARY

• Mayuri Kurotsuchi conducts a brutal experiment that shows the brutality of Unit 731 in real life.

• SRDI plays an important role in maintaining the balance of the field in BLEACH.

• Shinigami actions, such as the close-up killing of Rukia, show moral violence for the sake of “peace”.

In bleachthe Gotei 13's 12th Squad is introduced as the Shinigami Research and Development Institute, a place where the Captain, Mayuri Kurotsuchi, conducts experiments, research and pioneers brilliant technology for the Seireitei. Founded by Kisuke Urahara, who chose Kurotsuchi to follow in his footsteps if he could no longer hold office, the SRDI was crucial to maintaining the balance of power, and was very important. in the success of innumerable great missions. . Kurotsuchi's intelligence and boundless curiosity help the Shinigami thrive in difficult situations, but his sociopathic and sadistic approach makes his adaptation more than just bad.

His abominable experiments can be considered in the crime scene of life itself, and surprisingly his character and actions reflect one of the darkest periods in the history of humanity, ​​​​​​a disaster that is overshadowed by the country's success story: various wars. crimes committed by Imperial Japan leading up to and during World War II; in particular, the infamous Unit 731.

The Mad Scientist's intense scientific interest

Who exactly is Mayuri Kurotsuchi?

At a time about 110 years before the events of bleachKurotsuchi is an inmate imprisoned in a special prison known as the Maggot's Nest, where dangerous people are kept to prevent harm to the Soul Society. Although the inmates can generally move freely in the maggot nest, they are often driven mad by their surroundings. Kurotsuchi was considered so dangerous that he needed to be confined to his cell, but was soon released when Urahara asked him to join the newly established SRDI.

Urahara was the former Commander of the Detention Corps before he was promoted to the Captain of Squad 12, so he probably made this choice because of his intimate knowledge of Kurotsuchi's abilities and capabilities. After framing Urahara for Aizen's Hollowfication experiment, Kurotsuchi became the Captain of Squad 12, and went on to SRDI, conducting countless experiments and working on his magnum opus, the Nemuri Project .

The case of Sōken Ishida

One of Kurotsuchi's most despicable deeds

During the Soul Society Arc, Ichigo and the gang head to the Seireitei to stop Rukia's murder, a series of events that give us our first taste of the Shinigami's strange behavior despite his role as “keeper of the balance”. Their willingness to kill a girl for daring to do something they felt was the only way to protect innocent humans and survive was a display of the brutality of Soul Society, which along with the story of the experiment they are changed souls. , which required the use of artificially animated corpses to fight what could be considered the Quincies, and the subsequent extermination of the Quincies.

In general, Shinigami are not necessarily “good guys”, but they do what they do to “keep the peace”, which we also learn is the formation of the Shinigami that they have done in a bad way. Although there is a lot of brutality, the one character that really makes the violent attitude of the Shinigami is Kurotsuchi, who meets Uryu Ishida, who thinks that he is the last Quincy and is deeply saddened by his mentor and grandfather, Soken.

When I sacrificed a Captain in the Gotei 13 I really wanted – really sensitive – I got valuable information about your character. Do you understand what that means? My strange friend Quincy. I don't hear back, but I will continue. What I mean is this. At this point, I made a shocking sacrifice that almost brought me to tears. And it is the most poignant sacrifice that makes for the most glorious victory. In other words… I feel that you should show your respect for this wonderful sacrifice by offering yourself to me as a test subject!

– Mayuri Kurotsuchi in “BABY HANDRY YOUR HAND”

It turns out that Sо̄ken was killed by the Hollows in response to the Shinigami's response to the Hollow attack, a response ordered by Kurotsuchi because he wanted to test the Quincies. His experiments include various forms of cruelty, such as vivisection, injections of strange chemicals, body modification and countless other acts. He scoffed at the old man's slander and went on to show Uryu a picture of his grandfather's autopsy, which made Kurotsuchi come home, not to mention his horrible treatment of his daughter Nemu, whom he created to grow and grow. develops, but it turns out that he is more of a tool than a person.

Kurotsuchi's scientific interest and disdain for life is evident in the way he describes his experiments, his constant desire for “experimental objects” and the use of Squad members- to be a living weapon against his will, to sacrifice his life for the sake of creating doohickeys for war represents a real horror in history.

Dark History: What is Unit 731?

About Japan's Biological Warfare Research Unit during World War II

The Imperial Japanese Army was established after the Meiji Restoration in 1868, and was active until its disbandment in 1945. For a short time, the IJA became synonymous with extreme violence. because it soon became the most modernized army in Asia and grew even more powerful. in the early 20th century and, unlike Western armies, the IJA was independent of the government, with the Minister of War answerable only to Emperor Hirohito. itself according to the Meiji constitution. Over the decades, the IJA grew in power, and by the 1930s, it was fighting China, Russia, and participating in various international conflicts during World War I. .The military became a major tool used to expand the Japanese Empire. focusing on “Manchuria” after an incident created by the Japanese that was used to create an excuse to invade and settle in that northeastern region, which led to an irreversible relationship with of other countries, and denying war crimes, including the horrific incidents that took place at the hands of the Kamo Detachment, known as Manchu Detachment 731 or simply, “Unit 731”.

Formed after Zhongma Fortress was closed in 1937, Unit 731 was a biological and chemical warfare research unit of the IJA that conducted various illegal experiments on prisoners during the Second Sino-Japanese War. It is estimated that around 300,000 people died as a result of the work of Unit 731, which saw some of the most notorious crimes committed by the Japanese military. The experiments included various forms of torture, from injections with pathogens, controlled dehydration, biological weapons testing, suicide, organ harvesting and dismemberment, weapons testing, the systematic assault and forced pregnancy of female prisoners and all other forms of cruelty. The group was specifically created to create biological weapons, weapons with humans as victims, and even children could not escape the kind of horrors faced by the prisoners. There has never been a single survivor from Unit 731.

Kurotsuchi's darkness represents real darkness

Experiments on live subjects reveal the sadism of Unit 731

Kurotsuchi's constant research on test subjects shows how the military is used to round up prisoners who are then subjected to all kinds of experiments, but their willingness to pursue their own interests, no matter how terrible, is what really connects them. . Kurotsuchi of all kinds of things made by the Japanese military, but all kinds of military uniforms in the world, especially after the signing of the Geneva Convention. Experiments conducted solely to see how long a person would succumb to their injuries or medical condition, various infections, infections, vivisections and other forms of torture sanctioned by the IJA and the Empire of Japan 'the extension, all this is a reflection of Kurotsuchi. approach to science, but with the feudal nature of Soul Society that represents lost time, and the long list of nefarious deeds of the Shinigami themselves; a force that was far more terrifying than it was in its current state. There are more connections to Imperial Japan when considering Soul Society and the narrative of bleach as a kind of commentary on the horrors of war, the beginnings of bloodshed in modern society and the nature of conflict.

Further reading: NY Times, Pacific Atrocities Non-profit, WW2 Database

BLEACH: Blood Wars is available on Hulu and Disney+.