Rurouni Kenshin: Restoration (るろうに剣心 -特筆版- Rurouni Kenshin Kinema-ban, lit. "Rurouni Kenshin: Cinema Version") is a Japanese reboot of the main Rurouni Kenshin manga series. It was written and illustrated by Nobuhiro Watsuki to promote the first live-action film released in August 2012. The manga was serialized in Shueisha's Jump Square from May 2012 to June 2013 and collected into two tankōbon volumes.
In North America, Viz Media licensed the manga for English-language release and serialized it on their digital magazine Weekly Shonen Jump. The two volumes were released in June 2013 and January 2014. Critical response to the manga has been positive, with praise focused on its fight scenes, though the narrative in general was the subject of mixed opinions, with critics either finding it too light or dark based on the fight scenes. Nevertheless, Watsuki's art was the subject of praise, including his character designs and fight sequences.
Plot[]
Himura Kenshin stumbles upon gambling fights hosted by the merchant Takeda Kanryū . One of the fighters is Kamiya Kaoru who participates in the fights to be able to pay the rent from her swordsmanship school. After learning that Kanryū plans to kill Kaoru, Myōjin Yahiko requests Kenshin's help to save her. Kenshin defeats Kanryū and stays in Kaoru's dojo with Yahiko for an unknown reason. Wishing revenge, Kanryū hires multiple fighters to defeat Kenshin. The first of them, Sagara Sanosuke, is defeated by Kenshin who convinces him to help taking care of Kaoru's dojo. Shortly afterwards one of Kenshin's old enemies from the Bakumatsu, the Shinsegumi Saitō Hajime, takes Sanosuke's job.
Saitō is revealed to be living now as a policeman working as an agent investigating Takeda's crimes and thus only interacts with Kenshin. However, Takeda keeps sending more assassins to get his revenge on Kenshin who is protected by Sanosuke and Yahiko. The maniac former Shinsengumi Udo Jin-e kidnaps Kaoru and attempts to kill her to corrupt Kenshin, sending him back to his hitokiri persona in combat. Before Kenshin is about to murder Jin-e in rage, Kaoru manages to stop him, having survived to the former Shinsengumi's attack. Jin-e commits suicide while Kenshin returns to the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu dojo where he starts living.
Differences from the Original Manga[]
- Takeda Kanryu being the main antagonist of the series.
- Sagara Sanosuke was hired by Kanryu instead of the Hiruma brothers (Gohei in the anime) and having already learned the Futae no Kiwami from a mentioned buddhist monk.
Volumes and Chapters[]
Volume 1[]
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- Act 1. The Story Begins (浪漫譚の始まり Romantan no Hajimari, The Beginning of the Romantic Tale)
- Act 2. The Fight Merchant (喧嘩屋 Kenkaya, Fighter)
- Act 3. Whereabouts of Justice (Part 1) (正義の行方（前編） Seigi no Yukue (Zenpen))
- The Prologue: Act Zero (第零幕 Dai Zero Maku)
Volume 2[]
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- Act 4. Whereabouts of Justice (Part 2) (正義の行方（後編） Seigi no Yukue (Kōhen))
- Act 5. At Akabeko (赤べこにて Akabeko nite)
- Act 6. The Light of Meiji (明治の光 Meiji no Hikari)
- Act 7. Stormy Winds (暴風 Bōfū)
- Act 8. Eve of Convergence (収束前 Shūsoku Mae)
- Act 9. Sacrifice (生贄 Ikenie)
- Final Chapter: In the New Era (新時代の中へ― Shin Jidai no Naka e)