Himura Kenshin

Himura Kenshin (?? ?? Himura Kenshin), known in Western-order (Kenshin Himura) in the English anime, is a fictional character of the anime and manga series Rurouni Kenshin/Samurai X.

Related Topics:
Anime - Manga - Rurouni Kenshin

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His Japanese seiy? is Mayo Suzukaze and his English voice actors are Richard Hayworth(TV) and J. Shanon Weaver (OVA).

Related Topics:
Japan - Seiy? - Mayo Suzukaze - English - Richard Hayworth

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The main character of the series, Kenshin was a former Imperialist assassin that went by the name "Hitokiri Batt?sai" (spelled with a macron in the Viz manga, and spelled as "Hitokiri Battousai" in the English anime releases). The nickname implies he is proficient in the use of Batt?-jutsu (sword drawing technique, known in modern times as Iaido) and can draw his sword with lightning speed. After the revolution, he traded in his katana and wakizashi (companion sword) for a reverse-bladed sword sakabat? and assumed the life of a "rurouni" (made-up word, probably based on rounin, means wanderer). He becomes a technical master of the Hiten Mitsurugi-Ry? fighting style after completing his previously abandoned training with his master, but declines the official mastership. He has quite a distinctive appearance, slightly feminine (common in most anime/manga) with red hair and a cross-shaped scar on his left cheek. This was an intentional act on the creator, Nobuhiro Watsuki's, part - he was looking to create a character with a visage contrary to what a samurai brings to mind. Instead of a gruff man of comparable stature, he ended up with what he admitted was a woman, adding to scar in an attempt to add masculinity to the character. According to his official biography, Kenshin was born on June 20, 1849. He stands at 1.58 m (5 ft 2 in) and weighs 48 kg (106 lb).

Related Topics:
Iaido - Katana - Wakizashi - Sakabat? - June 20 - 1849

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The contrast of Kenshin and his former Battousai persona are used as metaphors of change and renewal. Kenshin-san, the pleasant and humble wanderer of the Meiji Era, and the Batt?sai, the assassin he was during the feudal era during the reign of the Shogunate. Under dire circumstances, Kenshin can lapse into his old ways of the Batt?sai persona. However, this is usually due to great anger or offense in which his control slips.

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In the original Japanese anime and manga, the form of "I" that Kenshin uses is "sessha" (humble first-person), which is extremely respectful and humble. Saying "sessha" is like saying "this one". Use of the word humbles oneself before the person he or she is talking to. The word is used to distinguish the two sides of Kenshin - for instance, the "hitokiri" side of Kenshin would instead refer to himself as "ore," the most confident, if not conceited, form of "I". Also, in the original Japanese anime and manga, "rurouni" uses the word "gozaru", which is a form of "to be", which the "hitokiri" side doesn't use. This is translated in the English dub into Kenshin saying "that it is" numerous times.

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Kenshin is partially based on Kawakami Gensai, a real hitokiri and master swordsman who worked with the Imperialists during the Meiji revolution, but afterwords his personal beliefs clashed with that of the new government, a conflict that resulted in his execution. Like Kenshin, Kawakami was a small, thin man of almost feminine appearance, and an expert of his own unique school of swordsmanship.

Related Topics:
Kawakami Gensai - Hitokiri

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Kenshin was sold into slavery after his parents died of cholera. Kenshin was born named Shinta, without a family name. Hiko Seijur? XIII gave him the given name "Kenshin" (heart of sword). Kenshin later obtained "Himura" (of the red village), his family name.

Related Topics:
Slavery - Cholera

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Young Kenshin abandons his training with his master to fight and protect the down-trodden during the revoluton. During this time, Kenshin falls in love with a woman named Yukishiro Tomoe. Tomoe, employed by Shogun spies, originally planned on killing him to avenge the death of her fiancée, Kiyosato Akira (it should be noted that Kiyosato, whom Kenshin killed, managed to scar Kenshin's left cheek, initiating what would become his signature "X"-shaped scar). After meeting Kenshin, and after the holocaust of Kyoto and the destruction of the Choshu clan, Tomoe was instructed by Katsura, Kenshin's commanding officer, to live in the mountains with Kenshin under the guise husband and wife. Over the coming months, Tomoe taught Kenshin the way of living as a civilian; as a farmer, and as a husband. As the political conflicts of Japan drew closer and closer to their home each day, Tomoe went to the waiting Shogun assassins in order to save Kenshin. Realizing that her feelings for Kenshin were being used to the advantage of his assailants, she throws herself in front of Kenshin's opponent in order to disorientate him, thus giving Kenshin the upper hand in the fight. But that meant that Kenshin's sword would slice through her. Tomoe dies after completing the "X"-shaped scar on Kenshin's face.

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Following the death of his love, Kenshin vows never to kill again once finishing his work to bring about the revolution, seeking life as a wanderer (or "rurouni"). With his reverse-blade sword, or sakabatou, the rurouni travels freely helping strangers here and there. It is during this period of his life that Kenshin meets Kamiya Kaoru, the young master of the Kamiya-Kasshin-ryu dojo. Accepting Kaoru's offer to stay in the dojo, Kenshin's life from then on is filled with adventure. He establishes lifelong relationships with the likes of former pickpocket Myojin Yahiko; Sekihotai member/street fighter for hire Sagara Sanosuke; foxy doctor Takani Megumi; Machimaki Misao and rival-turned-ally Shinomori Aoshi (both members of the Oniwaban-shu ninja clan); and longtime adversary of the hitokiri battousai, ex-Shinsen Gumi member turned policeman, Saito Hajime. Likewise, Kenshin makes his share of enemies - most notably former assassin and general lunatic Udo Jin'e; Shishio Makoto, successor to Kenshin's position as hitokiri battousai; and another, more haunting, ghost from his past, Yukishiro Enishi, Tomoe's revenge-obsessed brother. To defeat such foes, Kenshin was forced to resume his training and mend his relationship with Hiko Seijur? , while forging the strongest bonds with his allies. In doing so, Kenshin falls in love with Kaoru and eventually marries her, having a son named Himura Kenji.

Related Topics:
Kamiya Kaoru - Myojin Yahiko - Sagara Sanosuke - Takani Megumi - Machimaki Misao - Shinomori Aoshi - Saito Hajime - Udo Jin'e - Shishio Makoto - Yukishiro Enishi - Himura Kenji

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In Rurouni Kenshin: Seis?hen/Samurai X: Reflection, an OVA which chronicles the aftermath of the anime series, Kenshin and Kaoru contract an unidentified disease, but probably tuberculosis. Kenshin, away from home, fulfilling his vow to help the helpless, is ravaged by this disease and is slated as missing, if not worse. When a bed-ridden Kaoru decides on looking for him he is already on his road home, struggling with each step. The two finally meet after what seems like an eternity and Kaoru notices Kenshin's scar has finally faded away, signifying an end to his life of pain and bloodshed and commencement of a life of peace, as he dies in her lap. This does not happen in the manga, although much of Seisouhen takes place after the manga's conclusion, so there is no outright contradiction of its possibility.

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