The concept of atonement is a recurring theme in many popular anime. Typically, a villain or antagonist is redirected by the hero or otherwise has a change of heart and then resolves to do what they can to help others. Generally, these redeemed villains are side characters who become allies of the main hero. Rurouni Kenshin takes the concept a step further by making the reformed killer into the central protagonist. The story begins in 1800's Japan with Kenshin, a kind hearted nomadic wanderer, a rurouni, who helps others and refuses to kill. At the same time, there is talk of a brutal killer, a notorious murderer name Battosai. It doesn’t take long before we realize that the kind and gentle Kenshin and the vicious killer Battosai are the same person. Is it possible to change who you are and begin again, or will the violence of the past come back to haunt you? The issue has also been raised more recently via the similar but modern day premise of Sakamoto Days. And, as far as anime storytelling is concerned, the answer to both questions is yes.
At the end of the conflict-filled Bakumatsu Era in ancient Japan, a new period of relative peace arrives in the Meiji Era. Kenshin is a former slayer, Hitokiri Battosai, who has made a vow not to kill anymore and instead to use his strength to protect others in this new era of peace. Unfortunately, Kenshin has a distinctive look with long red hair and a cross shaped scar on his cheek that make him identifiable to those who know his former identity. The story begins with his arrival in a village where an imposter is posing as the feared Battosai and is terrorizing people. Caught in the drama is a young woman running a dying dojo, whose demise has been caused by the imposter. After initially mistrusting Kenshin, she becomes an ally to him as he remains in the village. Kenshin and Kaoru take in a samurai orphan boy named Yahiko and eventually become allied with an angry and reckless young fighter named Sanosuke. Sanosuke’s former commander and mentor was betrayed, executed, and falsely declared a traitor to further the political needs of those in power. The squad takes on various battles and gathers other reluctant allies as people are drawn to Kenshin’s physical and moral strength, as well as his compassion.
However, Kenshin is forced closer to his Battosai alter ego when the cruel Shishio and his murderous crew harm both the people and the country Kenshin cares about. Throughout his adventures, Kenshin is committed to not directly kill again and, as such, he carries a reverse sword known as a sakabato designed with the sharp side blade facing towards himself in battle and a blunt exterior blade used for defense. In addition to exciting sword fighting, the story has plenty of fantastical elements including Kenshin’s super strength and superhuman agility, a ribbon like sword wielded by an enemy, cartoonishly strange or giant members of the evil group known as the Ten Swordsmen, and plenty of steampunk tech used by Kenshin’s arch enemy, Shishio. Kenshin navigates all of this conflict with a gentle demeaner and a patient smile that quickly fades when he is forced into a fight.
Ruruouni Kenshin provides an unusual combination of humor and grim cruelty. Kenshin presents as likeable, gentle, and even a little goofy. However, as more of his past comes to light and more of his enemies challenge him, we see his true, serious, and lethal nature while he struggles hold on to his new persona to stop being dragged back to being a slayer. An interesting quality of the series is its connection to actual historic events, battles, and even real people. Viewers get insight into Japan’s transition from the Edo period, to the Bakumatsu Era, to the primary Meiji era in which the show is set. In the background of the engaging character interactions, we get a sense of the turmoil of political changes, how factions fight and kill for what they genuinely believe in, how allies betray each other for political gain, and how the fallout from violent conflicts affects the lives and hearts of ordinary people. The story is grounded by real historical characters who are casually interspersed throughout the narrative. The antihero character of police commander Saito Hajime is based on a real samurai from that period. And, the narrative references United States Commodore Matthew Perry’s military arrival and its effect on Japan at that time. In addition, the story includes multiple heroic or innocent characters who are killed in horrible ways and left on display to deter rebellion. All of this is a reminder of the chaos of conflict as well as the complexity of the responses made during those times.
Beyond the adventures and the historical context of the series, the strength of the story lies with Kenshin himself as a likeable, humble, and compassionate character who is struggling with his past self. During the course of the two seasons, we gradually gain insight into his origin story and his fraught journey from killer to protector. Kenshin’s persona draws a diverse range of characters who are each interesting and fully formed in their own way. Unfortunately, the main shortcoming of the show is the treatment of the heroine Kaoru, the dojo instructor, whose interactions with Kenshin kick of the series. Their relationship moves from antagonism to allyship to romantic interest in a way that feels promising. Initially, the dynamic of the relationship feels like Inuyasha and Kagome in Inuyasha, with the strong heroine standing up to the tough hero, despite their mutual attraction. Unfortunately, Kaoru gets the “Sakura” treatment as seen in Naruto. When Kenshin’s world becomes more dangerous, Kaoru is quickly reduced from a physically and emotionally strong sword fighter, to a pining, lovelorn, damsel in distress. Fortunately, the show has several other very strong female characters, including physician Megumi, warrior Misao, and other fighters, all of whom remain fierce, strong, and focused as the danger escalates. Ironically, this makes the treatment of Kaoru, all the more disappointing, especially since her day job is literally teaching sword fighting.
Rurouni Kenshin is a remake of the 1990’s anime of the same name which is based on the Rurouni Kenshin manga. There are also at least five live action Rurouni Kenshin films. Both the first and second season of the current series end with the start of a new adventure. This will leave viewers ready for more action, but each ending provides enough closure to avoid being an entirely frustrating cliff-hanger. Kenshin remains the center of the story as the pacifist hero fighting to keep the monster inside him under control. The combination of this unusual but likeable hero and the diverse array of characters, all in a historical setting makes the return of Rurouni Kenshin a surprisingly satisfying adventure.
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Nerd Coefficient: 7/10
Highlights:
- Likeable hero with a lot of internal struggles
- Diverse and entertaining allies, antiheroes, and villains
- Fantastical elements balanced with historical contexts
