Kukaku Shiba

Kūkaku Shiba (志波 空鶴, Shiba Kūkaku) is the leader of the Shiba clan. She is also a personal friend of Yoruichi Shihoin.

Background
Kūkaku was educated by Koganehiko and Shiroganehiko, who continued to stay in her service after the fall of the Shiba family. After Kaien's death, Jushiro Ukitake informed her of the events surrounding Kaien's death. Kūkaku's home used to be located close to the West Gate of Seireitei. She then moved to a location further away from the gate, and changed the design of the house to have Human hands holding a banner with her name on it.

Personality
Kūkaku is violent and very aggressive, often scolding and beating those who annoy her. Kūkaku has been known to change the location and design of her house without warning. While the actual design changes, the theme is consistent and the houses are recognizable from a single glance. Yoruichi notes that she prefers to live away from built up areas, where it is quieter.

Kūkaku smokes using a pipe. Additionally, she also is respectful of her deceased brother's memory.

Appearance
Kūkaku is youthful-looking woman of average height. She has green eyes and wears bandages over her long messy black hair that parts down in half at the small of her back. She wears a white skirt and provocative red robe exposing her ample bosom. She is missing her right arm and has a tattoo on her left arm. She wears bandages around her right shoulder and both ankles. She also has wooden sandals and a cloak.

Abilities
High Spiritual Power: As a member of the Shiba family, Kūkaku possesses a high level of spiritual pressure.

Kidō Expert: Kūkaku is capable of using a level 63 Hadō, with which she defeats Higonyūdō. Kūkaku has also shown that she is able to use advanced Kidō techniques, such as "Kakaku style version 2, Kagizaki", to launch a reishūkaku (霊集核, Spirit-Gathering Core) from her Kakaku Hō (花鶴砲, Flower Crane Cannon), a Kidō-driven device.

Keen Intellect: Kūkaku has shown herself to be a rather insightful woman, able to quickly understand the situation at hand and act accordingly. She is a well-informed person, having good knowledge of events in Soul Society.

Enhanced Strength: Kūkaku is physically strong, able to simultaneously beat up both Ichigo Kurosaki and Ganju barehanded.

Fireworks Expert: Kūkaku has a knowledge of creating and using fireworks.

Quotes
(To Yoruichi Shihoin) "Been a while since we’ve talked like this, my friend. Lucky for you, I enjoy danger."
 * (To Ichigo Kurosaki) "This is my home. If you don't like the way I run this place, you can get the hell out!"

Knownable Relatives
Kaien Shiba (Older Brother/decreased)

Ganju Shiba (Younger Brother)

Miyako Shiba (Sister in law/decreased)

Trivia
While she is missing her right arm in the manga, the anime shows Kūkaku with a prosthetic limb.

Voice Actresses
Japanese : Akiko Hiramatsu

English : Cindy Robinson