Since its serialization began in 1994, "Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story" has gained immense popularity through its numerous adaptations, including anime, live-action films, and more. The appeal of this work lies in the profound character portrayals that unfold as the story unfolds, as well as the epic battle scenes that will have you on the edge of your seat. Set during the early Meiji period, the greatest period of change in Japanese history, Himura Kenshin, known as "Battousai the Assassin," travels the country as a wanderer, encountering countless people along the way. This story offers a rich variety of memorable scenes. Today, we'll be summarizing the many memorable scenes from "Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story"! It's a work with many particularly memorable scenes, even among the many Jump titles, so be sure to check it out!
7th Place: The First Formidable Enemy to Stand Before Kenshin! Kenshin Himura vs. Jin'ei Udo
First up is the showdown with Udo, arguably the greatest enemy to appear in the opening scene. The opening of this film sees Kenshin, a former master swordsman, suppressing his own powers while performing his duties, often defeating his enemies with energy still in reserve. In this situation, Udo, who, like Kenshin, had been a powerful swordsman, finally appears as a formidable foe with power comparable to Kenshin's.
"A murderer is a murderer until he dies."
Many fans remember the confrontation with Udo as a memorable one, as Kenshin struggled despite having easily defeated various opponents up until that point. What's noteworthy about this scene isn't just that it's Kenshin's first time struggling, but also that it depicts the famous line Udo uttered upon his defeat: "A murderer is a murderer until he dies."
Raising the Story's Theme
The line, "A murderer is a murderer until he dies," questions the way of life of Kenshin, who, like Udou, has killed many people. It is a line of great significance as one of the themes of the work. Although Udou himself exits the story early, the "sorrow of a murderer" that he posed to Kenshin will continue to be portrayed as a theme of the story for a long time.
6th Place: Yahiko's Resolve! Yahiko vs. Kamiya
Next, we'll introduce the showdown between Yahiko and Kariwa Kamiya, also known as "Flying Kamiya," one of the Ten Swords. While the showdown between Kamiya and Yahiko isn't particularly exciting, it's a highly engaging scene, showcasing Yahiko's growth as he faces a formidable foe for the first time, after previously only being protected by Kenshin and the others.
Not just being protected!
Yahiko was weaker than adults and would only be a hindrance in battle. However, by overcoming countless battles alongside Kenshin and the others, he has developed a fighting sense beyond what one would expect from a young boy. In particular, in his latest battle with Kenya, Yahiko takes into account the difference in size and strength, and instead of simply relying on a showdown of strength, he uses clever, clever tactics, including utilizing surrounding buildings, to corner the powerful Kenya.
The Beginning of a Rapid Advance
Later in the story, Yahiko inherits various techniques from Kenshin, becoming one of the most skilled characters in the series. The confrontation between Kamiya and Yahiko introduced here marks the beginning of Yahiko's remarkable rise as a genius swordsman.
5th Place: A Great Internet Meme! Sagara Sanosuke Masters "Double Edge" Technique
Next up is the scene where Kenshin's partner, Sagara Sanosuke, masters the Double Edge technique. Double Edge is Sanosuke's signature technique and one of his most popular throughout the series. Perhaps the author himself predicted that the Double Kiwami would become a popular technique, as the mastery of the technique is depicted in great detail, providing a detailed understanding of its principles.
A Legendary Technique in a Sense
Furthermore, the Double Kiwami is also famous in online memes, known as "Futaeno Kiwami." In some ways, it's even more well-known than the "Flash of the Sky-Flying Dragon." This excellent scene also established Rurouni Kenshin as an online meme, another aspect of the series' popularity, so it's definitely one you'll want to watch.
Detailed Settings
As mentioned earlier, the scene where the Double Extreme is mastered provides a detailed explanation of the principles behind Double Extreme.
Realistic Combat
Rurouni Kenshin features many special moves with clearly explained principles, such as the Double Kiwami and Shishio Makoto's Kasanreishin. Such detailed explanations of the techniques make it possible to depict realistic combat. The scene where the Double Kiwami is mastered is a great glimpse into the profound setting, one of the series' charms, so be sure to check it out.
4th Place: Master "The Flash of the Soaring Dragon"! Reunion with Master Hiko Seijuro
The next scene shows the protagonist, Himura Kenshin, reuniting with his master, Hiko Seijuro, who once excommunicated him, and mastering the ultimate Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu technique, the Sky-Flying Dragon Flash. While Hiko Seijuro doesn't appear often in the series, he is the master of Kenshin, one of the strongest swordsmen in the series, making him one of the most skilled characters in the series.
A Popular Character, But Appears Rarely
Hiko Seijuro's talent and unique sensibility have made him an incredibly popular character. This scene is one of his few appearances, and it's garnered passionate support from Hiko Seijuro fans, who say it's their favorite.
Best Voice Actor
We especially recommend watching this scene in the anime. This is because the voice of Hiko Seijuro in this work is provided by Shuichi Ikeda, who is well-known for his roles as Char Aznable in "Mobile Suit Gundam" and Shanks in "One Piece." Ikeda is an incredibly famous voice actor, known to all anime fans, so his performance is truly impressive, allowing you to fully experience Seijuro's awesomeness, something you can't experience in the manga version.
3rd Place: Punishment from a Brother-in-Law! Kenshin vs. Yukishiro Enishi
Raking in third place, beating out many other popular scenes, is the showdown between Kenshin and Yukishiro Enishi, which also marked the end of the live-action film. Yukishiro Enishi appears as an even more formidable opponent after defeating Shishio Makoto, and is the ultimate villain in the series, boasting top-class skills.
A rare, perfect role, portraying the struggles of a human being
What sets Yukishiro Enishi apart from other villains is that, unusually for an antagonist, he is portrayed as someone with both the struggles of a human being and the values he holds dear. Enishi himself is the younger brother of Kenshin's ex-wife, whom Kenshin once killed, and the two are brother-in-law. However, after Kenshin killed his own sister in an unfortunate accident, he began to resent Kenshin.
Different from other confrontation scenes
Therefore, his reason for confronting Kenshin is due to the grief he feels over the loss of his sister. There is also a scene in which he is unable to take the life of Kamiya Kaoru, who was close in age to his sister. This makes him a distinctive character who is not a perfect villain. It is precisely because he is a villain with a human side, revealing his own values, that his confrontation with Kenshin is profoundly melancholic.
2nd Place: Battousai the Assassin vs. Sojiro the Heavenly Sword! Kenshin vs. Soujiro Seta
Ranked in at a respectable second place is the showdown between Kenshin and Soujiro Seta, one of the most popular characters in the series. Soujiro Seta is one of the few characters to have defeated Kenshin himself, and his skills are so refined that he is known as "Sojiro of the Heavenly Sword." Kenshin's first battle is a shocking turn of events, as he is defeated helplessly, creating a scene that allows viewers to enjoy the inner conflict of Kenshin as he wonders how to counter Soujiro.
A showdown between characters popular with women
Like Kenshin, Seta Soujiro is a very good-looking character, making him extremely popular with women. This makes for a scene where you can enjoy the tactics and interactions between these two characters, making it a very popular scene among women.
The live-action version is packed with charm
In the live-action version, Sojiro is played by popular actor Ryunosuke Kamiki, and just like in the original work, the character is portrayed with great care. Just like in the original work, this is a classic scene where you can fully enjoy the tactics of both sides, so be sure to check it out.
1st Place: A Fateful Showdown! Himura Kenshin vs. Shishio Makoto
Beating out countless other memorable scenes, the final battle between Himura Kenshin and Shishio Makoto took first place. Shishio Makoto is one of the film's most iconic villains, and if asked, "When you think of Rurouni Kenshin's villains, who are they?", most people would name him. Since this final battle with such a well-developed character is such a memorable one, it seems that many fans find it the most memorable.
An antagonist opposite Kenshin
Shishio Makoto believes that "power is everything, and those without power cannot survive." This contrasts sharply with Kenshin, who believes that "power is for helping loved ones and the weak." This makes him the character most opposite to Kenshin in the story, making him a fitting character to serve as Kenshin's greatest antagonist.
His death is also spectacular
His body, which lacks the ability to sweat, can no longer withstand the heat he gives off, causing him to burst into flames and die—a truly tragic end befitting a villain.
The Perfect Villain
From his first appearance to the final battle and death, he was the ultimate villain, leaving a lasting impression on many viewers.
Summary
What did you think? This article ranked the many memorable scenes from "Rurouni Kenshin." If you're looking forward to the 2023 anime remake of "Rurouni Kenshin," be sure to pay attention to the memorable scenes featured in this article while watching!
