Kenshin the vagrant

Kenshin the vagrant ( るろうに剣心 , rurōni kenshin , Samurai X ) is a Manga of Nobuhiro Watsuki. Published in French with the editions Glénat, it comprises twenty-eight volumes on the whole and was adapted in cartoon. Moreover, one series of four OAV S tells the past of Kenshin, and explains in particular the gash in the shape of cross presents on its cheek. These OAVs differ, by their blackness, of the original manga. The first two seasons of the series as well as the OAV and film are available in French (integral or subtitles) at Dybex.

Short summary of the history

The history occurs in 1878 to Tōkyō. Kenshin Himura, former assassin called Battosaï during the era Edo, mask a very heavy past…

Become a vagrant since the introduction of the era Meiji, he traverses the country provided with his saber with reversed blade, with the desire not to kill more. He meets an young girl who seeks to protect her Dōjō, Kaoru Kamiya, and ends up settling at her after having helped it. Little by little, they will meet their future companions: Yahiko Myôjin, a boy resulting from the class of the samurais which becomes the disciple of Kaoru, and Sanosuke Sagara.

In spite of its desire not to kill more, Kenshin is made catch up with by its past and the government often needs him. Indeed, even if peace is restored in Japan, certain men still seek their place in this new business far from being perfect. Moreover, in spite of the new place of Kenshin at the sides of Kaoru, persists in him a dark and painful thought.

The first combat which really will mobilize all the forces of the band of Kenshin is that carried out against Aoshi Shinomori and Oniwa Banshu. Then, Japan is coveted by Shishio Makoto, him as a former assassin, as the Meiji government tried to eliminate when it needed more for it, and who keeps burns on all the body like after-effects. Kenshin must then go to Kyoto, it would seem that it is difficult for him not to break its wish not to kill more.

Kenshin, or how to face heavy last

Much more elaborate than it does not appear to with it first of all, Rurōni Kenshin is a manga with the philosophical message extremely, in the line (although in a style completely different) from a manga like GTO , of Tôru Fujisawa. It is the history of a man, Kenshin, but also of all the men who after a fashion try to repurchase heavy last.

At the end of the era of the last Shogun Yoshinobu Tokugawa, Kenshin was a hitokiri , an assassin with the service of the patriots who set up the government meiji. But with died of his wife, it makes the oath not kill a person never again. Owner of the technique of combat more the mortal, Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu, it decides to put his art at the service of weakest, and becomes a rurōni , a vagrant traversing the country in search of redemption. Because it is clearly there the topic of the manga of Nobuhiro Watsuki: the expiatory voyage of a man continued by his past.

Throughout its tour, Kenshin will not cease fighting against its hidden wounds, revived by the meetings with its old adversaries (see in particular the list of the characters). More once, the instinct of assassin who sommeille in him will threaten to take again the top, but little by little, Kenshin will discover the true direction of its combat. It fights for its life, as for all the lives which it removed and which haunt its memory. Throughout its combat, it will meet adversaries which also fight them against their interior demons. Some will change, others not. But always will remain the hope of a better world, for which Kenshin will have battled all its life.

The manga Rurōni Kenshin plays with a gallery of ambivalent characters. Even the worst murderers, like Kenshin or Tenken No Sôjiro, can become better men. And even those which fight for a better world, can be plugged by their ideals. In so far as he wants it, each one can try to repurchase its errors, so heavy are. Such is the message present throughout 28 volumes which account the series.

List volumes

The series is entirely available in French at Glénat.

Kenshin, known as Battosaï Himura, 09/1998
the two assassins, 11/1998
reason to act, 01/1999
the two destinies, 03/1999
future of Kenjutsu, 05/1999
Without concern, 07/1999
One day of May, 09/1999
On the way of Kyôto, 11/1999
the arrival, 01/2000
Main and disciple, 03/2000
Prelude to the fall, 05/2000
Fire in Kyôto, 07/2000
a splendid night, 09/2000
the hour to hold its promises , 11/2000
the giant against the superman, 01/2001
providence, 03/2001
That which time chose, 05/2001 does
always have a gash in the shape of cross?, 07/2001
the illusion and reality, 09/2001
Reminiscences, 11/2001
And time ran out…, 02/2002
Triple battles, 04/2002
the conscience of the crime and the punishment, 06/2002
the end of the dream, 08/2002
the truth, 11/2002
the back of a man, 01/2003
the answer, 03/2003
Towards a new generation, 07/2003

Topics

This manga is the history of a man, Kenshin Himura, which by conviction implied body and heart in the restoration Meiji, becoming assassin to build a better future. Marked with life by this experiment and the death of that which he likes, he however continues to fight, not renonçant with its ideals contrary with much of his/her comrades. Wandering and using a saber reversed not to kill more, he seeks a means of expier hopelessly his crimes. Ten years after the restoration, it is found to deal with old adversaries with which it did not conclude the preceding fight, and which wishes to take their revenge; it is then obliged to fight, with the risk to become again assassin, not to imply the innocent ones for whom it fought ten years earlier.

It is also the history of a little boy, Yahiko Myôjin, which after a passage at the Yakuza S crosses the road of Kenshin and, finding its wire dignity of Samurai, wishes to become strong to protect those which are expensive to him. Observing Kenshin in its combat but also in its life, it matures and becomes the moral successor of this one, inheriting its reversed saber.

Characters

Versions and adaptations

Manga and Guide Book

Manga of 28 volumes (of 1994 to 1999).
Kenshin Guides Book. Volume 1 (2003).
Kenshin Guides Book. Volume 2 (2003).

It should be noted that the Book Guide: Volume 2 contains fine an alternative to animation.

Animates (TV)

Series TV of 95 episodes (of 1996 to 1998).

list of the episodes left to France:

* Season 1

1 - Battosai Himura

2 - Yahiko Miyojin

3 - That Which Erased the Past

4 - the Way De Sanosuke Sagara (1/2)

5 - Blade Reversed Against Zanza (2/2)

6 - Kurogasa, sinks visitor (1/2)

7 - Battle with the moonlight (2/2)

8 - a mysterious woman (1/4)

9 - Oniwaban Shu (2/4)

10 - Aoshi Shinomori (3/4)

11 - Shade and light (4/4)

12 - Birth of a young warrior

the 13 - Toramaru Sumotori

14 - challenge of Megumi

the 15 - Two legendary assassins (1/2)

16 - secret sword of Shinden (2/2)

17 - Marimo, the human gun

18 - Yahiko and the sword with reversed blade

the 19 - ambitions of Raijuta (1/3)

20 - resurrection of the school Shinko (2/3)

21 - end of a nightmare (3/3)

22 - First voyage by train

23 - the portrait of Sagara (1/2)

24 - Kenshin vs. Sanosuke: revenge (2/2)

25 - the dragon of the seas (1/3)

26 - Shura, the girl pirates (2/3)

27 On the way - end of Kairyu (3/3)

* Saison 2

28 - the return of the Wolf

29 - the worst enemy

30 - démoniaque revenge

31 - unthinkable the

32 - for Kyoto!

33 - The return of Aoshi

34 - Misao Makimachi

35 - the village of Shingetsu

36 - Makoto Shishio

37 - the divine saber of Sojiro

38 - the drive of Sanosuke

39 - the last saber of Shakku

40 - fatal Combat

41 - the Master of Kenshin

42 - Alliance and treason

43 - technique of succession

44 - Juppongatana

45 - As a bird!

46 - The purgatory

47 - mortal Punch

48 - the safety of Anji

49 - capacity of Gatotsu

50 - Promises to hold

51 - Awakes, Aoshi!

52 - The attack of Aoya

53 - the destroying weapon

54 - Shukuchi

55 - One night of storm

56 - ultimate Combat

57 - the two survivors

58 - Moment of glory for Shishio

59 - the wheel turns

60 - Shishio against Kenshin

61 - the choice of the life

62 - To remember Kyoto

the first season is made up of several stories being held from 1 to 4 episodes maximum. The commencement of the series allows the introduction of the various main characters (adaptation of the manga) to connect on varied stories of which the tone is more or less dramatic or comic (new stories).

All the second season reports the combat which the group of Kenshin will devote to that of Shishio (history resulting from the manga).

the third season which is not available in France (Dybex not having acquired rights) is cut out in several stories as for the first season (compound of new stories). It is thus not paramount for the series but interesting for the fans.

Cartoon film

Rurōni Kenshin: Ishin Shishi No Requiem left in 1997.

This new history seems to occur after the history from Shishio in the series. It reconsiders the past of Kenshin, the introduction being a sequence going up to the revolution. Kenshin and its friends meet a group of people decided to reverse the current government by the force.

The film can be regarded as a great episode, that means that one finds the main characters of the series without presentation. It is thus recommended to know the series (or possibly the manga) to view it.

OAV 1

Series of 4 OAVs ( Rurōni Kenshin: Tsuiokuhen , 1999) on the past of Kenshin, that corresponds to the adaptation of the chapters of the memories in the manga.

One finds Kenshin child there and its traverses during the revolution which made of him the famous assassin as well as the appearance of its scar.

These OAV bring much information on Kenshin, they are thus a considerable complement with the series even if the more dramatic treatment and the drawing are different. On the other hand, those which did not see the series can nevertheless appreciate them, the history sufficient with itself.

OAV 2

Series of 2 OAVs ( Rurōni Kenshin: Seisōhen , 2001) which takes again some sequences of the series then new images to propose an end with the saga. It must thus be seen in the last and thus have interest only as from the moment when the series was seen (or read the manga).

In the form of memories, the beginning makes it possible to make a small summary of the principal adventures of Kenshin and its companions. Then one is entitled to an adaptation very succinte chapter of the manga on the revenge on Enishi and making following the chapter on the memories . The tone is rather tragic and does not leave a place to humor.

See too

External bond

site on Kenshin
Rurouni Area

Beats-smg: Rurouni Kenshin

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