A GIANT SIZED Look at Rurouni Kenshin (History Context and Story)

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Rurouni Kenshin is a story steeped in Japanese history. To truly understand how insane Rurouni Kenshin's anime and manga are, you need to understand the story of how Japan became the way it is today.
00:00:00 Intro
00:03:27 The Context
00:05:16 The Road to Meiji
00:13:47 Sakoku East Vs West
00:18:59 The Bakumatsu
00:23:38 Rurouni Kenshin
00:27:20 Battousai
00:30:49 Team Kenshin
00:37:51 Jin-E
00:44:25 Megumi and the Oniwabanshu
00:57:46 Chillin in Toyko
00:59:23 Saito Hajime
01:07:51 The Road to Kyoto
01:18:15 The Sakabato
01:21:17 Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu
01:29:31 Team Kenshin Vs Team Shishio
01:44:38 The Road to Jinchu
01:50:57 Remembrance
01:59:54 Jinchu
02:04:55 The Forgotten Village
02:09:58 To The End
precursor video:
• The Rurouni Kenshin Co...
Written by: Mike Pixley
Edited By: Tyler Baron of Bonsai Pop , ‪@AxelBeats‬
music: Mike Pixley
The Kenshin Controversy: • The Rurouni Kenshin Co...
Is This Still Kenshin: • Is This Still Rurouni ...
Angie Band: • ANGIE - 蠅の王様
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About Bonsai Pop:
The brainchild of Mike, and Tyler. Bonsai Pop is our anime passion project, and it's 100% anime, 100% of the time! We make videos for ourselves and our patrons with the overarching goal to be completely financially independent of KZbin so we can make what we want and what you want!
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#anime #rurounikenshin #kenshin

[@BonsaiPop]

Check Out AdamandEve.com. Use code BONSAI for 50% Off 1 Item + Free Shipping in the US & Canada + Free Rush Processing *some exclusions apply Thank you all for watching the vid and get ready for Yu Yu Hakusho coming next! We worked our butts off for this one so we appreciate every view, you guys rock 😊 We also realize this video is extremely dense, we packed a TON of information in here regarding history and real life events. To make sure it was digestible we’ve segmented the video into chapters to review context, hope it helps!

[@sagittariusseiya8310]

Thank you, Bonsai Pop.

[@johnsmith-po9gt]

If you need a great take on the same story look at Demon Eyes Kyo! It’s a great standing anime.

[@FairladyZ2005]

Looking forward to Yu Yu Hakusho. I've just started watching the series. Also, as far as I've seen in Kenshin fandom Jinchu was always considered just as good if not better than the Shishio arc. If that changed I wasn't ever aware of it. I just hope we can finally get a proper animation of it.

[@wllable]

Love the channel but it’s IEYASU. With an I. ieyasu Tokugawa🤞🏾 keep up the work though brodie🙌🏾💯

[@Maorawrath]

When are you going to cover the anime Saber Marionette J and J to X?

[@MurdoktheMimicKing]

I feel like I learned more about Japan in the first 30 minutes of this video than I have in the last 3 hours of History Channel documentaries I've unfortunately consumed. I definitely appreciate the quality content, guys, thank you for sharing this epic monster of a gift.

[@YusukeKnight]

Hard to believe that it’s been over 20 years since I saw this awesome anime on Toonami for the first time still love it today as a adult

[@rockleefanlj]

God dude… just reminded me how fucking ancient I am because that’s *exactly* how I watched the series too 👨‍🦳

[@michaelniemela6566]

still one of my favs id say its one the big 3 of its time

[@LuisSierra42]

The movies are pretty impressive as well

[@SuperFizzah]

I saw the samurai x anime as a kid on toonami. Randomly remembered it in high school and then found the real Rurouni Kenshin anime with subs and then read the manga as soon as the anime was finished. Shocked me to read the arc the anime didn't cover, can't wait to see it in the modern anime.

[@Miguel-pv6ql]

Twice in toonami

[@monkey238]

These guys keep pushing and pushing their content to higher and higher levels. Truly a shonen protagonist of youtube.

[@luluna5228]

except some weird political pushing sure

[@grayearly3116]

​@@luluna5228let man's have his own opinion lol

[@poloshirtsamurai]

@@grayearly3116 Let luluna5228 have an opinion too.

[@grayearly3116]

@@poloshirtsamurai bruh I was just saying it's not really "pushing" anything if it's his actual opinion. Man's just has his own viewpoint it's not necessarily political. Ppl be chronicly online sometimes.

[@zacharycaudill1409]

I love how much this guy dunks on America , well at the same time enjoying all the benefits of being American. Newsflash you’re not Japanese you never will be. Doesn’t matter if you learn the language and all their history they’re not gonna accept you. Eat my hair and shit. Sincerely, your brother in Christ; Zach.

[@CamWinks]

Rurouni Kenshin literally started my path at looking into Japanese history and the Bakumatsu era is still one of my favorite periods to learn.

[@mecahhannah]

Agreed

[@ralphwillsey1577]

Love the video, guys! Great stuff as always. On a personal note, I was one of those brainwashed kids fed war and propaganda. I knew guys like Jin-e. And it's not usually the killing and dying that makes someone go for deployment after deployment, but the lack of understanding and acceptance when coming home. It took me years to get my head straight, and even after almost 15 years living a "normal" life (job, wife, house, etc.), there are still days that I miss that time in the military, the relationships, the struggle, the raw reality of it. Not all of us are or were mindless trigger pullers, but it's a life long challenge to leave that behind.

[@monkey238]

thanks for sharing man, honestly. it's good to hear you managed to readjust and get back to life.

[@Chris-oq2jj]

Much love man thank you for your service

[@o-wolf]

semper fi brother. semper fi.

[@databattlesz]

Whoa dude… that’s about as out there as my theory that rurouni kenshin is actually trans hypnosis propaganda… well, there’s definitely something funny going on in that show

[@praiseit6848]

thank you for your service

[@scottbell1414]

I don't remember whether this is a detail from the show or manga, but at one point Karou is shown leaving to teach at another dojo. The implication is that she's been either a guest instructor or a private tutor, which might explain how she pays to maintain the Kamiya dojo, especially after all of Kenshin and Saito's shenanigans.

[@BonsaiPop]

I think that was in the part about the saber tooth guy I kinda glossed over in the video. I believe while she was working at the other dojo sabertooth comes in and defeats the dojo’s master, or kenshin steps in, idr 😅 it was kind of a short sub story that didn’t really make an impact, but really good point there!

[@alseid8709]

Yeah, she teaches at the Maekawa dojo, as seen in the Raijuta (air projectile/Sabretooth guy) arc. The same dojo is later attacked during Jinchu by Banjin (gauntlets guy) and almost blown up by the One Piece bomb. The Maekawa dojo closes after their students and master are defeated and humiliated separately by both Raijuta and Banjin, but at that point the Kamiya dojo picks up (a neat detail is that, aside from Yahiko and Yutaro, one of their main students is a cop that helped Yahiko fight Kujiranami, the cannon guy) and starts flourishing.

[@ShinSuperSaiyajin]

@@alseid8709 that Strawhat Bomb. I forgot Oda was still assisting Watsuki at that time

[@Cooliex1986]

I love Kenshin, but The Trust and Betrayal Movie (Remembrance chapter on this video) is so DANG GOOD! I teared up at the ending and it does such a good job at explaining his backstory and how he got the cross scar. One of my top fav movies for a series. Great video!

[@nont18411]

Did you watch the live action version of it? It’s a movie called Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning.

[@Cooliex1986]

@@nont18411 I watched the first one and LOVED it. I need to watch the other 2 still!

[@Cooliex1986]

@@nont18411 I watched the first one and LOVED it. I need to watch the other 2 still!

[@nont18411]

@@Cooliex1986 Actually, there are 5 Rurouni Kenshin live action movies. Kenshin 1 is Tokyo arc. Kenshin 2-3 are Kyoto arc. Kenshin 4-5 are Jinchu arc. Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning (Trust and Betrayal) is the final movie of this franchise, according to the release date which makes it so confusing because the fourth movie is called “The Final”.

[@THEFRISKIESTDINGO]

I always chuckle a little when I remember Japan needed "legendary skilled swordsmiths" because they had shit steel

[@beacarrilloc]

In Latin America it’s a cult classic. It was shown in regular channels so everyone could watch and in the late 90’s before toonami even existed. Personally is one of my all time favorite, it was the first manga I read and collected. I remember having to wait for the vol to be translated into Spanish to buy since we couldn’t get them in English or online in the early ‘00.

[@gerardoa9179]

Samurai X

[@beacarrilloc]

@@gerardoa9179 así mismo, samurai x! Un clásico de culto

[@Akari169]

Recuerdo estar en secundaria cuando salía, recuerdo lo emocionada que me ponía cada vez que salía un episodio nuevo incluso solía grabarlos en VHS. Me gustaba y veía anime antes de Ruroken pero este fue el primer anime con el que realmente me obsesione al punto de buscar el manga, ovas película y todo lo que pudiera encontrar. Relmente espero y por fin podamos tener un anime que concluya con la historia como debe con sus tres arcos!

[@beacarrilloc]

@@Akari169 para mi era lo mismo, una fascinación con la trama y su complejidad. Pero tb las peleas! Kenshin, Latinoamérica y sus fans merecen un anime con los 3 arcos jajajajajjajajajajaja

[@crimsoneclipse0618]

Same in the Philippines

[@jakazelenik1142]

I was so hyped for this so happy its out

[@789pp41]

I know tons of people have reservations about the series after the author's crimes were exposed. But nonetheless, the Trust and Betrayal OVAs are some of the best pieces of animation period in my opinion. When it comes to the anime, I always think of the director (Furuhashi), or the composer (Iwasaki), or the screen play writer (Masashi). Or any of the others who worked on the series. None of them had part in the original author's crimes all they did was make a masterpiece in animated form and a masterpiece it shall remain.

[@marocat4749]

Made i weird watching that first ,nd the whole mystery of his past, not being a mystery.I mean still works but the "who is tomoe" thing.

[@charleslonon9207]

it's a good series but its so weird that he never saw jail time. that dude had over 100 dvds...

[@nont18411]

@@charleslonon9207 He’s a mentor of One Piece writer. That means he has a huge influence on Japanese entertainment industry. Prison is for poor people.

[@razorflossrazor2937]

​@@charleslonon9207if you saw the other video on the subject it's because by Japanese standards he was punished to the extreme. They're a very in group people and he has basically been exiled by the in group and that's hell to the Japanese.

[@789pp41]

@@razorflossrazor2937 Has he though? After his possession crime he was fined 200,000 yen or like 2000$. Rurouni Kenshin also went on hiatus. But the hiatus only lasted like 6 months. The live action adaptations of Rurouni Kenshin continued as well. Plus the anime is currently getting a remake. I don't really think he's in the "outgroup". There are tons of idols who've been dropped by their record labels and hated by fans for far less.

[@kaloifortich4491]

this video is over 2 hrs long. im not complaining but i need to prepare snacks, water, and clear my schedule.

[@aldorenteria5105]

Awesome video guys! Not only did i learn new bits of Japanese history, but the effort put into this big boy is incredible and shows, this so far is one of my favorite videos you’ve made, awesome job! I hope this video gets as much love as the effort you put into it!

[@ryandaviddaley4989]

You boys KILLED it! Can really see all the time and hard work on this one come through. Thanks for always sticking to your art and not taking the easy way out like so many other content creators.

[@nont18411]

1:41:47 That’s why Shishio and Heath Ledger’s Joker are my favorite kind of villain. Both of them have ZERO personal connection to the heroes but managed to get under the skin of the heroes the most because their ideologies are a complete opposite of the heroes and their actions are meant to challenge the heroes’ moral code. Just look at this scene, this is identical to Tomoe’s death (even Watsuki himself admitted this). A love interest getting into a middle of the fight to protect a man she loves from an enemy just to get killed anyway by said man while at the same time, the enemy also suffered from the killing blow as well. Tomoe died in a snow. Yumi died in a fiery mountain. A perfect visual of Kenshin and Shishio being the two sides of the same coin. And the best part is, Shishio knows nothing about Tomoe, let alone Kenshin’s past. What he did was just his instinct.

[@jay_ds4800]

This was amazing, great job! Really highlights what makes this series special. The changing eras and how time displaces the people of the old age. It’s something a show like the wire and downton abbey do so well. Putting it in a shonen manga is truly special. Also kenshins arc is so well done. I think the jinchu arc is my favorite, partly because it’s so personal and the flashback puts it on top

[@tdm17mn]

To answer your question: Rurouni (るろうに) came from 浪人 (rounin), a masterless samurai. Watsuki took inspiration from that and used it to create a new word, Rurouni, which means “Wanderer”.

[@echlynx]

that's why i love your work it just insanly detailed stuff :)

[@TheloneOokami13]

You have no idea how many years I’ve waited for a video like this for RuroKen! Thank you for your hard work!

[@BProof]

Fantastic video. More than worth the wait

[@christopherbrown6523]

35:37 The reason you thought Sanosuke had his sword through the whole show is because he is seen practicing with it in the shows intro sequence.

[@acezavala3816]

Great video essay on a great and awesome anime. This legit didnt even feel like it was 2 hours long. I appreciate the hard work that went into this, keep em coming.

[@Meyodin]

What a classic! Great job on the video. I listened to the whole thing in one go!

[@strike732]

I really hope this video blows up - you guys have done so much work thank you for bringing this series to us, I know I never got to see the end saga - after shishio so being able to see the ending was pretty amazing thank you

[@Dimitar_Tsanev]

I genuinely love feature length videos and yours are always great so I can't wait until I have the time to see this entire thing...

[@ryandaviddaley4989]

Keep finding small editing details in the video that really convey how much work you guys put in! Looking forward to 2024

[@aliceungureanu7713]

Amazing video. Thank you for all the research that you've put into it. As a history nerd too, I especially loved all the historical tidbits spread throughout the video.

[@chefche]

Very well done! This was an excellent blend of historical context and an expose on the story.

[@goncalomarques251]

Thank you for this great detailed work mate!

[@chinito77]

Glad you are still pushing Kenshin's amazing story despite any controversy surrounding it. It's one of those mangas that always invokes nostalgia whenever I see it at manga cafes. Good old times indeed.

[@marocat4749]

I mean, thats what the controvercy is for,any complaint, go there. I mean not you, if people do , notyou

[@emceesquared2]

20 minutes in to my first video of yours and I wanna say I appreciate your story telling!!! Love the clips, love the organization of your story.. this is fantastic plus you have a nice and engaging voice

[@nont18411]

1:59:08 Probably the only time ever that Kaoru has some kind of an “arc” in the story. This conversation was a set up that how much Kaoru wanted to be different from Tomoe but once the payoff happened in 2:14:18 , Kaoru just spontaneously jumped in front of the gun for Kenshin, simply forgetting the thing that she told Megumi. In the end, Kaoru and Tomoe are just the same because Kenshin was that good of a girl magnet.

[@neverknew07]

This was amazing ,thank you!

[@david.9633]

Thank you for the episode

[@GreasyDaddy]

Again, dropping an absolute banger.

[@edpistemic]

At last! I love this story and glad to hear your enthusiasm for it.

[@theReignofRon]

Been watching this channel for years now! You deserve way more attention then you have. The content is fantastic from front to back, made respect!!

[@davidcochrane3421]

Great video! Made my Sunday more enjoyable.

[@wonderlanddreamer1021]

Are you guys making a video on Blue Eye Samurai?

[@kylepierce3383]

Excellent video guys, I've been looking forward to this one since you first mentioned it. I love that you give such thorough attention to exploring this legendary manga AND the historical context that it references and grew from. I could listen to you just talk about history. Thank you for all the great work you do.

[@shifty220]

A feature length film on Rurouni Kenshin! Amazing stuff guys as always! 🙌

[@elemaire86]

👌🏾 Dude, you did it man! Well done. Thank you for putting this together and thank you for putting the time and care into researching and tying everything together... from the history, culture, and even past to future events with the context to help it all makes sense. You did an outstanding job. Rurouni Kenshin is my favorite anime of all time, is the only manga I've ever read and helped drive my interests in the Bakumatsu era which I based a college report of mine on. This was a pleasure to watch and listen to. 👊🏾

[@ethanjohnson6261]

This is above and beyond. You are by far the best anime KZbin channel there is. No questions asked.

[@donpatch954]

Great video as always keep dropping the dope content plz!

[@chrislemaster75]

This was great! Thank you!!!

[@akagi9475]

Fantastic work man!!

[@janandrewyap4207]

This is legit subscribed looking forward to watching all your videos

[@DeadCatX2]

I am really impressed by your ability to tell a story in an abridged manner that still does it justice. Your presentation was both accurate and amusing. As a long time fan of the anime, I think you deserve congratulations for a job well done, gozaru 💜

[@WolfofBende]

I'm so happy for this video. I am such a fan of the manga and anime. Thank you so much Mike.

[@meesterskullbaby]

Looking fwd to your update!

[@joshuacampise1449]

wow..what an amazing video. ive been watching since you guys started the channel and i still am blown away by your content. ill always sing bonsai pops praises. thank you and may you all forever have the favor of the gods.

[@brandonsellers1076]

Thank you so much for this i thoroughly enjoyed the review of the final arc of Rurouni Kenshin!

[@TheCreepypro]

one of the best videos I have ever seen!

[@HeresWhyItsCool]

Man.... I was given this series back in 1999 on a VHS fansub being passed throughout the local Community College. What a wonderful trip down memory lane of experiencing this series. (oro?) I know the controversies surrounding the creator... however.... what a wonderful and inspiring story. Thank you for this. Now..... to get back to my own retrospectives on my own channel.....

[@marvelllious3966]

that was a rlly good video man good job

[@FigWidIt]

Excellent work fellas. That’s why I love this channel so much. After watching this, I ended up watching the new Ruroni Kenshin series. I don’t remember much of the OG series so this new reboot of the series is great for me since the show starts from the beginning all over again.

[@Verbatimorgish]

what an amazing and totally comprehensive approach to this series; awesome work!

[@Valerius7777]

Awesome attention to detail. This must have been a massive effort. Well done! 👏

[@PDX_Crow]

Great video, guys! I stopped early cause I've never read the jinchu arch, but I look forward to coming back. The historical research you guys did definitely made this video even more interesting, and makes me appreciate Kenshin a lot more.

[@CurmudgeonMedia]

been blasting through y'alls videos and this channel has very quickly become one of my favourites. I'm not even that interested in anime, but the way you write your videos is captivating

[@Nionic]

loved this! great use of the okami soundtrack too

[@richinfacts6003]

I don’t think the story falls off after Kyoto. I think the Jinchu arc specifically the first half through Kaoru’s fake out death is some of the strongest material the story has to offer. Great video! This was the Rurouni Kenshin video we needed!

[@Kyojinsei]

love your video's. needed this today and thank you.

[@cameronriddle_WCS]

Always a good day when BonsaiPop uploads another quality video!

[@Sword_of_Flames]

Nice channel, dude. I especially enjoyed the historical research

[@DuendeTortuga]

Great video! particularly kudos on the Shishio fight narration, was pretty entertaining ☺

[@gw7120]

The original was my first anime i eevr saw as a kid, it truly is a masterpiece, even thought me some japanese history

[@achiruizdiaz]

Awesome video!!🎉

[@YakoTheGoat]

My favorite anime and favorite character. Both in a class of their own.

[@drip-asf]

Favorite anime nah, but favorite character yes

[@maineman5757]

This has to be in your top 5 anime of all time.

[@05kamora]

My man, top tier story summarization/history lessons.

[@SoaringlightR]

Such a great vid!

[@zarakic3331]

Keep up the great work!

[@avryduckworth5213]

Always and forever grateful for your videos snd hard work! 🙏🏾✨

[@urbuddycarlo]

Rurouni Kenshin is one of my top 5 all time favorites. The early history lesson taught me a ton I didn't know and the breakdown of the series was unbelievably well done! Glad you skipped the filler episodes like the sumo one and the god awful season 3 of the anime.

[@beautifulmind0711]

I thoroughly enjoyed this 😊

[@GlizzyAssassin]

I actually just started playing Yakuza ishin when I first watched this video, so it was pretty wild hearing all those bits of irl history you guys put into the video. Absolutely stellar watch, thank you guys so much for all the work you put into this channel.

[@alucard002x]

Man no matter how many times I disagree with some of your opinions I always know I can count on you to talk and do justice about one of my favorite manga of all time. Absolutely amazing video keep up the good work.

[@jakeperry6580]

This was the best history lesson really thank you for the in depth video

[@mAzDaR20]

I always appreciate a good Kenshin Video. This is what got me obsessed with Japanese history leading into my love of history.

[@goncaloleitemarinho6124]

Congrats on the video!

[@kenshinhimura5906]

Good job!

[@heysmilebomb411]

Badass great video with a LOAD of great jp history as context

[@heysmilebomb411]

Mike…. I’m loving the shaven look. Thanks for the vid and showing this series the love it deserves

[@RWAsur]

awesome video, ty

[@Jonjon326]

Not even 10 minutes in and this already another banger ❤ keep up the great content 🫡

[@PrinceKatamari2004]

This is why I subscribed to your channel. Thank you for existing alongside your love and respect for Japanese manga and anime. Punk rock Japanimation forever! 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

[@stanleyhyde8529]

This series was the progenitor spark for my interest in Japanese history. Like most in this comment section, I saw this for the first time on Toonami back in the early 2000's. I was a teenager at the time so the context for the time and events was largely lost on me. Funny how a show on cartoon network was a better introduction to Japanese history then anything I got in school.

[@Bowmacho]

Hey really thank you for this video man because I always wondered what happened past the anime that I watched as a kid and now I finally got my answer.

[@FranciscoSilva-oj8lq]

IT'S FINALLY HERE

[@koopashell11]

i waited 2 months for this video that was released 5 minutes ago. worth the wait.

[@doggodoggo3000]

this channel is consistently very good. I wish you would give us more seasonal anime content to sort through all the new anime.

[@drearmouse9510]

This was fantastic, well done. Never looked that deep into it before tbh, and it was the first manga I got bootleg on cd-rom. Ha.

[@mrfreddorenton]

Samurai stuff! I'm definitely watching this series after I finish the video and comment for the algorithm

[@brontesaurusrex7235]

So proud of you guys for getting this beast done :D

[@ryandaviddaley4989]

❤❤❤

[@richatdastkey3555]

25mins in and I'm finally caught up on what a 7yo me wondered and never found out upon finding this show. Thank you bonsai pop, I literally would have never otherwise learned in such order the history behind the abolition of the samurai and new era of Japan into the modern world. Very ready for the following 1.5hr show. Well done, yall

[@HishamA.N_Comicbroe]

Oh wow a literal film length on Rorouni Kenshin?! I'm hyped man

[@jeffreyrumery6768]

This video's massive! Gonna have to set aside some time to watch it properly. For now though, here's some help with the algorithm: letting this play while I sleep, so KZbin thinks I was able to watch it right away.

[@MrMementoMori]

This is one of my favorite manga of all time. It’s Rurouni Kenshin Golgo 13 ,Devilman,Saint Seiya and Yu Yu Hakusho but Rurouni Kenshin is what got me into Manga.

[@sagittariusseiya8310]

I got Saint Seiya, Yu Yu Hakusho, Dragon Ball Z, and One Piece, Naruto and Bleach manga.

[@BonsaiPop]

That’s a solid list 🤌