Himura Kenshin

Basics

Himura Kenshin (a.k.a. the Hitokiri Battousai) appears in the series from the very start of both the manga and the anime. He is the main character of the whole series and is now a Rurouni (wanderer). His physcial attributes include red hair, a cross-shaped scar on his left cheek, black/blue eyes and his undeniable shortness. Kenshin follows the school of Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu which teaches him to fight many foes at one time. His most famous technique is the Battoujutsu where he moves at god-like speed to defeat his opponents. His weapons include a Sakabatou (a reverse-bladed sword) and his sheath (it’s sort of a weapon because he uses it as one a few times). His master is Hiko Seijuro, but he currently lives in a Dojo with Kamiya Kaoru and all his other friends.

History

Kenshin (or Shinta) was born at a time where Japan was under turmoil and he was sold to slavery after his family’s death. However, one or two days later, the caravan is attacked by some samurai/bandits who killed everyone including three women who try to protect Kenshin (he is a little kid). When the men kill the women and go after Kenshin, they were unsuccessful as a man appears and kills them first. He leaves Kenshin on his own and tells him to start a new life.

A couple of days later, the man, Hiko Seijuro, finds a graveyard while walking down a path. He discovers that Kenshin has dug all the graves for the men and women as well as the samurai who killed them. Seijuro introduces himself and asks Kenshin’s name, Kenshin replies “Shinta” and Seijuro states that he needs a new name, thus naming him “Kenshin.” From thereon Kenshin becomes Hiko’s pupil and trains.

Like all kids, he has an ambition, that is to protect people, and he tells Hiko that he wants to fight and protect the people who are being killed in Japan during the war. Hiko, of course, rebukes him but Kenshin insists and leaves anyways. Pretty soon Kenshin becomes a hired secret assassin (a hitokiri) for the Ishin Shishi.

During the OVA (this whole story and part of Kenshin’s life), Kenshin is seen falling in love with a woman Tomoe. After a twist of events, Kenshin receives his cross-shaped scar and vows never to kill again after the restoration of the Meiji. Kenshin is off duty as a Hitokiri shortly afterwards and kills openly to “establish a new era.” Shortly afterwards, he disappears and reappears in Tokyo 10 years later in the 11th era of the Meiji.

Now he becomes a wanderer and has abandoned the name he earned during the Bakamatsu, the “Hitokiri Battousai” (named after his Battoujutsu and Killing Technique). This is where the 1st volume of the manga and first episode of the anime begins. In these episodes, he meets characters such as Kamiya Kaoru, Myojin Yahiko, and Sagara Sanosuke who became his friends, but also those from the Bakamatsu who reappear and drag him back into battles. He strives to keep to his Rurouni ways and never kill again…

Watsuki’s Character Notes

The following is quoted off of Shonen Jump’s Rurouni Kenshin graphic novel translations of Watsuki:

Himura Kenshin. Based somewhat on the actual Hitokiri, Kawakami Gensai. Sort of. Except totally different. Kawakami Gensai was one of the four great Hitokiri, or assassins of the revolutionary (Bakamatsu) period. He was short and skinny and could be mistaken at first glance for a woman. Contrary to his appearance, though, he was clever and clear-headed despite being most dreaded among all of the hitokiri.

Master of an original sword style called “Shiranui-Ryu,” Kawakami is famous for felling the graet idealist Sakuma Shozan in one swing, in mid-day. Kawakami is nevertheless a mysterious figure, however, as there are no certain records of his other assassinations.

After the revolution, and unable to let go of the idea that Japan should remain closed to the world, Kawakami found himself in frequent conflict with the revolutionary government. Ultimately, he was accused of a crime he did not commit and executed in the 4th year of Meiji.

As I researched further, it began to occur to me that the story wasn’t so clear cut and dried. What this hitokiri could not let go of was his duty to his fallen comrades, and to the men that he had killed. It’s this that gave me the initial idea for the “Kenshin” character. As for the others, there is the selflessness of okita Souji of the Shinsengumi and the mysterious quality of Saito Hajime… but, then again, who knows.

In terms of graphic designs, I had no real motif. The main character of my debut work was a tall, black-haired man in showy armor. So when I set out to design someone completely opposite of him, he ended up looking like a girl (heh). Not knowing what else to do, I put a cross-shaped scar on the left cheek. Now that same cross marks the spot at which the Battosai became Kenshin… or so I’ve heard!

Technique Guide

Thank you Somak for writing this up! Thank you so much ^_^. Note, most all of these attacks start with the Battoujustu stance, which brings the sword out of its sheath at lightning speed.

• Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu Do Ryu San (Ground Dragon Flash) – Giant blow against the ground, causing massive airwaves/rocks tostrike enemies.
• Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu Ryu Tsui Sen (Dragon Mallot Flash) – Jumps up in the air really high and then strikes down hard from above.
• Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu Ryu Kan Sen (Dragon Wind Up Flash) – Plunges toward enemy using a very powerful twist of the body doing a sideways slash.
• Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu Ryu Sou Sen (Double Dragon Flash) – Multiple slashes against the enemy.
• Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu Ryu Kan Sen Tsumuji (Dragon Wind Up Flash Hair Spin) – Tsumuji (gyrate) involves higher speed than Ryu Kan Sen. Basically same attack but more powerful.
• Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu Ryu Sho Sen (Dragon Rising Flash) – Rises up from ground, using all force in an uppercut, hitting vital points.
• Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu Ryu Tsui San Zan – Same as Ryu Tsui Sen except the sword is pointed down to pierce.
• Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu Hi-Ryu Sen (Flying Dragon Slash) – Performed by left hand only, attack uses centrifugal force to create a powerful blow with the hilt in a person’s weakness, like in between the eyes.
• Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu Sou Ryu Sen (Paired Dragon Flash) – Paired attack with sword and sheath. If the sword is blocked, sheath comes in and hits enemy.
• Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu Ryu Kan Sen Arashi (Dragon Wind Up Flash Storm) – More powerful version of Tsumuji and more damaging.
• Zantetsu – Iron cutting technique. Can use it anywhere excempt underwater.
• Shihara Dori – Defensive technique in which user grabs enemies sword.
• Ryu Mei San – User quickly sheathes sword, causing a sound that distorts the hearing of those with enhanced senses.
• Modoshi Giri – User can cut something in half and then rejoin it together and make it seem as if there was no cut whatsoever.
• Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu Ku Zu Ryu Sen (Nine Headed Dragon Flash) – Attack learned before the most powerful succession technique. Strikes with the sword nine times on the 9 vital points, head, right leg, left leg, right arm, left arm, between the legs, the chest, right shoulder, and left shoulder, making this move virtually impossible to block.
• Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu Ouki Ama Kakeru Ryu No Hirameki (Heaven’s Soaring Dragon Flash) – THE SUCCESION TECHNIQUE. Normally when using the Battoujutsu, the right leg is placed in front of the left leg so as not to cut your leg off when drawing your sword from the left, but with this you put your left leg in front giving your attack the most power it can get, and must twist your body at the right time so as not to cut your leg off. In order to do this he must have a strong will to live. This move is actually a combo of two, because if this move is executed properly, if the first hit is blocked, then the person spins around, and slices again. It works because apparently after the first strike, the sword somehow makes a kind of vortex, sucking in the enemy, allowing the person to be close enough to be sliced again, kind of like a vacuum.
• Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu Ryu Mei Sen (Heaven’s Soaring Dragon Flash) – This technique is the opposite of the Battoujustu (which is the drawing of the sword). It is Nottoujustu (putting the sword back into the sheath). When putting it back into the sheath, the friction from the sword guard and scabbard creates a sonic sound like the roar of a dragon. Thus, affecting the nerves.