Samurai(from 1600-1868)who formally abolished their title for reasons varying from regret over those they had killed to the death of a master, lover or close friend. They rebuked their title and wandered around Japan with their swords, keeping them as grim reminders of their pasts. Often times they had no money and lived off the generosity of others.

Kenshin Himura, formerly known as "Hitokiri Battousai" the man slayer, is a wanderer with a dark past and sunny disposition. Not a ronin but a rurouni, he was never a samurai, but a well known assassin of utmost skill in the Meiji restoration, who in the turning point of the war simply walked away, and took an oath to never kill again as an act of retribution for the many men he murdered during the revolution. He then begins to carry a reversed-blade sword (Sakabatou) and protect the innocent/oppressed people of Japan. His travels lead him to Tokyo in the 11th year of the Meiji era, where he befriends a female Kendo master (Kaoru Kamiya), a former thief from a family of Samurai (Yahiko Myojin), a brawler/former Sekihotai member (Sanosuke Sagara) and a doctor (Megumi Takani) all with their own secrets. Together they fight off the enemies surfacing from the dark past that Kenshin cannot escape.

1. A totally rad manga by Nobuhiro Watsuki and was originally featured in JUMP comics. It eventually became a CD book in Japan and then became a super tight anime series which is way better to watch uncut.

2. The main character in Rurouni Kenshin (a.k.a. Samurai X who's full name is Kenshin Himura (or Himura Kenshin, depending on where you're from). Rurouni means "wanderer" and the name Kenshin is derived from the Japanese word "henshin" which means "change of heart."

Cool anime that describes the story of an ex-assasin. Realizing the mistake that he did, he has now has chosen the life of a Ronin (masterless samurai) and helps and protects the weak with the technique known as Hiten Mitsurugi.
But during his Ronin life the shadows of his bloody past haunt him, making Battousai engage in fierce battles with the old and new enemies.

goodness. need I say more!? just look at my pen name for goodness sake! This one is a keeper. And it is really kosher. and funny, and smart, and action packed and...

A manga series by Nobuhiro Watsuki. Was made into a television show in 1997, and brought to America soon afterwards. This series follows Kenshin Himura, a former assassin who fought in the Bakumatsu, also known as the Meiji Revolution. "Trust" and "Betrayal" take place during the Bakumatsu, around 1868. The TV show spans from 1878-1879. Note that this is not the Feudal Period, this is the Meiji Period. There is also a movie (Requiem for an Ishin Patriot) and a final chapter, called "Seisouhen" or "Relfection." Very awsome.

Best fucking shonen anime/manga ever. Main protagonist is Himura Kenshin, who was the famed (if not infamous) Hitokiri Battousai during the Bakumatsu. After the revolution and a very bad event, he takes up the sakabatou and swore to never kill again and instead wandered Japan helping those who needed it in order to atone for his sins during his years spent as a shadow assassin. Story revolves around the freaks who try to prove themselves the strongest by attempting to kill Kenshin, people from his past who seek revenge against the ex-hitokiri, Kenshin's never ending quest to keeping the peace of the Meiji period with his friends, and of course, the romantic comedy that revolves between him and Kamiya Kaoru, the main female protagonist.

Best thing about this series is the amount of historical info and influence that is present throughout. Story spans through two of the most important eras of Japanese history: The late Edo(Tokugawa) Period and the early Meiji Period, and many characters were either loosely or
directly based off of real people from those eras. That, or Marvel characters says Nobuhiro Watsuki, the creator of Rurouni Kenshin. Rurouni Kenshin is basically a history lesson in comic book format. :D

Rurouni Kenshin fans have to be some of the most die-hard and most informative anime fans out there. We don't just swallow any form of Kenshin media that they give us and settle for it (Like "Rurouni Kenshin: Seisouhen", to totally melodramtic, un-canon "finale" of the Rurouni Kenshin saga), and, we actually learn more about the history and terminology of Rurouni Kenshin by reading BOOKS in our spare time.

Rurouni Kenshin is certainly an anime to behold and deserves way more recognition than some of anime that they continue to air on Adult Swim.

1) Rurouni Kenshin, one of the most amazing mangas ever written. Published in 1992 by Nohiburo Watsuki (i believe that's how it is spelled) by the weekly shonen jump as a short story. Then in 1994, it appeared as a regular series. It stars a 28 year old man named Himura Kenshin. Also known as the battosai (not battousai, that's just an idiot misspelling) who killed hundreds of people during the bakamatsu. Now weilding a sakabato (reversed blade sword), the unbeatable Hiten Mitserugi Ryu, and a vow not to kill this man, once stained by the path of blood, embarks on an incredibly detailed adventure of redemtion. During which, he makes many friends, such as Kamiya Kaoru, Sagara Sanosuke, Myojin Yahiko, and others.

2) A Manga that encompasses nearly every aspect of greatness. Of which include; spectacular battles, emotion, humor, and romantic comedy.

3) an incredibly accurate representation of the Japanese Culture in the mid 1800's.

4) Rurouni: n, Wanderer, vagabond

samurai. used to be a man slayer but now protects the innocent! its the best anime ever. based on true events in japanese history!