Rurouni Kenshin fanclub

[Kotowari]

(^^x) Introduction

Welcome to the Ruroken Kenshin fanclub. You are welcome to stay, that you are.
Although it is a story from the early '90s, Rurouni Kenshin can be considered a classic. Even now, many people still enjoy reading the anime or watching the anime.
If you like reading, watching, discussing the life of the wandering Samurai (Rurouni) Himura Kenshin and those that join his wanderings, be welcome.
This club is dedicated to the Rurouni Kenshin Anime/Manga/OVA/Movie/Author.

• Japanese Title: Rurouni Kenshin - Meiji Kenkaku Romantan
• English Title: Rurouni Kenshin - Wandering Samurai
• Other English Title: Samurai X

(ì í/) Story

During the Bakumatsu in which the Imperialists (Ishin Shishi) tried to defeat the Shogunate, Japan was at war. In Kyoto there was a hitokiri (manslayer/assasssin) who was feared by all. Even the Shinsengumi feared him. This man, with red hair and a cross-shaped scar on his left cheek, moved like the wind. As a man who lived in the shadows, he killed many people that opposed the revolution.
But in 1868, after the battle of Toba Fushimi, this man, who had earned the name of Battousai (master of unsheathing the sword), completely vanished.

Ten years later (1878/Meiji year 11). The Bakumatsu has been won by the imperialists, and the Meiji gouvernement has been astablished. Swords are forbidden to wear openly.
The morning mist is just clearing up on the streats of downtown Tokyo. A lonely wanderer walks the streets, lost in his thoughts. He is suddenly awakened when a girl yells: "There you are, Hitokiri Battousai!"

The man introduces himself as Himura Kenshin. Even though the swords on his waist is a Sakabato (reversed katana) is unstained by blood, the girl, Kamiya Kaoru, is still suspicious.
And with good reason. Himura Kenshin is actually the Hitokiri Battousai, or rather was.
After leaving the Ishin Shishi, Kenshin has been wandering Japan for 10 years, trying to save the weak, to atone for the crimes he commited during the Bakumatsu.
His Sakabatou is the embodiment of his oath: To never kill again...

Kenshin and Kaoru's meeting is the beginning of a long story... They meet many interesting people that they either befriend, like Sanosuke Sagara and Yahiko Myojin, or that still want to see Kenshin rather dead than alive...
Although Kenshin wants to become at peace with himself and his past, he is not able to do so, for the scar on his face refuses to fade away and the ghosts of his past are haunting him...

\(' 'x) Manga

The story originally began as a manga in September 1994. The author, Nabuhiro Watsuki, finished the story in 1999. The complete series consists of 28 volumes (more than 250 chapters), a few short stories, such as the short story of "Yahiko's Sakabatou" that takes place 5 years after the ending of the manga.

There are two Guidebooks, the Rurouni Kenshin Hiden (which covers te first half of the manga) and the Rurouni Kenshin Kaden (which covers the second half). They come with in depth info about the characters and many images. The Kaden also features a 6-page long shortstory that takes place 5 years later (but before Yahiko's sakabatou)

(°_°x) Anime

Series

The anime series has 95 episodes, which follow the manga fairly well until episode 63, which marks the end of the Kyoto arc.
After that, the Manga starts with the Jinchuu Arc, whereas the Anime starts with (some interesting, some totally not worth watching) filler episodes.
Some are hilarious though. d(^^x)
The reason why the manga and anime differ so far is that by the time the Anime got to the end of Kyoto arc, it had caught up withe manga. While giving Watsuki time to continue the manga, the anime decided to do filler episodes... But by the time Watsuki actually ended the Jinchuu arc, the anime had run out of budget and they were forced to stop.
There were plans for animating the Jinchuu arc, though, as some of the Jinchuu chararcters can be seen in the last ending song.

OVA

Tsuiokuhen

• Length: 4 episodes : Man of the Slashing Sword, The stray cat, The previous night at the mountain home, the crossshaped scar
• Summary: The first OVA tells the story of Kenshin as Hitokiri and how he got his scar. There is no sign of the Kenshingumi
  The story is much, much darker and gruesome than the actual anime/manga. So, mind you.
• Rating: *****

Seisouhen

• Length: 2 episodes: After so many years have passed - pt 1 and 2
• Summary: Part one covers some of the most important parts of the anime/manga told from Kaoru's POV, as well as a bit (but VEEEERRRRYYY little) of the Jinchuu Arc (go read the manga for this one though). Part two takes place 15 years later.
• Rating: ****(*) <-although many people will disagree to this, I loved this ova

Movie

• Title: Ishin Shishi no Requiem (Requiem for the Patriots)
• Summary: The Kenshingumi meet someone for who the Revolution hasn't quite finished yet...
• Rating: ****

(-_-x)" Gallery

Possible Spoilers, but kept at a miniumum

Spoiler:

°(^^X) More information? (Music, Games etc...)

• https://the-oro.com/
• https://www.sitepros.net/kenshin/
• the rest of the internet

(°O°X) Memberlist

Owner

• Kotowari

Co-Owner

Members

• Kotowari
• Neiko Star
• *hylian*sakura*
• Kinarii
• dream's-epilogue

(ì í X) Rules

• ALL RULES OF PC APPLY!
• Post spoilers in spoiler tags. Pretty obvious. But mention when there's a spoiler!
• Put (big, lots of) Pictures in spoilertags... As not to stretch the page unnecessairily.

v(^^x)Have fun discussing degozaru!

 

[Neiko Star]

I'll join, that I will. ^^ Okay, that sounded horribly corny. How does Kenshin do it? OMG, there's a movie? Must watch!

 

[Kotowari]

Welcome. ^_^

Ah, just say "degozaru" if "that I will" sounds to weird. XD

Continuing from the Bishie club~

Originally Posted by Kotowari
4)Kenshin becoming weak actually makes very much sense. Unlike Hiko, who has that armor of muscles and that size, Kenshin is small, frail, female like almost. It is no surprise that the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu wore Kenshin out much faster than it would have done with Hiko. That swordstyle puts a lot of strain on the user's body. Kenshin is fast, strong, but as Aoshi said after he was hit by the Amakakeru Ryuu no Hirameki: "Don't use it too often, even if it's the final attack... it puts tremendous strain on the user's body." Megumi realised that as well... and it was when she was tending Kenshin's wounds after his fight with Sishio.

I know that...but it's still sad. -__- After all the stuff he did...
Yeah, it is sad. =/ But I still don't think it's a bad thing.

Originally Posted by Kotowari
5)I think him giving away the Sakabatou is very symbolic. First of all, it indicates that Kenshin finally is at piece with himself and the world. He hands the Sakabatou to Yahiko as the young man wil be able to cary out his believes. And it's not just Kenshin. Did you notice the small Akuichimonji (the kanji on Sano's back) on Yahiko's back? And he's a master in the Kamiya Kashin Ryuu. In a way, Yahiko carries on the believes of all the Kenshingumi. Even Megumi, but in a lesser amount.

Yeah, a part of me thinks so too...but the other larger part is still sad. >.<
Uhuh, but the ending is sad, but it also is a happy ending. ^_^

:
Originally Posted by Kotowari
6)15 year old Kenji is kewl. *_* I just don't like how Watsuki said he'd become. XDD

That is true.
Uhm, yes... but
"Warped genius"
"Grows up to be a young man more twisted than Saitou and more egocentric than Shishio."? That bothers me..

Yeah, there is a movie. And it's okay. ^_^ I'm listening to the soundtrack right now. =D
I love the OVA's and Movie OST's. They're are so pretty. <3

 

[Neiko Star]

I CAN'T HEAR ANY FISH!

 

[Kotowari]

WHAHAHAHA XD that was a good one.
Just, what is it with the English VA's? I prefer the Japanese ones. ._." Kenshin's voice is too low... well, I'm used to the Japanese one, so. XDD

OROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_TkEREDBak
Nihaha. XD I love those sill moments. :3

 

[Neiko Star]

LOL, I saw that video before. It's like...*serious face* OrooOoOoOoOo! Seriously, why is he getting beaten up all the time? That must be why he has so much endurance. He gets hurt worst by living than when he's fighting.

 

[Kotowari]

Yeah, kinda. XDD
In the first episode you see him leisurely walking down the street. And then he hears Kaoru running.
He slowly turns his head.
"There you are!"
"Huuh?"
"Hittokiri Battousai!"
"ORO?"
Nihaha. XD They bring great joy to the serious undertone of the Rurouni Kenshin story. ^_^
You don't have those in the OVA's.. =/

Real spoiler:

Spoiler:

I find that picture absolutely adorable. <3

 

[Neiko Star]

Yeah, I think so too, except that Kenshin doesn't look like Kenshin. :(

 

[Kotowari]

I think he actually looks like him though. :O
But than again, it's the OVA style... so. XD
Kenji's adorable. ^_^

 

[*hylian*sakura*]

YES!!! >,< You know I'm joining. Of course.
Cus Sano is amazing. And the manga in general is amazing.

 

[Neiko Star]

I think he actually looks like him though. :O
But than again, it's the OVA style... so. XD
Kenji's adorable. ^_^

Yeah...but I definitely still prefer the Kenshin in your sig. <333

And welcome to the shrine club, *hylian*sakura*! Even though I'll never forgive you for liking Sano better than Kenshin Haha, just kidding. I like rooster-head too. Who doesn't?

 

[*hylian*sakura*]

I think Sano is funnier. T_T Yay for funny!!
Although Kenshin has his moments... But the stuff Sano says just makes me laugh. >,<

 

[Kotowari]

I even use the Kenshin in my signature as a my wallpaper. ^-^ Actually, it is my theme that I'm using as a wallpaper.

Gawd, pc is slow today.

Anyways, Kenshin is great, Sano is great. They both have that amazing greatness. XDD

Spoiler:

Misao :O

There. I tried to please everyone. >_>

 

[Neiko Star]

Spoiler:

*squeal* I like Kenshin better with the blue robes. ^-^

OMG, it's young Kenshin with the high ponytail! <333 Where the heck did you find this?

Hm...Aoshi's hair is strangely pale. 0__0

I think Captain Sagara is kinda hot. *_*

*sigh* You know, after watching anime and stuff, the real world's guys are really disappointing.

 

[Kotowari]

So do I. Kenshin in blue > Kenshin in red/magenta. I'm happy with my Kenshindoll who's blue. XD

Spoiler:

Without his scar. =D

I FINALLY FOUND MY REFERENCE. 8O

Just how hard is it to find screenshots of the movie? D: There are a couple of scenes that features the Hittokiri. >_>
Also, I guess Aoshi's hair is the lightning, and I find them around the internet. 8D
Sagara Taishou is awesome. 8D

 

[Neiko Star]

Do you think that Kaoru resembles a tanuki in any way? Megumi is obvious, and I can understand Misao, with the small, skinny body and agility and knives, but seriously, I don't see any connection between tanukis and Kaorus. YES, THAT'S RIGHT. I JUST CALLED KAORU A 'A KAORU'.

 

[Kotowari]

I don't know that much about Tanuki's... but indeed. It's odd. What was Saitou thinking? XDD

Well, now I can finally post that amount of pictures I found. x)

Spoiler:

Batousai looks good. ._. Kenshin would be rather funny. XD

 

[Neiko Star]

LOL in the second picture Aoshi and Saitou seem to be attempting (and failing) to pose for the picture. XDDD Everyone did a lot better in the third picture. But there goes Aoshi's hair colour again. You're right, Kenshin would just look WAY out of place in something as normal of a shirt. ROFL

I'm kinda disappointed that they made Kenshin's first sakabatou, the 'shadow', look like a normal sword. It looks less deadly. XD And much less solid. I mean, black blades always have that sharp, cutting, strong look about them. Like the metal is more resistant.

 

[Kotowari]

*chuckle* That made me lol. Well, I guess that in the in the Anime, Aoshi's base hair colour is some kind of grey blue, whereas in the manga, it's purely black.
When the lighting is very strong, that greyblue will eventually become very light ang give him his odd haircolour. =)

And what? As far as I know, Kenshin's swords have always been metal-coloured. The scabbard was black/dark grey, yes, but the Katana itself?

Spoiler:

Can you name them all?

I should learn how to draw teeth. x)

He was skinny (even more than now) back then. =O

 

[Neiko Star]

And what? As far as I know, Kenshin's swords have always been metal-coloured. The scabbard was black/dark grey, yes, but the Katana itself?

I think that in the manga, it was black with white wave-like trimming.

Spoiler:

Can you name them all?

Umm...not really. XD There's the Kuzuryusen, the Battou-jutstu or Amakakeru Ryu no Hirameki, can't really tell, and there's the throw-the-sword-out-of-its-sheath thing Kenshin used when he defeated that big guy with only his left arm. The rest...meh. xD

Spoiler:

*squeal* Wow, I've squealing a lot lately. You know, I think I've developped the habit of squealing under my breath whenever I see the main character on the manga cover.