# Rurouni Kenshin (1996)

> A reformed former assassin wanders Meiji era Japan with a reverse-blade sword, protecting the innocent while refusing to kill.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/25916

## Facts

- Seasons: 3
- Episodes: 94
- Episode runtime: 25 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: animation, action, adventure, comedy
- Network: Fuji TV
- Cast: Mayo Suzukaze, Miki Fujitani, Mina Tominaga, Yuji Ueda, Mika Doi, Hirotaka Suzuoki, Tomo Sakurai, Yoshito Yasuhara
- TMDB rating: 8.5/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0182629/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: strong
- Complexity: accessible
- Violence: moderate
- Tone: warm, comedic, melancholic, sincere, brisk

## What critics say

Audiences broadly regard the series as a well-crafted, acclaimed action anime whose fight choreography and warm character bonds carry its historical drama.

## Synopsis

Rurouni Kenshin (1996-1998) is a Japanese animated shonen action series created for Fuji TV and produced by Studio Deen, a classic anime tradition spanning three seasons and 94 episodes. Its protagonist, the former hitman Kenshin Himura (voiced by Mayo Suzukaze), wanders the Meiji era with a reverse-bladed sakabato, determined never to kill again. Kenshin's journey places him alongside Kaoru Kamiya (Miki Fujitani), a kendo teacher who runs a dojo, and the young Yahiko Myoujin (Mina Tominaga), while Sanosuke Sagara (Yuji Ueda), a street fighter, joins the group. The engine of the show is simple and concrete: Kenshin takes on jobs and rivals from the shadows of the revolution, facing swordsmen who still believe in killing and political schemers who want to revive the old violence. Each arc mixes brisk swordfights with light comic domestic moments at the dojo and quiet scenes of regret. Set in a newly modernized Japan where swords have been outlawed, the series balances warmth, humor, and melancholy, with a steady insistence on honor and the cost of violence. Fans of Samurai Champloo and Gintama will find resonance in its blend of historical texture, comedy, and sword action.

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