Bleach Episode 359 〈Top 10 EXCLUSIVE〉
The original Bleach anime ran for 366 episodes. However, the final arc—the Thousand-Year Blood War (TYBW)—was not adapted when the show originally ended in 2012. The anime cut off right before the final arc began, ending with a "Made for TV" filler arc (the Gotei 13 Invading Army).
If you do the math:
However, for years during the anime's decade-long hiatus, fans calculated where the story would be if it hadn't stopped. Episode 359 would have fallen right in the middle of the Fullbring Arc (specifically near the climax where Ichigo regains his powers). Because the episode numbers are contiguous, many fans assumed the new series would pick up numbering from there.
As of 2025, Bleach Episode 359 is available on the following legal streaming platforms:
Note: The English dub features Johnny Yong Bosch as Ichigo and Matthew Mercer as Kugo Ginjo—a casting choice that adds a layer of gravitas, as Mercer brings a weary, cynical edge to the character.
When discussing the most pivotal moments in the long-running Bleach anime, Episode 359 often gets overshadowed by the flashier battles of the Soul Society or Hueco Mundo arcs. However, for those who stuck with Ichigo Kurosaki through the controversial Fullbringer Arc, Episode 359 represents a crucial emotional and narrative climax. Airing as part of the series' final anime run (before the Thousand-Year Blood War arc was animated years later), this episode delivers a raw, grounded, and heartbreaking resolution to the conflict between Ichigo and the rogue Fullbringer, Kugo Ginjo.
If you are searching for a detailed breakdown, thematic analysis, and context for Bleach Episode 359, you have come to the right place. Let’s dive deep into the episode titled “The Sad Battle – Ichigo vs. Ginjo, the Conclusion.”
If we follow the original numbering, Episode 359 would correspond to Chapter 458 of the manga, titled The Deathberry Returns 2.
This is a pivotal moment in the story. It is the exact moment Ichigo Kurosaki, having lost his Fullbring to the villain Ginjo, is granted a sword made of pure energy by Rukia Kuchiki. It is the return of his Shinigami powers. bleach episode 359
Why this is interesting: In the original anime adaptation (Episode 362, "Strike! Fear, the Invisible Enemy!"), this scene was adapted, but the pacing was rushed because the anime was catching up to the manga too quickly. For years, fans debated what "Episode 359" would have looked like had the series taken a break or paced itself differently, allowing for a more faithful adaptation of Ichigo’s iconic return.
While the episode excels in tension, it also delivers one of the franchise's most poignant character beats through Moe Shishigawara. In a series populated by gods of death and world-ending villains, Moe is a refreshing anomaly: a thug with a heart of confused gold.
Episode 359 allows Moe to shine not through his "Jackpot Knuckle" ability, but through his reaction to Ginjo’s betrayal. Moe represents the "human" element of the Fullbringers. While Tsukishima is a sociopath and Ginjo a mastermind, Moe is simply a kid who wanted to belong. His realization that his loyalty was misplaced adds a layer of tragedy to the episode. It grounds the supernatural stakes in very human emotions of abandonment and loyalty.
His confrontation with Ichigo later in the episode is fascinating because it lacks malice. It’s a confrontation born of duty that dissolves into mutual realization. It underscores a central theme of the Fullbring arc that Episode 359 executes perfectly: the "villains" are not embodiments of evil, but reflections of what Ichigo could become if he remains isolated.
To understand the brilliance of Episode 359, one must understand the unique position of the Fullbring Arc. Coming off the high-octane fake Karakura Town war, the audience—like protagonist Ichigo Kurosaki—was grounded. Ichigo was powerless, a normal human watching from the sidelines as his friends protected him.
By this point in the story, Ichigo had been manipulated by Kugo Ginjo, stripped of his Fullbring, and left emotionally hollowed out. The pacing of the arc had been deliberately slower, focusing on horror elements and mystery rather than grand warfare. Episode 359 sits at the precipice of the arc’s turning point. The "Substitute Team"—Ginjo’s group of outcasts—has fully revealed their hand, and the script flips from a supernatural mystery to a hostage situation.
Rating: 9.5/10
Bleach Episode 359 is a masterclass in payoff. It respects the audience’s intelligence by letting quiet visuals and music carry the emotional load. Whether you’re rewatching or catching up for Thousand-Year Blood War, this episode is the true ending of the classic Bleach era. The original Bleach anime ran for 366 episodes
Don’t skip it. Don’t skim it. Watch it with good sound—the OST is phenomenal.
What did you think of Ichigo’s Final Getsugatenshō? Did the sacrifice hit you in the feels? Let me know in the comments below!
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Here’s a creative take on what Bleach Episode 359 could be, based on the anime’s actual numbering (episode 359 falls during the Gotei 13 Invading Army filler arc, but I’ll give you an original, dramatic storyline that fits the tone of the series).
Bleach Episode 359: “The Blade That Refuses to Break – Ichigo’s Final Resonance”
Opening Scene:
The sky above Karakura Town is torn open, leaking a crimson reiatsu. Ichigo Kurosaki stands on a crumbling platform in the Dangai Precipice World, facing a twisted version of his own Inner Hollow—but not Zangetsu. This is a “Replica Hollow,” born from the mod-soul experiments of the invading army’s creator, Kageroza.
Plot Summary:
After the events of the Reigai Uprising, Ichigo’s Bankai has become unstable. His inner world is fractured, and Old Man Zangetsu has gone silent. Episode 359 opens with Ichigo barely deflecting a blow from the Replica Hollow, which speaks with a mockery of his own voice: “You can’t protect anyone if you can’t even accept yourself.”
Meanwhile, Rukia and Renji fight through a labyrinth of mirrored halls in the Soul Society, each mirror showing them their past failures. Rukia sees Kaien’s death; Renji sees his younger self unable to save Rukia from the execution. The episode cuts between the two battles. However, for years during the anime's decade-long hiatus,
Midpoint Twist:
Kon, of all characters, finds a way to enter Ichigo’s inner world via a broken Reigai device. There, he discovers that the “Old Man Zangetsu” isn’t gone—he’s been chained by the Replica Hollow’s influence. Kon uses his plush-body’s determination to break one chain, allowing Zangetsu to whisper to Ichigo: “That Hollow is not me. It is your fear of losing control. Face it, and you’ll find your true sword.”
Climax:
Ichigo drops his guard deliberately. The Replica Hollow stabs him through the chest—but instead of falling, Ichigo grabs the blade and shatters it with his bare hands. In that instant, his Bankai shifts: the Tensa Zangetsu’s outer shell cracks, revealing a sleek, pure-black blade with a silver edge, humming with calm, controlled power. This is “True Resonance: Zangetsu’s Final Form.”
Final Scene:
Ichigo slices the Replica Hollow in one clean arc, restoring his inner world. As the sky heals, Old Man Zangetsu appears briefly, nods, and fades. On the other side, Kageroza watches from a shadow-screen, smirking: “So he’s finally resonating. Good. That makes him worth capturing.” The episode ends with Ichigo opening his eyes in the real world, a new resolve burning—just as a massive gate opens behind him, and an unknown army steps through.
End Card: Next Episode: “The Captured King – Ichigo vs. the Reigai Lords”
Want me to adjust the tone (more humor, more horror, or a specific character focus)?
Title: The Stillness Before the Storm: Why Bleach Episode 359 Is the Franchise’s Most Underrated Masterpiece
In the vast, sprawling legacy of Bleach, fans often point to the spectacular—the sword clashes of Ichigo vs. Ulquiorra, the bankai reveals of the Thousand-Year Blood War, or the visceral fury of Kenpachi Zaraki. These moments are defined by kinetic energy, by the flash of steel and the roar of spiritual pressure. However, buried deep within the controversial Fullbring Arc lies an episode that operates on an entirely different frequency.
Episode 359, titled "The Revived Substitute Team," is not an episode of battles; it is an episode of consequences. It is a study in silence, a masterclass in tension, and arguably the most atmospherically distinct half-hour in the entire anime canon. As the Fullbring arc approaches its climax, this episode serves as the deep breath before the plunge, offering a psychological richness that the series had rarely attempted up to that point.
