Back

San no mai, Shirafune

Character

San no mai, Shirafune, the Third Dance, White Sword, is one of the dances performed with Rukia Kuchiki's Zanpakutō, Sode no Shirayuki. Naming the dance draws the air's moisture to the blade's tip and forms a fresh sword of ice around it.

Height: 2.3
Text Size

Overview

This is the third of the named dances tied to Sode no Shirayuki, the pure-white Zanpakutō carried by Rukia Kuchiki. She invokes it by announcing the dance aloud.

Text Size

Mechanics

Calling the technique gathers the surrounding humidity at the point of Sode no Shirayuki and freezes it into a blade of ice. Because the weapon is drawn fresh from the air, Rukia can lengthen it at will and rebuild it whole should it ever break. Once the icy edge pierces a target, the freezing does not stop there but spreads outward, locking nearby objects and the immediate surroundings in ice.

Text Size

Notable Users

Rukia Kuchiki performs San no mai, Shirafune through her sword Sode no Shirayuki.

Share this resource

Frequently Asked Questions

What is San no mai, Shirafune?

San no mai, Shirafune, the Third Dance, White Sword, is one of the named dances performed with Rukia Kuchiki's Zanpakuto, Sode no Shirayuki. Naming the dance draws moisture from the air to the blade's tip and forms a fresh sword of ice around it.

Who uses San no mai, Shirafune?

San no mai, Shirafune is performed by Rukia Kuchiki through her sword, Sode no Shirayuki.

How does San no mai, Shirafune work?

Calling San no mai, Shirafune gathers the surrounding humidity at the point of Sode no Shirayuki and freezes it into a blade of ice, which Rukia can lengthen at will and rebuild whole if it ever breaks.

What happens when San no mai, Shirafune strikes a target?

Once the icy edge of San no mai, Shirafune pierces a target, the freezing spreads outward beyond the wound, locking nearby objects and the immediate surroundings in ice.

What does the name San no mai, Shirafune mean?

San no mai, Shirafune translates to Third Dance, White Sword, reflecting its place as the third named dance of Rukia Kuchiki's Zanpakuto, Sode no Shirayuki.

Anime themed music
Anime themed music by Daddy Jim Headquarters
Find hits like Mr. Popo Took Your Girl, Would You Do Naruko? and more

Sources & Information

Looking for more on San no mai, Shirafune? The Bleach Wiki on Fandom has a dedicated page with community notes.

View on Fandom

This content is original writing by Daddy Jim Anime based on the Bleach anime series, manga, and official materials. Episode and chapter references are cited where applicable.

Rights holders

All rights belong to their respective owners.

Character and scene imagery on this site is original artwork by Daddy Jim Anime, not screenshots or licensed imagery. Official cover art is used on three types of pages for editorial commentary:

  • Movie pages: theatrical posters and key visuals, credited to Studio Pierrot and the production committee.
  • Game pages: official box art for the Bleach console and mobile games, credited to Bandai Namco and other publishers.
  • Manga chapter pages: Jump Comics volume covers, credited to Shueisha and Tite Kubo.
  • Licensed imagery: Photographs of real people, including creators, voice actors and production staff, are used under licence from the rights holder or the applicable stock provider, or under the terms of a public licence permitting editorial use. Each such image is reproduced in its licensed form and remains the property of its owner.
  • Exceptions: Limited exceptions to the practices described above may apply to individual entries. Where an exception applies, it is noted on the entry itself alongside the applicable attribution. Rights holders may contact us regarding any attribution and it will be reviewed promptly.

Help Us Keep This Wiki Accurate

Daddy Jim Anime maintains this encyclopedia. If you spot an error, a translation issue, or something that doesn't look right, let us know.