Yoruichi Shihōin (四楓院 夜一, Shihōin Yoruichi) is the former captain of the 2nd Division of the Gotei 13, as well as the former commander of the Onmitsukidō. Her Lieutenant was Marenoshin Ōmaeda. Having abandoned her command of both positions, she works with Kisuke Urahara and Tessai Tsukabishi, based in the Urahara Shop out in the Human World.

Yoruichi Shihōin is a slender and well-endowed woman of average height. She has dark skin, golden irises, and black hair.[3] Her hair is waist-length and kept in a ponytail with chin-length bangs framing the sides of her face.[4] Her standard attire consists of a black, backless, sleeveless undershirt, an orange over-shirt with two white straps on each shoulder, a large beige sash around her waist,[5] and black stretch pants with a pair of lightweight brown shoes,[6] which allow for stealth and easy use of Shunpo.[7] She previously wore a beige neck warmer, which she pulled up to cover her face in order to hide her identity, but seems to have forgone its use.[8] She occasionally wears long beige wrist and leg warmers, each secured by bands.[9] During the Quincy Blood War, Yoruichi wears a short dress, arm warmers, and thigh-length boots.

Unlike any other known Shinigami, she can transform into a small black cat for long periods of time. In this form, she has a distinctive male voice and golden eyes.[11]

110 years ago, during her time as a captain, she wore the same sleeveless and backless Onmitsukidō uniform, with long black wrist guards which Suì-Fēng wears now, but had a black ribbon tied around her neck.[12][13] She wore a long-sleeved captain's haori. Her hair was much shorter, cut in a style similar to Suì-Fēng's current hairstyle, but without the braids.[12][14] At some point prior to this, she wore the white Onmitsukidō uniform of the correction corps.