My Favorite Supporting Characters in Bleach

There's been about 4 (?) popularity polls rounding up the Bleach characters that the major characters in the Bleach universe are sure that they are loved by many already. So for my own list of favorite characters I excluded the lead characters of the Bleach series, and only took note of those that didn't get too much air time.

Among the excluded are (of course) Kurosaki Ichigo, Ishida Uryuu, Kuchiki Rukia, Inoue Orihime, Yasutora Sado/Chad, Abarai Renji, Urahara Kisuke, Kuchiki Byakuya, Histugaya Toushiro, and Matsumoto Rangiko. Captain Histugaya has always been popular, and since Lt. Matsumoto is almost always with him, they're also excluded.

And my list goes as:

The fathers --- Kurosaki Isshin and Ishida Ryuken: Well, there's some history here. How they seem to be great friends and how they "lost" their powers. In Ryuken's part, he may have just kept quiet about his Quincy powers. Still, their sons were on the verge of dying a couple of times and they're still just watching from the sides. I have these thoughts that maybe Isshin was part of the Royal Guard and Ryuken paired up with him or something. It'll be big when they reveal everything to their sons, and to us.

Kensei Muguruma: By far, he is my favorite among the Visoreds (Vizards). His short temper amuses me and his compact strength is impressive. He was quite the captain back in the Pendulum chapters (I liked his hair better then, too). He showed very cool leadership qualities, and is obviously one of the strongest among the Visoreds. He was the first to turn into Hollow form and it took the rest of the to-be-Visoreds to fight him and Mashiro.

Hisagi Shuuhei: He's finally getting some air time! One of the reasons why I've taken a liking to Hisagi is his connection to Kensei. His 69 tattoo on his cheek is in honor of the former captain for saving his life when he was young. I believe that this is also the reason why Hisagi chose the same squad as Kensei's. I am really excited as to what Hisagi's reaction would be when they finally meet again, with Kensei as a Visored. I'm also wondering how Hisagi would feel when he'll realize that his former captain, Tousen, was the one who stabbed Kensei at the back and turned him to Aizen's experiments.

Kira Izuru: I didn't like him much before because of his subordinance to Ichimaru Gin. But given his poisition then, it was excuseable. Kira has also improved much, and his shikai is really one of the most impressive shikais of the show.

Rose or Rojuro Otoribashi: We still don't know anything about him except that he was the former 3rd squad captain, and newly appointed, too. He has displayed a calm demeanor and seems to be one of the wiser ones in the Visoreds. He might be one of those people who complements "the calm before the storm."

Lisa Yadomaru: They really had feisty vice-captains back in Pendulum days, as compared to the present vice-captains. Shunsui has hinted that Lisa is stronger than the average vice-captain back when she was his lieutenant. Now a Visored, surely her powers have gotten stronger. i also like her "so what?" attitude.

Shinji Hirako: This is another Visored I'm looking forward to when he goes all out. Actually, I'm interested in all the Visoreds. But these four are on top of the others so far. Will he get to fight Aizen in the future? I hope so!

Shunsui Kyoraku and Jushiro Ukitake: I like this two together. When on their own, they're either silent or slacking, so there's not much action. But when they're together, you can really see their closeness and their brotherly friendship. They haven't gone all out yet either. I'm not sure if we'll be able to, but I hope so.

Yumichika Ayasegawa: There's just something about narcissistic guys that amuse me. Ayasegawa especially makes me laugh. Ikkaku has already shown us his tough attitude and his bankai. It should be Ayasegawa's turn in the future to show us some good stuff. His true shikai has already been revealed, but we never know, he may also have mastered bankai.

Stark: He's the only Espada that came in on my top 10 (Ulquiorra and Nel came in on my top 20). He's just cool in a ladi back kind of way. He obviously has the same personality as Shunsui. Their strengths are disguised by their dislike of fighting and lazy attitude.

Runner-up!
Chojiro Sasakibe: Who's this, you ask? Well, he is certainly unfamiliar, but he's always there with the Commander Captain. He's the vice-captain of the 1st squad, and this should imply that he's got awesome skills. He certainly has the look of someone authoritative and all-powerful. He's not making any moves in the present arc of the manga and anime. But he'd better in the near future. You can't be a lieutenant of the top squad and not show us anything awesome!