Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan

A classic for a reason.

Openly carrying swords is illegal. The world is leaving behind the samurai. But those samurai still stand, trying to find peace a decade after living through war. Himura Kenshin, the Rurouni, is attempting to distance himself from Himura Battosai, the man he once was who made blood rain. But the past cannot be outrun so easily. Not from those he's affected nor the clashing in his mind. Simple but compelling.

Rurouni Kenshin boasts a well-rounded ensemble cast and manages to pack itself full of dynamic action scenes that kept me engaged in not only the life-or-death stakes but also the conflicting morals between the two opponents. Since Kenshin himself avoids combat and has a strict no-killing policy, most fights are started out of necessity—the need to protect. This makes Kenshin an easy protagonist to root for, usually defeating those on a misguided path or with flawed morals. What I found myself loving the most about the combat were the explanations of weapons during this era. Shown through easy-to-follow descriptions of weapon types, stances, and their pros and weaknesses, we get to see the clash between the previous era and the modern one.

The politics were much more profound than I remembered on this reading. There’s a heavy emphasis on corruption in both the yakuza and government. Many revolutionaries have their stories rewritten into those of terrorists to fit the politics of the time. There's an overall conversation about justice and the means by which it can or should be achieved.

This is a male-focused story first and foremost, so if you're hoping for the women to have their time to shine in fights, you'll be sorely disappointed. For the most part, the female cast is well-written but intended to be sidelined for their paired male characters to shine instead. The ten-year-old gets three fights to himself (at minimum) while the dojo instructor doesn’t get one. Again, this is not to say these characters are poorly written, but instead heavily underutilized.

Most of my other complaints are personal preferences, like thinking Enishi’s powers are silly or wishing for more character deaths to emphasize how meaningful life is.

Good manga. Great art. I do recommend it.

I adore this manga/anime because, unlike many other stories, the protagonist is a complete mystery at the beginning. We have to patiently wait as the layers of his enigma are gradually peeled back to truly understand him.

Another aspect I love is that Rurouni Kenshin incorporates a bit of everything: action, comedy, drama, romance, and tragedy. These elements blend seamlessly to create a deep and immensely satisfying narrative.

The characters are all well-developed, even those with minor roles. No one feels one-dimensional in this story. They come across as people you might actually encounter in real life.

The artwork is stunning, featuring beautifully fluid action scenes and visually appealing characters that delight the senses.

Additionally, the historical setting offers a treat for history enthusiasts and Japanophiles alike.

Summary - This is a fantastic manga with thrilling action, well-developed characters, and an engaging plot.

Action - The swordsmanship scenes are beautifully illustrated, and the fights are exhilarating. The logic behind the techniques is explained in a way that makes sense within the context of the manga, where characters can leap several times their height into the air.

Characters - Almost every character is well-rounded and has a compelling backstory. There are no clear-cut good or evil characters; everyone's development is justified by their past experiences. This is one of the few manga where I have multiple favorite characters, some of whom were originally part of the opposition.

Plot - The storyline is meticulously planned, unlike the anime which suffers from poor filler arcs (Seisouhen being a particularly bad example). The initial section where Kenshin-gumi forms is enjoyable, and the two major arcs are masterful in creating suspense and adding unexpected twists.

Humour - Although primarily a drama, the manga includes clever touches of light humor, especially the funny drawings of Kenshin saying "oro?"—it never fails to make me laugh.

Historicity - As a fan of historical manga, I appreciate how Rurouni Kenshin provides insights into Meiji-era Japan and the Bakumatsu period. The inclusion of actual historical events and characters adds an educational layer to the fictional narrative.

Re-summary - Read this manga; you won't regret it. It's seriously good.

TL;DR: A manga with excellent action and character development, though it drags in the middle.

Rurouni Kenshin is a manga originally released in the 90s that remains popular today. I first read it in the mid-2000s when it was first released in the United States, but my memory of it was hazy beyond key plot points. With the recent 25th anniversary, I decided to revisit it.

The manga can be divided into three distinct parts, though they vary in length. The first part consists of short stories that establish the main characters associated with the Kamiya dojo. This section introduces Sanosuke and Yahiko and begins their character arcs. It explores the difference between Battousai and Kenshin and how his vow not to kill affects him. There's some background on Kenshin and the revolution, but it's minimal. The romance between Kenshin and Kaoru is subtle. The action is decent but not as intense as later parts. Overall, this section is lighter in tone compared to what follows, focusing more on character development with good pacing and interest.

The second part shifts to a single extended story centered around stopping Shishio, a singular villain. This section wasn't my favorite. It's more plot-focused, providing extensive background on the revolution, but the plot itself isn't strong. Shishio feels like a two-dimensional villain, which works for smaller villains but falls flat for an extended arc. The narrative surrounding facing him is simplistic, and there's less focus on character development. Kenshin gets some background, but it doesn't feel sufficient given the arc's length. The relationship development with Kaoru remains subtle and underdeveloped. While Sanosuke and Yahiko grow stronger, their character development feels lacking. Only the side character Aoshi receives proper development, though it follows a typical shonen trope of forgiving former villains. New side characters are introduced well but don't compensate for the lack of progress in the main cast. The action improves significantly, but overall, this part feels lacking in substance, leading to poor pacing and dragging on too long.

The final part is where the manga shines. There's a central villain who is more complex and better developed than Shishio, with a personal connection to Kenshin. This section provides extensive background and deep character development for Kenshin, exploring the origins of his vow not to kill and his true desires. Side stories for Sanosuke and Yahiko also complete their character arcs well. The plot is simple, but the storytelling is the best in the series, with a big twist that allows all main characters to shine. The relationship development remains solid but not outstanding. The action is even more intense than in the second part. Overall, this part does justice to each main character, providing a satisfying ending.

The art effectively captures the fast pace of the action and fits the time period portrayed. However, beyond that, I didn't particularly like the art style or character designs, and it didn't feel high quality. This may be due to my current preference for newer, digitally drawn manga.

Oro?

Love you, Kenshin! One of the noblest characters in manga, possibly my all-time favorite. Back in the day, before online reading, I would visit my local bookstore to read and then re-read Rurouni Kenshin. It all started with watching a few episodes of the anime with my dad, but I soon turned to the manga when I craved more!

When I think of a noble warrior, Kenshin comes to mind. This story revolves around a warrior who has sworn off killing and now wields a sword with the blunt edge facing forward instead of the sharp edge. His journey as he finds love and protects his friends will forever be etched in my memory. This series is about redemption and friendship, spiced with plenty of humor. It will always hold a special place in my heart.

Amazing, amazing, AMAZING!!! This manga was absolutely fantastic - from the deeply rooted history of feudal Japan to the spectacular swordsmanship. The story follows the life of a rurouni (wanderer), Kenshin Himura, detailing his epic battles, forgotten romance, and the struggles of Japan in the 1800s. For those who don't know, where have you been? This manga appeals to both men and women; while it is mostly action-packed, there are plenty of romantic scenes to satisfy everyone. My only criticism is that the final few chapters involving Enishi feel somewhat rushed and underdeveloped, almost like an afterthought – similar to Majin Buu in Dragon Ball Z (ugh!). Despite this, the manga has a decent re-readable value. So, if you're looking for an excellent story filled with drama, history, and lots of sword fights, you will thoroughly enjoy Rurouni Kenshin!

I knew the rating on MAL for this was pretty high, but being another fighting shounen manga made me expect a little less. There are many of these, so what new element could "Rurouni Kenshin" bring? The plot with the strongest hero from start to finish isn't particularly novel, so the mangaka would need to make him stand out.

He arrived in town as a wandering swordsman with a mysterious past he never shared. He turned out to be the most skilled fighter there, strong enough to defeat anyone, no matter how formidable they seemed. When Kaoru asked him to join Kamiya dojo, knowing his strengths, he agreed. Little did he know that many would challenge him or seek his help, marking the beginning of his adventure.

Alright, I admit that after reading about 15 chapters, I was reasonably hooked. There was something intriguing about a man who had killed many times but now used his sword sparingly, injuring enemies without killing. People often doubted a swordsman who didn’t kill, but Kenshin always surpassed their expectations: he was fast, brave, and a master. Often, he would get so beaten up that it seemed like his last stand, but he almost always pulled through.

However, halfway through the manga, it became repetitive. A new enemy would appear, claiming to be the strongest and aiming to defeat Kenshin for the title of the world's strongest. Kenshin would find a way to defeat them without killing, and the cycle would repeat. If not for the side stories, tragic backstories, and small bits of romance, I wouldn't have stayed as interested.

The characters are truly the greatest part of the story. In the character popularity polls featured in some chapters, Kenshin was rarely the favorite. Other characters often took the spotlight for their spunky personalities or individual strengths. Kenshin might have seemed boring because he was generally calm and hardly ever gave in to rage.

A few characters annoyed me, while others immediately caught my interest or grew on me over time. Those who returned became stronger and wiser. In over 200 chapters, Watsuki introduces so many unique characters that it's mesmerizing. His cast is diverse, each with distinct strengths, weaknesses, and appearances.

I don't read 90s manga often, so the artwork initially threw me off. It can be rough around the edges, and the main character sometimes looks plain compared to others. However, the mangaka deserves credit for the detailed designs of other characters. Each enemy has a unique face, shadow, costume, and backstory (though not all are revealed).

With all the fights going on, I still struggle to understand exactly what’s happening, which has always been my issue. But as the series progresses, the mangaka gets better at drawing injuries and blood. The injuries look painful, and the blood spatters are realistic against the 2D art. The tired eyes and expressions are believable as well.

While Kenshin’s vow not to kill is admirable, I sometimes wished he would kill his opponents due to their difficulty. However, he is a strong person who uses his words effectively, making killing unnecessary. His experiences have made him extremely wise.

I’m not sure if I’d call “Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan” a must-read shounen, but it has been popular for a long time and received many positive reviews. It was very popular in its time, and I see why. The constant introduction of new characters keeps the manga fresh with action, and everyone loves a good fight. If you prefer something slow in the beginning but builds up quickly and is action-packed throughout, give this manga a try.