History Characters / RurouniKenshinMainCharacters

* GlacierWaif: A relative example - compared to other bruisers in the series, he's nowhere near as muscular or large, but his strength and endurance are still undeniable.

* HeroesWantRedheads: Gender inverted; the black-haired Kaoru falls in love with the redheaded Kenshin.

* HeroesWantRedheads: Has romantic affections for Kenshin.

->Voiced by: Creator/MinaTominaga (JP, TV series), Creator/MinamiTakayama (JP, drama CD), Creator/MakotoKoichi (JP, 2023 TV series); Creator/WendeeLee (EN), Derek Wade (EN, OVA and ''The Motion Picture''), Creator/BlakeShepard (EN, New Kyoto arc), Creator/AlisonViktorin (EN, live-action; original trilogy), Casey Mongillo (EN, ''The Final'')[[labelnote:Other Languages]] David García González (SP, first dub of the TV series), Creator/AriadnaJimenez (SP, second dub of the TV series), Ana Orra (SP, OVA, child), Eduardo Díez (SP, OVA, adult), Creator/CarmenCalvell (SP, movie), Carlos Alberto Ramírez (LA, TV series), Creator/VictorUgarte (LA, OVA)[[/labelnote]]

->Voiced by: Creator/HirotakaSuzuoki (JP, most media), Creator/KenNarita (JP, New Kyoto arc), Creator/SatoshiHino (JP, 2023 anime); Creator/KirkThornton (EN, TV series), Ken Webster (EN, ''The Motion Picture'' and OVA), Creator/JohnSwasey (EN, New Kyoto arc), Creator/RobertMcCollum (EN, live-action), Bill Butts (EN, 2023 TV series),

->Voiced by: Miki Fujitani (JP, 1996 TV series), Creator/TomoSakurai (JP, drama CD); Creator/RieTakahashi (JP, 2023 TV Series); Creator/DorothyEliasFahn (EN, TV series), Kara Bliss (EN, ''The Motion Picture''), Katherine Catmull (EN, OVA), Amanda Hanawa (EN, New Kyoto arc), Creator/AlexisTipton (EN, live-action), Creator/RisaMei (EN, 2023 TV series)[[labelnote:Other Languages]] Creator/CarmenAmbros (SP, TV series and OVA), María Rosa Guillén (SP, movie), Vilma Vera (LA, TV Series), Rebeca Gómez (LA, OVA) [[/labelnote]]

->Voiced by: Creator/YujiUeda (JP, 1996 TV series), Creator/TomokazuSeki (JP, drama CD), Creator/TakuYashiro (JP, 2023 TV series); Creator/LexLang (EN, 1996 TV series), Gray G. Haddock (EN, OVA), Creator/EricVale (EN, live-action), Darius Johnson (EN, 2023 TV Series) [[labelnote:Other Languages]] Mark Ullod (SP, first dub of the TV series and OVA), Tasio Alonso (SP, second dub of the TV series), unknown (SP, movie), Eleazar Osorio (LA, TV Series), Luis Tenorio (LA, OVA)[[/labelnote]]

->Voiced by: Creator/MinaTominaga (JP, TV series), Creator/MinamiTakayama (JP, drama CD), Creator/MakotoKoichi (JP, 2023 TV series); Creator/WendeeLee (EN), Derek Wade (EN, OVA and ''The Motion Picture''), Creator/BlakeShepard (EN, New Kyoto arc), Creator/AlisonViktorin (EN, live-action; original trilogy), Casey Mongillo (EN, ''The Final'')[[labelnote:Other Languages]] David García González (SP, first dub of the TV series), Creator/AriadnaJimenez (SP, second dub of the TV series), Ana Orra (SP, OVA, child), Eduardo Díez (SP, OVA, adult), Creator/CarmenCalvell (SP, movie), Carlos Alberto Ramírez (LA, TV Series), Creator/VictorUgarte (LA, OVA)[[/labelnote]]

->Voiced by: Creator/YoshitoYasuhara (JP, 1996 TV series), Creator/YuumaUchida (JP, 2023 TV series); Terrence Stone (EN, TV series), Creator/JohnGremillion (EN, New Kyoto arc), Creator/AlexOrgan (EN, live-action; original trilogy), Creator/AlanLee (EN, ''The Final''), Creator/BenBalmaceda (English, 2023 TV Series)

->Voiced by: Creator/HirotakaSuzuoki (JP, most media), Creator/KenNarita (JP, New Kyoto arc), Creator/SatoshiHino (JP, 2023 anime); Creator/KirkThornton (EN, TV series), Ken Webster (EN, ''The Motion Picture'' and OVA), Creator/JohnSwasey (EN, New Kyoto arc), Creator/RobertMcCollum (EN, live-action), Bill Butts (EN, 2023 TV Series),

-> Voiced by: Creator/TomoSakurai (JP 1996 TV Series), Creator/AyaYamane (JP 2023 TV Series); Creator/PhileceSampler (EN, TV series), Meg Bauman (EN, New Kyoto arc), Creator/BrittneyKarbowski (EN, live-action)

--> ''"The debt I had to settle was with Himura ''The Manslayer'', '''not''' Himura The Peaceful Wanderer. The former no longer exists, and I made no deal to cross blades with the latter."''

* BadassCreed: [[PunctuatedForEmphasis Aku. Soku. Zan.]] (Literally ''"Evil'' shall be ''Swiftly'' ''Cleaved''")

* BadassCreed: [[PunctuatedForEmphasis Aku. Soku. Zan.]] (Literally "''Evil'' shall be ''Swiftly" '''Cleaved''')

* BadassCreed: [[PunctuatedForEmphasis Aku. Soku. Zan.]] (Roughly "Kill those who are evil immediately")

[[folder:Kenshin Himura]]

-> Voiced by: Creator/TomoSakurai (JP); Creator/PhileceSampler (EN, TV series), Meg Bauman (EN, New Kyoto arc), Creator/BrittneyKarbowski (EN, live-action)

->Voiced by: Creator/YujiUeda (JP, 1996 TV series), Creator/TomokazuSeki (JP, drama CD), Creator/TakuYashiro (JP, 2023 TV series); Creator/LexLang (EN, TV series), Gray G. Haddock (EN, OVA), Creator/EricVale (EN, live-action)[[labelnote:Other Languages]] Mark Ullod (SP, first dub of the TV series and OVA), Tasio Alonso (SP, second dub of the TV series), unknown (SP, movie), Eleazar Osorio (LA, TV Series), Luis Tenorio (LA, OVA)[[/labelnote]]

->Voiced by: Creator/YoshitoYasuhara (JP, 1996 TV series), Creator/YuumaUchida (JP, 2023 TV series); Terrence Stone (EN, TV series), Creator/JohnGremillion (EN, New Kyoto arc), Creator/AlexOrgan (EN, live-action; original trilogy), Creator/AlanLee (EN, ''The Final'')

* BabiesEverAfter: [[spoiler: She and Kenshin have a son named Kenji]] in the Manga's DistantFinale.

* CantCatchUp: Kaoru would be an impressive fighter if she weren't [[OvershadowedByAwesome outclassed by the overpowered freaks of nature]] that run rampant in this show. Do bear in mind, however, she is still ''one'' of the five warriors to hold the honor of having defeated a Juppongata (namely Kamatari the Great-Scythe), one of the ''Ten Greatest Warriors in Meiji Japan'', in personal combat. She did this with a [[WoodenKatanasAreEvenBetter wooden sword]]; [[spoiler: a '''broken''' wooden sword, at that.]] [[spoiler: It also doesn't help that her Ultimate Technique is completely useless against Kamatari due to the nature of his weapon. That still doesn't stop her from winning. During the Raijuta arc, she's also shown to be highly respected by other Dojo.]] WordOfGod states that she'd be a national level Kendo champion in Real Life.

* DefiantCaptive: Refuses to be cowed in the Jinchuu arc [[spoiler: even after her faked death and kidnapping by Enishi]].

* IWillFindYou: The ''Hokkaido arc'' manga has her taking this decision [[spoiler: regarding her DisappearedDad, since she and Kenshin have found evidence that he's still alive in Hokkaido.]]

* TargetedToHurtTheHero: [[spoiler: Stabbed through the heart by Enishi, has an X-shaped scar carved onto her left cheek, and left nailed to the dojo wall in a pool of her own blood.]] The gruesome display was meant to send [[spoiler: Kenshin]] over the edge with grief, [[spoiler: knowing that he failed to save his SecondLove.]] It works really well. [[spoiler: She ain't dead after all.]]

* WoodenKatanasAreEvenBetter: She beats Kamatari and [[spoiler: his]] SinisterScythe with her [[spoiler:'''broken''']] bokken.

A street fighter who befriends Kenshin early in the series. As a youth, Sanosuke ran away from home to join the Sekiho Army, a group of farmers and merchants who fought for the Ishin Shishi during the Meiji Revolution. When the Sekiho was betrayed and executed by the other revolutionaries, Sanosuke escaped and becomes a fighter-for-hire to vent his anger. He is hired to attack Kenshin, a former Ishin Shishi, but when Sanosuke is defeated he becomes Kenshin's best friend and fighting partner. His real name is [[spoiler: Higashidani Sanosuke]].

* CharacterizationMarchesOn: Was always rather HotBlooded, but originally could be fairly mature and knowledgeable (had the planning to research Kenshin before their first fight, and tended to offer battle commentary). Once characters like Saitou and [[spoiler: Aoshi]] join Kenshin, he comes off as much more meat-headed and reckless in comparison.

* ChekhovsGun: Sano's ''zanbatou'' is broken in his debut battle with Kenshin and is never seen again... [[spoiler: until the Jinchuu arc comes around and Sano breaks it out again to knock one of Kujiranami's cannon shells right back at him.]]

* GenerationXerox: Just look [[TheAce at his dad]]... [[spoiler: The biological one, Higashidane Kamishimoemon. Not the adoptive one, Sagara Souzou from the Sekihoutai.]]

* PsychoSupporter: Despite his loyalty and admiration of Kenshin's beliefs, he doesn't necessarily shy away from killing. When Kenshin [[spoiler: fights Aoshi again]] he notes that with the current state of mind his opponent is in, it's either "kill or be killed" (something he also notes after Saitou manages to draw the old Battousai to the forefront of Kenshin's mind as they fight). Against Shishio, he resolved to take him down himself if Kenshin failed or died. Finally, prior to Kenshin's second fight with Enishi, he admonishes Yahiko for threatening to kill Enishi [[spoiler:if he didn't bring out Kaoru]] since he's supposed to uphold the non-killing values of the Kamiya Kasshin style. Luckily, Sano isn't bound by such values so he offers to tear apart Enishi for him.
* RazorWind: [[spoiler: Gains one during the Shimabara arc of the anime, performed by swiping very quickly with claw-hand attacks to generate short-ranged gusts of slicing wind. [[ForgottenPhlebotinum He doesn't use it in subsequent anime-only arcs though]].]]

* SpannerInTheWorks: During the Kyoto arc, Shishio watches Kenshin, Saitou, and Sano [[spoiler: from the deck of his ironclad battleship, the Rengoku (that he had sunk about 3/5ths of his finances into acquiring)]] and dismisses Sano as a mere tagalong. Sano then does him the favor of throwing a few bombs that his friend Katsu had given him right before leaving Kyoto [[spoiler: at the Rengoku, which sinks pretty shortly afterward.]]

* YouCantGoHomeAgain: Sanosuke left home after his mother's death, and came back much later. [[spoiler: His dad was the only one who recognized him, as his siblings were too young back then. But after dealing a brutal beating to criminals ruling the region where they lived, he decided to leave again forever [[ItsNotYouItsMyEnemies so they wouldn't be targeted]]. At the end of the series, this ends up extending to Japan as a whole as one of the criminals he beat up was a high-ranking official, turning him into a wanted man. After saying farewell to the Kenshin-gumi, he leaves Japan by boat and is last seen wandering around China.]]

* AlwaysSecondBest: Yahiko notes that even [[spoiler: five years after retiring from swordsmanship]] and his own skills increasing exponentially, he barely manages to tie with Kenshin [[spoiler:whose health was rapidly deteriorating from overuse of the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu. Nevertheless, this earns him Kenshin's respect and his ''sakabatou''.]]

* BadassInDistress: His combat against [[spoiler: Kujiranami]] during the Jinchuu arc. Yahiko ends up biting waaaaaaay more than he can chew, [[TheDeterminator not that that stops him from trying even in the face of certain death]], and ends up being saved by Kenshin.

* BigBrotherMentor: Becomes this for [[spoiler: Kenji]].

* ChildProdigy: Despite the CantCatchUp trope above, it's frequently mentioned throughout the series that he is extremely advanced in swordsmanship for someone his age. Keep in mind, he's a ''10-year old'' trying to keep pace with adults who have experienced war. [[spoiler: By the Epilogue, at age 15 he's already considered a MasterSwordsman.]]

* JackOfAllStats: He can't match up to Kenshin, Sanosuke, Saitou, or Kaoru [[spoiler: as a child,]] but he learns from all four and has a pretty well-rounded fighting style. [[spoiler: Evolves to TheAce as an adult, utilizing Kenshin's attitude, taking Kaoru's sword style to a new level, and keeping just a hint of Sanosuke in his personality.]]

* NotSoAboveItAll: According to the anime OVA ''Requiem to the Isshin Patriots'', his father fought for the losing side of the Shogunate, and was a part of the Shogitai, an elite unit handpicked personally by the Shogunate. When he befriends a fellow samurai orphan whose father was also in the Shogitai, Musashino, he immediately finds camaraderie and solace to the point that he visits Musashino and stays at the home of new Kenshingumi group friend Shigure Takimi out in Yokohama for extended periods just to practice and train with him. Eventually, this friendship and union leads him into going into nightly meetings of theirs regarding restoring the Shogunate again to power, and Yahiko ''follows through'', even hoping to join them on their undivulged excursion of the assassination of a British prime minister to mark their rise to power. Though he is luckily knocked out by Shigure because of how young he is and out of what horrors of war will do to the boy, though Ashitaro Hasegawa was the apprentice of Shishio Makoto, Yahiko was about to ''[[JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope jump off the slippery slope]] headfirst nosediving into antagonism.'' [[spoiler: It's only through being witness to the aftermath of the failed coup de tate that he gets a taste of what Kenshin and Sanosuke went through during the Bakumatsu's worst wars, and he eventually comes to find Musashino's body as a shocking heartbreaking deterrent of how WarIsHell and how the worst aspects of his pride as a samurai child nearly lead him to a worse place than pickpocketing.]]

* AdaptationalAngstUpgrade: [[spoiler: In the live action films, he is [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge grieving]] his fallen comrades [[DeathByAdaptation for a decade]] instead of half or roughly a year.]]
* AdaptationalVillainy: He is much more [[KickTheDog menacing]], [[TheUnfettered cutthroat]] and [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge unstable]] in the live action films, desperately wanting to fight Kenshin. [[spoiler: Even after his HeelFaceTurn, he is portrayed as a standard rival with a strong TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou mentality contrasting his FriendlyRivalry[=/=]WorthyOpponent one in the manga/anime.]]

* BrokenAce: His abilities could have easily gained him a job as a government official, but he sought not to abandon his comrades. However, this ended up making them underlings for Kanryuu. Becomes even worse after Kanryuu [[spoiler: kills the Oniwabanshuu]].

* DeathSeeker: He becomes much more obsessed with defeating Kenshin after [[spoiler: Kanryuu kills his men]] and is willing to throw his life away for it

* DefrostingIceQueen: After [[spoiler: his defeat at the hands of Kenshin in the Kyoto arc]], Aoshi starts becoming a little more sociable and friendly, even if he doesn't visibly show it often.

* AFatherToHisMen: Cares quite a bit about his QuirkyMinibossSquad, and desires to give them the chance to become great that they never got in the Revolution. He would die for any of them. [[spoiler: When they die for him instead, he... doesn't take it well.]]
* {{Foil}}: A young, talented individual around Kenshin's age who mirrors Kenshin in prodigious ability and respect from his peers. However, they end up in opposite positions. While Kenshin received unwanted renown for being the Battousai, Aoshi desired glory from the Revolution he was unable to participate in. Both had DeathSeeker tendencies, but while Kenshin was trying to atone, Aoshi merely sought more fights, especially after [[spoiler: his underlings sacrifice themselves]].
* HeroicBSOD: Suffers this when [[spoiler: he witnesses his men being gunned down right in front of him, courtesy of Kanryuu]].

* ICouldaBeenAContender: He and the rest of his underlings were greatly upset how being kept at Edo Castle throughout the Bakumatsu prevented them from gaining glory and making a name for themselves by fighting in the field, believing that with their skills they could have turned the tide of battle in the Shogunate's favor. While he himself was offered a few high profile positions due to his skills in the aftermath, he refused to leave his men behind, resulting them acting as Kanryu's bodyguards on the off chance of finding another opportunity to prove their mettle.
* KillItWithFire: [[spoiler: How he killed Gein during the Jinchuu arc: by burning him and his diamond-laced puppet strings while hiding in the buried carrier that housed Kaoru's fake corpse.]]

* {{Ninja}}: Best shown during the Jinchuu arc, where he notices [[spoiler: Gein's expertise on puppetry as a form of ''kagemusha'', or a body double, then builds an intricate trap to interrogate about Kaoru's whereabouts and kill the poor old man]].

* RivalTurnedEvil: After the Kanryu estate. [[spoiler: He gets better]].

* SkywardScream: Though it may be silent, Aoshi does this after [[spoiler: Kanryuu guns down his men]].

* TheAce: Kenshin's equal in combat, and nigh undefeatable [[spoiler: except for Shishio, who honestly took advantage of his wounds and was prepared beforehand]]. WordOfGod states that in a straight-up fight, Saitou would win, while Kenshin would win if he was protecting someone. Sanosuke (no fan of Saitou) notes during the Jinchuu arc that he has "no intention of losing to anyone other than Kenshin".

* DragonInChief: Briefly was one to Shibumi, who believed he was the one in control. Once it turned out that he was working for [[spoiler: Okubo, he tried to flee.]]
* EvenEvilHasStandards: Though he's far from the nicest character in the series, even he was surprised [[spoiler: by Shishio killing Yumi]]. Perhaps justified in that he himself is a married man (see HappilyMarried entry below).

* GuileHero: Dependent on how you look at him. More obvious in ''Shin Kyoto Hen'' [[spoiler: where he intimidates Chō by his mere reputation as a no-holds-barred Shinsengumi torturer/interrogator to spill the beans on the whole of Shishio's plans.]]

** In Shishio's headquarters, he's shown operating independently and covertly, and it's implied that whether Kenshin or Shishio wins, he will strike down the weakened Shishio in their fight. [[spoiler: Shishio effortlessly defeats him, leaving Kenshin to take up the reins.]]

* AgeGapRomance: Like Kenshin and Kaoru, [[spoiler: Aoshi]] is 10 years apart from her (he's 26, she's 16).

* BetaCouple: While [[spoiler: Aoshi]] isn't completely comfortable with the idea, in general, their relationship provides a nice contrast to Kenshin and Kaoru's relationship in the sense that Misao is far more capable of expressing her feelings.
* BloodSplatteredInnocents: The moment when she witnesses [[spoiler: Aoshi almost murdering Okina in the ''Shin Kyoto Hen'' OVA leaves her splattered with the latter's blood. Much [[NightmareFuel creepiness]] and [[TearJerker sadness]] ensues.]]

* EarnYourHappyEnding: [[WordOfGod Watsuki confirmed]] that she and [[spoiler: Aoshi]] are HappilyMarried in the epilogue.

* ICouldaBeenAContender: He and the rest of his underlings were greatly upset how being kept at Edo Castle throughout the Bakumatsu prevented them from gaining glory and making a name for themselves by fighting in the field, believing that with their skills they could have turned the tide of battle in the Shogunate's favor. While he himself was offered a few high profile positons due to his skills in the aftermath, he refused to leave his men behind, resulting them acting as Kanryu's bodyguards on the off chance of finding another opportunity to prove their mettle.

->Voiced by: Mayo Suzukaze (JP, 1996 TV series), Creator/MegumiOgata (JP, drama CD); Creator/SomaSaito (JP, 2023 TV series); Creator/RichardCansino (EN, TV series), J. Shanon Weaver (EN, OVA), Creator/MicahSolusod (EN, live-action)[[labelnote:Other Languages]] Nacho de Porrata (SP, first dub of the TV series, ''Reflections'' OVA), Carlos Lladó (SP, second dub of the TV series, ''Trust & Betrayal'' OVA, movie), Alexander Páez (LA, TV series), Óscar Flores (LA, OVA), Alejandro Graue (LA, movie) [[/labelnote]]