Soul Reapers(死神shinigami, literally "death god(s)") are a fictional race of beings in the anime and manga series Bleach created by Tite Kubo. Soul Reapers are enforcers and psychopomps who all share similar supernatural powers. They are based on the Japanese Grim Reaper concept, imported from Europe into Japan during the Meiji period. Because the concept is very recent and was never a part of Shinto nor of Japanese folklore, Soul Reapers in Bleach are quite different from those of other works of fiction.