Rurouni Kenshin

The story of Rurouni Kenshin takes place in Japan during the 1870's during Japan's restoration period known as the Meiji Era. This was a time of economic growth where the shoguns were overthrown and the government of Japan changed to include trade with Europe and the Americas.

The story revolves around a red-haired man named Himura Kenshin who paved the road into the restoration period and was known for his deadly sword skills in the style and art of the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu.

Himura Kenshin, who's real name is Shinta, was an orphan after his low-class family died in a cholera outbreak in his village. He was taken under the care of three young women who cared for him till they were killed by bandits protecting him. Before the bandits could lay a hand on the young Shinta, a man appeared out of the darkness and killed the bandits with a few strokes of his sword. This man was Hiko Seijuro and would become Shinta's teacher of the deadly sword style, Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu.Shinta's name was changed to Kenshin by his master and he trained under him for years till he turned fourteen and wanted to leave his master to go help ease the suffering of Japan. Against his master's wishes, he left the mountain and became a Ishinshishi and a hitokiri or hired assassin. He killed countless people with his powerful sword technique and earned himself the name of Hitokiri Battousai. A name that haunted him for the rest of his life even if he was still a young teenager when he acquired it.

Kenshin later meets a woman by the name of Yukishiro Tomoe and he eventually falls in love with her though she is truly out to kill him because he had assassinated her fiancé. She falls in love with him and eventually helps ease the pain and the madness of being a killer and they get married. Sadly for her, she is killed and Kenshin vows from then on never to kill again. This marks the end of the Bakumatsu era and the start of the Meiji era. After this event, Kenshin disappears for ten years. His whereabouts, unknown.

Ten years later in Tokyo, a red-haired man is chased down by a young woman carrying a wooden sword. She claims he's the Hitokiri Battousai that has been disgracing her dojo and her sword art, Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu or the Sword that Protects. He shows her his sword, which, instead of a katana, has been replaced by a sakabatou, or a reversed edge sword. This woman is Kamiya Kaoru, and Kenshin's future wife and lover. They later discover that a man has been posing himself as the Hitokiri Battousai to scare others off and Kenshin reveals himself as the true Hitokiri Battousai and saves Kaoru's life from the man. He then apologizes and starts to leave, but Kaoru asks him to stay at the dojo with her as her family died years ago and she is lonely by herself. Kenshin agrees and becomes a permanent member of the Kamiya household. The story progresses much in this fashion with Kenshin once again appearing out in the public's eye and the return of the Hitokiri Battousai, or at least that's what most everyone thinks. Kenshin has long since vowed never to kill and he never breaks that promise once during the series as he fights for peace and the betterment of Japan.

The end of the series take place ten years after the tv series ended. If you do not wish to know the storyline behind these two heartbreaking specials, stop reading now. The following paragraphs are all spoilers.

Kaoru and Kenshin have a son by the name of Kenji who is already a teenager by the time this story takes place. Kenshin has given his sakabatou to Yahiko as a present for the 'coming of age' for samurai. Kenshin still travels through Japan spending more time away from his family than he should to help out Japan as he did for his whole life and this causes Kenji to detest his father.After coming back from one of his travels, Kenshin appears to be sick with some sort of incurable sickness (leprosy) and is dying. Kaoru tells him that she lives her life only for him now and they share an intimate moment together. Kenshin tells her he must leave again, but when he comes back, he wants her to call him by his real name for once, "Shinta". She agrees and he leaves off again and is gone for a very long time.

During this time, Kaoru develops the same sickness that Kenshin does and lives her life solely for the moment that she will see him again. Her son tries to get Hiko to teach him the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu, but Hiko decides that his ideas are unpopular in the changing Japan and decides to let the skills die with him. Kaoru's condition worsens and she continues to wait for Kenshin.Eventually Kenshin does return and they meet for the last time in the same area that Kenshin bid her farewell to years ago when he left for Kyoto to fight Shishio Makoto. She holds him and welcomes "Shinta" home and then realizes that his scar has finally faded and then... realizes that the great Himura Kenshin has died.




Characters

• Kenshin Himura(Hitokiri Battousai)-Himura Kenshin is the main character in the series who leads a life dedicated to helping others with the power of his god-like sword technique that in his past, gave him the famous title, Hitokiri Battousai (man-slaying assassin). After giving up his ways as a assassin, he becomes a wandering rurouni traveling the land peacefully until he is 28 and encounters Kamiya Kaoru and joins to live with her in her dojo. Though he seems simple, his past is clouded and painful.
  
  
• Kaoru Kamiya(Raccoon Girl)-Kaoru's father died previously and she inherited their dojo and continued teaching the Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu (a form of kendo) in her father's place as she lived by herself. One day, she meets Kenshin by accidentally attacking him and claiming him to be the murderer that was roaming the streets calling himself the "hitokiri battousai." After Kenshin saves her life, he joins her to help restore the dojo and keep her company.
  
  
• Yahiko Myoujin(Orphaned Child) -The son of a once living samurai in Tokyo, he was forced into stealing to pay back his family's debts after their deaths. Taken in by Kaoru and Kenshin, he begins training as a swordsman. He's the closest thing to a little brother that Kaoru could have, usually getting himself into trouble and trying to live up to his father's name.
  
  
• Sanosuke Sagara(Gang Fighter) -Once a proud member of a resistance group against the Royalists, he has forever hated Royalist members since the death of his best friend and father figure. Growing up as a bum always getting into fist fights, he finds Kenshin and challenges him. Soon afterwards, he realizes that Kenshin's motives are for bettering everyone's lives and he agrees to hang around constantly nagging at Kaoru and messing with Yahiko.
  
  
• Megumi Takani(Talented Doctor)-The daughter of a well-respected family of Doctors, she is forced into the opium trade after their deaths. Full of shame, she works in an attempt to become a doctor and to live up to her father's name even under the pressure of making the illegal drugs. She is rescued by Kenshin and starts her life over as a doctor. She's a constant flirt and many think that there is a relationship between her and Sanosuke
  
  
• Misao Makamachi(Weasel Girl)-Makamachi Misao is a very hyper and not to mention very strong teenager girl from Kyoto and the youngest member of the Oniwabanshuu gang. She was raised by the Oniwabanshuu and fell in love with Shinomori Aoshi even if he did leave her when she was young. She is the heir of the Oniwabanshuu gang as her father, Okashira, was the leader of the group. After her father died, she was left in the care of Okina and the rest of the Oniwabanshuu. Since Shinomori Aoshi and most of the Oniwabanshuu would leave frequently and leave her behind for her safety, she began to long to follow them and eventually does set out to find Aoshi (she has an obsession with the guy) and runs into Kenshin on his way to Kyoto
  
  
• Aoshi Shinomori(Leader of Oniwabanshuu)-Aoshi became the leader of the Oniwabanshuu group at the young age of fifteen. However, due to a battle loss against the Ishin Shishi, Aoshi's personality changed greatly and he became dark and bitter. He helped raise Misao from a young age and became her caretaker basically. These two do eventually get together.
  
  
• Makoto Shishio(Shadow Assassin)-His body is totally burned over and he wears bandages all over his body. He was burned years ago by the Meiji government and he wishes to overthrow the government and become Japan's leader under his rule. He controls the Juupon Gatana (Ten Swords) and was the one who raised Seta Soujiro and taught him that "The strong live and the weak die". His sword skills are just as good as Kenshin's, though he can only fight for fifteen minute spans otherwise his body will overheat and kill him because he can't sweat. He is eventually killed by Kenshin in a to the death battle in which Kenshin almost lost his own life.
  
  
• Soujiro Seta(Heaven's Sword)-You wouldn't think he was deadly by looking at him. He's always very polite and smiling and looks very innocent when in fact his power's nearly unmatched, even by Kenshin. He was brought up harshly by his extended family forced to work day and night and nearly killed by how harshly they treated him. One night, he found the burned Shishio Makoto and helped Shishio hide and provided him with food and bandages. His family found out and decided to kill poor little Soujiro because he was betraying the family. Right before they do though, Soujiro cracks and uses Shishio's sword and kills off his family. After that, he never showed any emotions at all besides happiness. Shishio took him in as his pupil afterwards and taught him how to fight.
  
  
• Anji Yukyuzan(Priest)-Like most of the others, his past is really sad. He used to be a priest who believed in non-violence and took care of four children, one of whom was a teenage girl who he fell in love with. The village they lived in turned against them because of the religious movements against the temple and one night when Anji was out meditating, the temple was burned to the ground along with the four children. Anji ran back trying to save them, but he was knocked unconcious by the men who burned the temple down and when he woke up, he was too late. He went crazy with hatred and since then has wanted to stop the Meiji government.
  
  
• Tomoe Yukishiro(Kenshin's First Love)-She was the intended of Kiyosato Akira. However, after he's killed by Battousai, she sets out for revenge by joining the Ishinshishi who are out to kill Battousai. She eventually meets Kenshin, sees him as just a boy, but eventually develops feelings for him. The two are "married" so to speak and they live together. Eventually however, when Kenshin's about to be killed by the Ishinshishi, Tomoe tries to stop it, but is accidentally hit and killed by Kenshin. This all happens prior to Kenshin's 10 year wandering.
  
  
• Enishi Yukishiro(Brother to Tomoe)-Enishi went... partially insane after witnessing the death of his sister, Tomoe from Kenshin's sword all those years ago. So, yeah, he was adopted, grew up, killed his adopted family and became a leader of a mafia gang in Shanghai. O.o... He returns during the Jinchuu Arc as an adult to exact his "revenge" on Kenshin by taking away Kaoru from him. Kenshin duels and fights for Kaoru and eventually wins because Enishi is finally able to see that his sister wasn't murdered and that it was her will for him to live peacefully.
  
  
• Hajime Saitou(Wolf of Mibu)-: Once a member of the Shinsengumi, but now a policeman. He shows up basically throughout the series to promote peace and runs into Kenshin more than a few times. HOwever, he's not really one or against Kenshin. He also sports a powerful left-handed thrust that no other character uses
  
  
• Houji Sadojima(the Hundredfold)-he is quite possibly the most loyal and faithful of the Juppongatana. He is adept at arranging underground deals with merchants, and dealing in illegal items such as firearms. By dealing with numerous firearm merchants, he was able to organize the giant syndicate under Shishio, and purchase a steel battlecruiser.
  
  
• Usui Uonuma(Eye of the Heart)-Having been blinded after being struck in the eyes by Shishio during the revolution, Usui has since then developed a super human level of hearing, which even lets him hear the muscles contract in his opponents. His fighting style uses the roundness of his shield to deflect enemy weapon, then he strikes them with his Lochin. He joined the Juppongatana so that he may one day catch Shishio off guard and gain revenge.
  
  
• Roujin Saizujin(the Brains)-One of the members of the "Destruction Army", Saizujin Roujin is probably one of the most intelligent of the Juppongatana. He has a way with words, which is shown in the fight with Fuji.
• Fuji(the Giant)-The other half of the "Destruction Army", Fuji has led a difficult life, mostly because of his giant appearance which has caused him a great deal of pain because people misunderstood him. He is, in fact, a master of martial arts, and he is extremely loyal to Saizujin Roujin as he was saved by him after he was found covered in blood from being shot.
  
  
• Kamatari Honjou(The great scyth)-Don't get confused, this is actually a MAN, and a homosexual man to add. He joins the Juppongatana in hopes of winning favour of Shishio (while competing with Yumi)...as he...loves him, apparently. He attacks with a giant chain scythe.
  
  
• Henya Kariwa(Flying man)-As he is extremely light, Henya fights while using his bat-like wings to get off the ground with the impact of his explosives. While in mid-air, he drops explosives on his opponent. Apart from that, not much is known about him
  
  
• Iwanbou-Probably just used as comical relief in the series, pretty much nothing is known about this guy apart from the fact that he is EXTREMELY stupid.
  
  
• Chou Sawagejou(Sword Hunter)-Chou's hobby is, well, collecting all types of unique swords. His main weapon, the "Hakujin no Tachi" is an extremely long sword that has been forged so thinly that one is able to control every last movement of it. He and Sanosuke are always arguing, calling each other "Broom Head" (Chou) and "Rooster Head" (Sanosuke).

Rating-****'(Four and a 1/2 stars)

Review-

Back