Okashira - Aoshi Shinomori is the 12th episode of the Rurouni Kenshin 2023 anime adaptation.
Synopsis[]
Kenshin finally confronts Shinomori Aoshi, the head of the Oniwabanshū who their lost their purpose in life after the fall of Edo Castle by period's end. Aoshi overcomes his regret for the single-mindedly pursuit of claiming the "strongest" title. As a former Ishin patriot, Kenshin cannot tolerate fighting without a cause. Two people who made their living by killing at the end of the Edo period clash with each other for their pride.
Summary[]
Kenshin and Yahiko arrive at the ballroom door. Standing in front of them is Aoshi. Kenshin asks him where Kanryū and Megumi are and Aoshi tells him to ask him with his Sakabatō, while he responds with his own weapon, a short looking blade. Kenshin asks him if he really thinks he can beat him with a Wakizashi and Aoshi tells him to come and try. Aoshi then pulls out his small blade, which Yahiko identifies as a Kodachi - a blade about half way in between a Katana and a Wakizashi that is ideal for defense but bad when it comes to offense. Kenshin is surprised that a man like Aoshi would use a weapon of such sort.
While Kenshin is thinking to himself, Aoshi verbally declares his attack and charges towards him. Kenshin realizes how incredibly fast his opponent is. He blocks Aoshi's downward slash, but is suddenly hit in the face with a powerful kick. Kenshin realizes that like Han'nya, Aoshi uses Kenpo. Aoshi proceeds to fire Kenpo strikes on Kenshin sending him flying off. Kenshin manages to land on his feet and charges forward, trying to attack Aoshi, but the latter is easily able to defend against his sword strikes, using his light and fast Kodachi.
Kenshin tells Aoshi that he realizes his techniques, i.e. using the Kodachi as a defensive weapon, while using Han'nya's Kenpo for offensive attacks. Aoshi corrects him, stating that it was he who taught Han'nya Kenpo and that there is a vast difference in speed and power between the teacher and the pupil. Kenshin's injuries, as a result of Aoshi's repeated strikes, suddenly manifest and he falls to the ground, coughing up blood. Yahiko looks on in shock as Kenshin faces a seemingly downhill battle against the overwhelmingly skilled and powerful Aoshi.
Shinomori Aoshi continues battling Himura Kenshin, giving him an extremely difficult time. Aoshi reminds his opponent that he has nothing against him, but being the strongest Ishin Shishi, he must slay him to take that title for the Oniwabanshū. Kenshin tells Aoshi that despite being a Rurouni, he must stop him from continuing to harm others. Aoshi then tells them about the Oniwabanshū state at the Bakumatsu, when they were not able to fight since the emperor flew abandoning his troops in the middle of a battle.
Kenshin then goes to attack Aoshi with a Ryū Tsui Sen (Dragon Hammer Flash) immediately followed by an on-air Battōjutsu, but Aoshi blocks the attacks, and hits Kenshin more times. Meanwhile at other place of the mansion, Kanryū is furious at Aoshi, the Oniwabanshū and Kenshin, when he is reminded by another employee about a test of some device he has. As a result, Kanryū realizes that is the solution he has been looking for to get rid of everyone.
Kenshin eventually figures out a way to counter his attack, despite the edge Aoshi has in speed as a result of using a Kodachi - Kenshin holds his sword by the blade, shortening its length and allowing him the speed to attack Aoshi with the sword and then use the hilt of the blade to strike his throat. Yahiko remembers some words by Kaoru about the reach of a sword and its importance to control it in battle, so he comes to the conclusion that they are now fighting on the same terms.
Aoshi, impressed by Kenshin's skills, uses his ultimate attack, Kaiten Kenbu, which nearly kills Kenshin, saying afterwards that no one has ever survived that attack. Myōjin Yahiko looks in shock, believing Kenshin has been killed and, devastated, vows to kill Aoshi at any cost, but Kenshin responds from the ground and tells that he is a great student of the Kamiya Kasshin-ryū, who should not end his life here and stands up again. Aoshi is completely startled by Kenshin's recovery and the latter tells him that he had used his sheath as a shield at the very last moment, to lessen the impact.
Aoshi commends Kenshin's skills, saying that he is truly worthy of the title "strongest", but that this title will be taken from him, after he is defeated. Aoshi tries to repeat the Kaiten Kenbu, but this time, Kenshin catches his Kodachi blade just as he attacks, utilizing the brief instant when he is off-guard, and reverses the momentum, and using the hilt of Aoshi’s own kodachi hits Aoshi hard in the throat. Aoshi realizes the hard impact of the blow and knows he's been defeated, which devastates him. Just as he is about to fly back, however, he lands a hard hit on Kenshin, causing both of them to fall, however, Aoshi is the one knocked out from the exchange of blows, as Kenshin immediately stands up.
Around ten seconds after being knocked down, Aoshi wakes up again and he asks Kenshin why he didn't finish him off and Kenshin tells him that he is a Rurouni who refuses to take lives. Kenshin asks Aoshi why he doesn't use his extraordinary skills elsewhere. He tells Kenshin that he was offered several high-ranking positions as an officer, but turned them down for the sake of his disciples, who had no place to go and nothing to do in the new era, being old-fashioned warriors. Aoshi says that it was his responsibility to do whatever he could for his disciples, since he made them into members of the Oniwabanshū.
Having lost the fight, Aoshi asks Kenshin to end his life and that if he doesn't, he'll target him as many times as it takes to win the title of "strongest" from him. Kenshin has no problem with that, as long as no one else is involved in their battles. At that moment Kanryū enters the ballroom, and presents to them his Gatling gun, which can fire 200 bullets a minute. He declares his intention to kill Aoshi, along with the rest of the Oniwabanshū and Kenshin. He begins firing it at everyone, but missing on purpose to make them run in circles.
The sound of the Gatling gun is heard by Megumi in the third floor who wonders if Kenshin and everyone are safe. It is also heard by Sanosuke, Han'nya and Shikijō downstairs, as they realize something is happening where Aoshi and Kenshin are fighting, so they decide to go. Elsewhere Beshimi and Hyottoko wake up while recovering from their injuries and also realize they should go to investigate. Meanwhile Kanryū keeps firing the Gatling gun at Kenshin (who is carrying Yahiko) and Aoshi, but still missing.
Aoshi asks Kanryū where he got such a weapon and Kanryū arrogantly tells the former to call him "Lord Kanryū", firing in his direction. Aoshi receives several shots in the leg. Kanryū says that he has no intention of simply being a drug lord, but wishes to use his proceeds from the opium business to establish himself as an underground arms dealer, selling weapons like the Gatling gun he has in his possession. He states that Kenjutsu means absolutely nothing and that money is the true determinant of power.
Sanosuke, Han'nya and Shikijō arrive at the ballroom, and Shikijō runs to help Aoshi while Han'nya tells Kenshin that he should run towards Kanryū to stop them. And Kanryū, facing with the dilemma of who to shoot first, decides to fire at Aoshi for insulting him earlier, but Shikijō shields him and is killed in the process.
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
- Himura Kenshin
- Shinomori Aoshi
- Myōjin Yahiko
- Tokugawa Yoshinobu (Mentioned)
- Katsu Kaishu (Mentioned)
- Takeda Kanryū
- Takani Megumi
- Kamiya Kaoru (Flashback)
- Han'nya
- Shikijō
- Sagara Sanosuke
Anime Notes[]
- There are several differences between the anime and the manga regarding the events of this episode:
- After Kenshin barehandedly blocks Aoshi's blade, he refers to the "Shinken Shirahadori" technique as part of his Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū's technique known as Ryūkosen (龍咬閃) compared his statement of how "every katana practitioner is able to block a blade barehanded" in the manga.
- In the manga, after Kenshin defeats Aoshi and he punches back Kenshin before losing consciousness, Kenshin falls to the ground and when Yahiko goes to help him, there is a panel with Kenshin making a comical expression when recovering from Aoshi's punch in a moment of comical relief. In the manga, the scene is played more seriously.
- In the manga, the Gatling gun's background was explained by the narrator. This is in contrast with the anime where Kanryū explains about the Gatling gun. Some parts of it were skipped though, while filled with Kanryū's dialogue with a bit of alteration.
Trivia[]
- The episode was titled after the original of Act 26.
- Kanryū states a true historical fact: The Gatling gun was developed by American inventor Dr. Richard J. Gatling in 1861, and it had particular success during the American Civil War. The Gatling Gun made its way to Japan and was used with devastating effectiveness by the Bakufu against the Ishin Shishi during the Boshin War.