The Fourth Division

The Fourth Division (四番隊, yonbantai), also known as Squad 4 in the English Dub, is one of the Gotei 13, headed by Captain Retsu Unohana.

Basic Information

Fourth Division (四番隊, yonbantai)
Division Listing Basic Data
Division Name 4th Division
Captain Retsu Unohana
Lieutenant Isane Kotetsu
Allied Organization None
Division Specialty Medical/Supply/Janitorial
Insignia Bellflower (Those Who Grieve Are Loved)
Division Color Puce (Dusky Pink)

Organization

The 4th Division follows the traditional organization of a Gotei 13 Division.
The Division is further divided accordingly into Advanced Relief Teams, whether or not the relief squads are determined by Healing skill or area is unknown.
  • 1st Relief Teams = Yasochika Iemura (leader), Harunobu Ogidō (co-leader)
  • 2nd Relief Teams =
  • 3rd Relief Teams =
  • 4th Relief Teams =
  • 5th Relief Teams =
  • 6th Relief Teams =
  • 7th Relief Teams =
  • 8th Relief Teams =
  • 9th Relief Teams =
  • 10th Relief Teams =
  • 11th Relief Teams =
  • 12th Relief Teams =
  • 13th Relief Teams =
  • 14th Relief Teams = Hanatarō Yamada (leader)

Special Duties

Nurse Uniform
The medical backpack carried by members of the 4th Division.

The 4th Division is the medical/supply division. They are responsible for both treating the injured and doing most of the manual labor, such as cleaning the Seireitei. The 4th Division is further divided into teams that have specific assigned jobs. Other division members use their spiritual power only for fighting. Members of the 4th Division possess spiritual powers that is used to tend to wounds and provide relief. They use these special powers and the benefits of their daily training to act with precision and speed to aid injured comrades. 4th Division administers emergency first aid to injured division members and transports them to the General Emergency Relief Station.
In addition, the nurses who work in the Sōgō Kyūgo Tsumesho (綜合救護詰所, the coordinated relief station) have special Shihakushō (死覇装, Garment of Dead Souls) that are pink in colour with hats that are reminicent of nurse uniforms of the Human World.
They are looked down upon by the 11th Division who usually bully them around because they believe that the 4th Division are just a weak medical team, as opposed to the 11th Division, which is combat-focused, although most members of the 11th Division are afraid of the Captain Retsu Unohana.



Barracks

Sōgō Kyūgo Tsumesho (綜合救護詰所, the coordinated relief station)

Like all the other barracks, the 4th Division Barracks house the offices and living quarters of the Shinigami of the 4th. However, the 4th Division Barracks also houses the Sōgō Kyūgo Tsumesho (綜合救護詰所, the coordinated relief station), which is the primary medical facility of the Seireitei and Soul Society at large.



Notable Members


Current

  • Retsu Unohana - She has been the captain of the 4th for over 200 years.
  • Isane Kotetsu - Current Lieutenant of the 4th Division.
  • Yasochika Iemura - Current 3rd Seat of the 4th Division and leader of the first relief team.
  • Hanatarō Yamada - Current 7th Seat of the 4th Division and leader of the 14th advanced relief team.
  • Harunobu Ogidō - Current 8th Seat of the 4th Division and co-leader of the first relief team.

Former

  • Seinosuke Yamada - Former Lieutenant of 4th Division 110 years ago.
  • Izuru Kira - Sometime prior to becoming the Lieutenant of the 3rd Division he served as a member and served in the 4th Division.

Recruitment

The members of the 4th Division are trained to use their spiritual power to perform healing and also routinely receive other training to give them the ability to act swiftly, so that they can cooperate and apply fast relief when casualties break out.

Recruitment Fair Brochure

Ilustration for the 4th Division Recruitment Brochure.

he following question and answer, plus illustration, was printed in the special issue of the Seireitei Communication that came out straight after the Ryoka Invasion of Soul Society.
Retsu Unohana
1. What kind of individuals are you seeking?
I don't mind whatever kind of person wants to join.
2. How would you describe the atmosphere around your division?
It's really a very harmonious environment, don't you think?
3. What do you require of new recruits?
People who are Kidō specialists would be good, yes.
4. Some words for the Shinigami recruits.
I will be waiting to meet you.

Isane Kotetsu
1. What kind of individuals are you seeking?
We're not particularly picky.
2. How would you describe the atmosphere around your division?
Since we double as the infirmary, we get a lot of people coming in and out who need to be hospitalized or treated medically, so I think that gives us kind of a unique atmosphere, a little different than other divisions.
3. What do you require of new recruits?
I need to have requirements?! Even just one person is fine, but if a lot of people join it would really be a big help.
4. Some words for the Shinigami recruits.
Let's try our best together! Also, once a month, the captain organizes an ikebana showing!

Frank talk!! with the 13th Division's third seat, Kiyone Kotetsu
Nee-san's division is sooo busy! Sometimes I go there to pick up Captain Ukitake's medicine, and I get the feeling that everyone is working hard with no rest! And Captain Unohana-- ahhh, if you see her get angry it's pretty scary! --That's what Nee-san said, anyway.

Shinigami Women's Association Aptitude Test

According to the Shinigami Women's Association aptitude test, those who consider themselves the "ideal Japanese woman" should join this division as Captain Unohana, who is strong but beautiful, epitomizes the ideal Japanese woman.