Summary
Ichigo's family influenced him to become the hero he is today. He became protective of his sister due to being her older brother. Family members are used to shape Ichigo's personality and motivations in Bleach in a way that is rarely seen in shonen.
BleachIchigo Kurosaki is a classic hero in many ways, but there is one difference that sets him apart from his manga peers: he has a family. Ichigo's family has helped shape him into the person he is today, and it's safe to say that he wouldn't be the hero he is without them.
While many shonen heroes are orphans, or are searching for long-lost parents, Ichigo has lived a relatively normal life with his father and two older sisters, Karin and Yuzu. Despite tragically losing his mother at the age of nine, Ichigo still has a father figure to lean on. He also has a relatively normal life in other ways, being respected by his classmates (although he occasionally gets into trouble for his hair color) and the community.
This relatively normal upbringing, combined with some unique family factors, are what made Ichigo such a hero in the first place.
Ichigo's family turned him into a hero.
Being an older brother makes Ichigo protective
From the very beginning, Ichigo has been extremely protective of others, a trait that is a direct result of his being an older brother. Long before Rukia or Orihime, Ichigo has been protecting his younger sisters from spirits and other problems that may come their way. Ichigo is very protective of Yuzu and Karin, especially Yuzu, who is still unable to see spirits clearly. When Ichigo first fights the Hollow with Fishbone D, he fights to protect his sisters. It's entirely possible that Ichigo would never have taken the first step towards becoming a Soul Reaper if his sisters weren't in danger.
Aside from shaping Ichigo's personality as a protective older brother, Ichigo's family also influenced him in other ways. His father, Isshin Kurosaki, would often attack him at unexpected times, forcing Ichigo to be on his guard. Isshin even called this “training”, and given his previous career as a Soul Reaper, it's understandable that he wanted to prepare Ichigo for what was out there, and that he could attack at any time.
Ichigo's family also has the advantage of being relevant to the plot, even if it takes quite a while for that truth to be fully revealed. As mentioned earlier, Isshin was once a Soul Reaper, and he came to the human world for reasons directly related to Ichigo's powers and abilities. Even Ichigo's mother, Masaki, is revealed to be a capable Quincy warrior, making her death by a Hollow all the more tragic. Ichigo blames himself for her death, which also affects his need to protect those around him.
Not only does Ichigo have a family that many shonen heroes aren't lucky enough to have, but those family members are cleverly used to shape Ichigo's character and explain why he is the way he is. Ichigo's family doesn't just exist because logically, they play a major role in his character and help show what makes him who he is. Bleach what a fascinating story
