the monkey and the moon

Here are just some connections that I've noted and find a bit interesting. If you wanna add something, you can e-mail me.

1. The kanji "哉" of Byakuya's name is also found in "善哉", which means soft bean-jam. An odd connection, perhaps, but... Renji likes sweets. Especially taiyaki, a cake filled with - you guessed it - soft bean-jam.


2. The kanji "散" of Renji's name means "scatter", which is Byakuya's shikai release.


3. Renji's off-duty kimono (see here) has sakura flowers on it. Byakuya's zanpakutou's shikai appears to be thousands of sakura petals.


4. Zabimaru and Senbonzakura's hand guards are shaped the same way - Senbonzakura is simply the more 'feminine' version, due to its open style.


5. Zabimaru and Senbonzakura's hilt wrap are dark red and pink-ish, respectively - both masculine and feminine variations of the primary color red.


6. Seireitei is built on an ideal of Meiji era Japan, wherein red and white make up Japan's national flag. Red and white can be referenced to Kubo's insert poem of Lilio Candidior, Rosa Rubicundior - and also, blood on white cloth (Renji's blood on Byakuya's scarf/haori in the chapter 140-144 battle).


7. Byakuya's kenseikan (headpiece and sign of his nobility) are made of bone. Zabimaru, likewise, is made of bone in its final release.