Tite Kubo knows people see Bleach’s fingerprints on Demon Slayer and Jujutsu Kaisen. His response isn’t about claiming ownership of modern shonen, though. It’s about how creators take inspiration forward.
According to ComicBook Anime’s account of an interview in HYPEBEAST Issue 38, Kubo said the creators of both series had personally acknowledged being influenced by Bleach. That gives the broader connection more substance than a fan comparison built around similar-looking powers or character groups.
But there’s an important distinction: acknowledging an influence doesn’t mean every resemblance has a neat, confirmed origin story.
What Kubo actually acknowledged
The interview touched on two familiar comparisons: Bleach’s Gotei 13 captains alongside Demon Slayer’s Hashira, and Bankai alongside elements of Jujutsu Kaisen.
Kubo recognised those talking points and explained that, because the creators themselves had told him about Bleach’s impact, he considered that influence real.
His bigger point was that creative influence doesn’t stop with one manga or belong exclusively to one author. Ideas move between generations, with each creator developing a different interpretation.
The takeaway is influence, not a declaration that either series copied Bleach. The reported comments also shouldn’t be stretched into proof that every specific power, character or organisational structure came directly from Kubo’s work.
Bleach was part of that chain, too
Kubo’s own creative background helps explain his position. The article describes how Saint Seiya inspired him when he was younger, with its Gold Saints informing his interpretation of the Gotei 13.
That places Bleach within the same process he is discussing: a creator encounters something compelling, then reshapes that inspiration into a new work.
Analysis: This is a more useful way to discuss shonen similarities than treating every shared idea as a competition over who did it first. A recognisable influence can be the starting point for a different story, rather than evidence that the newer work has nothing of its own to offer.
The interesting question becomes what changed between those versions—not simply whether a connection exists.
Why this matters for Malaysia and SEA readers
Analysis: For readers in Malaysia and Southeast Asia who are comparing these series or deciding what to read next, Kubo’s comments offer a useful connection without requiring a ranking war.
If Demon Slayer or Jujutsu Kaisen is your entry point, Bleach provides an opportunity to explore a work their creators have acknowledged as an influence. Going the other way, Kubo’s perspective gives longtime Bleach readers a reason to approach newer manga with curiosity rather than immediately reaching for the “copy” accusation.
That’s a recommendation based on the creative relationship described in the interview, not a claim about regional popularity or availability.
This isn’t confirmation of a Hell Arc continuation
ComicBook also revisits No Breathes From Hell, the one-shot Kubo released in 2021 for Bleach’s 20th anniversary. It explored Ichigo’s future and left space for further storytelling.
However, the article provides no official confirmation of a new manga run or an anime adaptation of that material. It also notes that claims about a return to Weekly Shonen Jump remain unverified.
For now, keep those possibilities separate from the actual development: Kubo has acknowledged Bleach’s influence while framing it as one chapter in manga’s continuing exchange of ideas.