Rurouni Kenshin Part I: Origins (2012)

A serial killer fabricates evidence against a former assassin, who promises to stop the killings by seeking help from a legendary street fighter.
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Native Title: るろうに剣心
Also Known As: Rurōni Kenshin , Ruroni Kenshin , Samurai X , Rurouni Kenshin: Origins , Rurouni Kenshin Part I: Origins
Screenwriter & Director: Otomo Keishi
Screenwriter: Fujii Kiyomi
Genres: Action, Adventure, Historical, Drama
Tags: Adapted From A Manga, Skilled Killer, Sword-fight, Strong Male Lead, Power Struggle, Meiji Period, Death, Swordsman Male Lead, Tragic Past, Martial Arts

Country: Japan
Type: Movie
Release Date: Aug 25, 2012
Duration: 2 hr. 14 min.
Score: 8.6 (scored by 14,244 users)
Ranked: #330
Popularity: #646
Content Rating: G - All Ages

TIME-LINE

"Rurouni Kenshin: The Origin" is a prequel manga series written and illustrated by Nobuhiro Watsuki. It serves as a backstory to the popular "Rurouni Kenshin" manga and anime series. The story delves into the past of Kenshin Himura, a former assassin turned wanderer seeking redemption during the Meiji era in Japan. It explores Kenshin's upbringing, his training as an assassin for the Ishin Shishi, and the events that led to his decision to abandon his violent ways and become a rurouni, a wandering swordsman who vows never to kill again

In the picturesque countryside of Japan during the tumultuous Bakumatsu period, a young boy named Shinta lives a simple life in a small village. However, his peaceful existence is shattered when a group of bandits, led by the ruthless Kiyosato Akira, attacks the village, leaving devastation in their wake. Amidst the chaos, Shinta encounters a wandering swordsman named Hiko Seijuro, who witnesses his courage in defending his friends. Impressed by Shinta's resilience, Hiko takes him under his wing and renames him Kenshin, training him in the ways of the sword.

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Under Hiko's tutelage, Kenshin hones his skills in the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu style of swordsmanship, mastering techniques that elevate him to unmatched prowess. However, as Kenshin grows older, he becomes increasingly aware of the political turmoil gripping Japan. The flames of revolution burn bright as the Ishin Shishi seek to overthrow the Tokugawa Shogunate and usher in a new era of modernization under the Meiji Restoration.
Drawn into the conflict, Kenshin becomes an assassin for the Ishin Shishi, earning the moniker Hitokiri Battosai, the legendary manslayer. His lethal efficiency on the battlefield earns him both fear and admiration, but beneath his stoic facade lies a conflicted soul burdened by the weight of his actions. Despite his prowess as a swordsman, Kenshin grapples with the morality of his deeds, haunted by the lives he has taken in the name of revolution.

Amidst the chaos of war, Kenshin crosses paths with Tomoe Yukishiro, a mysterious woman with ties to the enemy. Despite their opposing allegiances, a bond forms between them, their shared humanity transcending the barriers of conflict. As their relationship deepens, Kenshin finds solace in Tomoe's presence, her compassion offering him a glimpse of redemption amidst the bloodshed.

However, their love is tested when betrayal strikes, and Kenshin is forced to confront the consequences of his past. Betrayed by those he once trusted, Kenshin's world is shattered, and he is consumed by grief and guilt. In the crucible of tragedy, Kenshin makes a solemn vow to forsake his life as an assassin and seek atonement for his sins as a rurouni, a wandering swordsman who vows never to kill again.

Thus begins Kenshin's journey of redemption, as he wanders the countryside, offering aid to those in need and striving to uphold the values of justice and compassion. With each step he takes, Kenshin seeks to carve out a path of peace in a world plagued by violence, his past serving as a constant reminder of the price of redemption. And so, the legend of the legendary swordsman known as the Hitokiri Battosai gives way to the tale of the humble rurouni, whose unwavering resolve and indomitable spirit inspire hope in the hearts of all who cross his path.

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