DOMAIN
Senbonzakura{?}org is my more visitor oriented domain. This site houses my more interactive projects. More information regarding those can be found on the Network page.
Senbonzakura is also the account through which I process my free hostees. Hosting is limited, because I am on shared bandwidth, but I try to offer ever accomdation possible. For more information, please see the Hosting page.
SENBONZAKURA
What's in a name? Senbonzakura is the name of Kuchiki Byakuya's zanpakutou (Soul Slayer) in the manga and anime Bleach. The following information is from Wikipedia:
Senbonzakura (???, lit. a thousand cherry blossoms) is Byakuya Kuchiki's zanpakut?. Its initial release is triggered by the phrase, "Chire (??, scatter!), Senbonzakura." At this point the blade dissolves and scatters into hundreds of tiny blades that look like cherry blossoms because of the way the light shines on them. These petals can pierce the opponent, heavily wounding and incapacitating them completely with the elegant sight.
Byakuya's bankai is called Senbonzakura Kageyoshi (?????, lit. Vibrant display of the thousand cherry blossoms), which in its initial state is merely an amplified version of the shikai form. Byakuya drops his sword to the ground where it sinks through a white portal, two rows of giant blades then rise up from the ground behind him. These then scatter into million of tiny blades that appears as glowing petals, drastically higher in number than in shikai, all controlled by Byakuya.
As such, the petals can form into different streams, for offensive and defensive formations - i.e. they are able to pierce an opponent like a spear, but also create a shield around Byakuya. Byakuya is able to increase the petals' movement speed two-fold by controlling the flow of these streams with his hands rather than his mind.
The bankai has a second form called Senkei Senbonzakura Kageyoshi (??, senkei - scene of a massacre). Senkei unites the scattered petals into complete swords that form four rows around Byakuya and his opponent. The swords do not have to attack all at once; Byakuya can call single blades down and into his hands one by one as needed. However, he can use all the blades at once in one immensely powerful strike. This form dramatically increases attacking power by sacrificing all of the defensive power it had in the previous form. It does not affect Byakuya's speed.
Senbonzakura's final form, called sh?kei (??, lit. final scene), is reserved for when Byakuya is too tired to fight with his bankai. It compresses all of the swords into a single blade, further enhancing his power. It is called hakuteiken (???, lit. white imperial sword). In this form, Byakuya grows pure white wings and a halo-like circle in the back, made of spiritual power. The sword also gains a pure white aura. In the anime, dragon-like beings sprout out of Senbonzakura to create the wings. It is unknown wether these wings are merely a cosmetic effect or if they can be used to fly.
So why did I decide to name a domain after this zanpakutou? Several reasons, actually. The first was because I actually wanted Byakuya, but it was taken. What is hard to explain, is that Byakuya isn't even my favorite Bleach character. I just have an obsession with words that have a lovely resonance, and I think Byakuya does. On a whim, I looked up Senbonzakura, and it was available. Truthfully, I like Senbonzakura even more than Byakuya. The meaning (a thousand cherry blossoms) and the flow of the name itself are so beautiful. Plus, Senbonzakura is *pink*. In my secret girly side, I adore vibrant pink. So yeah. Plus, Senbonzakura Kageyoshi kicks a$$.
WHY ?
No reason, 'cept I like spades.