SUMMARY:

Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story, also known as Rurouni Kenshin, is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Nobuhiro Watsuki. The fictional setting takes place during the early Meiji period in Japan. The story is about a fictional assassin named Himura Kenshin, from the Bakumatsu who becomes a wanderer to protect the people of Japan. Watsuki wrote this series upon his desire of making a shōnen manga different from the other ones that were published in that time, with Kenshin being a former assassin and the story taking a more serious tone as it continued. Although the tragedy tone was highly expanded as the manga advanced, Watsuki became determinated to give it a happy ending as it is aimed to teenagers.

MAIN CHARACTERS:

1. Himura Kenshin - is the titular "Rurouni" {RUROUNI: a wandering traveler} and main character of the series. He is formerly known as the Hitokiri Battousai, a deadly man-slayer whom slaughtered many men in the war before the Meiji era. Kenshin performs the deadly style of the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu, now an ancient study. With this dangerous sword style, he uses his Sakabato - {SAKABATO: a reverse blade that can not cut nor kill anyone.} - to restrain himself from killing anyone ever again, and relinquish the title of the Hitokiri Battousai that he carries. The Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu is a powerful style that is used to protect, but with Kenshin and his Sakabato, he does not harm anyone.

2. Kamiya Kaoru is a seventeen-year old dojo instructor and the first main character Kenshin meets. When he decides to give up wandering, he becomes a resident of the dojo. Kaoru is a teacher of the Kamiya Kasshin-Ryū style, a swords style used to protect people, and not harm others. Since her father was killed in the war, responsibility for running the family doujo fell to young Kaoru. She is the one who first identifies Kenshin as Hitokiri Battosai and challenges him to a fight. Her pure heart and gentleness touch Kenshin and he accepts her offer to stay at the doujo. As the story progresses, their relationship continues to grow, and Kaoru seems to be harboring feelings for Kenshin. Feelings that she won't openly admit, however. And when she gets angry, Kenshin usually bears the brunt of her rage.

3. Sagara Sanosuke is a former a fighter-for-hire, frequently depicted with a zanbato. After being defeated by Kenshin, he becomes friends with Kenshin's group. His former name is Zanza.