Sōjirō Kusaka (草冠 宗次郎, Kusaka Sōjirō) was an old friend and rival of Tōshirō Hitsugaya when they were younger in the Shin'ō Academy. Unfortunately, he is killed due to the unusual circumstances surrounding the two, only to be revived and is later encountered by Hitsugaya while the latter is searching for the thieves who stole the Ōin. He has the same Zanpakutō, Hyōrinmaru, as Hitsugaya.