#the paper texture is definitely the watermarked version of a free Adobe Stock image bc I didn't want to make an account

[bleachbleachbleach]

Do you think the soul reaper academy followed boarding school traditions like school dances? Also possibly could the captains have chaperones at these dances?

Given that the goal of the Shinigami Academy is to train shinigami for the Gotei 13, Onmitsukidou, and Kidou Corps, I think it’s unlikely that they have any kind of fun, coming-of-age, school traditions. It’s probably more of a professional school, and there probably isn’t all that much interest in things like chaperoned school dances, since all the attendees are practically already (functionally) adults. However, there are probably a couple of things that operate more like a “regular” school that we would recognize.

If shoujo anime is any indication, youth wouldn’t be complete without at least an episode on the Class Trip. The same goes for shinigami students. Advanced classes get to do cool things like go to the Living World (akin to going to Hawaii). Maybe other classes take domestic trips, like visiting the archives at the Kuchiki manor or maybe having a pottery weekend at Ugendou (these very trips tend to be boring and no one actually enjoys them).

However, if there’s one time-honored tradition that the Shinigami Academy holds onto, it’s the bunkasai (culture festival). But, it has a propagandistic spin on it, because well, this is a military school.

Unohana Shen Yun: Is Shen Yun a meme outside of the Asian American community? I don't know, but making this poster felt very necessary.

Hanbantai Players poster: I had to take this opportunity to bring back the Hanbantai Players, AKA the Half Division, the Gotei 13's finest division, the shinigami troubadours who entertain while also affirming the Soul Society world order (and the expected roles of souls and shinigami). There's a representative from every division, chosen via surprisingly competitive auditions.

The plays themselves are more "local Renaissance Faire" than Broadway, but the true talent of the Hanbantai Players lies in the fact that they act as histrionic chameleons, bringing in the local flavor of wherever they are performing to make their nationalist message feel as organic and "native" to the place as possible.

For example, this poster was made specifically for their Junrinan show, which integrates into Junrinan's extant puppet festival. (Not all Hanbantai shows are puppet shows.) The bronzy background elements reflect a map of Junrinan, with mountains and valleys (山, 谷) in the top left, then a river (川) flowing to a pond (池) through woods/forest (林, 森) before transitioning into a space for souls (魂魄) and, importantly (and in boldface), shinigami (死神).

The Hanbantai's Academy shows all open with the pledge (see below), and tend to be allegorical morality plays about why serving as a shinigami is important–but conveyed through hijinks. One of the playwrights did pitch a scene from a play about the Quincy Genocide, but to date it's never been performed, and the full play has never been ordered.

During the bunkasai, there's probably also some kind of horrible Rukongai World’s Faire type deal that describes the "culture of Rukongai" but it’s very colonial and also just generalizes the entirety of Rukongai to either being the 1st or the 80th (in one particular sector). Imagine visiting an “Inuzuri cafe” in lieu of a maid cafe, where the only drink you can get is water and also you have to fight for it.

Shinigami Oath: If you grew up in the US during a certain time period or were ever a member of any Scouting organization, you’re familiar with reciting a pledge/oath/promise at the start of every meeting. The Academy operates in a similar way. At the beginning of each day, all the students have to line up and recite the Shinigami Oath in front of the flag, and pledge their commitment to the cause. It’s something every shinigami can recite in their sleep, which makes it all the more insulting when Aizen insinuates Soi Fon doesn’t know it. The Academy might not teach much, but it certainly knows how to indoctrinate.

#the paper texture is definitely the watermarked version of a free Adobe Stock image bc I didn't want to make an account #In case you're wondering why the shinigami oath graphic is so ugly... it's on purpose #i'm sorry the image formatting is so messed up on this post but tumblr was not cooperating today #i wonder if the shinigami academy also has commercials with pithy catchphrases like 'the few the proud the marines' #there certainly only are a few of them #bleach headcanons #no brain just bleach #shinigami academy #Shinōreijutsuin #shino academy #b3's b3