BLEACH Episode 44 Reveals Hitsugaya's Adult Bankai Form Voiced by Yuki Kaji
The voice change for Hitsugaya's adult form is a deliberate production choice, not a recast, as Kaji's comment confirms the studio wanted to keep the tone close to Park's original while differentiating from Byakuya's range.
Key Facts
- BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War episode 44, titled "THE PERFECT CRIMSON," aired on August 15, 2026.
- Toshiro Hitsugaya's adult form in his complete bankai is voiced by Yuki Kaji, replacing Romi Park.
- Kenpachi Zaraki's bankai is revealed in episode 44, cutting down Gerald Valkyrie in one strike.
- Episode 45 is scheduled to air on August 22, 2026.
- Yuki Kaji recorded two audition versions, and the production chose the one closer to Romi Park's voice.
Reporting from 5 sources: Dengeki Hobby Web, Magmix, Inside, Nijimen, and 1 more.
The August 15 broadcast of BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War episode 44, titled "THE PERFECT CRIMSON," brought two long-awaited bankai reveals. Kenpachi Zaraki unleashed his bankai for the first time, cutting down Gerald Valkyrie in a single strike after a vision of Yachiru Kusajishi urged him to use her power. Toshiro Hitsugaya reached his complete bankai, Daiguren Hyorinmaru, and his body aged into an adult form. The adult Hitsugaya is voiced by Yuki Kaji, replacing Romi Park, who has voiced the character since the original series. Kaji said in a comment that he auditioned multiple times under Tite Kubo's supervision, prepared by rereading the manga and listening to Park's performance, and recorded alongside Park, who told him his performance felt right. Fans on social media praised the visual and vocal shift, with reactions calling the casting luxurious and the transition from Park to Kaji a highlight. Episode 45 airs August 22.
The episode also featured a fight against Gerald Valkyrie that left captains Hitsugaya, Kenpachi, and Byakuya struggling despite their combined strength. Kenpachi's bankai sequence, guided by Yachiru's voice, drew reactions calling the relationship between the two emotionally overwhelming, with one fan noting the layered voices of Yachiru and the zanpakuto spirit. The adult Hitsugaya design, described as looking like a different person, prompted tears from fans who had waited to see the form animated.
Kaji's comment detailed his preparation: he recorded two audition versions, one with a deeper tone suited to the adult body and one mimicking Park's voice, and the production chose the latter to keep continuity with the character's history while avoiding overlap with Byakuya's pitch. He reread the entire manga and repeatedly listened to Park's performance before recording. Park attended the session, and Kubo was present in the studio checking tone and nuance with the director. Kaji admitted he initially thought Park's voice alone would suffice, but accepted the intentional change and committed to his best performance.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 5 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.
Sources
- Dengeki Hobby Web 『BLEACH 千年血戦篇-禍進譚-』がテーマの一番くじ「BLEACH Stirring Souls vol.5」から“少し老けた”日番谷や瞬霳黒猫戦姫状態の夜一、卍解を解き放った更木剣八のフィギュアが公開！
- Magmix 『BLEACH』新作一番くじ 「千年血戦篇」の貴重な姿を立体化 「ラストワン賞狙う」の声も
- Inside なんという肌面積…！「BLEACH」新作一番くじで、黒猫戦姫の「四楓院夜一」や「大人日番谷」フィギュアをラインナップ
- Nijimen 『BLEACH』日番谷冬獅郎の最終クール姿が尊すぎ…！一番くじ第5弾が9月19日発売、四楓院夜一＆更木剣八も立体化
- Anime Anime 「ついにキター！」日番谷冬獅郎、完全卍解で“大人の姿”に！CVは梶裕貴に「豪華だ!!」更木剣八の卍解“エモすぎ演出”にも注目☆「BLEACH」第44話【ネタバレあり反応まとめ】