Rurouni Kenshin

Description

From Viz:
One hundred and forty years ago in Kyoto, with he coming of the American "Black Ships," there arose a warrior who, felling men with his bloodstained blade, gained the name Hitokiri, manslayer! His killer blade helped close the turbulent Bakumatsu era and slashed open the progressive age known as Meiji. Then he vanished, and with the flow of years, became legend.

Vol 1 includes the pilot Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story 1.
Vol 3 includes the pilot Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story 2.
Vol 6 includes the prequel Crescent Moon in the Warring States.
Vol 28 includes the epilogue Yahiko's Reversed-Edge Sword and the oneshot Meteor Strike.

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Type

Manga

Related Series

Rurouni Kenshin - Tokuhitsuban (Alternate Version)

Rurouni Kenshin Ibun: Ashitarou Zenka Ari (Sequel)

Rurouni Kenshin (Novel) (Side Story)

Rurouni Kenshin Uramaku - Honoo o Suberu (Prequel)

Associated Names

Kenshin (WATSUKI Nobuhiro)

Kenshin - Samurai vagabondo

Kenshin Le Vagabond (French)

Kenshin, el guerrero samurái

Lãng khách Kenshin

Rurouni Kenshin: Una historia romántica de un espadachín de la era Meiji

Ruróni Kensin

Rurōni Kenshin -Meiji Kenkaku Rōman Tan-

Samurai X

Бродяга Кэнсин

Րուրոունի Կենշին

الرحال كينشين

ซามูไรเพนจร

るろうに剣心

るろうに剣心 -明治剣客浪漫譚-

Groups Scanlating

Latest Release(s)

c.250 by MANGA Plus 2 years ago

c.249 by MANGA Plus 2 years ago

c.248 by MANGA Plus 2 years ago

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Status in Country of Origin

28 Tankoubon Volumes (Complete)
22 Kanzenban Volumes (Complete)
14 Bunkoban Volumes (Complete)

Completely Scanlated?

Yes

Anime Start/End Chapter

Starts at Vol 1, Chap 1 (1996/2023) / Vol 19, Chap 165 (Trust & Betrayal) / Vol 8, Chap 62 (New Kyoto Arc)

Ends at Vol 18, Chap 151 (1996 EP 62) / Vol 21, Chap 179 (Trust & Betrayal) Skips Chap 171 / Vol 17, Chap 147 (New Kyoto Arc) Heavily abridged / Vol 13, Chap 106 (2023 S2)

User Reviews

Rurouni Kenshin by Rashid

Forum

14 topics, 118 posts

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User Rating

Average: 8.7 / 10.0 (2028 votes)

Bayesian Average: 8.67 / 10.0

36%

26%

20%

10%

Last Updated

October 9th, 2025 12:15pm PDT - 6 days ago

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Genre

Action Comedy Drama Historical Martial Arts Mature Romance Shounen Supernatural
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Categories

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Category Recommendations

Usagi Yojimbo

Liu Yao: The Revitalization of Fuyao Sect (Novel)

Rurouni Kenshin - Tokuhitsuban

Spriggan

Kamui-Den Dai-2-bu

Recommendations

Shin Angyo Onshi

Hagane no Renkinjutsushi

Author(s)

Artist(s)

Year

Original Publisher

Shueisha

Serialized In (magazine)

Shuukan Shounen Jump (Shueisha)

Licensed (in English)

Yes

English Publisher

MANGA Plus

Viz (28 Volumes & 9 Omnibuses - Complete)

Activity Stats (vs. other series)

Weekly Pos #711

(-83)

Monthly Pos #1275

(-251)

3 Month Pos #1960

(-168)

6 Month Pos #2280

(-128)

Year Pos #2446

(+426)

List Stats

On 1394 reading lists

On 1440 wish lists

On 5122 completed lists

On 248 unfinished lists

On 682 custom lists

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Forum Posts Click to view the forum

Rurouni Kenshin Gets New TV Anime by Liden Films

4 years ago

New Live-Action Rurouni Kenshin Film In the Works

7 years ago

Is the 1st season of the anime faithful to the manga?

8 years ago

Nobuhiro Watsuki Draws 2-Chapter Rurouni Kenshin Spinoff

9 years ago

how does it hold up to today's shounen heavy hitters?

12 years ago

User Comments [ Order by usefulness ]

My starting point

by seihanda
5 years ago

Rating: 8.0 / 10.0

Everybody gonna start somewhere right?
Rurouni Kenshi was my start

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A Shounen Classic

by zombieproof
10 years ago

Rating: 7.0 / 10.0

Rurouni Kenshin is an awesome story that started the late 90s trend of lovable goofs that turn out to be highly skilled legends.

The battles throughout were interesting. In my experience many action mangas have battles that are too long and drawn out. The fights in this manga were concise, made sense, and were entertaining. It was a much more fun read than when a manga will have a full ten chapters on one fight. Believe me, I read Samurai Deeper Kyo before this. I was expecting the same but was thankfully relieved. Rurouni Kenshin also balanced simultaneous fights very well, which I've seen is harder to do in manga. Separate battles were never too long that they became frustrating, in that perspectives switched between battles without staying on one for too long or jumping back and forth so frequently that both fights became boring.
But, if you're looking for realistic fighting, this is probably not for you as the battles are very shounen-esque in their fantasy elements. There are a lot of secret techniques and improbable moves. Like any non-realistic fighting manga the battles could get slightly silly in going a bid over the top, but Rurouni Kenshin by no means has 'Dragon Ball Z syndrome' in that the enemies don't have to ridiculously outmatch the one before them and not all battles are won with strength alone.

Transitioning from different arcs was a bit choppy in my opinion, as there was no be all end all plot at the beginning. But, this manga was not episodic or spontaneous, as many things were subtly hinted at earlier times. The end was also nicely wrapped up with an epilogue, so don't be worried about being left feeling like something was missing.

The art is certainly stylistically older, but it’s still very good in that it’s for the most part rather proportional and precise. I was a bit wary at first because many series with this late 90s style can turn out to be a nightmare, but this was the golden example of how to use it. You can tell what's going on in the fight scenes, you know what everything is supposed to be, and all the characters are distinguishable. I think the art also got more comfortable as the story progressed.

This manga brought some unique light touches of philosophy into it as well, not delving too psychologically deep into it but was certainly more thorough than typical shounen manga clichés. The struggles of the characters were taken seriously and explored to some extent throughout the whole story. Themes were definitely not soap opera like in that all emotional driven themes had a purpose and weren't used for cheap drama.

One element of Rurouni Kenshin that I found really disappointing was the way the lead female, Kaoru, was written. She is given strength and sword techniques, but rarely used them, and as the manga went on she was pushed back from a lead character to a support role. Though she has a disciple who she trains very well, and is shown to be very knowledgeable about swords and techniques, she has maybe two actual fights. Her personality also seems to just drastically change with no reason through the story. Though the lead, Kenshin, changes as well, for Kaoru there was hardly any character development behind it and almost felt like the author had changed his mind about her character entirely. It was so frustrating because she was given an assumption that her fighting in the battles was not even considered, even though her disciple, who was much less trained than her, often did. Even times when it seemed like it would be a perfect opportunity for her to take up a sword and defend herself, she didn't, and someone else bailed her out.

Despite my one character disappointment, the manga as a whole is good. It is interesting and has many character driven moments instead of being a cheap shounen that only progresses through kinda unnecessary fighting (Rurouni Kenshin by no means has less fighting though, it is a fighting manga don't get me wrong). All in all, it’s a good classic manga that inspired many others in the years following it, and I recommend checking it out.

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The best romance/martial arts manga ever....

by grungefan23
12 years ago

Rating: 10.0 / 10.0

Needless to say, this manga is an absolute masterpiece. The work of art is pure beauty and inspiration. Much better than the anime and will always have a special place in one's heart who enjoyed this series from beginning to end. 'Nuff said.

... Last updated 10 years ago

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Really Great... Really, really!

by lover-fighter
12 years ago

Rating: 10.0 / 10.0

I'm sorry my comment is long, but I really love this manga! I have not found a manga that really illustrates the complexity of the human being until RK. I have heard that the author was restricted in his development to comply with SJ and claims he was a little disappointed with the result but nonetheless he does a beautiful job!

The art extremely refreshing and unique. The lines are soft when needed to evoke a sensitive emotion, then are dark and angular during battle. The art itself reflects the situation and the conflicts of the heart.
The story artfully weaves romance, tragedy, action, and comedy into one, wonderful result.
I loved how the complexities of battle was eminent in the story. Making the decision to stay true to your ideals/values even if going against them and killing is what will keep the people important to you safe. That conflict was gracefully executed.
Personally, I think the romance could have been developed with more depth. It developed but it felt closer to friendship than lovers and then suddenly flipped to a "lover"-feel.

The development with Tomoe as a lover for Kenshin felt more realistic than the development with Kaoru. With TomoexKenshin, it felt pretty skin deep but it seemed like Kenshin was more invested in the relationship than Tomoe (since he could sleep in front of her even though he was always battle-ready). Tomoe seemed distant until she left him, but then she was willing to die for Kenshin. It felt kind of abrupt. Then with KaoruxKenshin, Kenshin never really shows any big interest in her other than valuing her company. That strikes me as more friend-zoned than "my lover" whereas it was pretty obvious Kaoru was crushing on Kenshin from the beginning (but you know, who wouldn't? <3Kenshin<3). Then when she's killed in the last arc he goes into this huge depression like he was her "lover" the entire time. Again, pretty abrupt. Plus I don't think there was one kiss, not even a peck. Even from Tomoe, HIS WIFE. Though, despite my complaints, I think it was still very well done.
Also the comedy isn't "in your face" nor is it nonexistent/sparse. There is just enough that it keeps the story lovable since the story is pretty dark and would feel incomplete if it were excluded.
I liked that there wasn't the "damsel in distress" ploy either (thats really getting old for me). The women were strong and independent but sensitive and they weren't man-haters either. They were realistic (in shape and attitude), a good example for what real women are and should be.

A really enjoyable read. I fell in love with the characters. I actually got into the story where I couldn't just sit and read it quietly. I reacted like I was there experiencing the story with the characters. It felt like a story that could have been lived and though I do like the more radical/unrealistic stories that are common nowadays because I find them enjoyable, this was extremely refreshing.
I may be newer manga reader, but this manga will be one I reread and hail as a classic.

... Last updated 12 years ago

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Brings Back Memories

by P_O_C_K_Y
12 years ago

Rating: 10.0 / 10.0

I remember watching the anime when I was younger and then discovering the manga which, of course, turned out to be even better. You grow to love the characters, the plot, the adventures, the love. This manga has it all, nicely woven together in a nice 28 volumes....

Haha, okay, it's a bit long and I read it sporadically, but liked it nonetheless! It might take you a while or you could be one of those people that reads a manga in one sitting (might not be possible for this one), but you'll finish because it's impossible to give up on.

You'll be satisfied in the end and you might not revisit it because you'll remember it's over 200 chapters long, but you'll always remember it. A brilliant, brilliant manga. Definitely an ace and a manga all should read at least once.

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One Cannot Be So Beautiful

by Honeymilk8
12 years ago

Rating: 10.0 / 10.0

Ever since the first chapter, this book has inspired me. Even though I love Kenshin, you always have that book feeling of, "But they're such a wonderful couple!" I would hate to take Kenshin away from Kaoru.

No one can match Watsuki-sensei's art or creativity when it comes to this book. Yes, I have read many other very unique and favorable books that I would say the same about, but right now, this is the page for Rurouni Kenshin.

I read it all on my iTouch through scans, but unfortunately, the chapters contains the battle against Shishio was missed by me. Regretfully, I am happy to read through all of the chapters that come up to the climax of the main arc, because I read thisanga so quickly that I have forgotten most of the chapters.

Well, all I need to say is that this is a wonderful book, and I reccommend some of this same authors other books, which, I have to say, I have not read all, but all are satisfying reads, not to be compared with RuroKen.

... Last updated 12 years ago

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Kenshin and kaoru forever

by kaorudojo
13 years ago

Rating: 10.0 / 10.0

Kenshin and Kaoru forever.
I love this couple, they are tender, touch my soul, are incredible.
They are one of my favorite couples of manga and anime.
The story is interesting, very good, you get caught.

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Awesome

by scarredswordheart
13 years ago

Rating: 10.0 / 10.0

RK seems to have the right blend of drama, romance, tragedy and comedy all within one story. Rare is the story that can be all of these things and still be believable.

Himura Kenshin is a man of depth and contradiction, seeming to be a placid, even clownish personage upon first glance, but if one looks into the depths of those violet eyes, one can find the hidden sorrow and ferocity that drive him beneath the humble facade.

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The sentimental manga

by Cassiopea
13 years ago

Rating: 8.9 / 10.0

I read this series awhile ago, at least a good few years by now (And I actually haven't finished it) it was back when I first started out reading manga.

It's a quality series, definitely a worthy one. It is legimately engaging and makes for a nice read.

It isn't my all time favourite manga, but it was definitely a likable one. Feel free to have a go at it!

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A Classic

by rvmr
14 years ago

Rating: 10.0 / 10.0

There are classics in the manga world, I find. The really popular ones of the past few decades I call The Classics. These include Naruto, Fruits Basket, Bleach, Inuyasha, etc. Titles that everyone knows whether they read manga or not. Rurouni Kenshin is one of them.

If you haven't read it, read it now. I've read Rurouni Kenshin about six times, I think. It has romance, it's funny, it's all action, history and adventure, and the familiar anime action-fantasy. It's amazing. Just read it.

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