List of minor Rurouni Kenshin characters

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 It has been suggested that Himura Kenji be merged into this article or section. (Discuss)

This page describes the minor/supporting characters of the anime and manga Rurouni Kenshin/Samurai X and the enemies Kenshin battles throughout the series.

Names are in Japanese order, with the family name before the given name. The Viz manga uses the Japanese order in Rurouni Kenshin while the English anime uses the Western order.

Contents

[edit] Main Characters

[edit] Friends of Himura Kenshin

Other people with whom Kenshin has formed friendships at Tokyo and beyond.

[edit] Tsukayama Yūtarō

A rich son of a samurai, who wants nothing more than to learn swordsmanship. In the anime, he wants to become stronger than his father once was. He learns the basics of Kamiya Kasshin Ryū from Kamiya Kaoru and becomes a rival to Myōjin Yahiko, but then returns to the person he believes to be his true sensei, Raijuta. After Raijūta injures him to the extent where he can't use his right hand, he goes to Germany where they have more advanced medicine.

In the manga, Yūtarō is the son of a wealthy merchant (whom served as a samurai, contrary to the anime having him deceased), and wants nothing more than to learn swordsmanship. He first appears in volume 5, chapter 34, as a junior follower of Raijuta. It all ends up with Yūtarō to Germany to try to heal his injury. At the end of the manga, a sign in the Kamiya Kasshin Ryū dojo shows that Yūtarō has returned and is an assistant instructor along with Yahiko. In Yahiko no Sakabato, it is noted that Yutaro is somewhat of a playboy. In the anime, he comes back to Japan with his medical teacher Dr.Hanz, trigerring the events of the "Black Knights Arc." Eventually, Yutaro returns to Germany and quit kenjustu to pursue his medical studies.

[edit] Tsukioka Tsunan

Born Katsuhiro, he was a survivor of the Sekihōtai after it was disbanded by the government. Called Katsu by Sanosuke, Tsunan became a printmaker after the Meiji Restoration. He is an expert at explosive weapons and gunpowder, and intends to use them against the Meiji government. When he and Sano try to embark on a terrorist campaign against the Meiji government later in the series, they are stopped by Kenshin. Since then, Katsu buried his bombs and became a journalist for his own newspaper (in the manga Kenshin is the one who buried Katsu's bombs). Later on in the anime series, he becomes a valuable source of information for Kenshin and Sanosuke, serving as their intelligence source during the Feng Shui arc. However, he still makes bombs solely as a hobby-he has several to give Sanosuke just before following Kenshin to Kyoto.

[edit] Hiko Seijūrō (Niitsu Kakunoshin)

Main article: Hiko Seijūrō

[edit] Himura Kenji

Main article: Himura Kenji

[edit] Sagara Sōzō

  • Japanese Seiyū: Hidehiro Kikuchi
  • English Voice Actor: Steve Staley

Based on the actual captain, Sagara Sōzō (相楽総三? 1839 - 1868) was the leader of the Sekihō Army's (Sekihō-tai) First Troop. Sanosuke looked up to him greatly; he was, to Sanosuke, the ideal role model. He was killed when the Meiji government purged the Sekihō Army, leading to Sanosuke's embitterment towards it. His head was placed on a platform and in a cage for all to see, it haunts Sano to this very day. Sometime after his death, Sano took Sagara Sōzō's family name his name and became Sagara Sanosuke.

Watsuki said that since Sagara Sōzō is an actual historical figure, "talking about his "motif" as a character seems beside the point." The author's mental image of Sagara Sōzō became important in the character development. According to Watsuki, the framework of Sanosuke's memories glorifies Sagara Sōzō in the story. Since, according to Watsuki, Sagara Sōzō genuinely wanted equality for Japan's people, Watsuki wonders about the fate of Japan if Sagara Sōzō survived. Watsuki debated whether to include the Sekihō Army Incident due to its obscurity. Since he believed that the movement exposed the truths and lies of the Meiji Restoration, he decided to include the movement. One of Watsuki's friends told the Rurouni Kenshin author that another one of his friends feared that Watsuki may be "getting in too deep." In addition, as Watsuki wrote the storyline, the popularity of the series fell to the lowest point since the debut of the series. Watsuki reasoned that he wished to explore the "true story of the Meiji Revolution" and therefore could not leave out the story of the Sekihō Army. Watsuki did not base the appearance of Sagara Sōzō on actual historic photographs; he wondered about the appearance of the real Sagara Sōzō. Watsuki instead formed his version of the character based on his mental image of the real person. He says that the character is popular "in the eyes (and hearts) of female readers." [1]

[edit] Sekihara Tae

Sekihara Tae (関原 妙?) is the 20-something manager of the beef hot pot (gyūnabe, or sukiyaki) restaurant, the Akabeko. She has a twin sister named Sae managing in a similar restaurant called the Shirōbeko in Kyoto. Sanosuke also owes her a seemingly large sum of money in which interest is accounted for. In the anime, and a bit in the manga, she has also tried to push the relationship between Kenshin and Kaoru since it seemed to her that it was not working.

[edit] Sanjō Tsubame

A waitress at Tae's restaurant, Sanjō Tsubame (三条 燕?) becomes Yahiko's sweetheart. She was saved by him from the ronin her family worked for as Yahiko stopped them from robbing the Akabeko. She is very shy and soft spoken. When Kenshin enters a living hell after the supposed death of Kamiya Kaoru at the hands of Yukishiro Enishi, Tsubame pleads for Kenshin to help Yahiko fight back against one of Enishi's abandoned allies and brings Kenshin back into the world of the living. Later she and Yahiko have a child.

In Seisōhen/Reflection, the viewer see that Tsubame and Yahiko had become a couple and Watsuki has mentioned in his notes Tsubame and Yahiko's son 'Shinya'; they become a couple in the manga storyline.

[edit] Dr. Oguni Gensai

Oguni Gensai (小国玄斎?) is a venerable old doctor and friend of the Kamiya Dojo, he often offers treatment or advice early in the series. In the television show, he is the grandfather of two impossibly cute little girls (Ayame and Suzume) who also like hanging around the Dojo. After the group meets Takani Megumi, he offers her training and lets her take over his clinic when on vacation or out collecting herbs. He is seen in a few background shots in the manga.

[edit] Ayame

Nonexistent in the manga, Ayame (あやめ?) is the older of the two siblings. Like many of the village children, she likes to play with Kenshin.

[edit] Suzume

Nonexistent in the manga, Suzume (すずめ?) is the younger granddaughter of Dr. Gensai. She and her sister, along with other village children, like to play with Kenshin. All her dialog consists of repeating what Ayame or someone else just said.

[edit] Chief Uramura

A local police chief, Uramura (浦村?) or Chief Uramura (浦村署長 Uramura-shochō?) is a good friend of Kenshin's and often informs him of local disturbances. During the Jinchū arc, Uramura's residence is attacked along with the Maegawa dojo and the Akabeko as part of Yukishiro Enishi's plan to strike at the places in Tokyo most important to Kenshin; fortunately Uramura and his family are saved by Kenshin. As a favour to Kenshin, he deliberately points the police in the wrong direction when they attempt to arrest Sanosuke toward the end of the manga. He was not given a name until the Jinchū arc in the manga; in the anime he was simply called "chief" by Yamagata Aritomo.

[edit] Oibore

Referred to as "Geezer" in the Viz translation. A kindly and friendly old man who wanders from place to place and resides within the fallen villages when he chooses to stay in one place for a while. When Kenshin falls into a deep depression after failing to protect Kamiya Kaoru from being killed, Oibore gently persuades Kenshin (partly through the use of hakubaiko perfume) to find his purpose to stand again rather than listen to his friends telling him to avenge Kaoru, who mean well but lack the insight to realize what Kenshin's inner conflict is.

He is later revealed to be the father of Yukishiro Tomoe and Enishi. He is aware that Tomoe has died and also of Kenshin's relationship to her. He is last seen with the broken Enishi in the fallen village in Tokyo; father and son remark that their company seems familiar, though Enishi fails to recognize the identity of the old man while Oibore's knowledge of the young man's relation to him is left more ambiguous. Both their fates are left unknown.

[edit] Oniwabanshū

The Oniwabanshū were the protectors of Edo Castle during the Edo period. In Rurouni Kenshin, they are comprised of the following members: Shinomori Aoshi, Han'nya, Shikijo, Hyottoko, Beshimi, Makimachi Misao, Okina, and various former members of the Oniwabanshū.

After Watsuki first discussed the "Megumi arc" with the editor, the editor replied with the opinion that, in Watsuki's words, "having a swordsman of Kenshin's caliber fighting a group of punk-thugs still coming into their first facial hair mi-i-ight not make for the most epic of manga." To solve this, Watsuki modified the Oniwabanshū to make them onmitsu (ninja; Watsuki does not like using the word "ninja" as he feels that using it "like that" is "cheesy" [2]), and added details as publication progressed. Watsuki created various shapes and temperaments for the various Oniwabanshū characters. [3][2] Watsuki describes the addition of the Oniwabanshū as a "last minute" choice. [4]

[edit] Shinomori Aoshi

Main article: Shinomori Aoshi

[edit] Makimachi Misao

Main article: Makimachi Misao

[edit] Kashiwazaki Nenji (Okina)

Kashiwazaki Nenji (柏崎念至?), also known as Okina, is a strong fighter and a talented strategist. He is said to be the only one who can equal the former Oniwabanshū leader in a fight. Okina was to become the next leader but refused the position, saying that it was the time for the young, not the old and recommended Aoshi to be the next leader. He was then made an agent in Kyoto for gathering information. Upon retiring, he gave up his fighting ways (although he was seen fighting Aoshi) and now lives peacefully in Kyoto at the Aoiya (House of Malva), the headquarters of the Oniwabanshū (which is now a hotel), where he raised Misao. Although old, Okina still possesses a quick mind and knows all of the outer and inner workings of Kyoto since the old intelligence network of the Oniwabanshu is still active. He uses this network to help Kenshin find Arai Seikū and Hiko Seijūrō. Okina tends to like drinking games and pretty girls.

[edit] Characters from the Samurai X OVA/Memory Arc

People that haunt Kenshin's memories of the Bakumatsu.

[edit] Yukishiro Tomoe

Main article: Yukishiro Tomoe

[edit] Yukishiro Enishi

Main article: Yukishiro Enishi

[edit] Katsura Kogorō

  • Japanese Seiyu: Tomokazu Seki
  • English Voice Actor: Corey M. Gagne

Katsura Kogorō was the leader of the Chōshu clan. He worked hard to bring down the Shogunate. Katsura was an intelligent, wise and calculating man. He pitied Kenshin's emotional struggle between the old Shinta and the unrepentant Battōsai. So, he saved his life by asking Tomoe to become his 'sheath'. Upon the accession of the Meiji government, Katsura became one of the three Ishin Sanketsu. He died close to the same time of Saigō's demise, in 1877.

[edit] Okita Sōji

  • Japanese Seiyu: Yōko Ogai
  • English Voice Actor: J. Shannon Weaver

A master swordsman of the Shinsengumi. Okita was the captain of Shinsengumi's First Troop. In the OVA, he often fought together with Saitō and was involved in the Ikedaya Affair in 1864. On one of his night encounters with Kenshin, he eagerly draws his sword and comments that Kenshin's Hiten Mitsurugi-Ryū gets better every time he sees it. However, when Saitō recommends Okita to stand down, Okita calmly says not to be concerned as he is suppose to be the leader of the first squad of the Shinsengumi. Saitō quickly points out that Okita is ill as he coughs violently beforehand, much to Okitas' surprise, and Saitō takes over the duel with Kenshin. He succumbed to tuberculosis and died shortly after the fall of the Tokugawa regime in 1868. Seta Sōjirō is based on the Okita from novel Shinsengumi Keppuroku and therefore, darker and more like a villain than the real Okita. Although his given name is sometimes pronounced as "Soushi" in the fictional world, it was actually pronounced "Sōji."

[edit] Iizuka

  • Japanese Seiyuu: Ryūsei Nakao
  • English Voice Actor: Lowell Bartholomee

Iizuka was the field examiner for the Chōshu clan. He was responsible recording the group's kills. Laid back, a joker, and easy going, Iizuka was in fact a greedy double agent, working for the Tokugawa shogunate. He was a contributing factor in plotting the downfall of Hitokiri Battosai - Himura Kenshin. Iizuka attempted to skip country as soon as the trap was in place, but was assassinated by Shishio Makoto in an alleyway before he was able to escape Kyoto (in the manga, Shishio roasts him with one of his hiken, probably the Kaguzuchi, on a moutainside).

[edit] Kiyosato Akira

Tomoe's dead fiance, Kiyosato Akira (清里 明?) was a member of the Mimawarigumi. A kind and caring man, he and Tomoe were childhood sweethearts, and they planned to get married. He was on bodyguard duty for the Kyoto administrator, Shigekura Jūbei on the day of his death. He was slaughtered by Kenshin in a Kyoto street along with the official he was guarding. It was all due to the tragedy of human folly; Akira only joined the Mimawarigumi so that Tomoe could look at him as a hero, as he believed that she was unhappy with the prospect being married to the mere second son of a samurai. Instead, she ended up seeing him killed.

[edit] Yaminobu

The Yaminobu is a pro-Shogunate covert network that had formulated a plan to assassinate Kenshin

[edit] Murakami

Nicknamed "Rensato", Murakami was the first Yaminobu (western-based ninja like the Oniwabanshū) Kenshin encountered. He ambushed Kenshin from the rooftops as he made his way back to the Chōshu headquarters. Murakami possessed quick reflexes and was skilled with his chain swords, but ultimately, Kenshin made a rain of blood when he sliced the ninja in half as he sailed over the assassin's head.

[edit] Nakajō

The manga reveals one of the Shogun ninja clan warriors, Nakajō (中条?), as the best friend of Otowa Hyōko, who he had nightly killing sprees with (he got his bow and arrow weapon from Otowa). Nakajō is the first one to engage Kenshin in the forest. In the manga he gets his hands cut off by Kenshin and ends up triggering an explosion that kills him and temporarily distorts Kenshin's hearing. In the OVA Kenshin's sword impales him through the heart and, as he dies, triggers the explosion.

[edit] Sumita

Sumita (角田?) is another Shogun ninja out for Kenshin during the plot to kill him in the forest. Kenshin had already lost his hearing, and was forced to fight Sumita and Mumyōi. A bulk of a man quite comparable to Kujiranami Hyogo in size, Sumita is adept at fighting with a giant axe. He was dispatched by the Battousai differently in both his incarnations: in the OVA his throat was pierced by the katana, while in the manga his legs were sliced off. He stumbled away, pulled another mine, and died in the explosion. Kenshin temporarily loses his eyesight due to the flash.

[edit] Yatsume Mumyōi

Main article: Yatsume Mumyōi

A member of the Yaminobu who eventually became one of Enishi's Six Comrades. In the OAV TsuiokuHen his face was never seen; it was only his arms which were visible when he injured the Battousai together with Sumita. He was injured in the right hand when Battousai impaled it with his wakizashi (in the same manner Saitou Hajime would injure his left and longer arm during the Jinchuu arc) before his companion would light off the bombs which would injure their enemy's sight.

[edit] Tatsumi
  • Japanese Seiyū: Minoru Uchida

A hulk of a man, Tatsumi is the leader of the ninja clan Kenshin fights when looking for Tomoe. In the OVA, he is represented as a physically-fit old man with a ninja outfit who gives Kenshin the beating of his life before Kenshin kills him. His character cares a lot about the Tokugawa values. It should also be noted that in the OVA, he talks a lot, while all other members of his gang are never shown speaking. In the manga, he is depicted (much like many of Kenshin's other enemies) as someone (literally) twice his size. His outfit is more like a judo outfit than (similar to Inui Banjin) a ninja outfit and he lacks pupils. He was the master of Inui Banjin and his death at the hands of Kenshin is used as an excuse by his student to join Enishi's Jinchu campaign. His portrayal in the manga is more brutal (he says they'll kill Tomoe after Kenshin's defeat).

[edit] Leaders

People Kenshin knows in high places.

[edit] Yamagata Aritomo

General Yamagata Aritomo (山縣 有朋 1838 - 1922?), a former Chōshū clansleader, is the commander-in-chief of the Japanese imperial army and the minister of war. Yamagata was a real person, and an important Meiji statesman; he was also the first Prime Minister under the Meiji constitution of 1889. With his modern army, he defeated the samurai uprising led by Saigō Takamori. He died in 1922. The general appears a few times in the series; the first was in episode three, when he sought Kenshin's skills in the new army. They also meet in the Samurai X movie during Takimi Shigure's uprising, and for the last time in Seihousen, in 1893 before the Nisshin (The first Sino-Japanese War) took place.

Watsuki stated that he could not draw his version of Yamagata Aritomo to look like the real person seen in surviving photographs. [1]

[edit] Ōkubo Toshimichi

  • Japanese Seiyuu: Yoshisada Sakaguchi
  • English Voice Actor: Doug Stone

In history, Ōkubo Toshimichi (大久保 利通?) (1830-1878) was one of the five Ishin Shishi - Men of Spirit and the last of the three to have the highest honors in the government. He outlived Katsura and Saigō Takamori. He was a leader of the Satsuma clan, who supported the restoration of imperial power. He was responsible for the suppression of the Satsuma rebellion in 1877, led by Ōkubo's college friend, Saigō Takamori. In Rurouni Kenshin, Ōkubo appears to Kenshin for help in the Shishio crisis. In real life, Ōkubo was murdered by six discontented clansmen on his way to Tokyo on May 14, 1878. In the Kenshin series, Seta Sōjirō murders him and the clansmen take responsibility.

[edit] Kawaji Toshiyoshi

Based on the historical figure, Police Superintendent Kawaji Toshiyoshi (1834-1879) was a member of the Satsuma clan. He played an active part in the cause of the Satsuma clan during the Revolution and fought against the Satsuma Rebellion led by one of his former leaders, Saigō Takamori. Since Kawaji made an effort to modernize the police system after the Meiji era began, he earned the title of the "Father of the Japanese police."

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Watsuki, Nobuhiro. "The Secret Life of Characters (5) Sagara Sōzō," Rurouni Kenshin Volume 2. VIZ Media. 28.
  2. ^ a b Watsuki, Nobuhiro. "The Secret Life of Characters (9) Oniwabanshū * Hyottoko," Rurouni Kenshin Volume 3. VIZ Media. 46.
  3. ^ Watsuki, Nobuhiro. "The Secret Life of Characters (8) Oniwabanshū * Beshimi," Rurouni Kenshin Volume 3. VIZ Media. 26.
  4. ^ "The Secret Life of Characters (13) Okashira * Shinomori Aoshi," Rurouni Kenshin Volume 4. VIZ Media. 184.
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