Let’s give a big hand to Izuru Kira, who celebrates his birthday today. Many happy returns, Izuru!

Well, you wouldn’t guess just by looking at him, but Izuru was a top student at Soul Reaper Academy along with fellow freshmen Renji Abarai and Momo Hinamori. Once, some Huge Hollows ambushed them while they were on a training exercise in the world of the living. Izuru and his friends disobeyed the order to flee and stayed behind to protect their injured instructor Shûhei Hisagi. You can see how it all went down in episode 46!

It’s no surprise that Izuru is pretty private. Not too many people know what his zanpaku-tô Wabisuke can do, besides maybe Renji and Momo. Poor Rangiku found out the hard way when they crossed swords. You definitely don’t want to tangle with Wabisuke whatever you do because of the zanpaku-tô’s strange power! (episode 60)

One of Izuru’s strengths is his sense of duty. He was willing to protect his captain, Gin Ichimaru, even when it meant setting aside his personal feelings and drawing his sword against his friend Momo (episode 45). Still, even though he had done his duty, memories of his conduct haunted him afterward. That’s just the kind of guy Izuru is.

Chin up, Izuru!

-- Yuki Takagaki (Editor, VIZ Media)

Character Data: Izuru Kira
Squad #: 3
Rank: Lieutenant
Birthday: March 27
Height: 173 cm
Weight: 56 kg
Bankai: Wabisuke
Description:The Third Company Assistant Captain, Kira is a faithful subordinate to Ichimaru and protects him with unwavering loyalty.

The Arrancar saga continues with the latest Bleach episode release this week. We've grown to expect Ichigo to respond as the ever-confident hero whenever he faces a crisis, but when he has a near-fatal run-in with the Arrancars, it's going to take a little help from his friends to snap him out of his resulting depression... check out the episodes in the Bleach section of vizanime.com. 

Episode 114:
Orihime and Chad are in danger and Ichigo rushes to their aid. He immediately uses his Bankai and clashes with the brutish Arrancar, Yammy.

Episode 115:
Rukia, Renji, Ikkaku, Yumichika, Captain Hitsugaya and Rangiku have come to the World of the Living and they have found Ichigo still feeling depressed about his poor performance in the fight against the Arrancars.

Episode 116:
Ulquiorra and Yammy have returned to the Hollow World, Hueco Mundo. They report to Sosuke Aizen and twenty other Arrancars about their fight with Ichigo and his friends. 

Episode 117:
The Arrancar, Grimmjow, has entered the World of the Living and he has brought a group of minions from Hueco Mundo with him. The Arrancars’ goal is to kill anyone who possesses the slightest amount of spiritual pressure.

The Arrancar story arc is in full swing in Bleach manga vol. 30, in stores everywhere today. Ichigo and his friends are moving ever closer to the center of Hueco Mundo and rescuing Orihime. But their battles against the Arrancars are testing them in ways they never thought possible. Can they keep their honor in a world where it doesn't exist, or will Hueco Mundo leave an indelible mark on their souls?!

You can purchase the latest Bleach volume at a discount in the VIZ store, along with a host of other Bleach DVDs, manga and games. And of course, you can watch Bleach right here at vizanime.com, where the Arrancar story  is already in motion!

The Bount arc approaches its Soul Society-shaking climax with the release of Bleach DVD vol. 25 today -- and Uryu fans won't want to miss it as he gets back into the action! As usual, all episodes are uncut and presented in subtitled and dubbed versions. You can get the DVD at a discount at the VIZ store, along with a host of other Bleach DVDs, manga and games. And of course you can watch the latest available subtitled episodes of Bleach right here at vizanime.com.

Bleach DVD Volume 25 Synopsis:
 

Jin Kariya, the leader of the Bounts, arrives at the Department of Research and Development and quickly dispatches the guards there. He has come to find the Bount Crest known as Jokaisho, which has the power to blow all of the Seireitei away, and only Ichigo and Chad stand in his way. Meanwhile, Uryu confronts the Bount Yoshi with his new Quincy powers, but he finds them difficult to control as he desperately tries to defend himself from the attacks of his ruthless opponent!

Episodes: 100-104

A brand-spanking-new bunch of dubbed Bleach episodes is now up on iTunes for your enjoyment. Part 2 of season 4 (aka the Bount saga) is ready for download, and covers episodes 80-91. And of course you can watch the subtitled versions right here on this site in the Bleach section...

Bleach 80
Yoshino’s death brings forth a massive number of new Dolls known as Bitto for Kariya. Day breaks and Urahara casts a barrier around Urahara’s Shop so that Ichigo and the others remain undetected by the Bounts…

Bleach 81
Several days after Yoshino’s death, Kariya’s new dolls, the Bitto, begin attacking humans and accumulating souls. The Soul Society also has secretly dispatched a force to the World of the Living, but they are ineffective…

Bleach 82
Renji’s soul disappears after he is attacked by the Bitto. Ichigo, Rukia, Orihime, and Chad desperately search the town for Renji…

Bleach 83
Rukia and Orihime are having a difficult time fighting Yoshi. They decide that Kurodo and Orihime will act as decoys to give Rukia time to unleash a powerful kido…

Bleach 84
Squad 3 Lieutenant Izuru Kira, sent by the Soul Society, saves Ichigo and takes over the fight with Doll Dalk…

Bleach 85
Rukia is possessed by Ritze and obeys Mabashi’s orders to attack Orihime. Orihime tries desperately to use her Shunshunrikka powers, but Mabashi draws out Rukia’s Soul Reaper powers…

Bleach 86
Chad, Noba and Ururu confront the Bount Sawatari at a park. Just as the battle is about to begin, the Squad 10 Lieutenant, Rangiku Matsumoto, suddenly appears…

Bleach 87 After a fierce battle, Noba is defeated by Baura’s immense power. Ururu and Chad fight on while trying to protect the injured Noba. Just before being swallowed by Baura, Noba musters all his remaining power and moves himself and his allies to another space...

Bleach 88
Rukia, Chad, Orihime, Noba, and Kurodo return to Urahara’s Shop. While getting medical treatment, they discuss how the Bounts are fighting with more power than ever…

Bleach 89
Ichigo, Renji, Rukia, Chad, Orihime, and the others enter the cave of the Bounts. As they cautiously proceed, the eyes of the Doll Gesell suddenly appear…

Bleach 90
Near the end of Gesell’s labyrinth, the Doll Gesell reveals her true form to Ichigo and Renji. Ichigo stands ready with his zangetsu, but Renji steps forward and insists on taking her on solo…

Bleach 91
When Jin Kariya reveals that the true mission of the Bounts is to destroy the Soul Society, Ichigo is shocked. Bounts are by-products of the Soul Society’s soul experiments…