I don't understand how SS people age

[Setsuna Ai]

I seriously don't understand how Soul Society people age as in physically and all. Like for souls, is 20 years = 1 year for them in terms of aging?

Like you can be 14 in SS and then a 20 years later turn 15?

[Undying]

We have... a million and three discussions about age... but meh, this is really different...

Note that after becoming shinigami souls do not age - Ukitake and Shunsui did look different as Academy students, but they don't seem to have changed much from the time they were appointed captain (not that we have any pictures... >.>).

Byakuya just didn't change at all since we saw him.

Renji, Rukia, and Kira are our best choices for viewing, I guess,along with the white midget.

Renji, Rukia, and Kira all grew to young-adult/adult like appearance and then stopped.

Hitsugaya did seem to have aged, but again, it seems like it was before he became shinigami.

Conclusion - after becoming a shinigami one does not continue aging

[ginjixx]

i think people in SS just grow up to the adult only or they just grow more mature.... i've been thinking this in a logical manner, so basically what will become to soul society if they dont grow??? they will all look like children.

[KeitaroAZN™]

It seems that when you are in Rukongai or anywhere outside Soul Society you age but once in soul society and a shinigami you stop aging ex. like Undying said, Kira Hisagi, Rukia and hinamori. they look different now than they did before

[BabyLoving]

I think only people with spiritual powers can age. I mean, I remember when ichigo and the rest first went to S.S and they met the parrot boy. And the boy said, something like, nothing ever changes around here? Correct me if I'm wrong though.

[Axdsilva]

Yeah, Spiritualy aware people, or those born in SS can age, everyone else stays the same. Those dudes only stop aging once they become Shinigami in Sereitei.
I don't think anyone can age much once they've stopped. Either that or age if they choose to or really slowly or something like that.

[davidn15]

yeah this has been confusing me for ages but this explanation makes sense

[dragado123]

I would have to agree with you guys that when you become a shinigami you can no longer age, but does that actually affect everyone. When i mean by everyone i'm actually just talking bout a human turning into a shinigami like Ichigo, sure he is half human/shinigami and somewhat hollow but does he still age. i mean he's only half not fully so that means he's not a full shinigami yet so that dosent mean that he will not age ever again? what about quincys' like Ishida or people like Inoue and Chado? I'm actually guessing that people like these which are half human and half something else only age when there not in watever form they take like Chad with his arm and inoue with her angels (or watever they are).

[davidn15]

i think they will continue to age. maybe it only applies to those from soul society with high spiritual energy and not humans. afterall there look at ishida's grandfather, he was really old

[davidn15]

wait i just remembered kurotsuchi saying talking about a technique used to helped aged quincy fight, so that means quincy do age.

[CesarRV2]

and what about Yamamoto how come he aged if he is like really really powerful, does this mean he became shinigami when he was old?? or just that after a real long long time u do age.. or since he started it.. before they didnt have a way to stop aging.. and till he got old they invented it??

[KeitaroAZN™]

Well Yamamoto was the founder of the Shinigami academy so he'd have to be alive for more than 5000 years old so he possibly died a long, long time ago

[Evanesque]

I understand the part about the rest of them aging but I didn't understand the thing about Yamamoto. Can you explain, renji?

[Axdsilva]

Or maybe he was born in the soul society, or allocated by the king. He's definitely strong enough, to be the general of Shinigami, there had to be a deal there, as well as being founder of the shinigami academy.

[Undying]

Yamamoto was the founder of a Shinigami Academy 2000 years ago, and it's strongly implied that it's the same Academt Renji and Rukia went through.

Regardless, he founded that Academy 2000 years ago, and the flashbacksby Ukitake and Shunsui show him just as old as he is now - he hasn't changed in a bit.

So if we go by him. Shinigami don't age :).

[KeitaroAZN™]

Really? I thought it was 5000, oh well but yea it might be something to do with the fact that they are spirits.... and spirits dont age.... i think

[BabyLoving]

Or maybe after they become Shinigami their aging rate slows down?

[jonat3]

Yamamoto was the founder of a Shinigami Academy 2000 years ago, and it's strongly implied that it's the same Academt Renji and Rukia went through.

Regardless, he founded that Academy 2000 years ago, and the flashbacksby Ukitake and Shunsui show him just as old as he is now - he hasn't changed in a bit.

So if we go by him. Shinigami don't age :).

Yamamoto isn't shown in those flashbacks. However, Ukitake and Shunsui are and they look remarkably younger. And they were already shinigami in those flashbacks. I think it's more logical to assume that the aging process is slowed considerably.

Keep in mind that if what you say is true, Yama got to be a shinigami when he was an old man. With someone as talented as him, i find it unlikely that he manifested his powers at such an old age.

[Undying]

Both Ukitake and Shunsui are shown as Academy students in those flashbacks, i.e. not yet shinigami.

As I said in the other thread, Yamamoto is shown teaching them in the Houki Boushi ending sequence.

And I agree, he was most definitely a shinigami by then. That's what I'm saying. shinigami don't age, ne? :)

[jonat3]

I'm under the impression that students also already have zanpakutou and can already use them (but in a limited way). In that case, they could be considered shinigami in my book, even if unofficial.

[Pyramus]

I belevie that normal souls, who arnt Shinigami, age normaly, and die normally. If u are a shinigami, then i beleive that u will never age, and that u can only die from a sword wouind, or by being eaten by a hollow!

[jonat3]

Well, i certainly do believe shinigami can age. But at such a slow rate, that arguing if they are immortal or not becomes pretty much pointless.

[Asuka]

I belevie that normal souls, who arnt Shinigami, age normaly, and die normally. If u are a shinigami, then i beleive that u will never age, and that u can only die from a sword wouind, or by being eaten by a hollow!

Now that you meantion it that might be true. Because Ukitake has been sick for so long and hasn't died and since becoming a Shinigami Renji nor Rukia have aged, the same goes for Hinamori and Hitsugaya. Maybe it has something to do with having spirit powers and what not.

[jonat3]

Well, all of the characters you mentioned DID age (somewhat). However, that could be because they needed some time to become shinigami. Anyways, IF shinigami do age, then Ukitake and Shunsui are the best examples around. If i judge the aging process from them, 100 years of living would then equal a 1 year outward change in appearance. With such a slow aging process, paying attention to Hitsugaya's or Rukia's growth may not exactly be the wisest thing to do to judge if aging exists or not.

[Asuka]

Yes, I know that, I was saying that all of them aged prior to becoming Shinigami, but stopped once they became shinigami.

[HollowZangetsu]

I think that perhaps in your younger years you age faster than when you get older. If you are in Rukongai and you are young you age properly than when you become a shinigami you age a little more slowly. I think this because of the difference in looks for Hitsugaya as a boy and now he's like pre teen with adult voice though. When you get older if you're a shinigami than perhaps you age slower and the older you get the slower you age since Ukitake and Shunsui look kind of a lot older than they were in school and Yamamoto is really freaking old so you should see where my theory is coming from. It's somewhere along the lines of undyings theory but with a little more attributes.

[BabyLoving]

Hey, it can also be because of their spiritual pressure. I mean, its like, the higher the spiritual pressure, the older that person looks. Maybe its the spiritual pressure that makes one look old. With the exception of Ichigo, probably cause he is a substitute.(:

[Anubisrage]

They do not age...
All the people in Soul Society are dead. The age they died is the same for always in SS, example Yamamoto died at about 80, and Byakuya at about 30... They will remain at this age.

[jonat3]

They do not age...
All the people in Soul Society are dead. The age they died is the same for always in SS, example Yamamoto died at about 80, and Byakuya at about 30... They will remain at this age.

No, spirits do age. You only have to look at Renji and Rukia in the past and how they are now. Also, keep in mind that spirits ARE born in soul-society. I don't think these spirits will remain babies forever.

[gwcommander]

I sorta agree with anubisrage. That someone like yamato died at an old age but souls can age but i think there is a limit. like yamato can no longer age. maybe the limit is like in the 20's or 30's. and everyone else ages slowly. I dont know if being a shinigami changes that. Poor Hitsguya would be a kid forever lol.

[Anubisrage]

Maybe the souls born in SS age but the ones who came there through death dont...

[Setsuna Ai]

Both Ukitake and Shunsui are shown as Academy students in those flashbacks, i.e. not yet shinigami.

As I said in the other thread, Yamamoto is shown teaching them in the Houki Boushi ending sequence.

And I agree, he was most definitely a shinigami by then. That's what I'm saying. shinigami don't age, ne? :)
I don't get you. You're saying he became a shinigami right after turning, (let's throw in a random number) 2012910? (lol). But a person with his calibur probably turned a shinigami at a young age, and THEN stopped aging, ne? I find it ..illogical that became a shinigami at such an OLD age.

and if you remember in a certain chapter in the manga

Hitsugaya was telling Hinamori (right after she woke up while he was in earth) that she should get more sleep in order for her to grow into a better looking woman like Matsumoto. Did I just misunderstand what he said or is that really it?

If what I said in the spoiler is true, then this only proves the theory others were saying about how aging is just slowed a LOT in SS or it's simply slowed after becoming a shinigami.

[BabyLoving]

Aging is seriously slowed down when they become a Shinigami. They don't stop growing. If they don't stop growing, how can Yama get so OLD? (:

[Anubisrage]

Aging is seriously slowed down when they become a Shinigami. They don't stop growing. If they don't stop growing, how can Yama get so OLD? (:
He was propably so old when he died...

[jonat3]

Nah, Hitsugay told Hinamori that she needed to sleep for 10 years in order to catch up to Matsumoto. That sems to imply that shinigami DO grow.

And another thing, souls CAN be born in SS. These souls immediately gain the status of nobles. I believe all nobles are shinigami.

[zaffy04]

for some reason they just dont age they do grow but they dont age

[Lust]

hmm grow....i think maybe....since hitsu is growing up:D

[hasuke]

Too lazy to read through the page, but according to what I saw on Wikipedia, the Bount arc answered that Shinigami souls age incredibly (extremely incredibly) slow.

EDIT:
"The Bounts were created as the accidental result of an explosion during an experiment by the predcessor to the Seireitei Technological Institute. The experiment was an attempt to develop eternal life using the already slow-aging shinigami souls as the base, but the materials used in the experiment crossed with the development of souls in the real world and led to the creation of a new spiritually-active human race, the Bount."

quoted from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bount

However, it would make sense that as a God of Death you wouldn't age at all, but be immortal. (Note: Immortality doesn't mean you can't be killed. It simply means you can't die by natural causes.)

[Setsuna Ai]

Too lazy to read through the page, but according to what I saw on Wikipedia, the Bount arc answered that Shinigami souls age incredibly (extremely incredibly) slow.

EDIT:
"The Bounts were created as the accidental result of an explosion during an experiment by the predcessor to the Seireitei Technological Institute. The experiment was an attempt to develop eternal life using the already slow-aging shinigami souls as the base, but the materials used in the experiment crossed with the development of souls in the real world and led to the creation of a new spiritually-active human race, the Bount."

quoted from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bount

However, it would make sense that as a God of Death you wouldn't age at all, but be immortal. (Note: Immortality doesn't mean you can't be killed. It simply means you can't die by natural causes.)
First of all, unless the info I'm searching is a real easy to find fact, I would trust wikipedia, but for now let's say the writers of wikipedia write exactly what other sources say or just write what they simply know and believe. Second of all, we already took care of the whole aging thing (if you just read the last few posts in the topic, skipping pages is excusable but at least check posts before yours). It was implied they do age. Read my last post besides this one and jonat3 post. I just want to know the timing of their growth physically.

[Angel_shikigami]

I think they age until they're like 20-something then stop.

[hasuke]

I was too lazy to read the whole thread so sue me >:{

The rate they age is probably varied from shinigami to shinigami, or Kubo just made a huge plothole. Look at characters like Renji and Rukia

Kyouraku and Ukitake compared to Yama-jii even. It seems like everyone ages at sparratic rates.

[BabyLoving]

It might be true that they age at different ages, perhaps due to their spiritual pressure. So, it might not be possible to know exactly how they age. (:

[*kaname*]

And there is Ran Tao, whose physical appearance has stopped aging at all ...
But she seems to be kind of exhausted.

[BabyLoving]

So maybe it really has something to do with their spiritual power. Because RanTao was stripped off most of her powers right? It's just a guess. But I'm guessing that the higher your spiritual power, the faster you grow old. And the spirits with no spiritual powers can't age, cause they don't have them. (:

[Vampircia]

He was propably so old when he died...
That doesn't make sense, because most people die when they're old, so if it was like that, most people in Soul Society would be old, and they're not.

[riekie]

well can the man even LOOK older?! I mean come on...they can age, they can marry, die even having kids...

[HollowZangetsu]

Maybe there growth varies on a number of different aspects instead of just one. Maybe it depends on their strength, will power and other things, ppl who's will power is week can die from just giving up so why can't ppl with higher will power age slower to slow down the process fo death. Of course this is just an example in not relation to Bleach although who knows maybe it could be. Factors like age at death, spirit power, Body's physical strength, Mental Stability and other factors might control how fast they age. Most ppl have overlooked the flashbacks of Soi Fon, Matsumoto, and Gin where they were all kids in Rukongai

[Geosuke]

one sure thing is that they age slower than people do in the real world.

...or they dont die of old age? just by illness or being slain.

[BabyLoving]

I don't think they actually die of old age. Plus if they do, then what is considered old for them? Ten thousand years? (:

[Geosuke]

or maybe their aging depends on their spirit power capacity. the stronger, the longer life and youth maybe.

[.Socio]

I agree with the people that say you stop ageing when you become a shinigami.

[Mal]

I think that they age only if the want to and if they no long desire to do so then they stop. I think in the matter of Yamamoto is that he died old and just doesn't want to age. I'm guessing that in the casses of the others that they aged to a point that they were happy with and stopped.

[ladygrim1989]

yea i think what the aging thing does with the ss, is thet slow down drastically or completely stop, if only we as humans could do that! i would love to age to 20 or so and stop. (but im not that old yet anyway...lol)

[Emperor Knives]

I think the people in SS do age just that they don't age at the same rate as living people do. Like what the others pointed out Rukia, Renji etc appearances did change once they became full pledged shinigami. But I do not think this stops they're aging. I think a good example would be the commander general. We can clearly see that the guy really looks like an old man. But I do not think the aging process would be a cause of death for them. But we don't really have much info on they aging process of Soul Society so I'll leave it at that.

[hok]

i think the idea that souls stop aging when they become shinigami is correct

one of those evidences is Ganji

he saw Rukia when he was a kid when she "killed" his brother... then he grown up to look even older than her but she still look the same

[doobiesnacks]

Paying attention to Hitsugaya's or Rukia's growth may not exactly be the wisest thing to do to judge if aging exists or not.

I dont want to rain down on everyones parade and all, but does it really matter if they age or not? For all we know the only reason Rukia, Renji and the rest of the gang aged, is for storyline purposes. The writer wanted to show time changing so he made them grow up from children to young adults. They may stay young adults for the rest of the series for all I know. Is the series really going to go on and on and on for 1000 years in story time to show us if Renji gets a full beard or not? My only point, dont you think some things can be analized just a bit to obsessively?

mateff

[paige_]

when you become a shinigami, you stop growing old.. shinigami don't age.. they're spirits, they'll live forever unless they're killed..

[ikkaku's girl]

I dont want to rain down on everyones parade and all, but does it really matter if they age or not? For all we know the only reason Rukia, Renji and the rest of the gang aged, is for storyline purposes. The writer wanted to show time changing so he made them grow up from children to young adults. They may stay young adults for the rest of the series for all I know. Is the series really going to go on and on and on for 1000 years in story time to show us if Renji gets a full beard or not? My only point, dont you think some things can be analized just a bit to obsessively?
mateff


I'm inclined to agree with you mateff. Although this topic does directly affect the fanfic I am writing about Ikkaku, I'm not sure if it's worth obsessing over. Maybe it's just one of those things that we're not supposed to know the answer to. For example, what was the Soul Society like before the Seireitei was created? Don't the cities get overcrowded with all these dead people popping up everyday? If you had a leg amputated in the living world, would you have two legs in the spirit world? Are there any people in Seireitei that actually admit their feelings to the person that they care about? (Okay, I went a little overboard there, but I think you get my point)

So although it is an excellent question, I don't think we'll ever get a satisfactory answer... unless the makers of Bleach come out and tell us one way or another.