Shikai Command Words

[Enkou Kitsune]

I don't think this has been discussed, I did a search and it came back empty. If I'm wrong, feel free to lock/trash or whatever, and I'm sorry if this is a reapeat.



Ok, so it's pretty obvious that a Shikai form of a Zanpakto has a "command word" For example: "Howl, Zambimaru!", "Shoot to Death, Shinsou!", "Sit upon the frosted heavens, Hoyrinmaru!", and so on and so forth. The question I want to throw out there for disscussion is this:

What is Zangetsu's Command Word?

I have a theory. When Zangetsu was talking to Ichigo, just before he achieved Shikai, he was giving the whole, "Hesitate and you will die....retreat and you will age" speech. Just before the moment he said his name, he said, "Shout!...My name is...", and Ichigo finished, "Zangetsu!!!!" It is my theory that Zangetsu's Command Word is "Shout!" Even though the anime didn't show Ichigo saying it, it is still possible that he did, and we just didn't see it.



Anyway, those are my thoughts on that subject. What does everyone else think? If I'm wrong, I'm wrong...and if this is something that is so obvious that I should feel dumb for not noticing it till now....oh well...lol

[sto67]

well since zangetsu is always in released form i have never thought about his release incantation. but what you suggest could be possible... but i really dont know.

[hellangel]

oh whoa i never relized that....now i think about it i think you are right but who knows.... but that would be kind of cool to say "Shout! Zangetsu" haha

[Zanga]

That does my sense...in the anime he says "BLABLAHBLAH NOW SHOUT MY NAME" "ZANGETSU' That's a nice theory there hm...

[kebinxp]

well ichigos shikai is always out
so i guess he jus needed to kno his name
and zangetsu was like my name is blah blah so yea o.O

[Hollow_Man_ct]

but u see, komamura's shikai didn't have a command word even though it was his shikai, but instead he shouted its name intantly, maybe ichigo's shikai is "getsuga tenshou"...

[Zanga]

Either KT was lazy, or since zangetsu's always in shikai form, it doesn't need a command. Komamaru also didn't state his command, if any at all as the above poster had said.

[Enkou Kitsune]

hmmm...I never noticed that about Komamaru....

That is an interesting theory, but I still lean toward my original one... Besides, "Shout! Zangetsu!!!" sounds much cooler to me anyway...lol.

Are there any other Shingami's who summon shikai without an obvious command word?

[Wanderweiss]

You don't need to say the name or incantation to release shikai once you've achieved bankai (As shown with Renji and Zabimaru..when Byakuya mentioned it). And Zangetsu is a perminantly released shikai, so it has never come to mind.

[Zanga]

Grunge, that's clever of you to bring that up about the Renji and Byakua thing. Maybe that's why Komomaru didn't reveal Tengen's incantation...but wouldn't you have to atleast say it in the bankai incantation. Everyone else did, but all the monster said was Bankai, (insert tengen's bankai name here)

[MazdaRxEight]

yoruichi said that ichigo's sword is the kind that is permanently on shikai, he only needed to awken it by screaming "Zangetsu"

[Tyenkrovy]

I may be mistaken, but I believe Yoruichi may have given us a hint when she was talking to Renji about why Ichigo was having such a hard time achieving Bankai. She said that Ichigo wasn't learning to use Bankai, he was remembering. So, maybe Ichigo didn't use a command to release Zangetsu because he instictively knew that he didn't need to…

[Enkou Kitsune]

Hmmm....that might make sense with another of my theories....but that's a little off topic, and may contain spoilers....so, I'll put it in Spoiler Tags. Feel free to look if you want, I don't think it contains spoilers from the Manga, but it is a little out there...maybe.

I've had a little theory that Ichigo might be Kaien Reincarnate. I've been told that this isn't the case, but If he was...might that make sense? If Kaien had achieved Bankai, then Ichigo would "remember" right? Not Learn? The only problem I see is that Kaien was a Lieutenant, not a Captain, but then again...so is Renji...

I don't really want anyone to tell me if I'm right or wrong, but if you want to discuss this possiblity even further, go ahead.

There's my theory, click it if you want. I've only read to chapter 6 of the Manga, so I'm pretty certain there's no spoilers, but I could be wrong.

[Wanderweiss]

I don't think you need to say one for bankai either. You just say 'Bankai' and they release. The only thing they say after it is the name of it, like they're showing it off. Remember, not many people have achieved bankai. Wouldn't you want the person you're fighting to know the name, and admire your bankai? *shrug*

[SumDumGai]

Isn't it supposed to be customary to indroduce yourself to your enemy? Shinigami fight with their zanpaktou so I think it's just common sense to introduce them too... At least that's how I see it, I'm sure it makes more sense in Japanese culture.

[Sora124]

Yoruichi said to Ichigo that Zangetsu is a permanent release Zanpakuto, because of Ichigo's ginormous spiritual pressure,

[Enkou Kitsune]

Yeah, but just because it's a permanent release Zanpakto doesn't mean that it doesn't have a command phrase. It just means he just has to use it once...

See? It's possible that Shout could be it....lol

[Caesar]

i think either the reason is shown or not, the practical reason why ichigos sword doesnt become normal is because it is boring! i mean ichigo always had a huge zampakuto so zangetsu kinda replaced it! everybody else has a normal katana and place it so why bother having it in release form??
ichigo had a huge katana and in its release form it is huge as well.
(i dont know if my point was understood)

[yunnie]

maybe ichigo is THAT unquie?
maybe he doesn't need a command word.
i just think he has too much energy,[shown in the early eps with isida]
zengatsu told to to shout...but ichigo only said "ZANGESTU!!!!!!"
or really it could be that KT is lazy to explain...
he made minor mistakes all over the place if you notice.

[Hotaru]

Or thr fact that he is part hollow???

[Kodoku]

I don't think he needs one. His zanpakuto is just perma released. To bring in Kenpachi (who has the most similar sword), he didn't even know his ones name, so he won't know the release phrase. Maybe Ichigo didn't even need to know Zangetsu's name, but the name helps with connection and working together and such, so Zangetsu told him.

In conclusion, no release phrase, as even basic knowledge of the zanpakuto's name isn't needed to release a permanently released one.

[Nood]

Well Kenpachi's zanpakuto hates Kenpachi. He can fight with it properly because he is skilled. If he knew its name he would probably be a hellota more powerful guy.

[tenken]

I don't think he needs one. His zanpakuto is just perma released. To bring in Kenpachi (who has the most similar sword), he didn't even know his ones name, so he won't know the release phrase. Maybe Ichigo didn't even need to know Zangetsu's name, but the name helps with connection and working together and such, so Zangetsu told him.
In conclusion, no release phrase, as even basic knowledge of the zanpakuto's name isn't needed to release a permanently released one.

Kenpachi is nothing like zangetsu though, ichigo's sword i in perma release... kenpachi's sword isn't even released... he has no idea what his zanpaktuto's name is... when kenpachi said this is my sword's released form.. i believe he was referring to the fact taht... this is his zanpakuto... and since it is a tool there is nothing more to it... if u notice after the fight.. he tried talking to his zanpakuto possibly to learn his release but his sword said screw you... back to the topic htough.. i think shout zangetsu would be very viable....

o yeah and as for kenpachi.. he'd own w/ pretty much any unreleased sword because he's jsut throwing around his incredible spirit power...

[ILoveYouSoiFong]

Suzumebachi. *blushing* LOL. I love you Soi, my wife. :)

If only Zaraki Kenpachi can summon his Zanpakutou, it is possible for him to attain the power-level of Yamamoto. Kenpachi's reiatsu is so damn powerful. Only for years of training, he can beat Yamamoto. That's just my opinion.

[Undying]

Zangetsu doesn't have a command phrase... you see, basically, if we go by what we've been shown, the Shinigami first learn his Zanpakuto name, and then the command word. However since Zangetsu is not sealed/cannot be sealed (nobody knows what's the case here... totally weird, that old man. The latest Manga chapter (218) may be an explanation... but this has nothing to do with this thread ;)), it doesn't need a command phrase, thus it has none.

As for Tenegn, it has been mentioned that Shinigami who acieved Bankai need not to call out their Zanpakuto's name in order to release it, so Komamura uses this very same ability here.

Now just for those who speculate on the command word for Zangetsu being "shout", it's my personal opinion, but I think that what Zangetsu was saying there was just pep-talk, "shout" has nothing to with it... seeing as most command phrases are linked to the nature of the Zanpakuto (such as: "Chire" for Senbonsakura - cheryr petals scatter), the command word is more liekly to be someything like "Cut the moon" (Zangetsu - Cutting Moon).

So anyway, as far as we've been shown, Zangetsu has no command word.

Oh yes, this is just to negate the "Ichigo=Kaien Reincarnation" theory - the latest Managa chapter puts a few solid facts against it, so I think it is not the case. Plus Kaien didn't have Bankai.

[Dragon_Heart23]

Shikai: Set upon the frozen Heaven! Hyourinmaru..
Bankai: Blazing Hyourinmaru..

[Hotaru]

Shikai: Set in to the frozen Heaven Hyourinmaru..
Bankai: Blazing Hyourinmaru..
You are a real die-hard Hitsugaya-fan.. altho i ve got to say he still has to learn how to control his zanakutou...

[Dragon_Heart23]

yeah.. i belive Hitsugaya only realeses his zanpakuto wen his angry that's y he din't have to think controling Hyourinmaru

[Cheryl]

yeah.. i belive Hitsugaya only realeses his zanpakuto wen his angry that's y he din't have to think controling Hyourinmaru

Defending Hitsugaya? XD

Anyway, to the topic's question, I think that Ichigo has an unusually large amount of spirit force, so maybe there is no need to command Zangetsu to come out since he's already so powerful.

[Kaori-chan]

Zangetsu is in a permanetly released state, therefore it doesn't need a command word. Zangetsu himself told Ichigo that the reason they shout out the attack names is because knowing the name makes the attack more powerful. I remember it being the same with what Urahara said to Ichigo about Zanpakutou as well. It's not a matter of commanding, it's a matter of drawing out that strength through the link that knowing the name provides. At least, that's what I think.

[vision33r]

There's no real commanding words.. calling out the zanpakuto is just customary in a honorable fight.

Like Byakuya said to Renji.. "releasing your zanpakuto without calling its name" is sort of like disrespectful to the other. While Renji was still able to control Zabimaru.

[SumDumGai]

There's no real commanding words.. calling out the zanpakuto is just customary in a honorable fight.
Like Byakuya said to Renji.. "releasing your zanpakuto without calling its name" is sort of like disrespectful to the other. While Renji was still able to control Zabimaru.

I can't remember if they proved this in an earlier episode but the message I got from that was that if you attain Bankai you have mastered Shikai completely and don't have to call out a command line to release it.

[Hollow_Man_ct]

I guess that the Shikai command word is just for intimidation, like Kidou, you can choose to say the incantation or not ( but don't know if the strength of your zanpaktou varies like kidou or not )

[Z_Blitz]

I sorta agree with what you said in your first post Enkou. I too believe that Zangetsu's release phrase is shout. The only reason we never got to hear Ichigo say it again is because Zangetsu has remained released ever since.

[MarvinOloris]

Yeah. But, when Ichigo's about to release his bankai, he shouted: "TEN SA ZAN GETSU." (which means: "Heavenly Chain Cutting the Moon)

[Hollow_Man_ct]

he wasn't "about" to release his bankai, he had already released it and was just declaring the name of his weapon.

[Undying]

And they don't have to say the names of Bankais and Shikais. Remember when Ichigo and Hichigo released Bankai? Chapter 219? Neuther said "Tensa Zangetsu" It's called "Samurai's Honour". You tell your opponent what are you about to use, so that it will be really fair.

[MVIK]

lol... how come it's kinda like that we're saying bankai commands now instead of shikai