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Spoiler warning: Plot or ending details follow.
Rurouni Kenshin (るろうに剣心 Rurōni Kenshin) is a set of anime and manga series set during the early years of the Meiji Era in Japan. It is subtitled Wandering Samurai in some English releases.
The name Samurai X is used in various English language releases, due to the X shaped scar on Kenshin's face, and most likely also the general "hipness" the word samurai has in English. This name is unpopular with fans of the series, who also point out that Kenshin never was a samurai to begin with.
The series was created by artist Nobuhiro Watsuki, and first appeared as a pair of separate short stories published in 1992 and 1993 in the manga magazine Weekly Shonen Jump Special. In 1994, Watsuki created a final ongoing version that was published in Shonen Jump until it's conclusion in 1999, which the various anime series are based from. In 2000, it was followed up by Yahiko no Sakabatō ("Yahiko's Reversed-Edge Sword"). The storyline of Kenshin is divided into three storyline arcs: Tokyo, Kyoto, and the Jinchuu (Revenge) arc. The Jinchuu arc was not animated, save for the parts about Kenshin's background which formed one of the OVAs released (see below).
There are four animated Rurouni Kenshin series (るろうに剣心 "Rurōni" means "wanderer" according to the creator (the word is technically made-up) so the series could be translated as "Kenshin the Wanderer"):
Kenshin is the Battōsai, an assassin who helped bring about the downfall of the Tokugawa shogunate which ushered in the Meiji Era. As a result, he is highly prized by people who want to either hire him for his skills, or kill him for toppling the old power structure. Kenshin himself grieves for the lives he ended, and has vowed that he will never kill again.
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The OVA series -- which feature a number of historical characters -- attempts to be more realistic and accurate than the TV series, which begins as a romantic comedy but evolves into a period drama.
The Animated series enjoys immense popularity worldwide, and although designed primarily for male fans, its detailed exploration of emotion and relationships (especially the unrequited love Kaoru has for Kenshin) attracts many female followers. Since the series ran for so long (about 90 episodes), each of the main characters was explored quite in depth. Together with the OVAs explaining Kenshin's past and future, this series is considered by many one of the most complete shows about the period and of the 'samurai' genre.
(names are being listed in Japanese order, in surname before given name fashion)
A term invented by Yahiko, these people are Kenshin and his closest friends. (Gumi means "group" in Japanese.)
Japanese Seiyuu: Mayo Suzukaze
English Voice Actor: Richard Hayworth
The main character of the series, Kenshin was a former Imperialist assassin that went by the name "Battōsai". The nickname implies he is proficient in the use of Battō-jutsu (sword drawing technique, known in modern times as Iaido) and can draw his sword with lightning speed. After the revolution, he traded in his katana and wakizashi (companion sword) for a reverse-bladed sword sakabatou and assumed the life of a "rurōni" (wanderer). He becomes a technical master of the Hiten Mitsurugi fighting style after defeating his master, but declines the official mastership. He has quite a distinctive appearance, slightly feminine (common in most anime/manga) with red hair and a cross-shaped scar on his left cheek. Kenshin features a multiple personality disorder. He has two dominant and antagonistic personality: Kenshin-san, the pleasant man we all know and Battōsai, the assassin he was ten years back in the series. Under circumstances of great stress, Kenshin can turn into Battōsai. Battōsai is probably the strongest character in the series because he has no moral qualms about killing his enemies, he also retains all of Kenshin's style and moves. Following up is a small listing of his techniques:
Tsumuji:
Arashi:
Kogarashi:
Nidan Battoujutsu:
Ka Ryu Sen: a gust of wind caused by Kenshin's sakabatou, he uses this to stun or impede opponents at a distance.
Ryu Tsui Sen: Kenshin jumps and slashes down using his body weight to increase the blow's strength.
Ryu Kan Sen/Ryu Kan Zen Tsumuji: a circular, outwards slash that goes up. The tsumuji is the consecutive attack in which Kenshin spins to deliver another slash.
Souyumi: Kenshin rarely uses this attack, it involves him holding his sword pointing at his enemy and spinning in a series of forward somersaults.
Dou Ryu Sen/Terrestrial Dragon Light: Kenshin only used this attack once in the TV series. This technique involves a strike at the soil which projects a hail of rocks or fragments at the enemy.
Kuzu Ryu Zen/Multi-headed Dragon Light: Kenshin learned this attack when he headed to Kyoto to complete his training with Seijuro Hiko. This technique attacks all nine possible directions in lightning-fast succession. The attack is considered non-escapable or blockable in the series with two exceptions: the Amakakeru Ryu No Hirameki and the Shukushi.
Ama Kakeru Ryu No Hirameki: this is Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu's ougi (ultimate technique, the attack one must master to be called Shishou and to become the next Seijuro Hiko). This attack is a modification of the battou structure of attack. Usually the battou attack involves doing three footsteps and then drawing the sword. The ougi has the user do two and a half footsteps and draw the sword at the same time as one does the third footstep. This results in a unusually fast slash that generates a displacement of air in the sword's trail. The vacuum prevents the adversary from moving or blocking. Seijuro Hiko calls this move, "the Dragon's claws from which one can't escape".
Kenshin Ryu Spinning Circular Attack: in Requiem for the Ishin Patriots, Kenshin faces against an old enemy who witnessed his best friend's death at Kenshin's hands. He therefore learned all of Kenshin moves and countered them with his sword and sheath attack style. As his last resort, Kenshin jumped up and fooled his opponent into believing that he was going to use the Ryu Tsui Zen. Kenshin then spun around and delivered an airborne, spinning attack that was very similar to the Amakakeru Ryu No Hirameki. Sanosuke named this attack.
Japanese Seiyuu: Miki Fujitani
English Voice Actor: Dorothy Melendrez
Assistant master of the Kamiya Kasshin (her father's) fighting style. She runs the dojo by herself after the death of her father, which is quite unusual as she is still a young girl (about 17 at the beginning of the series). She is very strong willed and quite a talented fighter. The series starts with her meeting Kenshin, and, after some initial scuffles, lets him stay as a guest. She develops a crush on him even after learning of his past crimes.
Japanese Seiyuu: Miina Tominaga
English Voice Actor: Elyse Floyd
For a descendant of samurai, the new Meiji era was not the best place to grow up. His father died during the Boshin War, slain at the Battle of the Keneiji Temple. His mother died not long after giving birth to her son. Yahiko was originally forced to live as a thief for the local Yakuza, who tricked him into believing that he still had to pay off the money the gangsters gave to his mother to buy medicine. But with the help of Kenshin and Kaoru, he becomes an apprentice of the Kamiya Kasshin style. Yahiko is a hotheaded child. He is arrogant, a potty-mouth, and bad-mannered; and he already bestowed upon himself the title 'Tokyo Samurai'. But, as the years go by, Yahiko learns the principles of Kasshin Kamiya Ryu, which coincides with Kenshin's ideals. Even though he overrates himself, Yahiko defeats several enemies - even one of Shishio's henchmen. In time Yahiko becomes a master swordsman, and trains Kenji, Kenshin's son. He has a sweetheart, Tsubame, who works at a local restaurant as a waitress.
Japanese Seiyuu: Yuji Ueda
English Voice Actor: Lex Lang
The last of the Sekihoutai, who fought in the imperial alliance at the end of the Tokugawa regime, he initially bore a hatred for all former Imperialists. The reason that he is the last of the Sekihoutai is because his master, Sagara, and his followers, were executed by the Meiji police for impersonating the imperial army and spreading false allegations about low rice prices. This setup was engineered by Shindo Tatewake, a former officer in the imperial alliance. Sanosuke, full of anger and bitterness, made a living as a fighter-for-hire who bore the nickname "Zanza" derived from his weapon, the zanbatou. He was hired to kill Kenshin, but after being defeated by the former assassin and learning of Kenshin's no-kill approach, Sanosuke becomes a valuable ally. He later adopts a boxing-like fighting skill. During the Shishio crisis, Sanosuke learns 'Futae no Kiwami' (Double Level Limit) from a former monk, Anji no Myoou. Futae no Kiwami is a special art, whereby the assailant uses two punches in quick succession; the first punches, then the second breaks the resistance of the opponent's block.
Megumi is a doctor who came to Tokyo from Aizu, the scene of a famous battle between the Oniwa Banshu ninja and the allied factions. Megumi was the apprentice of an eminent doctor in Tokyo. He became involved with Kanryu, a wealthy drug and armaments dealer. Kanryu tried to force Megumi's mentor to make cheap variants of opium (Known as "Spider's Web") to sell on the Tokyo black market. When he refused, Kanryu murdered him. From then on, he forced Megumi to make the drugs. She escaped, and came under the care of Kenshin, but was forced to return to Kanryu's mansion after he threatened to burn down the Kamiya Dojo along with its residents. Convinced that death was the only escape, Megumi tried to commit suicide, only to be saved by Sanosuke. She became a full doctor ever since, helping more people with healing hands, as Kenshin told her, than with his sword.
Other people with whom Kenshin has formed friendships in Tokyo and beyond.
A rich son of a former samurai, who wants nothing more than to learn swordsmanship. He learns the basics of Kamiya Kasshin Ryu from Kaoru and becomes a rival to Yahiko, but then returns to the person he believes to be his true sensei, Raijuta. After Raijuta injures him to the extent where he can't use his right hand, he goes to Germany where they have more advanced medicine.
Tsukioka Tsunan, apart from Sansosuke, was the sole survivor of the Sekihoutai. Called Katsu by Sanosuke, Tsunan became an artist after the Restoration. He is an expert at explosive weapons, and intends to use them. Later in the series, Sano and Katsu try to embark on a terrorist campaign against the Meiji government, but are stopped by Kenshin. Since then, Katsu buried his bombs and became a journalist for an anti-government newsletter. Later on in the series, he becomes a valuable source of information for Kenshin and Sanosuke.
In Rurouni Kenshin (O.riginal A.nimation V.ideo v2[not including TV animeart]) : Reflection, the concluding series of Samurai X trilogy, Yutaro comes back and meets his friends again, at the same time still holding his childhood rivalry with Yahiko even as they are grown men.
The Thirteenth successor to the sword art of Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu, Seijuro Hiko saved Shinta from marauding bandits who killed his caretakers. Hiko then took care of Shinta, and named him Kenshin ("Heart of Sword"). He became angry and disappointed with Kenshin, because he ran away to join the rebellion against the Tokugawa regime. Hiko knew the tragedy of not completing Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu; people with such power tend to get into things they shouldn't and from it blossoms tragedy; what happened to Kenshin happened to him, as well. That is why he shut himself away from the rest of the world; he lives as a sculptor close to the forest near Kyoto. He also realizes the fact that the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu no longer seems relevant in the changing world, as he remarks to Yahiko: "The only thing that doesn't seem to change is the moon." Hiko is perhaps the strongest swordsman around; he is superior, even to Kenshin. Hiko is physically stronger than Kenshin. Hiko's favourite technique is Kuzu Ryu Sen. After thirteen years, master and student meet once more. It is then that Kenshin will complete his training.
Kenshin and Kaoru's son. In the manga we only get a glimpse of him. We learn that he tends to take a liking to his mother more than his father and enjoys to pull on Kenshin's hair. In SeisouHen we see him as a teenager. He despises his father for always leaving Kaoru's side and has left them to begin training with Hiko Seijuro XIII to learn Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu. Until Yahiko shows up one night and shows him otherwise, Kenji believes that is is all right to kill people. In the end, he was given the sakabatou as a late Genpuku present.
An actual person, Sagara Souzou was captain of the Sekihoutai. Sanosuke looked up to him greatly; he was, to Sanosuke, the ideal role model. Was killed when the Meiji government purged the Sekihoutai, leading to Sanosuke's embitterment towards it.
The manager of the hot beef pot restaurant, the Akabeko. She has a twin sister managing in a similar restaurant in Kyoto. Sanosuke also owes her a seemingly large sum of money in which interest is accounted for. She has also tried to push the relationship between Kenshin and Kaoru since it seemed it to her that it wasn't going anywhere.
Helps Tae at the restaurant, and is Yahiko's sweetheart. She was saved by him from a group of men who claimed she owed them money. In Seisouhen, we see that they become a couple.
A venerable old doctor and friend of the Kamiya Dojo, he often offers treatment or advice early in the series. In the television show, he is the grandfather of two impossibly cute little girls (Genzai Ayame and Genzai Suzume) who also like hanging around the Dojo. After the group meets Takani Megumi, he offers her training and lets her take over his clinic when on vacation or out collecting herbs.
Nonexistant in the manga. Ayame is the older of the two siblings.
Nonexistant in the manga. The younger of the two.
The ninja clan from Kyoto (Oni Gang in the translated TV series).
Originally raised by Shinomori Aoshi (the leader of the group) as a daughter, she is not biologically related. She treats him as a father figure, as well as the other male characters (to some extent) in the Oniwabanshu. At some point in her childhood, Aoshi hands over custody of her to former Oniwabanshu member Okina (Kashiwazaki Nenji), in order to have a safe and normal childhood. Misao therefore has abandonment issues, and upon growing older (she is approximately 16 during the series) begins searching Japan for Aoshi and the other members of the Oniwabanshu. She idealizes them and does not realize that many others see them as murderers and criminals. She also has a romantic crush on Aoshi.
She is trained as a ninja and uses throwing knives as her weapon.
Upon meeting Himura Kenshin, she learns that he may know the whereabouts of the Oniwabanshu and becomes a member of his 'group' (Kenshin Gumi).
Nicknamed "Itachi musume", or "weasel girl" by Saitou.
Former leader of the Oniwabanshu. He is a strong fighter and a talented strategist. Upon retiring, he gave up his fighting ways (although he was seen fighting Aoshi) and now lives peacefully in Kyoto at the Aoiya, the headquarters of the Oniwabanshu (which is now a hotel), where he raised Misao. Although old, he still possesses a quick mind and tends to like drinking games.
Leader of the Oniwabanshu, and successor to Kashiwazaki Nenji (Okina). Aoshi, once kindhearted, even raising Makimachi Misao as his daughter, now seeks power and strength by any means necessary. A dangerous opponent, he uses his speed together with a mix of sword and hand-to-hand combat moves called Kenpo. He joined with Kanryu as 'muscle' in his drug manufacturing operation, and then came face to face with Kenshin trying to rescue Takani Megumi. He was betrayed by Kanryu who killed the rest of the Oniwabanshu by a gatling gun in the Edo castle.
After the defeat of the rest of the Oniwabanshu, Aoshi hides in the mountains where he has buried his friends' heads (in the manga at least) and there he stays until Shishio tests his strength. Afterwards, he then heads to Tokyo to find and kill Kenshin only to learn he has left to Kyoto. Once in Kyoto he joins with Shishio in hopes of fighting Kenshin and even fights his old friend to try and learn the location of him (but fails to get the location).
Towards the end of the Kyoto Arc, the most-anticipated battle arrives and Kenshin fights Aoshi. He is saved from his own madness by Kenshin, as he realizes that death is not the answer to his situation. To put an end to the feud and see who is truly the strongest, both decide to use their strongest attacks (their succession attacks, or "ougi") and Kenshin's Amakakeru Ryu no Hirameki defeats him.
He later appears to fight against Shishio to buy time for Kenshin (to recover). He later re-appears in the filler arcs, though he takes no major role.
In the Jinchuu Arc (manga only), he joins Kenshin's side to fight Wu Heishin (a man who serves Enishi)'s group of bodyguards, known as the Sushin, so that Kenshin can rest and fight Enishi at full strength.
Aoshi uses the Kodachi Itto Ryu style based around the Kodachi swords he uses to fight. The style mostly consists of attacks with a Kodachi in each hand. His techniques are:
Kodachi Itto Ryu Ha: Aoshi uses this cross-shaped slash when he is opposed by something he can't cut. He strikes with the first blade and then with the second blade perpendicular (hence the cross shape) to the first. This attack has been witnessed to cut Okina's metal tonfan (kempo attack stick, similar to a police baton) with ease.
Kaiten Kenbu/Hercules' Sword: This attack is Aoshi's ougi. Okina called the Kaiten Kenbu, Hercules' Sword when he fought Aoshi. Okina refused to yield when Aoshi cut both of his tonfans and attacked him with a third hidden tonfan in the face, which made Aoshi lose his temper. The attack involves Aoshi giving consecutive, ultra-fast slashes. After Aoshi defeated Okina, the doctor counted more than a hundred cuts all over his body.
Hiratogi Dance: this is moving technique where Aoshi moves fast and silently. He does so in such a way that he confuses his opponent. He used this to attack Kenshin and tried to use it against Okina, but latter being a ninja, probably was familiarized with the attack. It looks as if many images of Aoshi started spinning around the opponent.
Wears a frightening demon mask, and uses armoured gloves with his devastating fist fighting technique. He has surprisingly long arms and good speed. Probably the second best fighter in the Oniwabanshu next to Aoshi.
Hyottoko is one of the Oniwabanshu members that decided to go with Aoshi when he left Okina caring for Misao. His massive belly makes him nearly impervious to direct physical attacks. His main attack consists of breathing fire at his opponent. He died at Kanryu's hand, protecting Aoshi from the gatling gun.
One of the Oniwabanshuu members. Shikijou was a soldier for the Satsuma faction until he was beaten by Aoshi, who gave him a chance to join up with the Oniwabanshuu and gained strength using Oniwabanshuu training methods. Has "steel" muscles.
One of the weaker members of the Oniwabanshuu, Beshimi is a small ninja (onmitsu) who tends to use spiral throwing tacks.
Bad guys Kenshin meets throughout the Rurouni series.
Japanese Seiyuu: Hirotaka Suzuoki
English Voice Actor: Sparky Thornton
A former leader of the Third Squad of the Shinsen Gumi, an extremely powerful loyalist faction in Kyoto during the time of the Bakumatsu war. Now a policeman working for the Meiji Government. Extremely strong and vicious, he has a long time rivalry with Kenshin. He was responsible for foiling the Choshu movement, although he failed to prevent the Kyoto Holocaust, and, ultimately, the victory of the Ishin Shishi. He has no compassion or mercy for anyone. He lives by the Shinsen Gumi code "Aku Soku Zan"("Slay Evil Swiftly"). He believes in peace and order, even in the society created by his enemies. Anyone he considers to be evil is a target for elimination. He is an agent of the destruction of corrupt political elements in Japan. He considers Sanosuke to be a child with mild potential, due to Sanosuke's lack of insight. Saitou Hajime was an actual historic figure of this era, and a number of details presented on his character are based on fact. Saito is an excellent warrior, as he is an able observer and a quick analyst. Saito, as he describes to Usui, has his own 'Shingan' - 'Mind Eye.' Saito is a master of the standard Shinsen Gumi style, Migozuchi Haitou-ryu. It consists of the techniques of Gatotsu - the Fang Stab. The four standard techniques are Ichiki - First Stance (standard level ground), Nishiki - Second Stance (attacking from the air toward the ground), Sanshiki - Third Stance (attacking from the ground toward the air), and his succession technique, Ougi - Zero Stance (attacking at point-blank range). He is married to Tokio Takagi, the daughter of a daimyo.
Jin-E was also an assassin during the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate. He is remarkably bloodthirsty, and serves his victims advance warning of their impending doom. He then kills them exactly on time no matter what preparations they have made in their defense. He possesses a technique, known as Shin no Ippou, where he immobilizes people with a glance. The mentalist can also use it to hypnotise himself and summon some extra inner strength. He longs to face Kenshin to see who is the stronger.
Katsura Kogoro was the leader of the Choshu clan. He worked hard to bring down the Shogunate. Katsura was an intelligent, wise and calculating man. He pitied Kenshin's emotional struggle between the old Shinta and the unrepentant Battousai. So, he saved his life by asking Tomoe to become his 'sheath', and he saved Kenshin again near the end of the war. He did this by assigning the young assassin the task of being a fighter instead of a hitman. In turn, he was replaced by Shishio. He did not want Kenshin to suffer the latter hitokiri's fate of being executed for knowing too many secrets. Upon the accession of the Meiji government, Katsura became one of the three Ishin Sanketsu. He died close to the same time of Saigo's demise, in 1876.
A master swordsman of the Shinsengumi at the age of fifteen, Okita was capitain of Shinsen Gumi's First Troop. He often fought together with Saito against Kenshin. Okita was involved with the Ikedaya Affair and killed numerous Choshu clansmen in Kyoto. He succumbed to tuberculosis shortly after the fall of the Tokugawa regime.
Iizuka was the field examiner for the Choshu clan. He was responsible recording the group's kills. Laid back, a joker, and easy going, Iizuka was in fact a greedy double agent, working for the Tokugawa shogunate. He was a contributing factor in plotting the downfall of Hitokiri Battousai - Himura Kenshin. Iizuka attempted to skip country as soon as the trap was in place, but was murdered by Shishio Makoto in an alleyway.
Nicknamed "Rensato", Murakami was the first Yaminobu (western-based ninja like the Oniwabanshu) Kenshin encountered. He ambushed Kenshin from the rooftops as he made his way back to the Choshu headquarters. Murakami possessed quick reflexes and was skilled with his chain, but ultimately, Kenshin made a rain of blood when he sliced the ninja in half as he sailed over the assassin's head.
Tomoe's dead fiance. He was a bodyguard for the Kyoto administrator, Shigekura Juubeh. He and Tomoe were childhood sweethearts, and they planned to get married. Sadly, this kind and caring man was butchered by Kenshin in a Kyoto street. It was all due to the tragedy of human folly; Akira only became a bodyguard so that Tomoe could look at him as a hero. Instead, she ended up seeing him deceased.
Sumita was another Shogun ninja out for Kenshin during the plot to kill him in the forest. Kenshin had already lost his hearing, and was forced to fight Sumita and Mumyouni. Although Sumita fought well with his axe, he was run thorugh the chest. He stumbed away, pulled another mine, and Kenshin lost his eyesight due to the flash.
Characters Kenshin and his friends meet in Yokohama in the movie.
Shigure led a rebel army made up of disgruntled samurai who fought on all sides during the Shogitai, Aizu, Hakodate and the Boshin wars. Shigure was from Aizu, and fought there, as the Oniwabanshu did, for the shogunate. During Bakumatsu, Shigure went around to the homes of the victims of these wars and gave them financial support. Shigure wanted to overthrow the Meiji government. He believed that the government was corrupt and did not distribute enough wealth among the population. In Tokyo, his band's first objective was to kill the British Guest of State during a parade to the embassy. Shigure was an idealistic and kind man, and a good orator as well as fighter. He is a master of the style Saiki Kanuma, a discipline most effective indoors, and in the dark.
A captain in the Japanese army, Tamono aspires to replace General Yamagata as the Lord of the Imperial army. He is a ruthless man who is not afraid to shed a lot of blood. Tamono believes that nobility in battle is unsuited to modern times. The captain collaborates with Kajiki to destroy Takimi's rebellion and disgrace Yamagata so he can gain the position of army commander. However, thanks to Kenshin, he was arrested.
Musashino is a young skilled swordsman who is part of Takimi's rebel group. He becomes friends with Yahiko after learning that both their fathers died together at the Battle of the Keneiji Temple during the Boshin War. Musashino teaches Yahiko some of his budo before he was killed at the battle at the British Embassy in Tokyo.
People Kenshin knows in high places.
General Aritomo Yamagata, a former Choshu clansleader, is the commander-in-chief of the Japanese imperial army and the minister of war. Yamagata was a real person, and an important Meiji statesman; he was also the first Prime Minister under the Meiji constitution of 1889. With his modern army, he defeated the samurai uprising led by Saigo Takamori. He died in 1922. The general appears a few times in the series; the first was in episode three, when he sought Kenshin's skills in the new army. They also meet in the Samurai X movie during Shigure Takimi's uprising.
Okubo was one of the five Ishin Shishi - Men of Spirit. He outlived Katsura and Saigo Takamori. He was a leader of the Satsuma clan, who supported the restoration of imperial power. He was responsible for the suppression of the Satsuma rebellion in 1877, led by Okubo's college friend, Saigo Takamori. In Ruruouni Kenshin, Okubo appears to Kenshin for help in the Shishio crisis. In real life, Okubo was murdered by six discontented clansmen on his way to Tokyo on May 14, 1878. In the Kenshin series, it was Soujiro who murdered him; the clansmen merely took responsibility.
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