BLEACH Episode 44 Reveals Hitsugaya's Adult Bankai Form Voiced by Yuki Kaji
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.