Rurouni Kenshin (also known as Samurai X), written and illustrated by Nobuhiro Watsuki, is a shonen, historical drama. It tells the story of Kenshin Himura, a wandering swordsman with a past stained in blood. Once employed as an assassin, he now seeks redemption by protecting the innocent with his reverse-bladed katana.
We currently have Volumes 1-9 of this manga (28 total).
Rurouni Kenshin and Bleach both portray the samurai as heroic warriors, who battle to protect their people and honor from evil. This book, written by Carol Gaskin, provides a basic overview of that legendary ideal, while also providing "A Selection of Highlights of Samurai History", written by Vince Hawkins.
Rurouni Kenshin and Bleach place a lot of emphasis on their protagonist's morality and how they gradually learn to overcome their own weakness. This essay, originally written by Inazo Nitobe, explores Bushido as a system of Samurai Ethics, tying it into moral systems such as Buddhism, Confucianism, and Shintoism.
Rurouni Kenshin, Bleach, and Naruto all feature their own takes on warrior classes that actually existed in Japanese history. In this ebook, Antony Cummins dives into the very real and often gruesome details of these warriors for hire, including several authentic Japanese manuscripts that have been translated to English for the first time.
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Rurouni Kenshin (2023)'s first opening theme, "Hiten", was performed as a collaboration between Ayase × R-Shitei. Its visuals depict the contrast between Kenshin Himura and his previous identity, Battosai. It also showcases life in the Meiji era of Japan, with Kenshin and his friends enjoying peaceful days together.
ENGLISH LYRICS AVAILABLE ON ANIMESONGLYRICS.COM
Rurouni Kenshin (2023)'s second opening theme, "Rurō no Katashiro", was performed as a collaboration between Masaki Suda × Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra. Its visuals depict Kenshin's inner turmoil as he struggles between the two sides of his personality, the wanderer and the manslayer. It shows that only through his growing relationship with Kaoru can he resolve this conflict.
ENGLISH LYRICS AVAILABLE ON ANIMESONGLYRICS.COM
Rurouni Kenshin is a story about redemption, how a once-stained individual can move on from their past. This message was pushed to the breaking point for some when the series creator was convicted of owning child pornography. In this video, anime and manga reviewer Bonsai Pop explains the context behind the controversy and asks a simple question: "Can the series' author be redeemed?"
Rurouni Kenshin, Bleach, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, and Naruto are all currently being distributed by VIZ Media in North America. If you would like to see what products they have to offer for your favorite series, subscribe to VIZ's official newsletter, or read select chapters for free, this website is a great place to start.
Rurouni Kenshin's story contains a wide variety of "tropes" (or "common story elements"), from The Atoner to Jidaigeki. TvTropes is a wiki dedicated to cataloging these tropes, providing notable examples from all kinds of media. It allows readers to browse these tropes by franchise and even find notable subversions where appropriate.
Rurouni Kenshin has been inspiring its readers ever since 1994. When researching the series for the first time, Wikipedia can make for a good, quick overview, while offering links and citations to other sources. When using it for academia purposes, however, be careful to examine the sources to make sure that any information is relevant and accurate.
