Myojin Yahiko

Basics

Myojin Yahiko (a.k.a. Yahiko-chan) is first seen in the 2nd episode of the anime and Chapter 3, Volume 1 of the manga. He is the son of a Police Officer who died to fight the revolution. Yahiko was orphaned after his mother’s death and was taken in by one of the Yakuza groups. However, now he lives with Kaoru in her Dojo along with Kenshin. He is a student of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu but due to his high ambitions and wistful watching, he picks up Kenshin’s techniques as well and combines both schools.

Yahiko’s physical attributes include his unrulely black hair, black eyes, and his weird outfit. His weapons include the Shinai (Bamboo Sword) as he is in training with Kaoru, and later on, in Yahiko No Sakabatou, he is seen with the Sakabatou. Although he fights with Kaoru many times, he looks up to her as an older sister, or mother and cares a lot about her. He is very stubborn and proud as well as honorable. Like Kenshin and Kaoru, he wants to protect people around him, including his love interest—Tsubame.

History

Myojin Yahiko was born into times of peace after the Bakamatsu. He is the son of a police officer, as mentioned above, but after his mother’s and father’s death, was taken into a Yazuka group. The group claimed that his father was in debt to them and Yahiko is entitled to pay off his debt. So in Chapter 3 of the manga, Yahiko is seen stealing in order to pay off the debt.

In another incident of fate, Yahiko tries to rob Kenshin but Kaoru catches him. Kenshin compliments his ambition and gives him the money anyway. But Yahiko, being very proud, throws the money back to Kenshin and leaves angry. Affected by Kenshin’s words, Yahiko refuses to steal anymore for the Yakuza. The Yazuka, of course, doesn’t take this quietly and attacks Yahiko making him bloody. Then, they take him to the boss.

In the manga, Kaoru sees them carrying him away and in the anime, she hears about it in the Akabeko. Either way, there is a scene with Yahiko standing up to the leader of the group. But afterwards, when he cannot defend anymore, Kenshin (in the manga)/Kaoru (in the anime) bursts in. In both versions Yahiko is saved and taken back to the Dojo where he lives with Kenshin and Kaoru.

Yahiko is seen as a successor for both Kenshin and Kaoru’s fighting techniques as he learns both and combines them to his own. Yahiko, being the youngest in the group also manages to improve in strength and follows in Kenshin’s footsteps.

Watsuki’s Character Notes

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

More than any historical reality, the character Yahiko grew out of feelings I had in middle school. I was in the kendo club—at first just because it was something to do—but then I got hooked on it as much as drawing manga, and soon I was swinging the shinai everyday to the point of exhaustion.

The problem, though, was that I was weak. So weak, in fact that I was an embarrassment to my 183cm of height! In three years of middle school, I was a member of starting squad only once, and then only because the kid who was supposed to be a starter got suspended for causing trouble, and I got bumped by luck of draw. Even then, still I was unable to score a win in a league tournament.

The disgrace I felt at kendo, the wanting to be stronger, the still being awful no matter how much I longed to be great, all of that has found an outlet in little Yahiko. Yahiko knows a pain that hero-types like Kenshin and Sanosuke can never know. Of late, he’s turned more into a comedic character, but still my wish is to draw him in such a way that, five or ten years down the road, readers can envision him as a great swordsman.

As with Kaoru, there’s no particular logic in Yahiko’s design… that is, of course, unless you consider that having a defiant-eyed young man wish-mussed hair is itself a must in a comic for young men.