Urahara grew up at the Shihōin Mansion in Seireitei with his childhood friends Yoruichi Shihōin and Tessai Tsukabishi.[7] He joined the Gotei 13 around the same time Yoruichi joined the Onmitsukidō,[3] and eventually became the 3rd Seat of the 2nd Division, which was intertwined with the Onmitsukidō. As part of his duties as one of the top five Seated Officers, Urahara became head of the Onmitsukidō's Detention Unit.[8] Approximately 110 years ago, the 12th Division captain, Kirio Hikifune, was promoted to the Royal Guard,[9] and Yoruichi recommended Urahara as her replacement.[10]

Urahara receives the news of his recommendation as captain.

Urahara was told of this by Yoruichi after a sparring session. After being informed, Kisuke wanted to prepare for the upcoming captain's ability test. Urahara spent the day wandering around Soul Society, interacting with the citizens as he sought information on Shinigami defectors. Returning to the 2nd Division Headquarters, as he was talking with Yoruichi, Suì-Fēng arrived and reported negatively on Urahara's activities. They were interrupted by the arrival of a division member, who reported the people Urahara had been looking for had been found. Yoruichi told Urahara to hurry off to his duties and sent Suì-Fēng to help prepare for his captain's proficiency test. Urahara and his men proceeded to the remote area where the defectors were hiding. Urahara, telling his men to wait, entered the building by himself and single-handedly defeated all the defectors with Hakuda before moving on to his test.[11]

kicks Urahara in the crotch.
Hiyori kicks Urahara in the crotch.

After successfully passing his exam, which was overseen by Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, Retsu Unohana and Ginrei Kuchiki,[12] he became the captain of the 12th Division[13] and gained Hikifune's lieutenant, Hiyori Sarugaki, as his own. Later that day, Urahara formally introduced himself to the 12th Division. He encountered some resistance from Hiyori, who, refusing to accept him, cited her displeasure with Captain Hikifune's sudden departure and his status as a former 2nd Division member. Urahara, laughing it off, told her he had already been made the captain of the 12th Division, and that he had decided this was the role he would play from then on. He was no longer a member of the 2nd Division, and if she had a problem, it was hers to change. Hiyori proceeded to kick him in his crotch, which did not affect him at all.[14] The following night, Captain Shinji Hirako, approached Urahara, telling him why Hiyori was giving him problems, and then gave him advice on how to best go about being a captain. He stated he could tell Urahara was not the type who does what other people tell him. Shinji explained that he felt Urahara was a type just like him, so he should just meddle in his own business.[15]

Urahara evades Hiyori for a moment before allowing her to kick him.

At a division meeting, Urahara explained that he had decided to change the policy of the 12th Division, but had yet to determine what course of action he thought would be a good role for them. Hiyori, becoming increasingly angry upon hearing he was still thinking about it, attacked him. She challenged him to a fight, which he accepted on the condition that they fight unarmed. Hiyori tried to kick him in the face, but Urahara showed her he could evade the attack. However, he allowed her to hit him so as not to embarrass her in front of the other division members.[16] The following morning, Hiyori, arriving at the captain's chamber, became enraged at how Urahara had changed the room from its former state. As he tried to calm her down, Hiyori attacked him again. Brushing it aside, he asked her to accompany him to the Nest of Maggots.[17]

Urahara protects Hiyori.

On the way to the Nest of Maggots, Urahara explained to her about the Detention Unit, what happens to those under its jurisdiction, and the function of the Nest of Maggots. Inside the facility, Urahara told her those detained within could not leave, but that they were still free within the facility. He warned her to be careful, as the inmates could become violent. Urahara explained that though the people in the facility were possibly dangerous, he had always felt, given a suitable outlet, they could channel their power into something more productive. When one of the inmates tried to attack Hiyori, Urahara stopped him bare-handed, noting that weapons were not permitted within the facility.[18] This prompted the other inmates to attack, but Urahara easily took out all his attackers.[19] Afterwards, the pair went to the cell of Mayuri Kurotsuchi, whom Urahara asked if he wanted to leave the Nest of Maggots to join him in the 12th Division.[20] Urahara explained that in his capacity as the captain of the 12th Division, he had decided to make an organization, the Shinigami Research and Development Institute, and he wanted him to be its Vice-President.[21]

12th Division as they appeared 100 years ago.


Nine years later, Urahara was told by Shinji and Lieutenant Sousuke Aizen about a series of strange disappearances that had taken place in Rukongai, and that the 9th Division was investigating.[22] Urahara later set about making a new type of Gigai to stabilize the disappearing souls. When explaining this to Hiyori, they were interrupted by the arrival of Tōdō Izaemon, who relayed Captain Kensei Muguruma's requests that a researcher be sent to the investigation site. Urahara persuaded a reluctant Hiyori to carry out the task.[23] Later that night, when he hears that the Reiatsu of the investigation team had disappeared, Urahara, hurrying into the lab, asked a researcher where Hiyori was. When she said Hiyori had already left, he rushed back out and arrived late at an emergency captains meeting. Fearing for her safety, Urahara requested to go to the site himself, but was denied by Captain-Commander Yamamoto.[24] Urahara later decided to go anyway, using a new kind of Reiatsu-concealing cloak to hide himself. Urahara was spotted by Tessai Tsukabishi, who joined him in the search.[25]

Urahara and tend to a fallen Shinji.


They arrived just in time to stop Aizen from killing Captain Hirako.[26] Urahara questioned Aizen about what he was doing there, rejecting his initial explanation. Urahara noted there were no injuries on the victims, and that they were infected with "Hollowfication". When Aizen tried to leave with his two henchmen, Tessai used a high-level Kidō spell against them, forcing Urahara to duck out of the way. However, the three suspects managed to escape.[27] After Aizen and his followers got away, the duo tended to Shinji and the rest of the victims, who were deep in the process of Hollowfication. Urahara said he could possibly help them at his lab, so Tessai used a forbidden Kidō to transport them there. In his lab, Urahara tried to reverse the process using an item he had created, the "Hōgyoku". However, it did not have the effect Urahara expected.[28][29]

Yoruichi berates Tessai and Urahara.


The following morning, Urahara and Tessai were arrested and brought before the Central 46. They were swiftly tried, with little opportunity to defend themselves. Urahara was sentenced to be stripped of his Shinigami powers and exiled to the Human World. However, before the sentence could be carried out, he and Tessai were rescued by Yoruichi, who led them to a secret underground area. There, she berated him for keeping her out of the loop, then explained that she had brought the eight Hollowfied Shinigami and the prototype Gigai that Urahara had been working on. Urahara resolved to make Reiatsu-concealing Gigai to help himself, Tessai, and the eight Hollowfied victims escape to the Human World, where they unsuccessfully tried to find a way to undo the Hollowfication process.[30] At some point, Urahara established his store in the Human World, and became acquainted with Kūkaku Shiba.[3