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Rurouni 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 letter X 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.
There are four Rurouni Kenshin series (るろうに剣心 "Rurouni" means
"wanderer," so the series could be translated as "Kenshin the Wanderer"):
- The TV series, set during the early years of the
Meiji Era and telling of the early romance between Kenshin and Kaoru
- A movie (Rurouni Kenshin: Ishin Shishi no Requiem/Rurouni Kenshin:
Requiem for the Ishin Patriots), which used a large amount of material
from the TV series and re-told its story
- The first
OVA series (Rurouni Kenshin: Tsuiokuhen), set during the downfall of
the
Tokugawa shogunate and telling of Kenshin's childhood and young
adult life. Kenshin is the only character from the TV series to appear
in this OVA.
- The second
OVA series (Rurouni Kenshin: Seisouhen), set after the TV series and
telling of Kenshin and Kaoru's later years
Kenshin is the Battousai, 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.
The OVA series -- which feature a number of historical characters --
attempt to be more realistic and accurate than the TV series, which begins
as a romantic comedy but evolves into a period drama.
Characters
(names are being listed traditionally in surname given name fashion)
Himura Kenshin (Hitokiri
Battousai)
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 "Battousai". After the revolution, he
traded in his
katana for a reverse-bladed sword
sakabatou and assumed the life of a wanderer. He becomes a technical
master of the Hiten Mitsurugi fighting style after defeating his
master, but declines the official mastership.
Kamiya Kaoru
Japanese Seiyuu:
Miki Fujitani
English Voice Actor:
Dorothy Melendrez
Assistant master of the Kamiya Kasshin (her father's) fighting
style. She runs the
dojo and, after some initial scuffles, lets Kenshin stay as a guest.
Myoujin Yahiko
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. He was originally forced
to live as a thief for the local
Yakuza, but with the help of Kenshin and Kaoru, he becomes an
apprentice of the Kamiya Kasshin style.
Sagara Sanosuke (Zanza)
Japanese Seiyuu:
Yuji Ueda
English Voice Actor:
Lex Lang
The last of the Sekihou Tai, he initially bore a hatred for
all former Imperialists. He made a living as a fighter-for-hire who bore a
nickname based on the name of his favorite weapon, a
zanbatou until he was hired to kill Kenshin. After being defeated and
learning of Kenshin's no-kill approach, he becomes a valuable ally.
Saitou Hajime (Fujita Goro)
Japanese Seiyuu:
Hirotaka Suzuoki
English Voice Actor:
Sparky Thornton
A former member 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 has no compassion or mercy for anyone. He lives
by the Shinsen Gumi code "Aku Soku Zan"("Slay Evil Swiftly"). Anyone he
considers to be evil is a target for elimination. Considers Sanosuke to be
a child with mild potential. Saitou Hajime was an actual historic figure
of this era, and a number of details presented on his character are based
on fact.
Shishio Makoto
Japanese Seiyuu:
Masanori Ikeda
English Voice Actor:
David Lucas
The successor to Kenshin after he became a wanderer. Shishio was burned
alive by the Meiji government, but survived. Afterwards, he swore revenge
and assembled a group of the best swordsmen in Japan, called the
Juppongatana (10 swords), to overthrow the new government, but Kenshin,
Saitou, Sanosuke, Kaoru, Yahiko and the Oniwabanshu rallied against his
plan.
Theme Songs
- Opening
- "Sobakasu" (Freckles) by
Judy & Mary
- "½" by
Kawamoto Makoto
- "Kimi ni Fureru Dake de" (Just Touched By You) by
Curio
- Only Opening 1 is used in the Cartoon Network version.
- Ending
- "Tactics" by
The Yellow Monkey
- "Namida wa Shitte iru" (Tears Know) by
Suzukaze Mayo
- "Yoake Mae" (Heart of Sword) by
T.M. Revolution
- "Fourth Avenue Cafe" by
L'Arc~En~Ciel
- "It's Gonna Rain" by
Bonnie PInk
- "1/3 no Junjou na Kanjou" (1/3 True Feelings) by
Siam Shade
- "Dame!" (No!) by
Izumi You
- Only Ending 3 is used in the Cartoon Network version.
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