List of Soul Reapers in Bleach - Soul Reaper Characters - Twelfth Division - Mayuri Kurotsuchi

Mayuri Kurotsuchi (涅 マユリ, Kurotsuchi Mayuri?) is the Captain of the 12th Division and President of the Shinigami Research Institute, preceded in both by Kisuke Urahara. He personifies the archetype of the mad scientist, viewing everyone as objects to be dissected in the lab. He takes great pride in his experiments and the things he has created, such as his "daughter," Nemu, and condemns the concept of perfection. He has made extensive modifications to his body. His left arm can extend like a grappling hook, he can form a scythe by pulling out his ears, and can even replace his organs with dummies. Mayuri has little regard for life or allegiances, even going as far as turning his own subordinates into human bombs on one occasion. Because he experimented on many Quincies, including Uryu's master, he is often considered Uryu Ishida's nemesis. In the past, the potential danger he posed to the Soul Society led to his imprisonment when he joined the Soul Reapers. It is noteworthy that, in the prison he was held in, he was the only one considered dangerous enough to warrant a separate cell from other prisoners as well as restraints. Kisuke Urahara, upon becoming captain of the 12th Division, recognized his potential as a scientist and released Mayuri to help him with his research and to assist him in running his newly-founded Shinigami Research Institute. In return, Urahara promised him the Division and position as President of the Research Institute if anything were to happen to him. To a certain degree, Mayuri holds a grudging respect for Urahara and his skills, though is visibly affronted when compared to Urahara by Ichigo. He has also shown that he can recreate the Arrancar's way of travel, the Garganta, when he sent Ichigo to the Fake Karakura Town to engage Sōsuke Aizen in combat. His skill with making poisons is formidable, however, Retsu Unohana, the 4th Division Captain, has been able to cure every poison he has made to date.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi's Zanpakutō is Ashisogi Jizō (疋殺地蔵?, roughly "leg-cutting Buddha"). When released with the command "Rip" (掻き毟れ, kakimushire?), Ashisogi Jizō's blade transforms into a deformed trident head. When it stabs an opponent, it emits a poison that severs the nerve signals that control limb movement, paralyzing that limb regardless of where it was struck. However, unlike normal paralysis, the affected area is still able to feel pain, something which is rather fitting for Mayuri's demented tendencies. Ashisogi Jizō's bankai, named Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō (金色疋殺地蔵?, literally "golden leg-cutting Buddha", translated in the English manga as "divine leg-cutting Buddha"), takes the form of a giant caterpillar with a baby's head and a silver halo. The creature breathes a poisonous derivative of Mayuri's blood which is lethal to anyone who breathes it, aside from himself and Nemu. It can also run through and skewer opponents with the multiple blades that erupt from its chest. Mayuri has physically modified his bankai so that it will self-destruct and return to its sealed state if it attacks him. It is also shown that Mayuri changes the poison he uses every time he shows his bankai. Ashisogi Jizo appears as a free Zanpakutō spirit in the Zanpakutō Unknown Tales anime arc as a small, baby-like creature with butterfly wings. As a final defensive measure, Mayuri can reduce himself to liquid form for three days by stabbing himself with his Zanpakutō. This leaves him unable to attack or be attacked, making it a very effective escape tool.

He is voiced by Ryūsei Nakao in the Japanese version and by Terrence Stone in the English dub.