

Shunsui Kyōraku, Jūshirō Ukitake, and Kenpachi Zaraki are hundreds of years old, Retsu Unohana is over 1,000 years old, and Chōjirō Sasakibe, Ōetsu Nimaiya, and Ichibē Hyōsube have lived for over 2,000 years. When Rukia Kuchiki first met Ichigo Kurosaki, she stated to be at least 160 years old. Byakuya Kuchiki, one of the youngest current Gotei 13 captains, appeared to be a teenager 110 years before the White Invasion.

The majority of potential Shinigami are born among the residents of the Seireitei, but in some rare cases are born in the Rukongai. The most talented of them become affiliated with various organizations like the Gotei 13 and the Onmitsukidō. When Souls with exceptional spiritual energy train their bodies, they reach the level of Shinigami.

They are invisible to those without spiritual powers. They possess high Reiryoku and a body of Reishi. Shinigami are unearthly beings living in a world ruled by a different logic than the World of the Living.
