Iba, Tetsuzaemon

Seiyuu / Dub

Campos, Ramon· Japanese

Haase, Markus· Japanese

Nishi, Rintarou· Japanese

Cassling, Steve· English

Fernández, Dafnis· Spanish

Gómez, Óscar· Spanish

Jenner, Miguel Ángel· Spanish

Kaplan, Neil· English

Leblan, Jean-Pierre· French

Lotti, Massimiliano· Italian

Semeraro, Luca· Italian

Vélez, Humberto· Spanish

Summary

Tetsuzaemon Iba sports a distinctive haircut and wears black sunglasses with his standard Shinigami uniform, a habit stemming from his collection hobby which he fulfills at the Silver Dragonfly Glasses Store, the same shop where lieutenant Renji Abarai buys his goggles. He smokes and carries his Zanpakutō as a small blade tucked inside his uniform. A large back tattoo featuring a cat on fire and the kanji for inviting luck, combined with his informal speech, strongly evokes the image of a typical yakuza. Though extremely loyal to his captain, Iba spent much of the week after Kaname Tōsen's betrayal at the Eleventh Division headquarters to give his superior space. Ikkaku notes that Iba has grown cockier since leaving the Eleventh Division for his lieutenant role. Iba also suffers from recurring stomach issues, which he views with shame. He shares a working relationship with Ikkaku Madarame that primarily involves dueling, drinking sake, and then dueling again to determine who buys the next round. Little is known about Iba's Zanpakutō, strength, or general personality beyond his frequent presence with other male lieutenants and seated shinigami. He shares their penchant for perverted thoughts regarding the female Shinigami of the Gotei 13. He is decisive and loyal, as demonstrated when the Arrancar Pō sent his captain flying before unleashing his Zanpakutō into a colossal creature. With his captain temporarily removed from the battlefield, Iba grabbed the injured Ikkaku and ran. He knew that even in prime condition, the two could not survive against an enemy capable of overwhelming a Shinigami captain. He refused to abandon Ikkaku, ignoring the former squad mate's protests that Iba would have a better survival chance if he left him. Shortly after, when Komamura rose to counter the Arrancar and ordered Iba not to stray from his captain's side, Iba complied immediately. Like other Eleventh Division members, Iba enjoys fighting, but unlike many of them, he prioritizes loyalty to his division over his desire for combat and is not above retreating. As the self-proclaimed president of the Shinigami Men's Association, he forces all members to dress like him during meetings, including wearing uniforms and sunglasses in a similar style. His meetings often result in him becoming the butt of jokes for the Shinigami Women's Association, particularly their vice-president Nanao Ise, with whom he is consistently at odds regarding their actions and manners. Iba speaks in a Hiroshima dialect and once attempted to spread its knowledge by opening a course at his own expense, though it closed due to lack of attendance. He currently writes an article for Seireitei Communication's "Guys Corner" titled "The Hiroshima Dialect Seminar Brimming with Macho-ism." His favorite food is okonomiyaki, but only when prepared in the Hiroshima style; he detests the Osaka style. Originally from the Eleventh Division, Iba transferred to the Seventh Division because promotion to lieutenant was more difficult, if not impossible, in his former unit. It is suggested he sought the rank not for personal ambition, but to please his mother. Consequently, his former compatriats look down on him, viewing other divisions as weaker. Despite this, he still frequents the Eleventh Division headquarters. Though he left the division, he retains a love for battle, often revealing a maniac grin during spars with Ikkaku. Although seen infrequently, Iba tries to do the right thing. He told a direct lie to his captain before Rukia's execution because he knew Komamura was uncertain of the decision and needed time to decide. Komamura saw through the lie but let it go, recognizing it as an act of compassion. Iba is well-rounded in swordsmanship and Kidō, skills he developed to facilitate his promotion to lieutenant. As a former Eleventh Division member specializing in combat, he is a highly competent swordsman who regularly spars with Ikkaku Madarame. He also became skilled in Kidō to aid his career advancement. The name, abilities, and Shikai command of his Zanpakutō are unknown. When sealed, it resembles a tantō, usually kept inside his uniform with the hilt protruding. In its Shikai, Iba's Zanpakutō extends into a falchion or large bladed scimitar with a pick-like protrusion below the tip. His first anime releases occurred during a fight with Ikkaku and while attempting to stop Jin Kariya, though these happen off-screen. He also releases it in the Bleach movie Memories of Nobody during a duel with Ikkaku. In the manga, he does not release it until the Fake Karakura Town Arc, when he attacks Allon from behind, though the command and name remain unknown. He has not yet achieved Bankai.