Why "Bleach" What's with the title..? (Hint: Nirvana Album)

[Narutimate Hero]

I don't know if this topic was posted before..

So, why is it called bleach?

Personally, I think the title refers to the "bleaching" of Hollows. You know, "bleaching" their souls so they are cleansed of their sins as Hollows so they can enter Soul Society. :P But that's a wild guess..

Or maybe, the world seems 'bleached' whenever Ichigo is in Death God mode..

Or maybe because he refuses to "bleach" or dye his hair form orange to black..

What do you think..?

[Gunshin]

I don't know if this topic was posted before..

So, why is it called bleach?

Personally, I think the title refers to the "bleaching" of Hollows. You know, "bleaching" their souls so they are cleansed of their sins as Hollows so they can enter Soul Society. :P But that's a wild guess..

Or maybe, the world seems 'bleached' whenever Ichigo is in Death God mode..

Or maybe because he refuses to "bleach" or dye his hair form orange to black..

What do you think..?
It's called Bleach because his hair looks bleached. When Chad ask Ichigo why the puncks pick on him he says somthing like "I guess they don't like bleach".

[Hitokiri_Sama]

How can you make such a wild assumption?
Heh....there are animes out ther such as...

Dr, Slump (Wierd, thats not even his name.)
DBZ
Yu yu Hakusho (We know what that means)

There are many animes with wierd names, maybe the manga artists just wanted a random name. I could name my manga "$hitbags" but it won't have anything to do with $hit. So er.... but you have your opinions too.

[Shishou]

I feel later on, they will have some reference to bleaching something. And that will be why it is called Bleach.

[pek]

Yeah, everyone will start to bleach their hair to get more spritual powers.

[Maffy the Love Doctor]

i heard it's called bleach because kubo tite is a big nirvana fan and named it after one of their albums, or songs (i forget). that's what i heard and it sounds pretty interesting, and i think it'd be cool if that's true :cool.

[Kunoichi no Kiri]

i heard it's called bleach because the kubo tite is a big nirvana fan and named it after one of their albums, or songs (i forget). that's what i heard and it sounds pretty interesting, and i think it'd be cool if that's true :cool.
This is exactly right.

http://rateyourmusic.com/view_album_details/album_id_is_125

You'll find lots of references to music in Bleach. I used to know them all, but then Byakuya came out, started talking and making me fall in love, and I forgot them all. :(

[seal_broken]

Q: What's up with all the weird English in the titles?
A: Many young people in Japan are really into English--much like some young Americans seem to think Japanese writing is cool. (You could also think of it kind of like the way some Americans think French is cool, but with a more modern image.) English phrases (some fine, some rather nonsensical) are common in advertising, and many popular songs have titles and a few lyrics in English. Likewise, many anime titles end up in English; some of them make sense (Vampire Hunter), and others (Plastic Little) are only used because they sound cool.

this info is from animeworld.com

[endgame]

i heard it's called bleach because the kubo tite is a big nirvana fan and named it after one of their albums, or songs (i forget). that's what i heard and it sounds pretty interesting, and i think it'd be cool if that's true :cool.

Yeah, someone made a thread about it: http://forums.narutofan.com/showthread.php?t=45650

[Narutimate Hero]

Hmm.. So Mr. Kubo being a fan of Nirvana might be the real reason.
But for Ichigo not bleaching his hair.. I think that's to shallow..

[organizedcrime]

Kubo actually named his manga after an album/song? Is it confirmed or...?

[Tayuya (the banned one)]

It's called Bleach because Ichigo will send the main bad guy into a random tub of bleach in some weirdo factory.


But then he comes back alive...but bleached!

-insert Bleachez-

[Sayo]

it's the hair, but my personall first thought was nirvana's album coming to mind though O_o

[organizedcrime]

The hair's jsut as weird. I originally thought it was the cleansing of souls and stuff.

[Narutimate Hero]

Well.. I mean most anime characters have wierd hair colors.. even green or pink. Heh heh..

[Miss CCV]

Oddly enough, I've been wondering about this too!

[Gunshin]

Some people are looking too much into it. Having Ichigo's color hair in a Japanese Highschool is a big deal. Especially if it was Bleached. Theres Japanese girls who are born with brown hair that are asked questions if their hair is dyed or not. And there has been awkward references to the word "bleach".

So you got Ichigo getting picked on because they think he's bleahed his hair (common in nihon) and you got a gimmick cool sounding english name (common in nihon, regardless if it makes sense or not).

[Kunoichi no Kiri]

Kubo Tite confirmed the origin of the name in a Jump interview. :huh

It's from the record.

[abfluvver]

Kubo Tite confirmed the origin of the name in a Jump interview. :huh

It's from the record.
Obviously these people know better than Kubo Tite, Dani.
How dare you interrupt them in such a manner!

[Kunoichi no Kiri]

Obviously these people know better than Kubo Tite, Dani.
How dare you interrupt them in such a manner!
Sometimes I need to be put in my place. :(

Sorry, everyone.

[Shishou]

I'm confused and sayd.

Is the Nirvana thing a joke? Is that really why he named the anime Bleach? o.o;

[Axass]

It's not a joke. It's true, he named it after their album and then made up the "Ichigo bleached hairs" explanation, so that he had a good reason to call it like that.

[Shishou]

Haha, thats kinda disappointing.

[Nybarius]

Wow -- that rocks so much more than any other possible explanation. Maybe the volume he kills off Ishida in will be called "All Apologies". . . or else he could have a preview announcing Kenpachi will achieve ban kai in the next issue, only to have the next issue be named "Nevermind".

[uchihaWL]

I don't think it is just one of those single reasons, but maybe all of those reasons. Because his hair is bleached, because it is like bleaching the hollows and the stuff about the band? Just a guess though, maybe we will see in the near future.

[Nybarius]

IF the author directly saying it's based on Nirvana isn't enough for you, what would be? Do you need to obtain telepathic powers and go into his mind?

[Gunshin]

IF the author directly saying it's based on Nirvana isn't enough for you, what would be? Do you need to obtain telepathic powers and go into his mind?
Do you have somthing directly quoting the author as saying: "It's called Bleach because I like Nirvana." or "Nirvana ga suki dakara kore wa Bleach tte iiundayo." And I don't remember ever reading a Japanese interview where the author has stated this.

[Manetheren]

you know... the nirvana thing would make sense...

I mean just look at Don Kanon'ji's little catch phrase.

If that WASNT a Nirvana reference, I dont know what is.

[Potentialflip]

Yeah I didn't knew about it until someone brought it up that it was from Nirvarna. Interesting how all the others have made up some other excuses why Bleach is called Bleach.

[monk3]

awwwww thats no fun how it got its name =(

[Exerci]

*thinks that it is because the whole "Bleach" world is just the mad ravings of a guy who inhaled too much bleach*

[Utz]

I don't know if it has to do with his hair, although he did say it, but my 2 cents is that it's named "Bleach" because of the job of the Shinigami, cleansing souls. In coincides with what bleach actually does, cleans stuff (laundry). :amuse

[Sirius]

Im pretty sure it's called Bleach because Ichigo reminded and looks like the person Rukia looked up to except with bleached hair. Also, all of Ichigo's problems started started because people were picking on him because of his bleached hair. If Ichigo didn't get into fights all the time he wouldn't need somebody to "save him from the darkness" the way Rukia did.

[Ah B]

Well, Ichigo did 'bleach' his hair, to a sense where he was different. So I guess maybe Kubo decided to name it after Ichigo's style (though that would be a little silly, naming a whole manga series bleach because the main character's hair is bleached :P).

[Utz]

Kubo-sama is known for all the surprises! So naming it "Bleach" just makes it ever greater, it's popularity in Japan is infact amazingly high, I believe almost to Naruto's standard? If not at it, very close.

[Axass]

Kubo-sama is known for all the surprises! So naming it "Bleach" just makes it ever greater, it's popularity in Japan is infact amazingly high, I believe almost to Naruto's standard? If not at it, very close.
Shounen anime popularity in Japan:

1 - One Piece
2 - Naruto
3 - Bleach

Though between both OP and Naruto and Naruto and Bleach there's a fairly big gap. Meaning that Naruto is way more popular than Bleach and OP is way more popular than Naruto.

[TenshiOni]

^Yeah, but I think that's only for the manga. And I think Bleach isn't that far behind Naruto in manga popularity.

I'm almost positive the Bleach anime is more popular than Naruto now. But then again, fillers will do that. :sweat

[slasher1001]

bleach use to remove tough stain in white fabric, in this case --- tough stain=hollow bleach=shinigami , white fabric=earth.

[AstralSky]

bleach use to remove tough stain in white fabric, in this case --- tough stain=hollow bleach=shinigami , white fabric=earth.

Nice.

Personally, I don't like Nirvana very much. And that would be just a supreme turn-off if it was named because of an album. That article said that because of all the other musical influences in the series, it was led to believe, which sounds to me like the author of the articles opinion more than anything else, that its called Bleach because of the album.

I just like the name. I really could care less why its called Bleach. It just sounds cool.

[Potentialflip]

my thoughts exactly. I like it I really don't care much about where it comes from.

[teruzu]

At first, i thought its some kind of bleach detergent, something to do with clothing..But, after watching, i cant help to bring up 2 big thumbs of mine! Very goood!
Anyway, anybody had any idea, why its named bleach? Or any creative but not any nonsense explanation? Hee

[Anthriel]

The most important reason is probably that it sounds cool (to the Japanese).
Apart from that, it could be a reference to Ichigo's blond hair, which is very unusual in Japan and thus thought to be bleached by his classmates.

[The Space Cowboy]

It's Ichigo's hair dude. It's bleached. That said, anyone got a megaupload or yousendit to 154 DB?

[Hermie]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v80/herminator64/bleach.jpg
:P

The two versions I have heard are 1)referring to Ichigos hair, or 2)The Nirvana album (all the chapters have titles that reminds of songtitles...)

[furious styles]

people say its ichigo's hair...but i don't think he bleaches it...doesn't he talk about getting picked on for it?

[NarutoUzumaki]

It's because he cleanses the spirit world of hollows

[Kaaspeer]

Because death god didn't sound really good as a manga title :)

Nah like said above it's probably because everyone think's Ichigo's hair is bleached.

[furious styles]

its not bleached! why the hell would he bleach it orange, knowing that he was gonna get beaten up for it. Plus orihime's hair is the same color. Does she bleach hers too?

There was already a thread on this. I think NarutoUzumaki has the best idea.

[Ha-ri]

He said he bleached it or dyed it orange to stand out or something.

[Kunoichi no Kiri]

Merged with an existing thread.

It's the Nirvana album, people. Kubo is a hardcore musictard, hence the very interesting theme songs for the characters, and hence the title of the series.

Thanks, come again.

[Ticking_Clock]

Yeah, I think Naruto's got the idea.

[Sniper]

I thought it was called bleach since ichigos hair was artificially bleached, which cause dalot of hate towards him. Im pretty sure thats what happend.

[Rokudaime]

Because death god didn't sound really good as a manga title :)

Nah like said above it's probably because everyone think's Ichigo's hair is bleached.

But in chinese title translayion, it called as Death God instead of Bleach...

[Shiron]

It's the Nirvana album, people. Kubo is a hardcore musictard, hence the very interesting theme songs for the characters, and hence the title of the series.

Thanks, come again.
......
......

[Toffeeman]

It's referring to the Nirvana record. End of discussion.. :P

[Durandal]

I think it is simply a romanization of the name in japanese (burichi).

[BleachFreak81]

I don't know if this topic was posted before..

So, why is it called bleach?

Personally, I think the title refers to the "bleaching" of Hollows. You know, "bleaching" their souls so they are cleansed of their sins as Hollows so they can enter Soul Society. :P But that's a wild guess..

Or maybe, the world seems 'bleached' whenever Ichigo is in Death God mode..

Or maybe because he refuses to "bleach" or dye his hair form orange to black..

What do you think..?

I agree with you about the title "Bleach" means. Here is my take, Bleach is a cleaning product so cleansing souls is bleaching so in short Bleach. I don't think that "the world seems "bleached" whenever Ichigo is as a shinigami, because it doesn't match up. But I agree with the first and last one.

[Icy_eagle]

I think it is simply a romanization of the name in japanese (burichi).

I agree with you about the title "Bleach" means. Here is my take, Bleach is a cleaning product so cleansing souls is bleaching so in short Bleach. I don't think that "the world seems "bleached" whenever Ichigo is as a shinigami, because it doesn't match up. But I agree with the first and last one.

:zaru ?

[Tsukiyo]

I don't know if this topic was posted before..

So, why is it called bleach?

Personally, I think the title refers to the "bleaching" of Hollows. You know, "bleaching" their souls so they are cleansed of their sins as Hollows so they can enter Soul Society. :P But that's a wild guess..

Or maybe, the world seems 'bleached' whenever Ichigo is in Death God mode..

Or maybe because he refuses to "bleach" or dye his hair form orange to black..

What do you think..?

i used to think the hollows thing was right. But i heard it's that if Asain people bleach thier hair it will turn orange:P

[KootoniiAkatsuka]

It's cause practically everyone's hair is bleached. Ichigo's hair is naturally bleached orange, Hitsugaya's and Ukitake's are naturally bleached white, etc. etc. etc.

But it's mostly because of Ichigo's. They mention that he was always made fun of because of his hair color.

[Inuhanyou]

Its because kubo is a fan of music, i'm sure atleast a few of you have noticed many chapters are named after infamous songs, usually rock

[Resonate]

Hmm.. So Mr. Kubo being a fan of Nirvana might be the real reason.
But for Ichigo not bleaching his hair.. I think that's to shallow..

It might have something to do with soemthing that has to do with Ichigo later in the series, like some special attack or form or something

Or maybe it is just the hair, idk :P

[Grimmjow Jeagerjaques]

Yeah, everyone will start to bleach their hair to get more spritual powers.

XDDDDDDD

I always suspected Grimmjow of dying his hair :pek

Isn't it because of Ichipoo not bleaching bleaching his hair :zaru

But considering the kind of person Kubo is, there must be another reason for that most definately :hehee

[Kiyiya]

Is there a reason?

[mister_napolean]

cause the manga is called bleach

[Grimmjowsensei]

cause the manga is called bleach

/end thread.

[Grimmjow Jeagerjaques]

There allready is a thread about this :sag

[SchmoozingWouter]

There allready is a thread about this :sag

you mean there have already been many threads about this lol

[Super Mike]

Many threads indeed:quite:LOS

[Shirosaki Ichigo]

Because tite kubo though bleach would sound nice i gues

[crazybankai]

i heard it was cause originally ichigo's hair was supposedly bleach blonde.

[Milkmantruck]

It's simple. Hollowification is when the personality of a ghost or whatever is "washed out" in exchange for the basic instinct to kill. Furthermore, the newly-developed hollow gains an all-white mask, so it's just like a bleaching of the soul. That, plus the main character also experiences this and his inner hollow form is basically himself "bleached" white. The theme of "bleaching" can be found in other key characters as well, both good guys -the Vizard, in the same way as Ichigo- and bad guys -Aizen, Gin and Tosen, who exchange their black robes for white ones, and the Espada-. Clear enough?

[Kusogitsune]

It's because Kubo once saw the word "Bleach" in an english magazine ad, and thought it looked like a cool word.

[Super Mike]

Kubo Tite confirmed the origin of the name in a Jump interview. :huh

It's from the record.

There ya go:zaru

[Mr. Stud Muffin]

I've wondered this too...

so it is named after a Nirvana album???

and some of the chapters are named after famous rock song???

Meh...

[thebigfanofnaruto]

I pretty much wonder why they call it that.

[taily kun]

No, nothing to do with the album. Here's the interview (I left the rest in 'cause it's interesting):

Is there a reason the manga is called Bleach, or is that a secret?The Soul Reaper - the color that you associate with the Soul Reaper is black. But "black" is too straightforward. So I thought about "white", but white is too simple. So if you put "bleach", somebody can associate that with white. So that's how Bleach came.

If you become a Soul Reaper, what division would you want to be in?
The fourth [medical], because you don't get hurt there!

One thing a lot of people have noticed is that Bleach has many different female characters, each with a distinctive strength. Is that something you took a lot of care in doing?
Usually, I don't intend to create personality before I draw. Usually I draw a character and then I know which side of her is strong and which side is weak. But sometimes the personality and the design come at the same time. I don’t think that the artists should create the character that you want it to be. I think that the character should have its own character. Let them grow: that’s my belief.

What do you think is the main theme of Bleach?
In my work, I don’t like to impose a message or theme onto the reader. I want the characters to develop on their own and create the story themselves, and it usually turns out very clever. So I tend to do that sort of thing.

Way back in the beginning of the manga, when Ichigo was first using Rukia’s powers, was he also wielding her actual sword, just much bigger? A lot of people have noticed that the marking on it were the same.
The design is the same because at that time he was bearing her power. So yes.

Was the spirit of her zanpakuto in him also?
The outside [of the zanpakuto] has the design of Rukia’s but when he was fighting at the beginning, the spirit was his – Ichigo’s. At one point during some battle, Urahara tells him that Ichigo’s zanpakuto is big, but there’s nothing in it. So at that time he hasn’t really developed his spirit in it, but he gradually starts to.

For a shonen series, Bleach spends a lot focusing on the emotions and different bonds between the characters. I’m sure you’re asked this a lot, but will we ever see any romance by the end of the series?
I don’t really intend to make it a romantic story, but it’s one of the aspects of the series, so I put it in here and there.
In some of the earlier collected volumes, you list a theme song for each character in the character profile. Do you have any songs picked out for some of the newest characters?
Usually when I draw, when I create a character, I’m playing some music in my head and that’s why I assign that music, for example, to Ichigo. So even if I don’t list it now, I do assign it, I just don’t put it on paper. But every character has a theme song.

When did Rukia have the Hogyoku put inside her?
It’s a secret!

From the beginning of the series, the team-up of Ichigo and Rukia was very important to making the series work. How did you plan it out?
Ichigo obviously needed help because he was developing his talent and strength, and here she was, so I thought they’d be a good match to help each other.

Finally, can you tell us why Aizen’s couch is so big?
The bigger, the more beautiful!

[Oujisama]

Lol wow why would he name his manga after something with no relevance to anything in the manga...

[Inuhanyou]

:sag Well he did tell us why he named bleach a few months ago..so i'll take back my previous statement that i did before he clarified, it was speculation anyways..

He named it bleach to coalesce with the shinigami uniforms..which are black. But he didn't want to name the series "black", so he picked something that would define the opposite(aka fading to white), which is how "Bleach" came about.

And even ultimately how movie 3 was named "fade to black", because he's stated previously, that the movie is supposed to embody the entire spirit and meaning of Bleach.

[Oujisama]

Great so which one is true

[FoxxyKat]

Thanks, taily kun. I was wondering if someone would put that up. I got the answer about the title from that interview, also. It was in the Anime Insider mag.

I've never heard of the song album answer, but I figured he just named it Bleach b/c he wanted to.:oh