During the turbulent period at the end of the Edo era, there was a patriot feared as “Hitokiri Battousai”. This man disappeared from people’s sight with the advent of a new era, becoming a legend known as “the strongest”.
Time passed – the eleventh year of the Meiji era, downtown Tokyo. Kenshin Himura, a traveling swordsman who vows not to kill and carries a reverse-blade sword, meets Kaoru Kamiya, the assistant master of the Kamiya Kasshin-ryū. Kenshin, having resolved the incident of a murderer posing as the “Hitokiri Battousai” of the Kasshin-ryū, ends up staying at Kaoru’s place. The encounters with comrades such as Yahiko Myojin, a samurai from the Tokyo Prefecture, and Sanosuke Sagara, who claims to be a brawler. The confrontations with sworn enemies who are destined to fight due to past grudges. A Meiji-era swordsman romance tale about people striving to live in a new era begins here!
Character
和月伸宏『るろうに剣心 -明治剣客浪漫譚- 』 スタジオぎゃろっぷ/スタジオディーン
和月伸宏『るろうに剣心 -明治剣客浪漫譚- 』 スタジオぎゃろっぷ/スタジオディーン
Kenshin Himura A wandering swordsman with a gentle aura. His true identity is a patriot from the end of the Edo period, feared as “Hitokiri Battousai” due to his godspeed murderous sword “Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū”. He is characterized by his red hair and cross-shaped scar on his cheek, and he carries a “reverse-blade sword” at his waist, where the peak and blade are reversed.
Kaoru Kamiya A woman who serves as the assistant master of the Kamiya Dojo, a swordsmanship dojo. She has a bright and caring personality, and she takes in Kenshin, who has nowhere to go. She strives to protect the dojo left by her late father and the “Kamiya Kasshin-ryū”, a style of swordsmanship that values life.
和月伸宏『るろうに剣心 -明治剣客浪漫譚- 』 スタジオぎゃろっぷ/スタジオディーン
和月伸宏『るろうに剣心 -明治剣客浪漫譚- 』 スタジオぎゃろっぷ/スタジオディーン
Myojin Yahiko A young boy from a samurai family in Tokyo Prefecture. After losing his parents, he becomes an orphan and is picked up by thugs to work as a pickpocket. However, after meeting Kenshin, he regains his pride. He becomes a student at Kamiya Dojo in order to become a strong swordsman.
Sagara Sanosuke A man who makes a living as a professional brawler, making a name for himself in the underworld. He takes on fights upon request, but is always looking for an opponent who is fun to fight. He is characterized by his extraordinary strength, resilience, and the kanji for ‘evil’ on his back.
和月伸宏『るろうに剣心 -明治剣客浪漫譚- 』 スタジオぎゃろっぷ/スタジオディーン
Shishio Makoto Once betrayed by his fellow Ishin Shishi, he plots to overthrow the Meiji government in revenge, leading various incidents including the assassination of Okubo Toshimichi. He believes in the principle of “survival of the fittest”, and believes that it is “justice” for him, the strongest, to seize the hegemony of the country and make the country stronger. As the main villain in the Kyoto arc, he engages in fierce battles with Kenshin and his companions.
The charm of this work
Even after more than 20 years, the popularity of “Rurouni Kenshin” has not faded. Its charm is multifaceted. The diverse battle scenes are beautiful, the special moves and settings are interesting, and the meticulously crafted characters and story settings are impressive.
Above all, the characters, starting with the protagonist, are very attractive.
Kenshin, who carries a “past” as a manslayer and holds the vow of “not killing” in his heart. He fights, risking his own life to protect his friends and the peaceful era, while battling the nature of the manslayer that sleeps within him. And then, there are those who gently support Kenshin, those who admire and pursue him, equal comrades, those who also carry wounds from the past, formidable enemies. Each of them has their own strong beliefs, and each of them is cool in their own way.
This story is not only a tale depicting Kenshin’s way of life and the regeneration of his heart, but also a story of wounded people seeking a “place” to belong. You will want to cheer for each character that appears.
