126-562: Sagara Sanosuke ( 相楽 左之助 ) is a fictional character from the Rurouni Kenshin manga and anime series created by Nobuhiro Watsuki . In the English anime adaptations he is known as Sanosuke Sagara and nicknamed Sano . Watsuki, being a fan of the Shinsengumi , created Sanosuke by basing his name and characteristics on that of a real Shinsengumi member named Harada Sanosuke . Set during
252-497: A chanbara manga since Weekly Shōnen Jump had not published a title from that genre. However, during his years of college, Kishimoto started reading Hiroaki Samura 's Blade of the Immortal and Rurouni Kenshin , which used the said genre. Kishimoto recalls having never been surprised by manga ever since reading Akira and finding that he was still not able to compete against them. Hideaki Sorachi cited Rurouni Kenshin as
378-701: A "side story." The design model for Hiko Seijuro, Kenshin's master, in Rurouni Kenshin is the character of the same name from his one-shot manga "Crescent Moon of the Warring States," but Watsuki also added some influences from Hiken Majin Hajerun in Takeshi Obata 's Arabian Lamp-Lamp . At the time, Watsuki said that he was fascinated by images of "manliness" and that Hiko was one of the first characters to reflect this fascination. Since Watsuki's debut work contained
504-405: A "video-game icon", and noted how he is portrayed as a "tragic figure". Sanosuke has been popular with the Rurouni Kenshin reader base, placing second in every popularity poll. Merchandise based on Sanosuke has also been released, including key chains , and plush dolls. Sanosuke was one of the last major figures of the series to be created. Watsuki created him to be Kenshin's best friend, who
630-620: A contemporary setting. An editor approached Watsuki and asked him to make a new historical story. With the historical concept, Watsuki intended to use the Bakumatsu period from Moeyo Ken ( Burn, O Sword ) with a story akin to Sanshiro Sugata . Watsuki experimented with various titles, including Nishin ( Two-Hearts ) Kenshin , Yorozuya ( Jack-of-All-Trades ) Kenshin , and variations of "Rurouni" and "Kenshin" with different kanji in that order. The second Rurouni story, published in April 1993 in
756-534: A darker tone as most of the characters believed Kaoru was killed by Yukishiro Enishi , which made Kenshin question his own way of living and escape to a village of wanderers. Watsuki did not enjoy the angst in Kenshin, so his friend Myōjin Yahiko took over as the series' protagonist until Kenshin recovered. Even though the plot for the "remembrance episodes" of Kenshin's past was already set before serialization started, which
882-625: A different younger Gein. Both are Ishin members of Enishi's team in the Jinchu/Tenchu (Judgment of Earth/Heaven) portions of the Enishi saga in the main plot manga series. There have been five Rurouni Kenshin video games released for the PlayStation series of consoles. The first, Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan: Ishin Gekitōhen ( るろうに剣心 -明治剣客浪漫譚- 維新激闘編 ) , was released on November 29, 1996. It
1008-507: A female audience; Surat stated that in such series, character designs are "pretty" for female audiences but not too "girly" for male audiences. Surat cited Shinomori Aoshi and Seta Sōjirō , characters who ranked highly in popularity polls even though, in Surat's view, Aoshi does not engage in "meaningful" battles and Sōjirō is a "kid". Surat explained that Aoshi appears "like a Clamp character wearing Gambit 's coat and Sōjirō always smiles despite
1134-662: A fictional version of Japan in the pre- Meiji period , Sanosuke is a former member of the Sekihō Army . When the group is destroyed by the Meiji Government , he becomes a fighter-for-hire to calm his anger by fighting. During his introduction in the series, he encounters the wanderer Himura Kenshin , who easily defeats him and is able to convince him to stop his mercenary work and instead start protecting people. After that encounter, Sanosuke becomes Kenshin's best friend as well as his partner in most of their fights. Sanosuke appears in
1260-414: A former assassin of the Bakumatsu , known as Hitokiri Battosai. After his work against the bakufu , he becomes Himura Kenshin , a wandering swordsman who protects the people of Japan with a vow never to take another life. Watsuki wrote the series based on his desire to make a shōnen manga different from others being published at the time, with Kenshin being a former assassin and the story taking
1386-478: A hard task by Watsuki. Due to problems with the characterization of Sagara Sōzō , Watsuki decided to illustrate Saitō Hajime in his own style, avoiding the historical figure. He felt very good about Saitō's character, having noted that he fit very well in the manga. However, Watsuki mentioned that many Japanese fans of the Shinsengumi complained about the personality of Saitō, as he was made sadistic. Additionally,
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#17329521798321512-587: A heroic reason which is assisting Kenshin. SciFi.com commended him for being a good source of comic relief and described his appearance as a video-game icon. However, they commented he was a "tragic figure whose goofy peccadilloes have solid reasons behind them" due to being unable to avoid the destruction of the Sekihotai army and feeling guilty due to it. Mania Entertainment praised Sanosuke's character development and transformation from an enemy of Kenshin into one of his most stalwart friends. Chris Beveridge appreciated
1638-672: A lot of Rurouni Kenshin merchandise released for the Japanese market. He recommended that buyers consider quality before paying for merchandise items and that they consult their wallets and buy stuff that they feel is "worth it". Watsuki added that he liked the prototype for a stuffed Kenshin doll for the UFO catcher devices. Rurouni Kenshin has been highly popular, having sold over 55 million copies in Japan alone up until February 2012, making it one of Shueisha's top ten best-selling manga series. In 2014, it
1764-428: A major source of inspiration for his manga series, Gintama . He also said numerous other historical manga were influenced by Rurouni Kenshin , stating that the "reason why historical stories are being dealt with in all sorts of manga and game media today, and why they are being supported by the younger generation, is undoubtedly because of " Ruroken " and that they "are all children of the " Ruroken " bloodline." For
1890-707: A more serious tone as it progressed. The manga was serialized in Shueisha 's Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine from April 1994 to September 1999. The complete series originally consisted of 28 tankōbon volumes, and was later republished in 22 kanzenban volumes. It was adapted into an anime television series by Studio Gallop , Studio Deen , and SPE Visual Works , which aired from January 1996 to September 1998. In addition to an animated feature film, Rurouni Kenshin: The Motion Picture , two series of original video animations (OVAs) were also produced; Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal , which adapted stories from
2016-466: A prequel to the first anime television series, was released in 1999. A two-episode OVA titled Rurouni Kenshin: Reflection , which served as a sequel to the first anime television series, was released from 2001 to 2002. A two-episode OVA, Rurouni Kenshin: New Kyoto Arc , which remade the series' Kyoto arc, was released from 2011 to 2012. Five live-action films have been released theatrically. The live-action film adaptation of Rurouni Kenshin
2142-511: A prologue to Rurouni Kenshin: The Hokkaido Arc , which began in September 2017 as a sequel to the original manga series. In 2021, Watsuki created the manga "Sakabatō Shogeki" ( 逆刃刀 初撃 , "Reverse-Blade Katana: First Bout") that was exclusively shown at an exhibition celebrating the 25th anniversary of Rurouni Kenshin . It serves as an epilogue to chapter 81 of the original manga and shows the first time Kenshin used his sakabatō. Rurouni Kenshin
2268-562: A prologue to Restoration and included in its first volume. In 2014, Watsuki wrote a two-chapter spin-off titled Rurouni Kenshin: Master of Flame for Jump SQ. , which tells how Shishio met Yumi and formed the Juppongatana. Watsuki and his wife, Kaworu Kurosaki, collaborated on a two-chapter spin-off titled Rurouni Kenshin Side Story: The Ex-Con Ashitaro for the ninth anniversary of Jump SQ. in 2016. It acts as
2394-523: A sad expression on her face. As an "outlet" for Watsuki's kendo emotions, Yahiko "knows a pain that hero-types like Himura Kenshin and Sagara Sanosuke can never know". As a result, Yahiko was made a stronger character little by little to relate to the demography. eventually giving him a stronger characterization during the Kyoto arc, which surprised his readers. When questioned about the series' theme being Kenshin's self-redemption, Watsuki mentioned that when he
2520-404: A sequel was the handling of Yahiko as a teenager. Watsuki had redesigned his appearance. He wanted Yahiko to impress manga readers so that he could be the protagonist of a possible series sequel. He said this goal influenced his design of Yahiko with Kenshin's physical appearance as well as Sanosuke's personality. He added Sanosuke's kanji for "evil" ( 惡 , aku ) to the back of his clothes and
2646-544: A superior enemy if he had kept back his original killer persona. Critics expressed mixed opinions in regards to the final arc. Zac Bertschy from Anime News Network (ANN) praised the story from the manga but noted that by volume 18 of the series, Watsuki started to repeat the same type of villains who were united to kill Kenshin, similar to Trigun . Although he praised Watsuki's characters, he commented that some of them needed some consistency due to various "bizarre" antagonists. Due to Kaoru, Kenshin, and Sanosuke missing from
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#17329521798322772-558: A tall, black-haired man in "showy" armor, he wanted to make a character "completely opposite" to the debut character; the new character ended up "coming out like a girl". According to Watsuki, he used "no real motif" when creating Kenshin and placed a cross-shaped scar on his face "not knowing what else to do". Like several characters, Kenshin was influenced by the Shinsengumi, with Kenshin being affected by Okita Sōji and Saitō Hajime in order to give him an air of mystery. During his childhood, Watsuki used to practice kendo, which influenced
2898-550: A tax paper stating they were out of business, which ended up resulting in the company losing a majority of their titles, most notably Rurouni Kenshin , Berserk , and Bakuman . In January 2015, the company signed a deal with MB VoiceWorks to help produce English dubs for its anime titles in-house. Despite the closure of MB VoiceWorks in May 2016, Media Blasters would still continue to produce its English dubs in-house and that MB VoiceWorks co-founder Brittany Lauda would continue to lead
3024-608: A tie-in to the live-action film. The series began in the June 2012 issue of Jump Square , which was released on May 2, 2012, and ended in the July 2013 issue on June 4, 2013. The reboot depicts the battles that were featured in the first live-action film. Another special, titled Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story: Chapter 0 , was published in Weekly Shōnen Jump in August 2012 as
3150-472: A village to hide along with his missing father. Four years later, Kenshin has married Kaoru and has a son named Himura Kenji . Now at peace with himself, Kenshin gives his reverse-blade sword to Yahiko as a ceremonial gift . A prototype series titled Rurouni: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story appeared as a pair of separate short stories published in 1992 and 1993. The first story, published in December 1992 in
3276-410: A weak point. Watsuki commented that his artistic skills were honed with this arc, as he could draw everything he wanted to. The last arc from the manga was meant to be much shorter, but it turned out to be a fairly long one as he could not present it simplistically. Watsuki originally made this arc prior to the series' start, having already thought about how Kenshin's scar would have been made. Because of
3402-456: A young Oniwabanshū named Makimachi Misao , whom he meets during his travels, decide to help him in his fight. After his first meeting with him, Kenshin realizes that he must become stronger to defeat Shishio without becoming the cold assassin he was in the past and returns to the man who taught him kenjutsu , Hiko Seijūrō , to learn the school's final technique. Finally accepting the help of his friends, he defeats Shishio, who dies after exceeding
3528-872: Is an American entertainment company that was founded by John Sirabella in 1997 and is based in New York City . It is in the business of licensing, translating, and releasing to the North American market manga and anime compilations, Asian films and television series, adult anime , monster movies, concert films, independent films, horror films, and exploitation films. Over its history, the company has licensed several popular titles, such as Rurouni Kenshin , Berserk , Bakuman , Shamanic Princess , Weiß Kreuz , Jubei-chan: The Ninja Girl , Chu-Bra!! , Grenadier , Holy Knight , Elf Princess Rane , Voogie's Angel , Iron Virgin Jun , Ultimate Girls and Blade of
3654-427: Is power, which is mostly seen by Sagara Sanosuke and Myojin Yahiko. However, like Megumi, these two characters are also influenced by the main character, as they wish to become stronger to assist Kenshin across the plot. Additionally, the series discourages revenge, as seen in the final arc when Yukishiro Enishi believes he succeeded in getting his revenge on Kenshin but starts having hallucinations of his late sister with
3780-571: Is returning to Japan to be reunited with them. In the Rurouni Kenshin: The Motion Picture , Sanosuke helps to stop the samurai Takimi Shigure from overthrowing the Meiji Government as an act of revenge. In the original video animations of the series, he is given a more humanized design and a more emotional personality. In the non-canon Rurouni Kenshin: Reflection , an older Sanosuke discovers Kenshin gravely injured when he
3906-576: Is reunited with his family in the Shinano Province (Shinshū). Years prior to the start of the series, Sanosuke left the family at the age of 9 to join the Sekihō Army. Although he does not reveal his identity to his family, upon learning of their poor situation Sanosuke attacks a former Ishin Shishi who was mistreating them and the town. During these fights, Sanosuke's right hand is permanently damaged from
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4032-451: Is the true Hitokiri Battōsai , Kaoru offers him a place to stay at her dojo , noting that he is peace-loving and not cold-hearted, as his reputation had implied. Kenshin accepts and begins to form lifelong relationships with others, including Sagara Sanosuke , a former member of the Sekihō Army ; Myōjin Yahiko , an orphan from a samurai family who also lives with Kaoru as her student; and doctor Takani Megumi , who has become involved in
4158-604: Is traveling in Asia and sends Kenshin back to Tokyo by himself, contradicting his character development by his creator, Watsuki. Sanosuke is also a playable character in almost all the Rurouni Kenshin video games except Jump Super Stars and Jump Ultimate Stars , in which he isn't playable but is available as a Battle koma. In Rurouni Kenshin: Restoration , Sanosuke is hired by Takeda Kanryu to kill Kenshin but he only wishes to fight Kenshin. After losing to Kenshin, Sanosuke agrees to help him with taking care of Kaoru's dojo. In
4284-435: Is willing to punch him when he is sad to make him "wake up" from his sadness. Although Sanosuke is a main character in the series, Watsuki felt that he could not write everything he wanted about him, and thought that making him the title character of a series would prove interesting. The character is based on Shinsengumi member Harada Sanosuke . Watsuki describes Sanosuke's visual motif by referring to his design model, Lamp,
4410-499: The shōjo manga he read. Through the series' development, Watsuki was deciding if Kamiya Kaoru 's character was going to die before the end. However, he later decided to keep Kaoru alive as he came to the conclusion that he wanted a happy ending and that the manga was aimed at young readers. In The Oxford Handbook of American Folklore and Folklife Studies , Kenshin is regarded as a "far cry" from American superheroes due to his androgynous look and self-deprecating personality. However,
4536-501: The PlayStation , PlayStation 2 , and PlayStation Portable . Several art and guidebooks have been published, and writer Kaoru Shizuka has written three official light novels , which were published by Shueisha. The manga, as well as the first light novel and guidebook, have received a complete North American release by Viz Media , being subtitled " Wandering Samurai " in some English versions. The Rurouni Kenshin manga has over 72 million copies in circulation as of 2019, making it one of
4662-457: The Rurouni Kenshin manga were released. They feature different voice actors than those that later worked on the anime adaptation. In Volume 5 of the manga, Watsuki stated that he was anticipating the third installment, which would adapt the Udō Jin-e arc. He expected it to be "pretty close" to his original, but with additional lines for Sanosuke and Yahiko. Watsuki commented that there had been
4788-661: The Rurouni Kenshin manga were released; the first one, Rurouni Kenshin Profiles ( 原典 ) , was released first in Japan on July 4, 1996, by Shueisha and in the United States by Viz Media on November 1, 2005. Kenshin Kaden ( 剣心華伝 ) , released on December 15, 1999, includes the story Haru no Sakura ( 春の桜 , lit. "Cherry Blossoms in Spring") , which details the fates of all of the Rurouni Kenshin characters. The story takes place years after
4914-519: The Weekly Shōnen Jump 21–22 double issue of that year, featured Kenshin helping a wealthy girl named Raikōji Chizuru. Watsuki recalled experiencing difficulty when condensing "everything" into 31 pages for that story. He said that he "put all [his] soul into it," but sighs when looking at it from his perspective after the publication of the first Rurouni Kenshin volume. Watsuki said that the second Rurouni: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story received mediocre reviews and about 200 letters. He referred to it as
5040-597: The Weekly Shōnen Jump Winter Special issue of 1993, featured an earlier version of Kenshin stopping a crime lord from taking over the Kamiya family dojo. Watsuki described the first Rurouni story, echoing the "Megumi Arc," as a "pilot" for Rurouni Kenshin . According to Watsuki, the final Rurouni Kenshin series was not composed entirely of his free will. Describing the creation of historical stories as "hard," Watsuki initially wanted to make his next series in
5166-463: The Zatoichi franchise. Another division, Shriek Show, was founded in 2001 to focus on re-mastering horror titles for DVD release. In 2004, Media Blasters began publishing manga . The company first published shōnen manga titles for older readers, and later on it increased its yaoi manga line. At the height of its success, they released around five titles a month and had about 50 employees, but as
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5292-638: The best-selling manga series of all time. The series has received praise from various publications for manga, anime, and other media, particularly for the characters' designs and historical setting. The series takes place in 1878, eleven years after the beginning of the Meiji era . After participating in the Boshin War as the assassin Hitokiri Battōsai , Himura Kenshin wanders the countryside of Japan, offering protection and aid to those in need as atonement for
5418-616: The opium trade. However, he also deals with old and new enemies, including the former leader of the Oniwabanshū , Shinomori Aoshi . After several months living in the dojo, Kenshin faces Saitō Hajime , a rival from Bakumatsu who is now a police officer. This challenge turns out to be a test to face his successor, Shishio Makoto , who plans to conquer Japan by destroying the Meiji Government, starting with Kyoto . Feeling that Shishio's faction may attack his friends, Kenshin meets Shishio alone to defeat him. However, many of his friends, including
5544-497: The proximal phalanx , breaks the target before it recovers from the force of the first blow. Using his mastery from this art with his right hand allows him to defeat the third most powerful opponent in Shishio's army : Anji. Months later, in an act of revenge on Kenshin, Yukishiro Enishi fakes Kamiya Kaoru 's death. Kenshin loses the will to live and when Sanosuke is unable to reach him, he wanders away from Tokyo. In his wandering, he
5670-492: The "new style" being the "decidedly more realistic look" exhibited in all of the Samurai X original video animations. Sanosuke's role in the live-action films has also been the subject of commentary by writers. Munetaka Aoki 's acting was praised by Ko Ransom from Anime News Network, finding it faithful to the original character. Nick Creamer from the same site also noted how in the first live-action film, Sanosuke's characterization
5796-462: The 2005 and 2006 Nintendo DS games Jump Super Stars and Jump Ultimate Stars as the sole battle character representing his series, while others are support characters and help characters. Kenshin and Shishio appeared as playable characters in the 2014 PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita game J-Stars Victory VS and in the 2019 game Jump Force for Windows , PlayStation 4 , and Xbox One . Several drama CDs that adapt stories from
5922-454: The CD books, respectively, did not get their corresponding roles in the anime disappointed Watsuki. Ueda, Sanosuke's voice actor in the Japanese anime, commented that voicing Sanosuke in the original video animations was very complicated because his character was notably older and he has not acted in the role for a long period. He also said that he would have liked to see more fights involving Sanosuke in
6048-411: The Immortal . Before Media Blasters was founded, John Sirabella had previously founded Software Sculptors in 1992. After it was purchased by Central Park Media , Sirabella decided to leave and found Media Blasters in 1997 in New York City , New York . The company is divided into several divisions that target different aspects of the video market. They license titles for release and are involved in
6174-621: The Kyoto arc of the manga. In April 2019, it was announced that two new live-action films would adapt the Remembrance/Tenchu and Jinchu arcs; the films, titled Rurouni Kenshin: The Final and Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning , premiered in 2021. In 2016, the Takarazuka Revue performed a musical adaptation of the manga called Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story . The show ran from February to March and starred Seina Sagiri as Kenshin and Miyu Sakihi as Kaoru. The musical
6300-484: The PlayStation The Best lineup on November 5, 1998. The game is a role-playing video game with an original story unrelated to either the manga or anime. Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan: Enjō! Kyōto Rinne ( るろうに剣心 -明治剣客浪漫譚- 炎上!京都輪廻 ) is the only video game for the PlayStation 2 console. Its Japanese release was slated for September 13, 2006. The game has sold over 130,000 copies in Japan. The game
6426-478: The Secretary of State took action. They also said that, at the time of posting, they had completed their filings properly and that they will continue to release titles. In March 2013, the company released a statement saying that, because a major back accident occurred in their warehouse, they were unable to travel to Japan to acquire licenses. This resulted in business associates of the company going around Japan showing
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#17329521798326552-421: The abuse inflicted upon him. Surat said that the character designs for the anime television series were "toughened up a bit". He added that the budget for animation and music was "top-notch" because Sony produced the budget. Watsuki's writing involving romance and Kenshin's psychological hidden weakpoints also earned positive responses from other sites, with AnimeNation also comparing it to Clamp's X based on
6678-420: The actual ordering of Japanese names , with the family name or surname before the given name, within the series to reduce confusion and because Rurouni Kenshin is a historical series. An anime television series adaptation of Rurouni Kenshin , produced by SPE Visual Works and Fuji TV , animated by Studio Gallop (episodes 1–66) and Studio Deen (episodes 67–95), and directed by Kazuhiro Furuhashi ,
6804-458: The adult label. The Tokyo Shock division covers live action movies and television series from Japan and other Asian markets, such as several notable films from Toho Co. Ltd and Shaw Brothers (HK) Ltd. The Shriek Show division handled distribution of obscure horror and exploitation films. This division and the Fresh Meat line were discontinued in 2013. The Fresh Meat line was a part of
6930-637: The anime. Others are adaptations of manga and anime stories. The very first novel, Rurouni Kenshin: Voyage to the Moon World , which was published in Japan on October 10, 1996, and in North America on October 17, 2006, details another adventure involving the return of Tales of the Meiji Season 3's Beni-Aoi Arc characters like Kaishu Katsu and the Kamiya Dojo's third pupil, Daigoro. The second, Yahiko's Battle ,
7056-504: The back of Sanosuke's jacket in the original series, but on the kanzenban redesign, the tattoo is located inside his clothes. Unlike in the manga where Sanosuke uses an oversized zanbatō as a weapon, Watsuki gave him a more historically authentic zanbatō; a sword notably thinner and longer in design. He also gave him an armor-like cloth to make him look more as a warrior. The fact that the CD book voice actors, especially Tomokazu Seki and Megumi Ogata , who portrayed Sanosuke and Kenshin in
7182-461: The book Bringing Forth a World: Engaged Pedagogy in the Japanese University , the manga reflects the confusion of Japanese society after the big economy disenchantment in the early 1990s. It confronts visualizations of Japanese education in a manner that contrasts school books, especially because of the series' young demography. Since the manga focuses on realism but is aimed at young readers,
7308-483: The character is said to be relatable to the Eastern audience through Kenshin's quest for redemption, which is called the main theme of the manga. The manga is further noted to have a balance between individualism and community. Watsuki said he was an "infatuated" type of person rather than a "passionate" kind of person; therefore, Rurouni Kenshin is a "Meiji Swordsman Story" as opposed to a "Meiji Love Story". According to
7434-422: The character was " cliché ", Watsuki felt that Kenji had to appear. An elder Sanosuke was drafted by Watsuki to appear in the manga's finale, but this idea was scrapped. In the manga's final story arc, the design was used for Sanosuke's father, Higashidani Kamishimoemon. The author added that he felt attachment towards Enishi and that he would someday like to use Enishi in a future work. Another idea explored for
7560-537: The character was smarter than he would have liked in the first few episodes, so Cheng tried slowly to change the character's dialogue to make Sanosuke seem less intelligent so he would be more similar to the equivalent in the Japanese version of the series. Born February 1860 in Nagano , Sanosuke is a former member of the Sekihō Army . Having admired his captain Sagara Sōzō , he takes the family name Sagara from him. But when
7686-469: The city. The destruction of the Sekihō Army and the loss of all his friends has caused Sanosuke to hate the Meiji Government and he wears the Japanese kanji for "evil" on the back of his jacket. He bears this symbol as a mark of his loyalty towards his past in the Sekihō Army. Sanosuke uses an enormous zanbatō in battle, giving him the moniker Zanza ( 斬左 ) . The blade has no edge and Sanosuke only uses it to smash and crush his opponents. In his introduction in
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#17329521798327812-481: The dark style of the Kyoto arc, Watsuki created the comical Mikimachi Misao in order to contrast Kenshin's serious side. Being fascinated by the Shinsengumi , Watsuki designed the characters by basing their characteristics on those of the real Shinsengumi members and also using fictional representations of them and other historical characters from the Bakumatsu period of Japan. The historical characters were considered
7938-491: The development of the series. He planned to finish the story in approximately 30 chapters, ending with Kenshin's departure from Tokyo similarly to the one from volume 7. Kenshin's enemies would have been people from Kyoto who would send an assassin to kill Kenshin. When the Oniwabanshū were introduced during the serialization, Watsuki noted that the series could be longer as he had created various main characters. At that time, there
8064-495: The director and the script writer of the play. In 2020, a stage musical adaptation of the manga's Kyoto arc was scheduled to be held from November to December 2020 at IHI Stage Around Tokyo. Starring Teppei Koike as Himura Kenshin and Mario Kuroba as the antagonist Makoto Shishio, Shūichirō Koike returned as director and script writer of the play. This stage musical was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic . Two encyclopedias of
8190-615: The dubbing department and direct dubs for the company. In August 2020, the company created a new Twitter account to promote their new releases. The company also teased that many new releases would be coming in the future. In November 2020, the company announced that they will stop using their DVD-on-demand system. In January 2021, the company introduced a new opening animation. Their titles are streamed on Crunchyroll , Tubi , Amazon Prime Video , RetroCrush , and Midnight Pulp . Some of their titles were available on Hulu , but they have been removed. On December 31, 2015,
8316-510: The editorial staff at the end of the series, his editor, Hisashi Sasaki, understood his intentions, saw that he was at his physical limit, and backed him up. He said it was out of respect and appreciation for the readers that he ended the popular series while it was still popular. Nevertheless, Watsuki was happy with how he ended Rurouni Kenshin . He felt it was a good place to end the narrative. In contrast, most series keep being pushed and pushed until they lose popularity and are cancelled. Watsuki
8442-421: The event, Oda told Watsuki that Rurouni Kenshin is popular due to his loyalty to his fans. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba ' s protagonist, Tanjiro Kamado , was influenced by Kenshin's design, as the author combined the character's androgynous design with a scar similar to Kenshin's in order to balance it properly for the audience. Media Blasters Media Blasters , sometimes abbreviated as MB ,
8568-420: The featured films of the series and in other media relating to the Rurouni Kenshin franchise, including a plethora of electronic games and original video animations (OVAs). Numerous anime and manga publications have commented on Sanosuke's character. Mania Entertainment praised his character development, noting that he becomes more trustworthy and reliable as the series progresses. SciFi.com referred to him as
8694-503: The fight scenes from Restoration due to how Sanosuke is presented stronger than in the original manga, making his duel with Kenshin more enjoyable. In the Samurai X: Reflection original video animation, Mike Crandol of Anime News Network referred to Sanosuke's revised design as "pretty awkward" since Crandol felt Sanosuke's original character design was "perhaps being too cartoonish to translate well into this new style," with
8820-484: The final arc during the Jinchu arc, Manga News described Aoshi as the star of the series' 24th volume due to how he explores the mysteries behind Enishi's revenge and his subsequent actions that made him stand out, most notably because he had been absent for multiple chapters. IGN reviewer A.E. Sparrow liked the manga's ending, praising how the storylines are resolved and how most of the supporting cast ends up. He also praised
8946-422: The final shot of Kenshin returning to Kaoru's dojo was inspired by the final shot of the Rurouni Kenshin anime's first opening theme, "Sobakasu", by Judy and Mary . In the final arc of the manga, Watsuki wanted to make the five comrades in this storyline as "scum-like" as possible. But because he created villains with no ideals or beliefs, it was difficult to portray them as an enjoyable read. The story took on
9072-470: The first release by Media Blasters as a whole, was Rei-Lan: Orchid Emblem . Media Blasters also publishes both hentai and yaoi manga under this imprint. It has also released several titles formerly released by Central Park Media 's Anime 18 imprint. In 2011, they entered a licensing partnership with Fakku to stream select titles, starting with Immoral Sisters . In 2017, they were acquired by Fakku for digital distribution, while physical distribution
9198-429: The first volume released on September 9, 1994, and the last on November 4, 1999. They re-released the series in a 22-volume kanzenban edition between July 4, 2006, and May 2, 2007. Shueisha published a 14-volume bunkoban edition between January 18 and July 18, 2012. A single-chapter follow-up to the series that follows the character of Yahiko Myōjin , Yahiko no Sakabato ( 弥彦の逆刃刀 , Yahiko's Sakabatō) ,
9324-476: The limits of his abnormal body condition, after which a reformed Shinomori stays in Kyoto with the surviving Oniwabanshū. When Kenshin and his friends return to Tokyo, he finds Yukishiro Enishi , who plans to take revenge. At this point, it is revealed that, during the Bakumatsu, Kenshin was to be married to Yukishiro Tomoe , who sought to avenge the death of her first fiancé, whom he had assassinated, but instead they fell in love and he proposed to her. Because she
9450-603: The live-action film series adapting Rurouni Kenshin , Sanosuke is portrayed by Munetaka Aoki . Among the Rurouni Kenshin reader base Sanosuke has been popular, having ranked second in every Shonen Jump popularity poll of the series and also ranked fifth in the "Kenshin's Biggest Rival" poll featuring all of Kenshin's opponents. Merchandise based on Sanosuke has been released, including sweat bands, keychains, and plush dolls. Several anime and manga publications have provided both praise and criticism of Sanosuke's character. Anime News Network said that Sanosuke's first fight in
9576-466: The main character of Susumu Sendo and Takeshi Obata 's Mashin Bōken Tan Lamp-Lamp . Watsuki, working as an assistant on Obata's manga, formed the character by doodling in sketchbooks, adding and subtracting elements from the proposed character "with blessings from the original artist, of course." An elder Sanosuke was drafted by Watsuki to appear in the manga's finale but this idea was scrapped. In
9702-513: The making of the series. Although Watsuki developed various one-shots before the official serialization of the series, while naming the characters, he based some of their names on places he used to live, such as Makimachi Misaos's "Makimachi" and Sanjō Tsubame, who are named after places in Niigata. When the manga series started to be published in Weekly Shōnen Jump , Watsuki had little hope in
9828-615: The manga that were not featured in the anime, and Rurouni Kenshin: Reflection , a sequel to the manga. In 2017, Watsuki began publishing a direct sequel, Rurouni Kenshin: The Hokkaido Arc , in Jump Square . A second anime television series adaptation by Liden Films premiered in July 2023. In addition, other media based on the franchise has been produced, including a series of five live-action theatrical film adaptations, beginning with Rurouni Kenshin in 2012 and ending with Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning in 2021, and video games for
9954-511: The manga's conclusion, when Kenshin and Kaoru have married and have a young son, Kenji. Many of the series' major characters who have befriended Kenshin reunite with him or otherwise reveal their current whereabouts at a spring picnic. For the anime, three Kenshin Soushi artbooks were published from 1997 to 1998. While the first two were based on the TV series, the third one was based on the film. The film one
10080-399: The manga's final story arc, the design was used for Sanosuke's father, Higashidani Kamishimoemon. In July 2006, the Japanese publishers of Rurouni Kenshin released the kanzenban edition. In the fifth kanzenban , Watsuki redesigned the character of Sanosuke in a draft version. To emphasize his hate of the Meiji Government, Watsuki drew the Japanese kanji for "evil" ( 惡 , aku ) on
10206-426: The manga, Sanosuke is hired to fight Kenshin, but after the former assassin defeats him, he learns of the truth of Kenshin's no-kill approach and becomes one of his allies. After Kenshin defeats him and breaks his zanbatō, Sanosuke decides to focus on unarmed combat . When the criminal Shishio Makoto tries to conquer Japan, Sanosuke helps Kenshin in the fight against him. While on his trip to Kyoto to aid him, Sanosuke
10332-603: The market decreased, so did the company. In January 2012, John Sirabella announced that the company would be laying off approximately 10 employees, reducing its workforce by about 60 percent. He stated that this will not affect their production rates. In May 2012, it was reported that the New York State Department of State listed them as an inactive company due to not filing their taxes properly. The company later stated on Facebook that they had filed extensions for 2009, 2010, and 2011, but without their notice
10458-565: The multiple elements of the series. In general, Mania found Watsuki's art appealing as well as its evolution across the twenty-eight volumes, as it made female characters more attractive while the male characters seemed simpler while retaining the early handsome looks. As a result of the series taking a darker tone in later story arcs with Kenshin facing new threats and at the same time his Battosai self, Kat Kan from Voice of Youth Advocates recommended it to older teens. Kan also found that anime viewers will also enjoy Watsuki's drawings due to
10584-516: The murders he once committed. Having vowed to never kill again, he now wields a reverse-bladed katana . Upon arriving in Tokyo , he meets a young woman named Kamiya Kaoru , who is fighting a murderer who claims to be the Hitokiri Battōsai and is tarnishing the name of the swordsmanship school that she teaches. Kenshin decides to help her and defeats the fake Battōsai . After discovering that Kenshin
10710-485: The original video animations, but was happy to see that Sanosuke had matured as a character. Lex Lang, the voice actor of Sanosuke in the English adaptation of the anime, commented that his first impression of Sanosuke was as a fight-driven character motivated by anger, but as the story continued Sanosuke became friendly and more likable. Because his voice is noticeably different from Ueda's, Lang tries to create his own interpretation of Sanosuke's character. Lang has noted that
10836-486: The overuse Futae no Kiwami . and overcomes this disability when he discovers using both hands in succession which lessens the impact to his damaged hand. After protecting his family, he returns to Tokyo to rescue Kaoru with his friends. After a successful rescue, Sanosuke leaves Japan and travels the world to avoid being arrested for attacking the Ishin Shishi. The manga ends with a letter from Sanosuke to his friends that he
10962-527: The people he killed during the Bakumatsu by aiding innocent people by wielding a non-lethal sword. Marco Olivier from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University said that the sakabatō symbolizes Kenshin's oath not to kill again, which has been found challenging by other warriors appearing in the series. This theme also encourages former drug dealer Takani Megumi to become a doctor upon learning of Kenshin's past and actions. Another theme
11088-482: The production, localizing, and distribution. The Anime Works division was created in 1997, and focuses on localization and distribution of anime titles, but has also licensed non-anime works such as Invader Zim . The adult label Kitty Media was also started in 1997 and features explicit hentai works. Created in 1998, Tokyo Shock is Media Blaster's Asian cinema division, which is responsible for American localization of works such as Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman of
11214-421: The revolutionary government encounters financial problems, it labels the Sekihō Army as frauds in order to "bury their promises". Sōzō is executed, leaving Sanosuke as one of the few survivors. Consumed with hatred for the Ishin Shishi, and guilt at not being able to protect his hero, Sanosuke becomes a fight merchant in Tokyo . Over the next ten years, he gains a reputation as one of the strongest hired fighters of
11340-426: The scene in episode 22 of the anime, in which Sanosuke is afraid of a train because he believes it is a demon, was the most enjoyable scene for him to record; he added "I recently saw it and had some big laughs." In producing the English dub version of the series, Media Blasters chose Lex Lang as Sanosuke's voice actor . When writing Sanosuke's dialogue, Clark Cheng, the writer of the English dub script, noted that
11466-676: The series 25th anniversary in January 2021, 15 manga authors sent congratulatory messages: three of Watsuki's former assistants, Eiichiro Oda ( One Piece ), Hiroyuki Takei ( Shaman King ), and Shinya Suzuki ( Mr. Fullswing ); Nobuyuki Anzai ( Flame of Recca ); Riichiro Inagaki ( Eyeshield 21 ); Takeshi Obata ( Death Note ); Masashi Kishimoto ( Naruto ); Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro ( Toriko ); Hideaki Sorachi ( Gintama ); Yasuhiro Nightow ( Trigun ); Kazuhiro Fujita ( Ushio & Tora ); Yūsei Matsui ( Assassination Classroom ); and Kentaro Yabuki ( Black Cat ). In an interview for
11592-482: The series against Kenshin was stereotypical for an action series due to the differences between Sanosuke's and Kenshin's personalities, and to the music used in the anime that gives the impression that Kenshin would win. In the Critical Survey of Graphic Novels: Manga , multiple writers acknowledged how both Sanosuke and Yahiko spend their time in the series searching for ways to become stronger. However, they do it for
11718-594: The series is notable for changing the portrayals of samurais in order to create a more optimistic take in comparison to real-life events. The unique take on Kenshin's handling gave the manga the concept of "neo shonen" due to how different it was from previous Weekly Shonen Jump series. Written and illustrated by Nobuhiro Watsuki , Rurouni Kenshin was serialized in Shueisha 's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump from April 12, 1994, to September 21, 1999. The 255 individual chapters were collected and published in 28 tankōbon volumes by Shueisha , with
11844-448: The series' characters, remarking that Kenshin "belongs in any top ten of manga heroes." Otaku USA reviewer Daryl Surat said that the manga's quality was good until the "Revenge Arc", where he criticized the storyline and the new characters. Carlo Santos from the same site praised Enishi and Kenshin's final fight despite finding the ending predictable. While also liking their final showdown, Megan Lavey from Mania Entertainment felt that
11970-402: The spot. Watsuki also had ideas to create a "Hokkaido episode, a sequel," but wanted to start a new manga, so he ended Rurouni Kenshin with the last arc he made. Due to the dark nature of Kenshin's life, Watsuki ended the manga in the Jinchu arc, afraid that if he continued writing, the series would not fit the shōnen manga demography. In 2012, Watsuki revealed that when he clashed with
12096-469: The style by bringing more comical interactions with the protagonist. Although the site Manga News enjoyed Seta Sojiro's fight and how it connected with Shishio's past, they said the sixteenth manga's best part was Kenshin's fight against Shishio due to the buildup and symbolism the two characters have. The eventual climax led to further praise based on how menacing Shishio is shown in the battle against his predecessor, although he questioned if Kenshin had been
12222-486: The sword which also affected Kaoru, Yahiko's and Sanosuke's values upon their meetings. In doing so, Rurouni Kenshin laid" more than twenty years ago the foundation of a fresh paradigm of humanity based on tenderness and mutual acceptance as a counter-movement to the individualism, competition and efficiency that characterize the project of modernity". Before becoming an official manga author, Naruto ' s author, Masashi Kishimoto , decided that he should try creating
12348-541: The television network Toku was launched, replacing the Funimation Channel . It aired many anime and live action titles from the Media Blasters catalog, such as Juden Chan , Ladies versus Butlers! , and Rio: Rainbow Gate! They were the main anime provider for the network. Media Blasters later revealed Blu-ray releases of retro ecchi comedies such as Jungle De Ikou! in 2020. Eiken and Grenadier
12474-443: The thirteenth Weekly Shōnen Jump ' s greatest manga series of all time. On TV Asahi 's Manga Sōsenkyo 2021 poll, in which 150,000 people voted for their top 100 manga series, Rurouni Kenshin ranked 31st. The manga has received praise and criticism from various publications. Mania Entertainment writer Megan Lavey found that the manga had a good balance between character development, comedy, and action scenes. Watsuki's artwork
12600-463: The twist that happens shortly after the battle is over serves to show Enishi's long-life trauma and, at the same time, Kenshin's compassion towards others. In Bringing Forth a World: Engaged Pedagogy in the Japanese University ' s seventh chapter, "The Renegotiation of Modernity", by media studies professor Maria Grajdian, Kenshin's heroic nature as a wanderer was compared to both Luke Skywalker and Harry Potter due to how he wishes to protect
12726-413: The way he illustrates battles. This is mostly noted in the "Kyoto arc", where Mania Entertainment writer Megan Lavey applauded the fight between Himura Kenshin and anti-hero Saito Hajime, which acts as the prologue of such a narrative. Mania remarks on the buildup Aoshi, Saito, and other characters bring to the story due to how they share similar goals in the same arc, with newcomer Misao helping to balance
12852-434: The weak people, seeing nothing wrong with such trait. This is heavily explored in the series when confronting the young Seta who had opposite values in terms how should the strong men act. This soft masculinity is exemplified as a result. There is also a balance between Kenshin's supernatural strength and small design, led a major impact in the audience due to how likable the protagonist is. His introduction marks his values with
12978-484: The week ending February 26, 2006. During the third quarter of 2003, Rurouni Kenshin ranked at the top of ICv2 's Top 50 Manga Properties. In the same poll from 2005, it was featured at the top once again based on sales from English volumes during 2004. In the Top Ten Manga Properties from 2006 from the same site, it ranked ninth. In November 2014, readers of Da Vinci magazine voted Rurouni Kenshin as
13104-428: Was a survey, and the series had become very popular. For its seventh volume, Watsuki's boss suggested to him that it was time to make a longer story arc, which resulted in the creation of the fights between Kenshin and Shishio Makoto. The arc was only meant to be serialized for one year, but it ended up being one year and a half long. This arc was also done to develop Kenshin's character, as he considered him not to have
13230-611: Was added on Tubi. Anime Works is the division used for the bulk of the company's anime titles. Some of the series released under this imprint include Magic Knight Rayearth , Rurouni Kenshin , The King of Braves GaoGaiGar , Berserk , and Blade of the Immortal . The imprint also produced two original series with Yasuomi Umetsu , those being Kite Liberator and Mezzo Forte . Kitty Media specializes in adult anime ( hentai ) and pornographic films. The division also specializes in films and anime series that contain scenes of rape and graphic sexuality. Its first release, and
13356-492: Was also published in English in Shonen Jump during 2006. Between January 29, 2008, and March 16, 2010, Viz re-released the manga in a nine-volume omnibus format called "Viz Big Edition", which collects three volumes in one. The ninth and final volume includes Yahiko no Sakabato and Cherry Blossoms in Spring . They released a similar "3-in-1 Edition" across nine volumes between January 3, 2017, and January 1, 2019. Viz uses
13482-549: Was announced on June 28, 2011. Produced by Warner Bros. , with actual film production done by Studio Swan, the films were directed by Keishi Ōtomo and starred Takeru Satoh (of Kamen Rider Den-O fame) as Kenshin, Munetaka Aoki as Sanosuke Sagara, and Emi Takei as Kaoru. The first film, titled Rurouni Kenshin , was released on August 25, 2012. In August 2013, it was announced that two sequels were being filmed simultaneously for release in 2014. Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno and Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends adapt
13608-971: Was broadcast on Fuji TV from January 1996 to September 1998. A second anime television series adaptation by Liden Films was announced at Jump Festa '22 in December 2021. The series' first season was broadcast from July to December 2023 on Fuji TV's Noitamina programming block. A second season, subtitled Kyoto Disturbance , premiered in October 2024. An anime film with an original story, titled Rurouni Kenshin: The Motion Picture ( るろうに剣心 -明治剣客浪漫譚- 維新志士への鎮魂歌 , Rurouni Kenshin: Ishin Shishi e no Chinkonka , lit. Rurouni Kenshin: Requiem for Isshin Patriots ) , also known as Rurouni Kenshin: Requiem for Patriots , originally released in North America as Samurai X: The Motion Picture , premiered in December 1997. A 4-episode original video animation (OVA), titled Rurouni Kenshin: Trust & Betrayal , which served as
13734-531: Was developed by Eighting and published by Banpresto . A 2D fighting game titled Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan: Saisen ( るろうに剣心 -明治剣客浪漫譚- 再閃 ) was released for the PlayStation Portable on March 10, 2011. On August 30, 2012, a sequel, Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan: Kansei ( るろうに剣心 -明治剣客浪漫譚- 完醒 ) , was released. Both games were developed by Natsume Co., Ltd. and published by Bandai Namco Games . Himura Kenshin also appears in
13860-400: Was developed by ZOOM Inc. and published by Sony Computer Entertainment . The game is a 3D fighting game with nine playable characters, with the plot being based on the first seven volumes of the manga. The second one, Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan: Jūyūshi Inbō Hen ( るろうに剣心 -明治剣客浪漫譚- 十勇士陰謀編 - The Ten Warrior Conspiracy ) , was released on December 18, 1997, and was re-released in
13986-460: Was glad Rurouni Kenshin did not end like this. For the series' ending, Watsuki conceived new designs with the potential for a sequel in the future. Initially, Watsuki had planned to make Kenshin's hair shorter before the end; however, he found this to be similar to the character Multi in To Heart . Additionally, Himura Kenji was introduced in the finale as the son of Kenshin and Kaoru; even though
14112-429: Was identical to the original series as he is initially an enemy to Kenshin but later becomes his friend. On the other hand, Creamer criticized Sanosuke's portrayal in the second film as he stated that he "tends to chew the scenery in his appearances" to the point he found him less realistic. For the liveaction film Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends , David West from Neo enjoyed Sanosuke's fight against Anji but felt it
14238-425: Was licensed for an English-language release in North America by Viz Media . The first volume of the series was released on October 7, 2003. Although the first volumes were published on an irregular basis, since volume 7, Viz has established a monthly basis due to good sales and consumer demands. Therefore, the following volumes were published until July 5, 2006, when the final volume was released. Yahiko no Sakabatō
14364-490: Was maintained by Media Blasters. In late 2020 however, CEO of Fakku Jacob Grady announced in the official forums of Fakku that they have indefinitely deprioritized video streaming of Kitty Media adult anime because of distribution and copyright issues, causing some titles to be removed from the site. As of January 2023, Kitty Media is no longer part of Fakku after its nearly six year, unsuccessful venture in legal adult anime video streaming, giving Media Blasters back full control of
14490-543: Was named Ishin Shishi no Requiem Art Book and was released along with the movie. Also released was the Rurouni-Art Book , which contained images from the OVAs. A guidebook from the kanzenban imprint of the series was published on June 4, 2007. The Rurouni Kenshin light novels were published by Shueisha's Jump J-Books line and co-written by Kaoru Shizuka. Most of them are original stories that were later adapted into
14616-409: Was originally published in Weekly Shōnen Jump in 2000 after the conclusion of the series. Left out of the original volumes, it was added as an extra to the final kanzenban release. In December 2011, Shueisha announced Watsuki would be putting his series, Embalming -The Another Tale of Frankenstein- , on hold to begin a "reboot" of Rurouni Kenshin , called Rurouni Kenshin: Restoration , as
14742-484: Was pleased that various readers recognized it. Although he suggested he was not going to make a sequel, he said the main characters would be Yahiko, Sanjō Tsubame , and Tsukayama Yutarō . Watsuki thought about writing a story in which Yahiko and Tsubame would have a son, Myōjin Shin'ya, who would become a skilled swordsman. The series' main theme is responsibility, as seen through Kenshin's actions, as he wants to atone for all
14868-537: Was related to the Edo guards who sought to kill Kenshin, they realized her deception and captured her to use as bait. In the final fight against the group's leader, Kenshin accidentally killed Tomoe after she took a blow meant for him. Seeking revenge for the death of his sister, Enishi kidnaps Kaoru and Kenshin and his friends set out to rescue her. A final battle between Kenshin and Enishi ensues, with Kenshin emerging victorious. Misao brings Tomoe's diary to Enishi, who keeps it in
14994-551: Was released on October 3, 1997. It retells various stories featured in the manga and anime series. The third novel, TV Anime Shimabara Arc , was published on February 4, 1999. A novel adaptation of Rurouni Kenshin Cinema-ban , titled Rurouni Kenshin -Ginmaku Sōshihen- ( るろうに剣心 ―銀幕草紙変― ) and written by Watsuki's wife Kaoru Kurosaki, which was released on September 4, 2012, is a Japanese light novel version of America's Restoration's New Kurogasa (Jin-E) Arc mangas featuring Banshin and
15120-578: Was reported that the series had 70 million tankōbon copies in circulation. By December 2019, the manga had over 72 million copies in circulation, including digital releases. Volume 27 of the manga ranked second in the Viz Bookscan Top Ten during June 2006, while volumes 21 and 20 ranked second and tenth, respectively, in the Top 10 Graphic Novels of Viz of 2005. Rurouni Kenshin volume 24 ranked 116th on USA Today ' s best-selling book list for
15246-423: Was said to have improved as the series continued, noting that characters also had reactions during fights. Steve Raiteri from Library Journal praised the series for its characters and battles. However, he noted that some fights were too violent, so he recommended the series to older teenagers as well as adults. Surat described the series as an example of a "neo-shōnen" series, where a shōnen series also appeals to
15372-449: Was three and a half years before her debut, Watsuki was filled with regrets about how he portrayed Yukishiro Tomoe for unspecified reasons. The final villains, the Sū-shin, had no personality models and were created simply to "fill out the numbers". As the story advanced towards Kenshin's final battle, Watsuki realized that the other characters would have no "glamour" and created the Sū-shin on
15498-546: Was too similar to his fight against the Christian priest from the first film. Rurouni Kenshin Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story ( Japanese : るろうに剣心 -明治剣客浪漫譚- , Hepburn : Rurōni Kenshin -Meiji Kenkaku Roman Tan- ) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Nobuhiro Watsuki . The story begins in 1878, the 11th year of the Meiji era in Japan, and follows
15624-478: Was trained in kenpo from a warrior monk named Yūkyūzan Anji . Anji taught Sanosuke a secret technique called Futae no Kiwami ( 二重の極み , lit. "Mastery of the Two Layers") . Futae no Kiwami is a special art in which the user performs two hits in quick succession with any part of his body. The first hit with the proximal interphalangeal joint neutralizes the hardness of the target, then the second blow, struck with
15750-556: Was written and directed by Shūichirō Koike. In 2018, a stage play adaptation was performed in the Shinbashi Enbujō theater in Tokyo and Shōchikuza theater in Osaka. Seina Sagiri returned to play Kenshin, while Moka Kamishiraishi played Kaoru. Kanō Sōzaburō, an original character introduced in the previous musical, made a return appearance, played by Mitsuru Matsuoka. Shūichirō Koike returned as
15876-401: Was young, he used to read shōjo manga and that it influenced his writing of Rurouni Kenshin . He added that he wanted to make the story different from other comics as he considers the main character, Kenshin, neither a good nor evil character. Since volume 7, Watsuki mentioned the series took on a more adult tone due to the various conflicts in the story, but commented it was influenced by
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