Shinji Hirako

Shinji initially appears as a vizard recruiter, though he later is shown having a more solid, yet unofficial, leadership position. An early design of Shinji can be seen in the first chapter's cover art, making it clear he was planned well before his introduction. Shinji's character is somewhat comical, adding a bit of levity to situations that are otherwise serious. He seems to like annoying his associate, Hiyori Sarugaki, which usually earns him a slap from one of her sandals. He also appears to have a history of referring to cute girls he meets as his 'first love', complete with a deadpan look on his face despite the obvious lie (he apparently never did this with Hiyori, further annoying her). One of his previous acclaimed crushes was Lisa Yadōmaru, a fellow vizard, and his current is Orihime Inoue. Shinji also has an unusual tongue ring. During several points in the anime, Shinji's outfit is depicted to look like Lupin the III, likely as a homage on the part of the animators.

Shinji takes up the guise of a new student and Ichigo Kurosaki's school in an attempt to make him join the vizard, though Ichigo refuses. Ichigo, after losing to Grimmjow Jeagerjaques, does eventually go to the vizard headquarters to learn to control his inner hollow, however, though refuses to join. Shinji, angered, has a fight with Ichigo, though Hiyori interrupts and takes over Ichigo's training. During a fight with Hiyori's hollow, Ichigo transforms into his own hollow form, and Shinji, retaking control, leads the vizard in subduing Ichigo's hollow form. Shinji also sends Ichigo to his inner world, where he confronts his hollow form and fully transforms into his hollow form, though Shinji and the other vizard take turns battling it until Ichigo successfully becomes a shinigami again. Shinji also reappears and saves Ichigo and Rukia Kuchiki from Grimmjow by using his hollow mask.

While Shinji's combat time is limited, he is implied to be a powerful combatant, as are most of the vizard. At one point, when Shinji begins to fight with Ichigo, the other vizard mention that Ichigo is foolish to battle Shinji and that Shinji is not taking the battle seriously. Shinji's hollow mask resembles a pharaoh's mask. Shinji is quite skilled with his hollow powers, such as cero blasts. The video games also depict him being able to split the cero blasts into a pryamid shaped attack. Not much has been revealed about Shinji's zanpakutō, as he rarely uses or even visibly wears it. The hilt and sheath are red. None of his release states have been shown, and the times that he does seriously fight he seems to rely more on his hollow mask.