Rurouni Kenshin: The Art of Redemption
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- Опубликовано: 8 фев 2025
- In Rurouni Kenshin, the redemption of Battousai the Manslayer is a classic, but with recent events from creator Nobuhiro Watsuki is it still watchable?
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Created by the controversial Nobuhiro Watsuki, Rurouni Kenshin is one of the best selling manga and highly praised manga of all time. The redemption of Battousai the Manslayer is a classic, but with recent events is it still watchable? Can it still teach us despite its creator? Join Mike for the deep dive into the series Rurouni Kenshin!
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Rurouni Kenshin: The Art of Redemption
• Rurouni Kenshin: The A...
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WHOOO! Pinned Comment time!
Hi everyone, thanks for showing up and giving this video a chance. Its been a really wild summer. Since June I've been to San Diego, LA, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Maine, NH, and San Jose, San Fransisco, and Santa Cruz. Much of that was for conventions but trying to keep up with our work schedule on both channels while doing all that travelling has been very intense. Ryan and Grant went to hawaii and Tyler moved as well... But you gotta keep on trucking don't you? I was conflicted on covering another classic this time, i love Kenshin, i wanted to talk about it's history and Watsuki san as well, but I've been nervous about how many classics we've done in a row at this point.
We want to make sure we cover more current anime and movies as well, and that you guys will show up for that. When you're creating a show you're also building an audience. An audience is like a lego set, you want to have every piece fit your final product, if you mix uo your lego pieces you'll have a bunch left over when you're done. Those would be the people who aren't interested in modern anime, or you know, whatever else we'll cover as time goes on. The problem with youtube, is that youre building your lego set blindfolded next to a huge pile of random legos and just hoping you're grabbing the right pieces, ^¬^ sorry for the extended metaphor lol.
Regardless, all of you make putting out these videos and thoughts so amazing, i love reading your comments so much and hope to hear from you all again next week when Grant takes on Dr. Stone!
Don't forget
9/28-29 Hartford CT, Retro World Expo
And 11/2-3 Atlantic City NJ, J1Con!
See you next week!
-Mike
Looking forward to the future videos. Despite my opinion of the author in the video I greatly enjoyed the video. Keep up all the hard work and thank you!
Excellent video!
I understand how difficult it is to talk about the wonderful story in Rurouni Kenshin at the same time as the author's situation. You did very well with it.
I was so impressed with this video that I'm now going to go through your other videos to see if I should subscribe.
You ever plan on doing a video on One Piece?
I want you to make a videos about Fist Of The North Star ( Hokuto No Ken )
by Abhinav Chhetri from India ( Bharat ) .
@@sanjaychhetri5399 we absolutely plan to!
“No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.” ~Heraclitus
To that I say mostly right but you have never met a clumsy person Haraclitus
But overall it was a good deed that Kenshin did, I mean destroying the shogunate. Samurai were very evil lords, they often killed peasants almost just for the fun of beheading them. They were head collectors and often adorned their samurai armor with human heads or other body parts and they constantly oppressed and abused of their power over the peasants class who where not allowed to carry or own metal weapons or tools so they couldn't defend themselves...so yeah killing all those mafia like samurai families is a good thing, they finally paid for their crimes against freedom and against humanity at the hand of Kenshin. :D
Love Heraclitus.
Stannis: “A good act does not wash out the bad, nor a bad act the good. Each should have its own reward.”
Lao tsu Art of war
god that qoute was dope... so were the two first comments on this.
As someone who grew up watching the show, Rurouni Kenshin has really made a profound impact on my storytelling. Loved the video, and I have absolutely subscribed!
WOW! i found you here?
same
Something about 90s Anime style that is so Dynamic and Beautiful love it
*GREAT TEACHER ONIZUKA*
Facts!!. 👌🏾🤴🏾#1999Babii3
Everything now feels plastic by comparison
@@glitchgatsby4290 Agreed
the art style and action scenes stay fresh even in 2020, and will continue to outlast all the plastic moe anime blobs that have no substance
I think, even bigger symbolism for Kenshin are the women he loves. Tomoe represents the man he once was, and is the embodiment of the unrest, inner turmoil, and slaughter happening in Japan. She is the catalyst that pushes Kenshin forward. Her death is symbolic of Battosai’s death. Kaoru represents the man he is now, and is the embodiment of a bright, unsullied, peaceful future for Japan that Kenshin hoped for. Her life is symbolic of his faith in the importance of peace. She is his desire to truly live.
This was my first anime. Before I knew what anime was. And I watched it in english dub. So i thought it was a cartoon. The bloody fights said otherwise. I could never understand what Shogunate and Daimiyo meant. I couldn't understand what the war was about. But I cried and laughed alongside the characters. This video answered all my childhood questions about it.
And for that I thank you.
*S A M E*
I watched this show on Netflix by someone else's recommendation. I saw the english Sub btw. When I first saw the show it seemed very foreign to me, and therefore a little weird.
But after watching the first episode I was convinced this was something I needed to experience
Edit: My first anime too :)
@@thesamuraispirit7686 its one of maybe 5 animes i care to watch. like you said, it definetly kept my interest. i ended up watching like 70 bootleg episodes all in japanese and english subs. afterward,i almost could speak japanese a little bit i think. i still havent forgot about it and would recommend it to anyone. kenshin is still my favorite samurai in fiction
Mr Tegs Certainly did.
Definitely my first and all time favorite Anime as well because the ideals were realistic and most people can relate to Kenshins life as well.
Killing, like any skill, only gets easier with time and experience.
The question of "does a killer of men deserve redemption, deserve a normal life?" is one both my spouse and I ask ourselves daily. We're both ex- US Marine Corp, and were active between 2001 and 2008. The majority of the Second Gulf War in Iraq and the War on Terror in Afghanistan. Fighting two separate wars we fought simultaneously. We changed toward the end of those conflicts. We were lied to, in short. There were no so-called "weapons of mass destruction," and some of the first stops we made in Iraq were the oil and poppy fields, which we then proceeded guard. It was all over resources.
My spouse and I got married, and started a life. We have a daughter and a nice home now. Do we deserve any of it? That's subjective.
corp? like a corporation
@@suspicioususer corps like marine corps. a unit.
You can use "we're just doing our job as a soldier back then".
@@KoeSeer yes a know I was pointing out the spelling
Now the question become "what kind of world you wanted your kid(s) grows up with?" And "how would you explained your past to her and her siblings?".
Trust me, as a grandkid of people grows up in wars, those things will reared it fangs. Considering the kind of current situations too with China. I am an asian, and i wish i am blissfuly blind to this.
" I don't know there is a heaven or not. What I do know is that good men always go to hell in the end. Why? Cause a good men will never forgive themself. "
Read it from a crappy chinese light novel once. I think it fits here quite well.
Maybe it wasn't so crappy after all ....
@fleepss : The book is from eleven years ago give or take, when no one used the term "light novel" yet. I think nobody can even find the book anymore.
Maybe the takeaway is: even in the most worthless commercial fiction, you can find some thought-provoking plot points and quotable dialogue. Likewise, even in the most toxic comment section, you can learn a thing or two. In this age of information explosion, society's greatest downfall will be the thinking of "I've heard/saw enough". Don't forget the Land of Visible Pain in "Kino's journey".
For now, I do like to get a "TL;DR" reply. Oh, the irony! LMAO
@@譚宇廷 lmfaooooo you 100% percent right
i think that's why I like rurouni kenshin so much lmaoooo
@@譚宇廷 seriously though that's legendary if you ever find the name of that novel send it over.
when you start realizing this actually happened not even that long ago you're like wtf is life
Have you read Vinland Saga?
I consider Rurouni Kenshin to be a masterpiece, and one of the greatest manga ever made.
I agree that culture plays a big role in how you perceive the degree of immorality in Watsuki's actions, but some things are a bit more universal, and I find his 'tastes' to be something I can't overlook.
Think what ya want. But maybe I can give you info on this situation.
I am a multi instrumentalist musician so I know what creating s piece of work entails.I also was molested/raped for 4 year's. I have flaws of mine own. Stolen money,shot up drugs and more. I am no saint.
As a creator "you are your work" this mans creation cements him as a tortured soul. This creator wrote a story of redemption and to show us no one is perfect. I haven't even seen this manga/anime. I'm not a fanboy or anything. I am a soul who as well finding my own redemption for my crimes(figuratively) so take this comment as a survivor of abuse how you like. "The world is grey not black or white,those who says otherwise are lieing"
@@hollowify_tensa_zangetsu crimes are not equal. Stolen money is bad but depending on the victim that crime can be softentend and shooting up drugs is selfmutalating. But he abused Kids there is nothing redeemable for exploiting the weak.
He didn't abuse directly, but the point is that you can like the show without liking the author
I'm glad that i was never a fan of ruroni kenshin, can't make peace with the idea that the thing we must hate about him is the only thing that is cool about him, he is just such a lame guy.
This was a brave episode. I know you're not making a stance but just to talk about it and have an open-ish ending is brave. Not many will fully understand. But so far this channel has been unapologetically human. And this is just a further adherence to that. So thank you for being so bravely human. We need more of it
Redemption comes with actions after the transgression, it isn't a matter of forgiveness, it is an attempt for a change in ones own mind
I'd argue the opposite. If someone who has done bad could redeem himself by doing enough good, then someone who has done enough good could be pardoned for doing bad. That philosophy turns morality into a point system; a game of balancing the sum of our actions. Furthermore, we can't judge our own actions as being either good or bad; others must do that. So we must appeal to them in order to earn their forgiveness. Forgiveness can be earned through our actions, but our actions alone do nothing to negate our wrongdoing.
The manga is a battle shonen masterpiece. Too bad the anime never adapted the final arc, which in my opinion is even better and much more emotional than Kyoto.
This bothers me. The new chapters that take place after the manga "ended" years ago will never be published in English.
Im a little salty though that season 3 of kenshin really dropped like a rock in terms of my enjoyment but Im glad I can still find out what happened after the Kyoto arc with the manga
Exuse me but was not the arc that they went to that war they fought in the English place not the 3rd and ending arc ?
They're adapting it in the live action films.
At least we will have a live action movie based on the ova of kenshins war life and tomoe. Supposedly it will be about enishi coming after kenshin.
@@fromryuk7785 In the manga, Kenshin's life w/ Tomoe is actually told in a long flashback after Enishi has been revealed in the present. So it's all part of one huge story arc.
Former college history instructor here: well done on the Bakumatsu overview! Good context and solid basic info, and good presentation over all! Your love of Japanese history shines throughout the first part of the video.
This is a really hard feeling topic for me. First, thank you for making this video with your thoughts, and addressing the elephant in the room surrounding it.
Rurouni Kenshin was my absolute favorite anime growing up. I caught it on Toonami like you did, and I was so obsessed with it that I would tape the episodes on VHS and rewatch them until new ones would air on Wednesday. I really valued the complexities of the characters even when I was a middle schooler. I valued that these characters had clear principles that drove them. And the thing that was really compelling to me was the entire Shishio arc; the reinforcement of a rejection of social darwinism and the value and sense of duty surrounding this idea that the privileged should have to defend the defenseless. The series held fast to the idea that even against extremely difficult circumstances, even as it made things harder for the characters, their idealistic values were worth upholding.
Learning about Watsuki-san's crimes in 2017 felt like a betrayal. Especially because of the personal touch that he put into his work and the notes at the end of every new chapter. It felt like Watsuki-san was a creator I could safely trust and admire, and even aspire to be like.
Maybe that's an unfair thing to assume? This is a man that I never met and I didn't know him in any capacity, except through the art that he made and chose to share with the world. But it still feels like a betrayal, if for no other reason than because he abandoned these values he presented in his own art for the sake of personal gratification. Even if he didn't 'directly' harm anyone, he willingly participated in paying towards a medium that *does* directly hurt the vulnerable. This particular kind of wrongdoing is one that is indefensible to me.
There were still a lot of things about this series that imparted positive things around me. But knowing that the man who created it partakes in something that profits off of the exploitation of the extremely vulnerable, really felt like the values he upheld in his series rang hollow. I couldn't and I still can't separate this series from its artist, and I find myself unable to enjoy the series the same way that I had before.
I don't know if how I feel will change or if I can forgive what he did. Certainly, if we compare Watsuki to Kenshin, Kenshin regularly encountered people who had a difficult time forgiving him, or *COULDN'T* forgive him, and Kenshin was never the one to insist that he was different, or that he had changed, or that he was being misunderstood. He knew who he was and what he did, and accepted the consequences, the hate, and the grief of others he met. Not everyone could, or should forgive Kenshin. I feel like the same is true of Watsuki-san himself, and it's the same as anyone who does something terrible, but seeks to atone for it. Even if you do better, you can't expect that everyone will accept or forgive you, and they are not wrong for that.
I found this anime in college and Kenshin's struggle with self-worth and depression really helped me through my own struggle with suicidial thoughts and depression. Since Kenshin was a killer, he thought nothing of his own life. Only going back to Hiko to learn the final technique reminded him that his life had worth. "Your life is another human life," Hiko says. And in the final battle with Shishio, Kenshin says "Nothing is stronger than the will to live." These words have gotten me through some of my darkest times. Despite Watsuki's disgusting actions, the manga and anime will remain important to me for giving me hope and showing me how precious life is when I didn't want to live anymore.
Same thing with me. It's those words "live on kenshin" that moved me when I was struggling and ready to give up, and find myself taking my life for granted (having suicidal thoughts). I looked up to kenshin too on how he continues on living despite his dark past and unforgivable sins. Kenshin encourages me to always move forward and accept changes for better and for worse. Up until now I still rewatched and reread the manga whenever I need his words to encourage me. Kenshin is Kenshin. A selfless man that will protect you no matter what. He even saved me back then and I love kenshin forever 💚💛❤💙
I hope you’re both doing ok out there.
i've been an avid fan of rurouni kenshin for nearly 16 years. i grew up with it and i can even say it influenced my ideals. i still remained a fan even when the news of watsuki came out but i would be lying if i said the news hasn't made me a little sad about the series. here was a man that i looked up to as a child, who did something so disgusting, something so reprehensible to me. he created a series where there was a big emphasis on protecting the weak and innocent. i thought, "how can i take the themes of rurouni kenshin seriously when the creator did not see these children as the weak and innocent?" i've had to come to terms with separating the art from the artist.
i can understand your point though, that it might be easier to understand/forgive kenshin and why he did what he did because we get an intimate insight on his journey but i think there's more to it than that. unlike watsuki, kenshin was never a hypocrite and he never enjoyed what he was doing. i think that's why it's so hard for me to forgive watsuki, because i know that he enjoyed what he was doing. perhaps if watsuki were to donate to charities and go to therapy, then i could forgive him.
this was a great video though. i'm happy to see people still talk about this series.
Whoa its sounds like you've had the same journey i have with Kenshin. Kenshin (The Character) shaped my ideals as a man, the show helped me further develop my principals regarding; justice, forgiveness, retribution, and love. Since watching i have found myself standing for what i believe in even when i stand alone, standing for others who may not be able to stand on their own, standing for myself because the will to live is absolutely essential to the hiten mitsurugi style lol
This may sound silly to most people, but this show really helped me find the best part of myself
i sound like a nice guy fedora tipper... gross
He's a pervert
@ben esterberg peoples close family members do this but they will never speak up because they will say "you don't know him like i know him" yet an anime/manga artist from a whole other country and culture attacking him on the internet Africans and indians do the same thing as well yes it's wrong but he isn't the only person that does horrible things im just glad he never put his hands on a child
i acctually fail to understand what was the point of that series, killing is bad but it makes you have unparallel skill, not killing is good but you are páthetic and unsexy.
My favorite aspect of kenshin is when he trains with his master for a final time. In that moment Kenshin realizes that even though hes a murderer who doesn't deserve forgiveness his life is precious also and with that knowledge he abandons his death wish and learns the amaterasu and is able to overcome his antithesis in makoto. That training scene along with the scene of bandits attacking kenshin slave caravan is the one thing the anime did better than the manga.
This is truly your guys best work. Absolutely amazed by how much you were able to talk about and how informal is was as well. Space Dandy Next please.
That Toonami promotion brought back memories. I remember running home from school to not miss any part of each episode.
I was going to quit watching anime. However, RK made me realized the true potential of storytelling and characters anime has to offer. The history of Japan even amplified the series.
America is a pretty hypocritical society when it comes to certain things. We love a good redemption story, yet we are very selectively near-sighted as to who we allow to be redeemed.
Puritans in public and perverts in private.
Yeah dude, who are we to judge a man for jerking off to small childr-- wait.
Groovy Dude Well, you’re missing the point here.
Whether someone does something wrong or not, whether it’s something massively wrong or not, what degree of “wrong” automatically denies redemption?
The man jacked off... but he never partook in inflicting pain. But he did contribute to pain, in a roundabout way.
But there’s plenty of ways in which everyday consumers “contribute” to pain. We have to draw the line somewhere, but it shouldn’t be so simple.
Also, all seriousness aside, how tf did this nigga get caught?
You think they have inspections for this kind of thing? So strange.
@@hashbrownslinging-slasher872 Theres something wrong with this guy ^
So true. Cancel culture anyone?
I still have a Samurai X Wall Scroll on my wall in my room. I love how he still tries to keep to his newly acquired ethics throughout the rest of his life
I say that what makes a person irredeemably bad is a lack of regret for the wrongs they've done.
I wholeheartedly agree. Please pin this comment.
What good is regret?
I love the historical context.
This was the manga that made me truly love the art form.
I appreciate that you made this video. Though I'll never really be able to separate the artist from the art (I was molested as a child, so doing anything to support someone who does anything to engage in/support that behavior is just not okay with me. I love Rurouni Kenshin, but I can't ever look at it again now without it making me feel awful and dredging up bad memories), I can understand why others might.
Ah man i'm sorry to hear about that i really am.
Sorry to hear that, your comment was very very reasonable. You can't help because it would bring bad memories and it is a unnerving thing, as for me I'll be ok with pirating Samurai X/Rurouni Kenshin new stuff coming out, but not buying it anymore.
I hope you’re doing OK out there nowadays. I’m so sorry for what happened to you.
I grew up with my older brothers watching DBZ and Ghostfighters, but it's only Rurouni Kenshin that made sense and helped me understand the world better - that there's always a reason or a history behind one's actions. Watching the anime taught me to look closer before judging. It made me believe in character building and that there is always hope for redemption. It made me build true and lasting relationships from different walks and circles of people. It taught me not to judge by religion, race, belief nor origin. It basically taught me about humanity... and just like you, I love Japanese history, culture and values. It's rich and sentimental. Although I am highly disgusted with the cheesepizza of the man behind this masterpiece, I am grateful he created Rurouni Kenshin. It taught me well in my childhood. Thank you for this video.
My favorite part of R.K. is the Eyes. I know they made a point of Kenshin focusing his eyes into a Mask of Death before he goes full-crazy but the Eyes of this series are incredible. The expressions & line-work made it one of the influences that got me into drawing amateur Manga as a teen.
Imagine: creating one of the greatest stories in Manga / Anime & then burning 99% of your community good-will with Super Smutt.
The story & movies & Art of R.K. is some of the best in the medium. I compare it to the greats like Devilman, Berserk, Guyver, Yuyu Hakusho & Black Lagoon.
I consider the man in 2017 a nonredeemable pervert. 2020, he's likely been shown & morally punished enough. I assume losing 50-75% of your loyal fan-base is a harrowing experience for a Writer / Artist.
You can't seperate the Art from the Artist but the context does Darken my enjoyment of his Art to a high-point where I can't even really finish rationalizing supporting him or his publisher or his Art. If he really did Dlete it ALL & realizes why it was not an option to enjoy... It could be seen as an important turning point for him. People only change when they Want to or Need to IMO.
While I love the man's art and creativity, I don't personally believe you that anything is "enough" for the crimes that he has committed.
Not saying he should be tortured, as I do not believe in that and it accomplishes nothing, and people are born fucked up sometimes. But I feel as though he will need to spend the rest of his life trying to make a right that he never can, but needs to try regardless.
The 4 episode Trust and Betrayal OVAs of this series are to this date some of my favourite pieces of story telling in any medium. Rurouni Kenshin was my first anime too and it introduced me to this amazing world of anime. (u _u)
Read the original manga versions of those OVAs b/c they're tonally more consistent w/ the rest of Kenshin's story.
Kenshin is highly underrated. But the job you do is hands down amazing. Thank you for this.
Samurai X and Ruroni Kenshin have so many moments of absolutely incredible animation.
This was incredibly done. Rurouni Kenshin is my absolute favourite anime, as well as my first. Got to live in japan for 2 years and it truly is a different world, most of which the western world cant understand. You guys did some great research!
I subbed less than two months ago and has quickly turned into my favorite channel.
Thank you!
@@Bonsaipop seriously, great work.
My favorite story and character in all of anime. Strength and meekness combined give way to true power in compassion. Solicitude and sacrifice. Love conquers all. Didn’t get to watch the vid, became impulsive after viewing the thumbnail in recommendations. 2 thumbs up 👍 👍 just for mentioning this in this day and age.
I love the show; I survived cAbuse, but after many years, my hate has faded & I understand there's a huge difference between cAbusers & people who have an unwanted attraction. Cheese pizza needs to remain forbidden, because otherwise would fuel more cAbuse, but there needs to be psychological support, alternatives, & monitoring of people who would use cheese pizza.
I am done demonizing people for thought crimes; planning a crime is illegal, thinking bad thoughts should not be. If he has paid for his crimes and is not a risk to others, I can move past this.
Thank you for sharing your story, well thought out comment, wishing you the best!
Dood... It's so commendable, that level of understanding.
That's a very interesting and nuanced perspective. It certainly gives one a lot to think about.
Thank you for your perspective. I think where I struggle is the real live children that were featured in that Cheese Pizza. Ya, he didn't touch them himself, but someone photographed those kids. It's not a victimless crime. I've really struggled with this news because Rurouni Kenshin is one of my all-time favorites. I'm a true blue otaku when it comes to this franchise. But I can't rationalize giving money to a person that used that money for harm. It's why I haven't bought any of the hokaido ark. I really don't know what I'll do when the final 2 live-action movies come out...
@@dannydo422 I respect that; I believe in earned-redemption, but I won't compromise the safety of others for it. You have every right to not support him. My support for his work is contingent on him paying for his crimes through the court system, no future signs of him being a danger to his community, & him not recommitting the crime.
We must rely on law-makers and police to protect people and deter this negative behavior, but as for his specific crime, this is a problem that starts within someone's mind. If they are willing to change and be a productive member of society, we should monitor them for compliance and provide psychological support for them to do so.
That's just my thoughts on this, which will be improved as I learn more. Thank you for sharing.
what made this show so special is the man himself kenshin himura. he just made every fight he was involved in entertaining. guy hadn't fought anybody in a decade and still makes a fool out of most opponents. and when he struggles in a fight or shows some of his rustiness, he uses his veteran experience to compensate for it. having being in so many fights in the past, he can get by fights by studying an opponents moves or getting in their heads psychologically. for example, sojiro, the kid was faster than kenshin and gave him a run for his money but mentally he was still a child. kenshin made him second guess himself by getting to him with words and finished the fight with his far superior move - the ultimate attack. its things like this that make kenshin of my favorite anime characters, his experience helps him conquer the toughest of fights. and it gets even crazier when you found out how unstoppable this guy is as the "battousai" and how at 18yrs old he struck fear into even the most deadliest of men.
In regards to the Meji Restoration, it was entirely necessary to destroy the old shogunate. They had already pissed off Western governments and with China being utterly thrashed by the British it was only a matter of time before Russia of Britain of the USA attempted to colonize Japan. Sure the Meji government was brutal but it did what no other non European power in the world did and not only avoided colonialism but became a great power.
Better a Civil War than a World War
@@lewisaino I can't tell if your saying it's better that the Meiji won or the shogun?
I always have to prepare a nice warm cup of coffee before watching this channel! Love you guys for all the painstaking work that you all put into this!
This story made me who I am from the years I spent enjoying and reflecting on the story and the admiration I had for Kenshin, I could never separate it from myself. The complexities of the story for me as a child really helped me mature and learn to reflect on my stances and my passions and to know to take a step back and realized that nothing will ever be perfect. Moreover, I wanted to emulate the empathy for people as Kenshin did, without condemnation for a stranger I do not know because people are infinitely complicated and it is very rare or ever that someone is truly just evil. I do not Nobuhiro Watsuki, I will never know him, I can judge the crime but I refuse to pass judgment on a person I will never meet and it's not my job to do so. I know it might sound naive or admissible but so often do I see people so charged with righteous actions that they cause so much unnecessary divide because they fail to consider the fallout from the war they've started.
Thanks for teaching me more about one of my favorites growing up
my favorite part of these retrospectives is the questions that you raise.
they allow me to observe in new light what thoughts I may have had about this show 17 years ago that I did not pay attention to.
more importantly, the parallels and bisection points which provide great insight to what the author(s) messages and lessons we as viewers we can absorb, reflect, and wonder about for days to even weeks.
if this truly is one the objectives of the Author(s) then I believe they have succeeded in their work.
This inspired me to finally read the manga and my goodness, it's beautiful.
The best! Keep going past the anime, that last arc is GOLD!
Another great theme in Rurouni Kenshin that I love is the exploration of Kenshin's previous 'end justifies the means'/''for the greater good' way of life that he regrets and his attitude through the story that one sword, although it cannot right all the wrongs on a large scale, can do the more important job of protecting the people around him and keeping him true to his choice of who he wants to be. It's a very subtle exploration of idealism and how that can lead to horrific deeds in the name of a greater ideal vs valuing your own personal integrity and valuing other people as individuals.
The aim of the Tokugawas was to unify Japan under one banner.
Shoguns were Warlords....rich and powerful samurai who owned pretty much everything.
No one is beyond redemption, though often the price is more than a man is willing to pay.
man the two week wait was definitely worth it you guys slayed (pun intended) on this video not only is Rurouni Kenshin an underappreciated classic even though our generation grew up on it most people never bothered to do research into the time period unfortunately which I never understood cause it all seemed so interesting to me but then again I always loved history from a young age and Kenshin blew the door wide open on Japanese history after this I wanted to know more and never got enough some of my favorite animes are ones that have to do with Japanese history and I'm so glad you incorporated it into the video along with the controversy around the author which was masterfully done I'll admit I held a grudge against him but after watching this I actually feel like I can let it go since you brought up so many good points about both redemption and how the good in our lives should be what we focus on I can't sit here and act like I didn't do many horrible things that I regret like Kenshin did when he was young I may not have killed anyone but I have done things that have changed people lives for the worst forever and wish I could go back and ask for forgiveness to give back what I took away out of a sense of superiority and right just cause I was a little bit stronger but I know that I can't and now I must live with it and strive everyday to be a man that uses his advantages to give back instead of take away I am now Kenshin age and much like Kenshin I strive to fight back the urge to turn back into a brute that solves his problems the hard way and instead learned to be more tactful and genteel anyway I digress you guys did great looking forward to the next upload as always one of these days I leave a comment that isn't huge but it kind of difficult to do that when your videos are so good!
Thank you so much for creating this video, and asking these questions! Rurouni Kenshin is my favorite manga and anime, and I love the live action films as well! So where do I begin...
Aside from the content being Kenshin related, it was specifically your title that made me click right away, 'The Art of Redemption.' This theme was one of the things that got me hooked on the show when I was first introduce to it on Toonami back in 2003. I find myself constantly coming back to rewatch or reread this series. Its philosophical questions always spark my thoughts and feelings no matter how many times I experience the story.
To a casual viewer just looking to be entertained, they may find the characters likeable based on personalities alone, regardless of their backstories, but with Rurouni Kenshin I personally always watch it more deeply. Would any of us really just casually love a real life person if we knew they've slain so many people? But we all love Kenshin, right? It's like you said in the video, we've been with Kenshin on his journey via the story. We know who he is internally because we've been inside his head as we've watched or read. So we know he's a good person. We can forgive him and support him because we are familiar with him and believe in what he's striving for.
The main reason this video made me want to say thank you, however, was touching on the controversy with the creator. Since the incident, not many videos or content on Kenshin have been available. It's always been difficult to find abundance of material and news since RK isn't as mainstream as Dragonball. But since the incident happened, it's even harder to find news or support for this amazing work of art. Many people have abandoned it it seems. So I guess this long comment (forgive me) is to touch on that.
Everything your video expressed on the issue, I always wished I had the time and articulation to express. So I'm really glad someone was inspired to talk about these things, and present them so well. The art of redemption indeed is mirrored with Kenshin and Nobuhiro Watsuki (the creator). I've always been stressing in comments I've posted that the story of Kenshin is about redemption, and that while I do not agree with or excuse "cheese pizza," what kind of viewers were we really if we didn't absorb that lesson of redemption from the story? How can anyone learn from, change, and/or redeem themselves if we do not allow that window to be present?
Out of fear I will go on rambling if I don't end this, let me just say I will always support the work that comprises Rurouni Kenshin, regardless of the past of its creator, because Kenshin has inspired me on a personal level, as he has many others. And that's a good thing! Should we shun another human being because we are less familiar with them? I don't know the creator on a personal level, aside from always reading his thoughts in the manga. Nor do I agree with what he did in the past. I don't agree with what Kenshin did in his past as a manslayer for that matter. However, I do agree with Kenshin in his belief that no one is beyond being worthy of help.
I love the Kenshin I came to know in the anime/manga series, a wandering samurai who protects the innocent and refuses to kill to atone for his past. Perhaps the creator is in the process of finding his own redemption. That's his personal journey, and I have nothing but the best wishes for him on that path. Meanwhile, I'm not going to disregard a story that means so much to me just because a fellow human being isn't perfect just like the rest of us. Otherwise, what did I even learn from Rurouni Kenshin in the first place? ^_^x
Absolutely fantastic video dude. Love all of these subjective dissection videos, and you’re a really good person to discuss these topics being how open minded you are. In my personal belief, redemption isn’t an outward thing to express to the public as to be accepted back into society; I think it’s an inward journey of realization that nothing you can do will make people forget who you were, and you must be able to accept your past and move forward. Again, love your channel and patiently await the next vid dude!
RurouniTim thank you very much 😊 I appreciate your kind words
running my own redemption story, I feel as though I can really relate to Himura. I have my own Battousai, just witout the sword and not 160 years ago during the Boshin wars. Rurouni Kenshin is continuously helping me to overcome my own demons. Watsuki had a lot of cheese pizza, and I have a lot of sins behimd my character. we both have to go down a path of redemption, so I'm glad to have read and watched Rurouni Kenshin/Samurai X. also, this video was awesome, thanks for posting it.
Some of the movies, such as the one telling his past and his first wife, should've been made to the actual series and continue on till the end of the manga.
Thank you so much for this whole discussion, including the... cheese pizza... scandal from Watsuki. Rurouni Kenshin was my first manga when I studied abroad in Japan in 2001 and I still love the story, despite how disappointed I was by the author in 2017. This video took a pretty balanced and philosophical view on Kenshin as a character, the story, and even the author's actions following the scandal. Good job!
This is the anime that got me into anime when i was a kid haven't even started watching yet but excited =)
It is my most favorite anime (from all the anime I have watched). Its animation and music are amazing for its time and I can't forget the beautiful melodies ever.
A classic anime from my childhood, glad people are still talking about the best swordsmen in anime
So I loved this anime so much I ended up studying Japanese history at University. I currently teach history and this is an amazing concise and organised history well done!
Thank you for this. Kenshin is my childhood and my all time favorite anime and manga. He has been some I look up to next to Superman. Thank you for this 🙏
I dont like the modern superman but if ur talking about the classic version, I agree lol
Great Job discussing the life of Himura Kenshin, such a brilliant and creative project. I’m a huge fan of this Anime as well as the Gundam Wing. series. Peace and Blessings! I’m about to watch it all over
Samurai X Trust and Betrayal is a Masterpiece I have it on DVD and Blu Ray and is my favorite anime movie of all time
This is some deep ish my dude. Really made me pause for thought, especially in our era of cancel culture. Kenshin Himura is my fave character, perhaps of all time, and nothing can change that. What its creator has done may be abhorrent to me, but his creation is valid, and has merit.
Kenshin is definitely one of greatest Manga characters of all time
I wish only the best to Watsuki-sensei (he will continue to be sensei to me) and I sincerely hope he repents from this perversion. It is not too late, we can always change, and in a sense, he must be relieved to have been found out. Now is time to look up and change direction.
This won't change the fact that he is the creator of my favorite piece of manga and anime, that inspired and influenced me with its characters to be a better person..more noble and courageous, a person that helps those around him and doesn't judge people by their past. As Kaoru-dono said that time, "we all have things in our past we don't want to talk about."
Hitokiri Battousai commited a multitude of crimes, but he decided to keep on living, brandishing his sword to protect the weak and in that way amend his errors.
RuroKen4ever!
The thing is, does he even want to repent? Is he a person that even wants forgiveness? he still has his wife, his fans, his manga continuing. He still has his riches. Why forgive a man that hasn't apologized?
"Who are you?!"
"You won't be alive along enough to remember my name."
He wasn't lying though.
Rurouni Kenshin is the 1 anime, that my wife actually likes, because to her Kenshin is a "christ-like" figure, willing to go to extreme lengths to protect both, the people he loves and his enemies as well. Whatever else Nobuhiro may be, he is also right about the philosophy behind kenshin. To make a better world, we must genuinely wish the good of all those around us, whether friend or foe.
Yeah Kenshin is very christ-like.
I want to add that in the show, for many of the villains, we see that the reason they are evil is because of trauma. Negative things they struggled to cope with. That makes the issue of morality even more complex.
But it proves Saito's philosophy wrong. Slaying evil isnt the best route because Kenshin was able to turn some of the villains good.
I really appreciate you highlighting what he did and putting it in context, not just Kenshin, but the creator. I had heard about it, but I did not know any context behind it and I really appreciate that here. Thank you for giving a very nuanced video on both the creator and the manga. It is my favorite manga. I actually looked up a whole bunch of history on the bakumatsu and the edo period Because of this manga. It's a great story without that context, it is a phenomenal story with it. I'm very much agree with more or less everything in this. So thank you.
After learning about Waksuki’s cheese pizza, the scene in the Kyoto arc when Kamatari flashes Misao becomes a lot more uncomfortable
I loved Rurouni Kenshin, and I really hope you do return to Kenshin again, as it's got a TON of content to pull from. The historical context is merely the set dressing, and I think a deeper dive into the PTSD aspect of the character is often overlooked. You did touch on it a bit, but I think the duality of the character and the slow redemption really speaks to so many aspects of life and of course the creator as well. Great video guys. Seriously. Loving the content.
The Most Underrated Anime Series 😭🧡
I used to live for these types of intellectual discussions on form boards back in the day, whether I participated in them or just read the comments of those invested.
Kenshin was someone that we could RESPECT and respect could be had by a 'good' man or a 'bad' man. It was thanks to Kenshin that I realized how history viewed people as 'good' or 'bad' sometimes depended on what 'side of history' they were on - winning or losing. But its those stories that we don't hear about - the ones that can make us question the 'moral righteousness' of one side winning over the other. Because every side has both good and bad people on it. Case in point - Anji the Destroyer. His story would have cased a bad light on the winners, therefore he was not allowed to speak. He will forever be labeled as a 'bad man' by society and he does deserve that title. But that is not his ONLY title. Likewise with Kenshin - all in all, he wanted to go back to being 'Shinta' again. But life at the time demanded a hitokiri called Battousai, and then later a rurouni called Kenshin.
"How do we differentiate between a good person doing bad things and a bad person doing good things?"
Me: "I'm looking for sailors."
The very first anime I knew. It introduced me to my love for anime to this day almost 20+ years later.
Strongly re-shaped the person I became at a point in my young adult life where I could have easily become a bully.
@@RurouniTim Indeed. As a youth, I didnt have a father figure and had a temper. I was never a problem child, but I could have been quite easily if Kenshin didnt come around and (much as he did with Yahiko) show me value in restraint and the nobility of putting the protection of others first. And of course, it was my first glimpse of that dope as weeb sword, the Katana, and it has been one of my favorite swords (rapier a close second) ever since. Never read the manha though, only had Toonami lol.
No you couldn't have. You wobbly weeb.
Kenshin will always be in my heart. I got into Kenshin in 1997 when I was in Japan visiting relatives when I was 13. I have all the manga
Pls review: GREAT TEACHER ONIZUKA!!!! NEXT GTO
I love trying to explain the premise of GTO to people. Their face is always priceless. "But i swear it's good!"
hadoo 1 How would you describe it? lmao
@@CronkCabhett down on his luck ex gang banger sees his friend who is a teacher. Friend explains how easy it is to bang students as a teacher. Said ex gang banger becomes teacher, to bang said students. Students are miserable assholes. No banging is had, but hilarity and heartwarming stories ensue.
The manga, not the anime.
Thay anime is awsome
One video im actually happy that came in my recommendations . This is my ALL time fave I love how you put this together honestly so beautiful.
great video man. this manga shaped my entire viewpoint on society.
This video appeared as recommended by YT and i really need to praise the great work on this video! This is one my favorites pieces of art ever! thanks a lot for the great work.
FYI- that's an inaccurate quote, Buddha never said that... It's not in any written script... More accurately that life has suffering in it. Maybe a better quote to have used would have been:
"Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional." - Haruki Murakami
You're right, it was very simplified
Okay, interesting. But isn't that one of Buddhism's beliefs?
@Cyber Simba 6 The most accurate english translation for that phrase is, life is temporary. Life is transient works too. Remember that dukkha means happiness and joy as well as suffering and struggle. So changing it to dissatisfaction or stress is almost a worse inaccuracy.
@@elhilo1972 Life is suffering is not exactly a Buddhist teaching/belief. And it is not just life as we know it as humans, it is called samsara. Samsara is the cycle of life, death, rebirth, life, death, rebirth, again and again that all sentient beings that have not achieved the state of nirvana inhabit. Humans, dogs, cockroaches, aliens, gods, ect... all exist in samsara. Now there are a lot of different ideas about these things in different schools of Buddhism. However, the oldest forms of Buddhism (either original teachings, or the closest we still have to them today) teaches that any given existence in samsara is temporary, and that there is suffering in that existence. Not that the existence itself is entirely just suffering. This goes for all beings not in a state of nirvana. Buddhism sought to try to end that cycle by teaching people a path to break free of samsara and reach nirvana. This is a really basic and quick summary. I took several courses on Buddhism at university, and there is a lot more that could be said. Samsara has had many many pages written about just that one concept alone (among many Buddhist concepts) by people who know a lot more than I do. But, I do not want this post to be too long or technical (probably already too late for that though).
This Murakami quote has given me such a shift in perspective that I am deeply grateful for!! I've been struggling for awhile now with the tedium and pain of life, drudging through the days, feeling little meaning in the constant dissatisfaction and a bit hopeless about it. But you've reminded me that pain doesn't need to feared nor does it need to be inherently bad- a shift in perspective can turn painful drudgery into something not only bearable but maybe even positive. Thank you!
I grew up watching Kenshin on Toonami along with Dragonball and Dragonball Z etc., but I will say Rouroni Kenshin had the most profound effect on my young mind. I always thought that was the way a real man should act. He should be kind and caring to those around him and yet Fierce and Dominant when the time came to protect those same people. Truly a wonderful anime that has shaped my life to this day.
Rurouni Kenshin (Hitokiri Battousai) is one of my favorite manga and anime series! I loved up to Kyoto arc (Shishio story) in the anime. I was quite disappointed that the anime tv series didn't continue on to Tomoe's brother story arc as in the manga. The OVAs went on a different direction. The manga and live action finished off the series quite well. One manga to look for is "Vagabond." It's about Minamoto Musashi. Are you familiar with "The Legend of Kamui?" It's an older manga and anime series by Sanpei Shirato. Kamui is a Shinobi Monogatari 忍び物語 (Ninja Story). Kamui paints a less glorified picture of Edo period. Greetings from Northern Japan!
Wow -history -philosophy -and anime all in one video -ive died and gone to heaven -nice piece of work my brother
This show is beautiful
Rurouni Kenshin was the first anime I ever watched and to this day is one of my absolute favourites.
I am beyond happy to actually see someone who even knows about this.
Hearing the english dub after over a decade since I watched it DVD is a surreal level of nostalgia.
I love that Kenshin's epithet is just "The Manslayer." Usually when these titles are given out it's supposed to representative of a distinct character trait in the warrior, ie: Wasabi "The Demon" is known for his sadistic fighting style; Bakayarô "The Unbreakable" is known for his unshakable resolve in battle
But Battousai "The Manslayer?" Yea he just straight up fucking murders people. He shows up, people die. That's all there is to it.
Battousai itself is the title, meaning "quickdraw god." Hitokiri/manslayer is just an assassin term from the bakumatsu.
@@GoldStorm07 in order to be considered a Hitokiri you have to have a pretty decent body count. It's estimated that Kenshin's body count is in the 1,000's. Even plausibly going higher since it's never actually specified.
@@pandalady5964 Hitokiri were very skilled and prolific assassins to be sure, but there were plenty of them running around. Kenshin's title that enemies always refer to him as is Battousai - the man who instantly ends fights with a single battojutsu attack.
FINALLY see my favorite anime & manga get a philosophical treatment. Fantastic video sir!
I love Rurouni Kenshin. Often, I'm the only one dressed as Kenshin at the conventions I go to. The story is one that gains more impact and enjoyment as I grow older. It's because of it's tale of redemption and the duality of man that I still wish to tell Watsuki, to his face, how much it has shaped my current life. Humans are flawed, especially with perception. Many people will judge others against largely unobtainable expectations. Figures taller than life. Essentially, what they deem as "perfect". Part of growing up is realizing that there are no perfect people and it is foolish to demonize someone for their mistakes. It all comes down to repentance and forgiveness, which are not easy paths.
Here's hoping Viz picks up the Hokaido arc. I like my manga in print, but I don't read well enough to import it.
Yamcha Kippur There is an immeasurable amount TRUTH in what you said. I admire the series for its philosophies and messages.
Flawed is one weird way to say "watches child pornography". Is it really that shocking I have some standards for people I want to support? Like maybe watching BDSM pornography that practices "Safe, sane, consensual" like a normal degenerate instead of fracking kiddie porn (which violates the SSC)?
Thats why I feel like the message of Jesus in the Bible is so lost nowadays. Im not saying this to convert people or anything but he said this years ago. 2,000 to be exact.
He talked about redemption and forgiveness in a society where if they found out you messed up, they would kill you on the spot.
Its no wonder that one man who would normally have been forgotten in history, has become one of the biggest men in history with a legacy.
Because this idea of redemption is TRUE.
Sure after Jesus, many of his "followers" would twist his words to cause atrocities but that vision... of the Kingdom of God on Earth... thats the kind of thinking we need.
A better world. One that can grow and not stay wounded in place.
he didnt make a mistake, he watched child porn for god knows how long. He felt no remorse until he was caught, and even then he's still being able to make money and continue working alongside his somehow still faithful wife. If anything, he's sorry to the fans he's disappointed but not to the innocent children being exploited in the child porn he'd stocked up on
Uh there not my friend i hate to break it to you do you really think they want to be linked with a pedophile?,ask yourself that question.
God, Kenshin has been one of my top favourite characters of all time since I was a little kid! This is fantastic!!!
Possessing CP is not merely being complicit with it's existence, it's creating a motive for it's *creation.* Nobuhiro Watsuki didn't realise he was doing wrong, stop and seek redemption, he *got caught* and lightly punished and now expects to return to his life as normal. There's no comparison.
Great video and I'm not looking for an argument, just my 2c.
for over 14 years I still cannot decide which one is at the top of the list for the top 10 Anime of all time: Rurouni Kenshin or G.T.O, I love them both so much.
Iguess japan okay with pedophile that'show i judged it.
Woow this is one of the most informative and powerful documentaries I have seen in a long time on this subject....this analogy literally defines our human nature we are good yet trying to subdue our dark side ....thanks for these analysis
This anime/manga series has one of the most heavenly soundtracks for an anime I have ever heard. Kenshin, is a protag I hold close to me dearly as well as the other cast with him. It will always be watchable, what had happen is a BITCH and disgusting but the art didnt commit the act.
Found the channel for the anime content.
Stayed for the history and philosophy on each video.
I just love watching your work.
I immediately forgot what cheese pizza represented and thought “I kinda like cheese pizza” then remembered what cheese pizza was an analogy of lol
Thank you for giving Watsuki-san a fair treatment in this video. There is a reason I add 4 to any age I hear in an anime. Allow me to provide an anecdote to help illustrate why I believe he was a good man who did bad things.
I know someone who was abused as a child by her father. For many years. To my astonishment, one day decades later I saw her feel compassion for what it must be like to be an adult with such urges. She bemoaned the lack of support that people with such urges get, and I wondered if the tragedy in her life might not have happened if he had other options.
I wonder, if... in a society like Japan's where these things were tacitly tolerated as long as you didn't actually hurt another human being... where her father could have mildly indulged his urges in non-corporal ways... would she have been abused?
With this context - Watsuki-san controlled these urges up to the line considered acceptable when such acts were committed l, *without* seeming to cross the line. This is, to me, a clear indication that he is a good man trying not to do the bad things his lizard brain gives him the impulse to do. His possession of (if what I read is correct) the most bland cheese pizza ever (again assuming this is true, the content he had did not show violations of consent AFAIK) is actually a demonstration of the purity in his heart, resisting the urges that he knows to be a step too far.
Consider this. Miss Kaoru was 17 when she met Kenshin. She was 22 at the end when Kenshin and her actually shipped. Consider how many anime have 14 and 15 year olds as their protagonists. I cannot believe I am saying this but in context, the author arguably showed restraint in the choice of ages here.
My friend wonders whether her relationship with her father might not have been salvageable if society understood that people have urges they can control unless such urges are completely verboten. In those cases, they quietly grow into monsters. This idea is corroborated by his marriage to an adult and lack of victims. I do not believe the story of Kenshin could come from someone who is beyond redemption, but it makes perfect sense coming from someone who stands at the edge of what is acceptable.
Great video, your channel is awesome you guys
There is a quote that Kenshin reminds me of.
"What is better ? to be born good or to overcome your evil nature through great effort ?"-Paarthurnax
I love the story of Kenshin.
I don't know if he can forgive himself. Due to he learn love from his friends. As an assassin, he did his duties with out regret. Didn't think twice. But as a good caring person. It came back to haunt him. And as hard as he tried. The samurai fire would come out and blind him. That's what I think. My opinion. Love the samurai stare glow in their eyes before they attack. 😄👍💕
The whole story is heartbreaking. Almost drove me to tears watching this. keep up the good work!
“Cheese pizza is wrong in my opinion” -Bonsai Pop
Cheese Pizza is bad, mmmkay?
i was always more of a *clears throat* Italian sausage, kinda guy
@@Akrasia94 😂😂😂 wait wut? 🤔
People who make and consume cheese pizza belong in a maximum security prison for the rest of their natural/unnatural life.
@@jasonjr376 it's a joke, don't think to hard
I’m a huge kenshin fan and I had no idea about the historical context, that was a great breakdown. It makes me want to go back and watch the series again.
"A shinsengumi will always be a shinsengumi,
a lone wolf will always be a lone wolf,
the same way an assassin will always remain an assassin, right Battousai?"
"You can tame a dog with food,
you can tame a person with money,
but nothing can tame a miburo (wolf of Mibu)."
I think getting into the history was awesome. I love learning about histories of stories like these.