All spoilers in Himura Kenji's entry are unmarked. You Have Been Warned.
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Sekihara Tae
Voiced by: Sumi Shimamoto (JP - 1996 TV series), Michiko Neya (JP - Drama CD), Mamiko Noto (JP - 2023 TV series); Michelle Ruff (EN - Anime), Morgan Garrett (EN - live-action)
Portrayed by: Kaoru Hirata (live-action)
The manager of the beef hot pot restaurant, the Akabeko. She has a twin sister named Sae managing in a similar restaurant called the Shirobeko in Kyoto. Sagara Sanosuke also owes her a seemingly large sum of money in which interest is accounted for. In the anime and a bit in the manga, she has also tried to push the relationship between Himura Kenshin and Kamiya Kaoru since it seemed to her that it was not working.
- Cool Big Sis: To Kaoru. She's normally the first person she turns into regarding domestic concerns.
- Eyes Always Shut: In a rather odd design shift, the normally wide-eyed Tae gains this look at the end of season 2 and keeps them for season 3. There are rare emotional times where she opens her eyes per the trope, but for the most part she keeps her eyes shut. It could have been done to emphasize her Kansai accent (Southern accent in the dub) to give off the laid-back simple-minded personality the trope implies.
- Ms. Exposition: Since her restaurant is a well-known meetup place, she more than once drops useful info to Kenshin and Kaoru; i.e., Tae tells them Yahiko's backstory as a Street Urchin under a gang's orders, which motivates them to go rescue him.
- Parental Substitute: Pretty much adopts Tsubame after she's free from her abusive caretaker.
- Shipper on Deck: Biggest Kenshin/Kaoru fangirl ever, aside from Kenshin's group.
- Supreme Chef: Good enough to have her own restaurant, the Akebeko.
- Theme Twin Naming: Has a twin younger sister named Sae in Kyoto, who plays her role in that setting. Watsuki's notes admit that playing the "previously-unmentioned twin" card was something of a cop-out so he didn't have to design yet another new character for the arc.
- Yamato Nadeshiko: Played by well-known specialists Sumi Shimamoto and Mamiko Noto.
Sanjou Tsubame
Voiced by: Yuri Shiratori (JP - 1996 TV series), Yuuko Oono (JP - 2023 TV series); Michelle Ruff (EN, TV series), Meg Bauman (EN, OVA), Xanthe Huynh (EN, live-action)
Portrayed by: Meiku Nagano (2012 film), Lynnaki Kakihara (The Final)
A waitress at Tae's restaurant and Myojin Yahiko's sweetheart. She was saved by him from the ronin her family worked for as Yahiko stopped them from robbing the Akabeko.
- Ascended Extra: She plays a minor role in several of the story arcs. Until the Jinchuu arc, she takes a more active role.
- Babies Ever After: She and Yahiko will eventually have a son as confirmed by
Word of God. - Childhood Friend Romance: Tsubame and Yahiko meet when they're 11 (both anime and manga), are more or less dating at age 15 (as seen in the new Hokkaido arc), and will eventually marry and have a kid.
- Dark and Troubled Past: Her family was forced to steal, something she continued even after the deaths of her parents. And her "caretakers" were physically and emotionally abusive to her.
- Dude Magnet: Yahiko is her main love interest. Yutaro apparently hits on her in Yahiko no Sakabato and still does by the time of the Hokkaido Arc. The epilogue shows a couple of perverts leering at her, and in Hokkaido arcAlan tried to hit on her much to Yahiko's ire.
- Love Triangle: In the manga one-shot Yahiko no Sakabato set not long after the Distant Epilogue of the original series, she's apparently the focus of a mild one between Yahiko and Tsukayama Yutaro. By Word of God Yahiko eventually married her and they had a son who competed with Kaoru and Kenshin's son Kenji to inherit the sakabato, and in Hokkaido arc they're pretty much an item. It doesn't stop Yutaro from wanting to flirt with her, though.Yutaro: Don't fret over money. You have use for backup. Just go and leave Tsubame to me.Yahiko: Now I definitely can't go!
- Meet Cute: In the anime. Finds Yahiko training, watches him and then repairs his broken sandal. They meet up again as Kenshin's group goes to the Akabeko, where Tsubame is working part-time.
- Meido: In the epilogue chapter, she wears one as the new uniform of the Akabeko. She got a few perverted leers from street thugs and even Yahiko (who beat up the former) thought it invited ridicule.
- Nice Girl: She's a kind-hearted girl.
- Official Couple: The Hokkaido arc pretty much confirms that she's going out with Yahiko.
- Promoted to Love Interest: Although as mentioned in the above tropes Yahiko ultimately marries her, in the manga, they were never shown as a couple and at best being just in the "friend" zone. The anime shows Yahiko nursing a big crush on her, something never shown in the manga, and on several occasions he gives her presents as well as goes on social activities with her. By the time Hokkaido arc hits, they're more or less dating.
- Rescue Romance: Yahiko has to defeat the Jerkass who took Tsubame in after her parents died and abused her both physically and emotionally.
- Shrinking Violet: She's usually a timid girl and even wears a purple kimono in her first episode.
- Single Woman Seeks Good Man: Tsubame would fall in love with and eventually marry the brave and caring Yahiko, who defeated her abusive "caretakers" when they first met.
- Tuckerization: Tsubame's name originates from places where Watsuki lived in Niigata.
Tsukayama Yutaro
Voiced by: Mayumi Tanaka (JP - 1996 TV series), Yuko Sanpei (JP - 2023 TV series); Michael Lindsay (EN - Raijuta arc), Dave Wittenberg (EN - Black Knights arc)
A young boy who wishes to become a better swordsman.
- Adaptation Deviation: The profession he aims for after his return is different in the anime and the manga. In the anime, he returns during the anime's Black Knights filler arc where he eventually resolves to become a Western doctor after having spent his time in Germany. In the manga, he instead decides to run his father's trading enterprise and tries to help the Himura family financially.
- Adapted Out: He doesn't exist in the live-action films.
- The Bus Came Back: A more visible, proactive one in the anime's Black Knights Arc. Although at the end of the arc, he eventually chooses to drop being a kendo student altogether to become a Western medicine doctor in Germany.
- It also takes place in Ashitarō zenka ari, where he's the one who tells Kenshin about Ashitaro and Alan, leading to them being pretty much adopted by Kenshin and Kaoru.
- Disappeared Dad: Only in the anime. His father's still very much alive and present in the manga, but he feels that Yutaro despises him for giving up swordsmanship and his former samurai status to become a merchant.
- Establishing Character Moment: Introduced shouting at his head servant about needing a teacher, establishing his rudeness, his driving ambition, and the reverence he has for his Swordsman father whom he wants to emulate. Then upon seeing Kenshin and the others being brought in by his beloved Nanny, he greets them warmly happy to meet his caretaker's friends and family.
- Foil: To Yahiko. Both are quite bratty but show a lot of potential in swordsmanship which Kaoru is able to bring out. They differ in how they were raised, Yahiko being a Street Urchin while Yutaro being born into wealth. The manga adds an extra difference in that Yahiko is partially motivated in honoring his late mother and father, while Yutaro wants to avoid becoming a spineless merchant like his father.
- Game-Breaking Injury: At the end of the Raijuta arc Raijuta injures his right hand. The injury isn't fatal, but the tendons and muscles were all severed meaning Yutaro has to drop swordsmanship altogether. Part of his reason for leaving for Germany to study medicine is to find a way to heal from this injury. Sadly, by the time of Hokkaido Arc, he still can't use his right hand and has instead devoted himself to helping run his father's business.
- Get A Hold Of Yourself Man: At the end of the Raijuta arc, Yahiko attacks Yutaro, despite him being crippled, telling him to pick himself up and become better than the ideal swordsman he thought Raijuta was. Yutaro is able to block the attack with his cane, and that plus Yahiko's words convince him that swordsmanship is not over for him, claiming that he will defeat Yahiko with just his left hand if he has to.
- Heroic BSoD: Following Raijuta's Kick the Dog moment, the poor guy is left nearly speechless, knowing that his master used him all along and essentially took away his ability to hold a sword forever. Yahiko is able to snap him out of it.
- Horrible Judge of Character: At least regarding Raijuta. Though considering his notion of samurai are so romanticized, it was bound to happen.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: He's spoiled, stubborn, and bratty, but his interactions with the Kenshin-gumi soften him up while bringing out his potential as a swordsman. In the manga, his intent to become a genuine samurai was based on his honor-bound notion that his father failed to live up to their family heritage (choosing to become a merchant to amass wealth and provide stably for their family)note . Additionally, while he's generally bratty around men, especially Sano and Yahiko, he's acts more well-mannered towards women, showing respect towards Kaoru and lending his handkerchief to Tsubame when she starts tearing up.
- Lovable Sex Maniac: Apparently comes back as a dangerous playboy in Yahiko's Sakabatou, though he's only shown flirting with Tsubame in the Hokkaido Arc.
- Put on a Bus: At the end of his story arc, Yutaro leaves Japan to go to Germany, where their advanced medicine may help him regain the use of his right arm, which was injured by Raijuta. The manga's epilogue reveals that he eventually returns to be an assistant instructor at the Kamiya dojo. Ashitaro Zenka Ari reveals that he also inherited his father's trading enterprise.
- The Rival: To Yahiko. It was apparently extended further in the manga when he returned to become an instructor at the Kamiya dojo again. In the anime, however, they finally evolved into Vitriolic Best Buds, and even into Friendly Rivalry, sort of when Yutaro decided to focus on becoming an excellent Western-style doctor, challenging Yahiko to become the top kendoka so they're the best in their fields.
- Took a Level in Kindness: His return in the Hokkaido Arc shows that he has completely cast aside his bratty personality, growing into a patient, though flirtatious, young man.
Tsukioka Tsunan
Voiced by: Hiroshi Yanaka (JP - 1996 TV series); Yuichiro Umehara (JP - 2023 TV series, adult); Mariya Ise (JP - 2023 TV series, child); Kim Strauss (EN, TV series), Sam Grimes (EN, The Motion Picture)
Child Tsunan: Naomi Matamura (JP), Mary Elizabeth McGlynn (EN)
An old war buddy of Sanosuke's Tsukioka "Katsu" Katsuhiro was a boy who joined the Sekiho Army and served under Captain Sagara Souzou. Like Sanosuke, their betrayal left him embittered and resentful towards the Meiji Government. In the present, he lives his life as Tsukioka Tsunan a painter but Katsu secretly amassed an armory for a coup.
- Adaptational Attractiveness: The anime takes away the beady eyes from the manga, making him look more approachable and attractive.
- Adaptational Badass:
- In the anime filler he's shown as a master of Throw Down the Bomblet with stunning accuracy and precise calculation with explosives (enough to easily avoid civilian casualties and use them against swordsmen in melee). A flashback is also shown of him and young Sanosuke fighting off government soldiers using katana.
- In the 2023 anime, he's portrayed as being able to fight Sanosuke in a fistfight in an additional scene after their source material government building incident whereas in previous portrayals, Katsu wasn't shown to be able to match Sanosuke. He has a stronger personality as well in the 2023 series because it takes Sanosuke a little longer to successfully de-radicalize him.
- Adaptation Expansion: He played additional roles in most of the filler episodes, particularly in the Shimabara arc and the ill-received Feng Shui arc.
- Adapted Out: He's taken out of Shin Kyoto Hen and the live-action movies. The destruction of the Purgatory is ironically enacted by the police force of the government he despised so much.
- Alliterative Name: His alias Tsukioka Tsunan.
- Allohistorical Allusion: Tsunan was introduced selling prints—particularly ones of the Sekihotai. His surname, 'Tsukioka', is shared with one of the final masters of the art form of woodblock printing, Yoshitoshi
. - Bash Brothers: He and Sanosuke are this being old comrades from a long since destroyed battalion. They fought side-by-side in the past and later in one of Katsu's schemes.
- Bomb Throwing Anarchist: Katsu is an explosives master who primarily fights with hand bombs. In addition to this he sought the destruction of the Meiji Government by blowing up their Internal Affairs department.
- Foil: His introduction shows him as one to Sanosuke; both of them are bitter at the destruction of the Sekiho army and the death of Captain Sagara. However, Katsu is the one who actually sets out to attack the government while Sanosuke was reformed after fighting Kenshin.
- Intrepid Reporter: After the rebellion fails Katsu becomes a reporter determined to spread the truth and hold the government accountable in non-violent ways.
- Small Role, Big Impact: Katsu's a minor character in the story but indirectly he's responsible for some very notable things. He gives some experimental bombs to Sanosuke to use against Shishio which ultimately leads to Sanosuke becoming a Spanner in the Works by using them to destroy his Battleship's, the Purgatory's, engine, crippling Shishio's master-plan. In Season 3 of the anime, those bombs also kill the opening arc's Big Bad Kaiou when Lorenzo drops them on him.
- The Smart Guy: Katsu is resourceful and inventive having created some truly destructive bombs with the resources he was able to amass. Had the Sekiho survived to modern times he'd have become this to the group.
- What Happened to the Mouse?: He never again appears in the manga in person after the Kyoto arc concludes. Bizarrely, he is left out of Enishi's hit list during the early attacks on all of Kenshin's friends and associates during the Jinchuu storyline despite being Sanosuke's best friend. We never hear him talked about even after Sano is forced to flee Japan and is nowhere to be found in the Hokkaido arc either.
Kashiwazaki Nenji (aka Okina)
Voiced by: Koichi Kitamura (JP, TV series), Tamio Ohki (JP, New Kyoto arc); Michael McConnohie (EN, TV series), Marty Fleck (EN, New Kyoto arc), Jeremy Schwartz (EN, live-action)
Portrayed by: Min Tanaka (live-action)
An elder member of the Oniwabanshu, and during the Bakumatsu, he operated at the Kyoto Investigator in order to analyze the movements in the city's political world. After the Restoration, he raised Misao, who was handed over by Aoshi.
- Adaptational Badass: The live-action films made him capable of using a katana and lasts longer in his fight with Aoshi. Unfortunately, he became a
little too badass for his own good. - Almighty Janitor: Was once considered capable of taking the spot of Okashira himself and even holds his own against Aoshi though the Kodachi Nitou Ryuu eventually does him in.
- Badass Boast: "Once they called me the most horrific of the Oniwabanshu. Only a fool resists me."
- Cool Old Guy: He's an old man, but he's still the leader of Kyoto's unofficial guardians and has amassed quite a bit of skill in his lifetime. This is especially notable in the live-action films wherein his fight with Aoshi is less one-sided and Okina lands a number of hits that force Aoshi on the defensive.
- Death by Adaptation: It is heavily implied in the third film that he ultimately succumbed to his wounds from his fight with Aoshi.
- Determinator: Demonstrated during his battle with Aoshi. Okina continues to adapt whenever Aoshi pulls out a new technique, first losing a tonfa and going on the defensive and lastly with a Deliberate Injury Gambit via having one of Aoshi's swords impale his palm so he could divert the attack and close the gap between them for an attack.
- Dirty Old Man: Mildly, and lampshaded by one of the maids at the inn (also a former Oniwabanshuu) when some young women come by to deliver a message from Aoshi.
- Good Is Not Soft: Generally a friendly old man, but his wrath is terrifying to invoke. A mook who attacked him in his sleep got nails driven into his hands with candlewax dripped upon it, before being sent back to Shishio with a message. Keep in mind that this was the rumored favorite interrogation tactic of The Shinsengumi, more specifically the real-life Saito Hajime.
- Retired Badass: A powerful ninja and at one point in his life he was a candidate for leadership of the Oniwaba group. He chose to pass the title to Aoshi, and he settled down after the war to run an inn with the remaining Oniwaban members.
- The Worf Effect: Is almost killed by Aoshi to show that he has mastered the Kodachi Nitoryu.
Masukami
Voiced by: Yuki Nakao (JP); Tara Sands (EN, mainly Season 2), Michelle Ruff (EN, tail-end of Season 2 and one episode in Season 3), Dina Sherman (EN, end of Season 3), Allison Sumrall (EN, New Kyoto arc), Colleen Clinkenbeard (EN, live-action)
Portrayed by: Yuka Eda (live-action)
Nicknamed Omasu, she's one of the maids at the Aoi Ya inn. With the wars over, she and the other members of the Kyoto Oniwabanshu have settled into civilian life but should Kyoto be in danger again she's ready for action.
- All Love Is Unrequited: After he saves them, she and Ochika fall head over heels for Hiko. Though for Omasu this seems temporary as Ochika keeps pining for him while she attends to other matters.
- Bespectacled Cutie: When played by Yuka Eda in the live-action movies. Omasu is bespectacled in this adaptation spends a lot more time being silently pensive. She is polite, dutiful, and motherly to Misao.
- Straight Man: In the anime, she often plays this to Misao's flights of fancy and Okina's eccentricity. When Ochika prays for Hiko to notice her, Omasu exasperatedly prays for Okina to stop chasing young women.
Oumime
Voiced by: Shizuka Okohira (JP); Bridget Hoffman (EN, mainly in Season 2), Dina Sherman (EN, episode 42 of TV series), Melodee Spevack (EN, episode 45 of TV series), Mona Marshall (EN, Season 3), Allison Sumrall (EN, New Kyoto arc), Kristi Kang (EN, live-action)
Portrayed by: Ayumi Beppu (live-action)
Nicknamed Ochika, she's one of the maids at the Aoi Ya inn. She is also a former Oniwabanshu member who settled down for a peaceful life, but as needed she's ready to lend a hand.
- Adaptational Modesty: Her outfit in the films shows a lot less skin than in the original. While the same can be said for all the female Oniwabanshu, hers is the most notable.
- All Love Is Unrequited: Upon seeing him in action, she and Omasu both get a pretty big crush on Hiko, though he doesn't seem to notice them.
- Letting Her Hair Down: Her hair is normally kept up, but when she's back in her old uniform she lets it hang down. She ends up looking quite younger and prettier.
- Undying Loyalty: To the Oniwabanshu and the people of Kyoto. In Shin Kyoto Hen, she and Misao personally rush back to the burning Aoi Ya to rescue the infirm Okina.
Hiko Seijuurou XIII
Voiced by: Shūichi Ikeda (JP 1996 TV series), Yūichi Nakamura (JP 2023 TV series); Richard Epcar (EN - Anime), Joe York (EN - First OVA series), James Brownlee (EN - Second OVA series), Andrew Love (EN - New Kyoto arc), Christopher Sabat (EN, live-action)
Portrayed by: Masaharu Fukuyama (live-action)
Master of the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū, he served as Kenshin's swordsmanship instructor and eventually passed his signature style to him.
- The Ace: He the master of the best sword style in the series, head and shoulders above the main character himself. He could have easily defeated every villain Kenshin fought. Kind of expected considering who's voicing him: he's also A CHAR.
- Adaptational Heroism: While his Shin Kyoto Hen incarnation is still giving off that Insufferable Genius vibe, he seems more relaxed and welcoming of the fact that Kenshin has learned a few lessons for the past ten years after meeting Yahiko and Kaoru.
- Adaptational Nice Guy: His live-action incarnation loses most of his characteristic arrogance, and while it is still made clear that he is a harsh teacher, he looks like a better Parental Substitute than his manga counterpart.
- All-Powerful Bystander: Is strong enough that he could defeat any of the series' villains if he cared to. Unfortunately, he doesn't.
- Arrogant Kung-Fu Guy: The rudest and most condescending character in the series, and so assured of his own power that he even belittles Kenshin's abilities and is completely unphased by a literal giant. But make no mistake, the man can back it up.
- Badass Boast: Everything he says to his opponents. With skill like his, it's less a boast and more like stating the obvious.Thug: WHAT!? Wh-wh-who the hell are you!?Seijuro: There's no point giving my name to those who are about to die. (slaughters the thugs)
- Badass Cape: His cape is actually the symbol of his mastery of the Hiten Mitsurugi style, and he inherited it from his own master. Watsuki says in an author's note the cloak was inspired by Spawn.
- Baritone of Strength: Is The most powerful character in the series, with his Japanese and English voice actors both giving him a suitably deep voice to match his prowess and strength.
- Big Damn Heroes: His only fight in the series starts with him coming out of nowhere to save Yahiko from certain death. Lampshaded by Yahiko, who thought he purposely delayed his arrival to make himself look cool. Hiko blames it on the lack of directions.
- Brilliant, but Lazy: Although he isn't lazy so much as jaded.Seijuro: It would be easiest if I went after Shishio myself, but I'd rather not deal with the hassle.
- Bystander Syndrome:
- He feels that most conflicts in the outside world are pointless and irrelevant. For instance, he tried to stop Kenshin from joining the revolution because it would distract from his study of swordsmanship, and would accomplish nothing but replacing rulers.
- Subverted near the end of the Kyoto arc. Hiko flatly refuses to join Kenshin in his battle with Shishio, but goes on to rescue Kaoru, Yahiko, and the Oniwabanshu from Fuji at his pupil's request. He even goes a step further when, holding true to Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu's principle that a sword should be wielded to protect the innocent, he chooses to redeem the thoroughly mistreated Fuji rather than killing him.
- Catchphrase: "My stupid/idiot apprentice" (baka deshi in Japanese) when speaking of Kenshin.
- Chick Magnet: In many of his scenes where the women involved do not have an existing potential Love Interest (like the kunoichi of the Oniwabanshu), he's expected to attract them.
- The Comically Serious: Much like Saitou, his harsh demeanor and arrogance can be funny when played off of Kenshin's more humorous moments.
- Cool Old Guy: He is a 43-year-old expert swordsman, after all.
- Cynical Mentor: Very visibly so in contrast to his student Kenshin. Has at least two monologues, one in the 43rd episode of the anime, and one in the Tsuiokuhen OVA, that sets the tone of how he sees the world:"That boy must had found the grief too much to bear, and committed suicide... But such things like that happen everyday.""The moon peers down on a diseased world… There is no cure for the disease. An entire race walks mindlessly into destruction. Not even a man of colossal power would be able to prevent the inevitable."
- Deconstructed Trope: Even more than Kenshin, his life is a deconstruction of the Knight Errant. He's The Ace and an invincible Master Swordsman, but the age of warrior heroes is over, and he knows that being the best at killing people won't really help fix the systemic oppression or the cycles of violence that bring misery to Japan. So he decided that the best thing he could do with his life was become a potter and practice his art on the side. His pupil would decide differently.
- Hermit Guru: He saw in Shinta's kindness the potential of a worthy successor to his tradition, and adopted him as Kenshin to create one... though the results were not exactly what he intended or liked... until much later.
- Heroic Neutral: Content to live a quiet life as a potter, but will come out of retirement to help his pupil.
- Iaijutsu Practitioner: Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu is a style of this, and he is one of the best in the style.
- I Am Not Left-Handed: In The Legend Ends, he uses a wooden stick found randomly to retrain Kenshin, and only resorts to his sword when he needs to teach him a lesson about the will to live.
- Insufferable Genius: He loves bragging and calls himself a genius, but it doesn't change the fact that he really is the best swordsman in the series.
- Invincible Hero: A top-class Master Swordsman. The Mangaka even admits because of this, he finds it hard how to properly use him.
- Jerkass Has a Point: His prediction that Kenshin would be used by the Isshin-Shishi as a cold blooded assassin and tool rather than a liberator of the people turned out to be pretty spot-on, as angry as Kenshin was about him saying it.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: He may treat him like dirt mostly, but shows a surprising amount of warmth towards Kenshin when he thinks Kenshin's mortally wounded him and later talks and fights Fuji out of being a member of the villainous Juppongatana.
- Knight in Sour Armour: With the emphasis on sour; He berates Kenshin that yes, the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu successor is meant to protect the innocent and uphold justice, but as a warrior unbound by political prejudices, not a political tool. He knows the age of the swordsmen is over, and is quite bitter about it.
- Last-Name Basis: "Seijuurou" is his given name.
- Legacy Character: As suggested by the name and number, he's part of a long line of men who mastered the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu (By tradition, all masters of the Hiten Mitsurugi take the name Hiko Seijuurou up achieving mastery so that they cannot use the style to attain fame for themselves). The first one (featured in the one-shot Sengoku no Mikazuki) was a vassal samurai who is no slouch in the style either and who would later on become the daimyo of the domain he rescued/married into. Kenshin himself was in line to become Hiko Seijuro The Fourteenth had he not refused the position.
- Libation for the Dead: Upon finding the graves of the people a young Kenshin had buried, Hiko notes that three are marked with stones rather than crosses. Kenshin had made those graves specially for the three slaves who'd tried to save him. When Kenshin states that he doesn't have any flowers for them, Hiko pours out some Sake from his personal flask onto them in tribute."No one should have to leave this world without knowing the taste of good Sake. This is my tribute to these three."
- Lightning Bruiser: Faster, stronger, and more skilled than any other character in the series.
- Martial Pacifist: He will only fight if it's absolutely necessary, not because he dislikes violence, but because he doesn't want Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu to be used as a political tool.
- Master Swordsman: Probably the best example in a series full of them.
- Muscles Are Meaningless: Completely averted. He's far and away the greatest living swordsman in the series, and one of the buffest characters. He actually gets on Kenshin's case for his scrawny physique because one needs a lot of physical power and conditioning to use the Hiten Mitsurugi style to its full potential.
- Mythical Motifs: Much like Kenshin and the style he wields, he is associated with the dragon, but it is his cloak that truly manifests the meaning and symbolism of the Hiten Mitsurugi ryu. Not only is it symbolic of the art's practitioners, but Hiten is another name for the Tennin, who are beautiful and heavenly beings who are able to fly, reach great speeds beyond mortal capability, and are depicted with heavenly cloaks that allow them to achieve their powers of flight. Within Buddhism, Tennin are one of the many heavenly forces and deities of Buddhist thought known as the Tenbu, being powerful holy beings dedicated to the upholding of dharma and its virtues, and to protect good from evil.
- Narcissist: Though one of the more benevolent examples.
- Never Gets Drunk: Word of God has it that this is why Watsuki drew him drinking sake so much.
- Older Than He Looks: He's 43, but doesn't look a day over 30. Reinforces the running gag of practitioners of the Hiten Mitsurugi-Ryuu being much older than they look. Yahiko and Misao have a minor freak out after hearing his age, wondering if the Hiten Mitsurugi-Ryuu is some kind of fountain of youth.
- Parental Substitute: Played with; he deliberately made the training of Kenshin harsh and emotionally distant, to make sure his student will not feel pain or sadness for having to slay him in battle to succeed the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu tradition, as he did with his teacher;Do not grieve; this is a well-deserved fate for one who teaches with cruelty rather than kindness...
- Pet the Dog: He’s the first person in years (possibly decades) to treat Fuji like a person rather than a mindless beast, and helps Fuji to pull a Heel–Face Turn and get his life back on track.
- Power Limiter: That cape does more than just look badass. In addition to being quite heavy, it's also outfitted with several springs that provide resistance in opposition to muscle movement to limit the wearer's strength. It's a testament to how strong Hiko is that he only takes the darn thing off once in the entire series, and that was just for his pupil's final exam.
- Real Men Wear Pink: Makes his living... as a potter. Pottery in Japan is very Serious Business.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Gives a rather scathing one to Kenshin, but eventually helps him anyway.
- Retired Badass: Easily one of the most powerful warriors in Japan, now a renowned pottery maker.
- Rousing Speech: Gives a beautiful one to Fuji to convince the giant to take off his armor so they can duel at their full power.
- Sadist Teacher: Mild example, but Hiko's training usually involves bullying the lessons into his apprentice, which he takes a rather jerkish delight in doing.
- Sexy Mentor: He's very much easy on the eyes—being a muscle-bound handsome guy.
- Shout-Out: His cloak is based on Spawn's.
- Single-Stroke Battle: Lampshaded by the other characters in his duel with Fuji. Since Hiko is a Master Swordsman and Fuji is a giant with freakish levels of raw power, their fight is dependent on who lands the first blow.
- Smug Super: He loves bragging about how skilled he is, but since he's the World's Strongest Man, he has every right to do so.
- Split Second Blade Spam: Even as the 13th master of the Hiten Mitsurugi style, he naturally is capable of exceeding the style's unbelievably famous shinsoku without the need for battojutsu. As such, attacks like the Ryu So Sen, a technique that involves merely slashing the enemy at their every opening with said speed, and the Kuzu Ryuu Sen that he taught Kenshin just before he went off to face down Shishio and his Juppongatana at their HQ are practically second nature for him to perform and even outclasses his apprentice in this aspect.
- Stern Teacher: He's austere to an almost uncompromising degree but he genuinely cares about preparing Kenshin for the most unforgiving lessons that come with the final teachings of Hiten Misurugi-ryu.
- Story-Breaker Power: In Watsuki's own words, he's the "Joker in the Card Deck" and Watsuki wrote himself into a corner with him, which is why he's used sparingly.
- Tall, Dark, and Snarky: He's handsome, towering and with a withering sense of humor that's hard to rebut.
- Unlucky Thirteen: Is the 13th successor of the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu. Unlucky to anyone who picks a fight with him. Also unlucky for Kenshin in having him for a master since his training methods are... unorthodox.
- Warrior Poet: When he's not throwing putdowns or snark, he's a source of the most profound observations on human nature across the series.
- Warrior Therapist: If Kenshin would be the equivalent of a renowned doctor in this line of work, Hiko would be the Surgeon General. It doesn't just run merely in the guy either; along with reading the opponent and hunting down their ki, Hiten Mitsurugi also teaches its successors the importance of the human condition and the moral philosophy of being a warrior, including how not all foes are that despicable or simple-minded and that the blade must be held for those beyond saving. Though it is unfortunate that Hiko the XIII's career is foreshadowed to be filled with failures to save and come to happier conclusions in the past, he at least undoes the roots of Kenshin's Hitokiri Battousai alter ego and lets Fuji of the Juppongatana know that he deserves the dignity and respect of not just a warrior, but a human being.
- Who Are You?: In the opening of the ''Trust and Betrayal" OVA, Seijūrō saves Kenshin from being killed by bandits. Just before being killed, the last bandit asks the Seijūrō who he is. He replies "You won't live long enough to remember my name."
- World's Best Warrior: The most powerful character in the entire series. His technique and speed are completely above everyone else.
- Worthy Opponent: He compliments Fuji’s skill and technique, and offers him a fair one-on-one duel.
Sawagejo Cho
Voiced by: Shinichi Fukumoto (JP); Derek Stephen Prince (EN, TV series), David Matranga (EN, New Kyoto arc), Daman Mills (EN, live-action)
Portrayed by: Ryosuke Miura (live-action)
Also known as "Sword Hunter", Chō possesses quite a collection of rare and unusual swords, including, his favorite, a long flexible sword he keeps hidden around his waist named urumi, and a double-bladed sword known as a renbatō. He is only a mediocre opponent when not using the former (despite using a master sheathing technique), but he will still begin battles with regular swords, preferring to toy with his opponents. Only if they prove a true challenge will he reveal his full ability. A native of Osaka, Cho; has a very calm and cool exterior, and normally keeps one eye closed when talking, and only opens both eyes when excited in the heat of battle.
His fighting style is determined by the sword he uses, but he mainly uses the style Garyuorochi.
- Adaptational Badass: Since the Hakujin no Tachi is removed from the live-action films, his main weapon is his Renbatō which he manages to wield with a ferocity not seen in the original. It's especially notable because Kenshin shattered the Renbatō easily with his sheath in the anime while in the live-action films he's unable to do that because of the scissors-like design of the blades.
- Adaptational Villainy: Sawagejo pulled a Heel–Face Turn after being defeated by Kenshin in the source material. In The Final live-action film, he's working alongside Enishi and lays a trap on Saito's men when the Six Comrades attack Tokyo.
- Adapted Out: His urumi in the Live-Action films.
- Anime Hair: He says it's "The hair of sacred fire". Everyone else says that it looks like "The hair of insane broom."
- Animal Motifs: The crane.
- Armor Is Useless: Averted, both times he takes one of Kenshin's attacks he avoids being knocked out because his swords (the two on his back and the Whip Sword wrapped around his waist) lessen the impact.
- Bifurcated Weapon: His Renbatō is a two-bladed katana composed by Chō's two katana merged together. It is more lethal than it looks cool; according to him, the wounds it inflicts are difficult to patch up and meant for the purpose of the inevitable death of the opponent. In the Live-Action, Cho can also use the Renbato as an oversized pair of scissors.
- Blade Across The Shoulder: Keeps two of his swords like this, which allows him to take the hit when Kenshin delivers a powerful strike to his back.
- Boxed Crook: After Shishio's defeat he goes to work for the government.
- The Bus Came Back: After the Ten Swords break up after the Kyoto arc, Chō makes a return in the Anime's opening arc for the third season and in the manga to deliver information on the Six Comrades.
- Butt-Monkey: Especially after his defeat and change of employer, Cho barely gets any respect, with Saito treating him like crap and Yahiko and Misao pointing out that he's nothing more then an errand boy.
- Combat Pragmatist: Played With. When he meets Kenshin he tries to kill him, even though he knows the man's sword is broken. However, he admits that he'd rather have fought him at full strength to test his own skill but if Shishio found out that he'd encountered Kenshin and not engaged, Chō would probably be executed. Though during the battle Chō is happy enough to take on Kenshin the way he is because he enjoys a good fight.
- Confusion Fu: His Live Action movie counterpart has a very rough and brutal fighting style that is complimented by just how odd and reckless it is compared to the more slick and precise styles other characters use.
- Evil Counterpart: As showcased in an amusing meeting between the two, he looks/dresses very similarly to Sanosuke and gives an idea of what he would be like absent morals (while Sano loves a good fight, Chō is a Blood Knight).
- Eyes Always Shut: He usually keeps one eye shut, and when he opens it, it means he's about to get serious.
- Eye Scream: His Shin Kyoto Hen incarnation wasn't as lucky in his battle with Kenshin. Yes, he survives, but he also loses an eye to a more-ruthless Kenshin.
- Heel–Face Turn: While most of the Ten Swords turned to work for the government to keep themselves out of jail, Chō actually seems to have changed for the better and his last episode has him visit Kenshin and the others for a meal and a pleasant chat.
- Hidden Depths: He may seem like a kill-happy idiot, but there is a shrewdness to him and a surprising degree of loyalty to his colleagues rather than Shishio himself. He made a point to visit Honjou during his recovery and when he implied he was suicidal Chō granted him a new purpose by telling him to act as a storyteller to keep the memory of Shishio alive. He also seemed to be saddened to hear that Houji killed himself in prison.
- The Idiot from Osaka: Has a strong Kansai accent and he's not all that bright.
- Improvised Weapon: When forced to fight Sanosuke in jail he uses the chained ball he's tied to as an impromptu Epic Flail.
- Karma Houdini: In the live-action movie series where he gets a case of Adaptational Villainy and works alongside Enishi, due to him being absent from the final battle.
- Mr. Exposition: He visits Kenshin and crew and gives a Where Are They Now speech about the surviving Juppongatana and the new positions they have in addition to giving Yumi's backstory.
- Platonic Life-Partners: With Yumi. They used to go out and drink together, according to him.
- Shout-Out: A relatively minor one, but the movements he employs to throw Iori and the scabbard of the sword above him are the same Taopaipai used to hold on Bora's spear before sending him flying up above him.
- Unorthodox Sheathing: While threatening Seiku, he holds the sword in front of him before tossing the scabbard (with Iori on it) up in the sky... before catching the falling sheath with the sword without harming Iori.
- Whip Sword: His Hakujin no Tachi, an elongated katana made from an experiment of stretching out a typical piece of sword steel just to see how long its edge can get. As the result of this, not only is it far-reaching and dangerously fluid when swung, but its pullback allows for it to snare into an unsuspecting opponent if an initial attack is avoided.
- Would Hurt a Child: During his introduction, he tries to pressure someone into supplying a sword by threatening the man's infant son. Whether he would have followed up on his threat or not is unknown, though Seiku knew that Cho would have tested his father's last sword on Iori.
Okita Souji
Anime version
Voiced by: Yōko Ogai (JP, 1996 anime and OVA), Soichiro Hoshi (JP, 2023 anime); Mona Marshall (EN, TV series), J. Shannon Weaver (EN, OVA), Griffin Burns (EN, The Final)
Portrayed by: Nijirō Murakami (live-action)
Leader of the first squad of the Shinsengumi during the revolution. He suffers from tuberculosis as seen when he fought Kenshin in a flashback, and even then he was still able to fight the red-headed warrior to a draw.
- Adapted Out: He is nowhere to be seen in Saito's flashbacks in the live-action films. He finally makes an appearance in The Beginning.
- Adaptational Badass: In the manga and other early adaptation he manages to fend off Kenshin as his equal for several minutes until his tuberculosis becomes apparent and Saitou volunteers to to take over. In the live action movies....... An the challenge is turned into an entire full fight scene..... That m arks as one of the highlights of the movie...... His tuberculosis symptoms don't come in until near the end of the duel unlike most incarnations where it stops the fight pretty early on... And he more than manages to be Kneshin's equal, he almost overwhelms him and its made obvious its only his sickness that leaves him being at Kenshin's equal! Furthermore his fight with Kenshin as so savage that Kenshin gets mentally worn out and along with orders to retreat he declines a challenge from Saitou. Okita's fight is one of the high points of the prequel movie tot he point we never see a proper confrontation between Saitou and Kenshin!
- Ascended Extra: In the manga, he is seen in four panels and only gets one line of dialogue before Saito pulls him aside to fight Kenshin. The anime gives him a bit more screen time killing off Ishin Shishi agents. In the OVA, he not only gets more screen time interacting with Saito and killing Ishin Shishi agents during the Ikedaya incident but actually gets to fight Kenshin on-screen before Saito pulls him aside when his tuberculosis starts acting up. In the live action movies he completely takes over as the Big Battle that Saitou is given in the original source material to the point in the prequel Saito never actually once fights Kenshin face to face in the prequel.
- Dude Looks Like a Lady: In keeping with the long-standing pop-cultural tropes regarding Okita.
- Handicapped Badass: He battled Himura Kenshin to an equal-draw even as he was literally coughing bloody chunks of his lungs out; Had Okita been in perfect health, neither he nor Saitou would have been his match.
- Historical Domain Character: As one of the leading personnel of The Shinsengumi.
- Identical Stranger: Cut off his topknot and he may well be a time-shifted Soujiro. In fact, Watsuki explicitly mentioned he based Soujiro on darker literary interpretations of him (such as in Shiba Ryotaro's novels).
- Incurable Cough of Death: It was established that he was already starting to develop tuberculosis—and it even handicapped him in a duel with Kenshin during the final minutes of the OVA.
- Master Swordsman: Historically documented to be Saitou's superior as a warrior even when he was dying from tuberculosis. Let that sink in for a moment.
- Psycho for Hire: Has some vibes of it. Among the Shinsengumi characters given screen time, he's probably the most gleeful and nonchalant during their assassination missions.
Mishima Eiichirou
Voiced by: Katsuya Shiga (JP); Eric P. Sherman (EN, episode 35), Steve Staley (EN, episode 37), John Burgmeier (EN, live-action)
Portrayed by: Yasushi Fuchiue (live-action)
One of two brothers from Shingetsu village, which is "ruled" by Shishio's follower Senkaku. Eiichirou is a policeman and works as one of Saitou's informants. He is chased and executed by Shishio's men after his ties to the police are revealed.- Big Brother Instinct: Eiichirou desperately tried to get his parents and little brother out of the soon-to-be Doomed Hometown, and when Senkaku found out and attacked them, the fatally injured pretty much kept himself alive out of willpower until he could entrust the surviving Eiji to Kenshin and Misao.
- Doomed Hometown: Shingetsu is a village that has been completely left to its own devices by the Meiji government, to the point of deleting it from its newest maps. Eiichirou tried to get his family out of there, but only Eiji survived; when Kenshin, Eiji and Misao arrive, they find the hung corpses of the Mishima parents in the middle of the completely abandoned place.
- The Mole: Eiichirou was supposed to play this role in his village, regarding Shishio's activities in the area. Tragically, he was caught, and then things went From Bad to Worse.
Mishima Eiji
Voiced by: Naomi Matamura (JP); Joshua Seth (EN, TV series), Kira Vincent-Davis (EN, live-action)
Portrayed by: Ei Tabata (live-action)
The younger of the two Mishima brothers, Eiji is the only survivor of his family after his brother's connections to the police are discovered. After his village is freed from Senkaku, he is essentially adopted by Saito, sent to live with his wife. Years later, he joins the police like his older brother and adoptive father.
- Ascended Extra: His appearance in the original run is very brief, being sent to stay with Tokio and never appearing again for the rest of the series. In the Hokkaido Arc, not only does he make a return but his resentment towards the surviving Juppongatana plays a fairly big role in the plot.
- Berserk Button: In the Hokkaido arc, reminding Eiji about Shingetsu Village and family in any way. Kenshin knew about this, which is why he was reluctant to allow Eiji to join them. It is, unfortunately, all for naught as the mere presence of Soujirou triggered those memories.
- Big Brother Worship: Eiji deeply cherishes Eiichirou's memories and has to be talked down from avenging him and their parents.
- Break the Cutie: Eiji came pre-broken, having been hunted down by Shishio's men and losing his brother to them. Then, the plot broke him further, seeing his parents' corpses hung and mutilated. He came back in the Hokkaido arc, becoming a nicer and determined youth, only to be broken again when he realizes that Kenshin and Saito will be working together with the remnants of the Juppongatana.
- The Bus Came Back: Eiji returns during the Hokkaido Arc and has joined the police force like his adoptive father.
- Doomed Hometown: Shingetsu is a village that has been completely left to its own devices by the Meiji government, to the point of deleting it from its newest maps. Eiichirou tried to get his family out of there, but only Eiji survived; when Kenshin, Eiji, and Misao arrive, they find the hung corpses of the Mishima parents in the middle of the completely abandoned place.
- Happily Adopted: After Senkaku's defeat, Saito says that he and his wife Tokio will take Eiji in. Based on his much nicer demeanor in the Hokkaido Arc, he's been well taken care of since his last appearance.
- Heroic BSoD: Poor Eiji has a meltdown when he sees his parents' corpses.
- Knight Templar: Eiji joined the military to strike down enemies with his own two hands. Kenshin fears that this thinking, as well-intentioned as it may be, might come to destroy Eiji down the line. He's beginning to be proven right when Eiji explodes at the thought of the remnants of the Juppongatana aiding Kenshin and Saito.
- Sole Survivor: Eiji's parents are murdered (and their corpses are hung outside the village) and Eiichirou dies of his own wounds, so Eiji ends up like this.
- Teeth-Clenched Teamwork: After much contemplation, he reluctantly agrees to work with the surviving Juppongatana. However, he makes it clear that he will show no mercy if there's any sign of betrayal.
Yukishiro Tomoe
Voiced by: Junko Iwao (JP); Rebecca Davis (EN, OVA), Jamie Marchi (EN, live-action; The Legend Ends), Suzie Yeung (EN, live-action; The Beginning and The Final)
Portrayed by: Natsuki Watanabe (2012 film), Kasumi Arimura (The Final and The Beginning)
Kenshin's first love and Enishi's sister. She was the elder daughter of a samurai, a low-level bureaucrat who served the Tokugawa Shogunate in Edo. Tomoe left home and joined the Yaminobu with the intention of killing Kenshin in order to avenge her fiancé's death, but ultimately fell in love with him... and sacrificed her life to save him.
- Aloof Dark-Haired Girl: She's beautiful, tall, black-haired, and appears emotionless at first sight.
- Becoming the Mask: Implied to be her tragedy: In trying to charm the man who killed her fiancee, she fell in love with him for real. It's actually discussed further in the OVA, where her Yaminobu accomplices give her stick for it, and she herself questions her sanity and morals for feeling so.
- Blood-Splattered Innocents: When she first met Kenshin, she was splashed with the blood of the men he just killed.
- Broken Bird: Her mother died when she was young, she had to grow up very quickly and she experienced the death of several people around her all by 18-years-old. These harsh experiences left her emotionally numb and she admits that expressing emotions is difficult for her, but she does eventually open up to Kenshin.
- Character Exaggeration: The OVA takes several aspects of her personality, such as her vengefulness, and plays it up compared to the more Deadpan Snarker personality she had in the original manga. Understandable since the OVA is told from her point of view and lets us in on her motivation and thought process way earlier than the manga, where it was only fully revealed after her death.
- Childhood Friend Romance: Played for tragedy. Her childhood friend proposed marriage to her and she was happy because she did love him back, but she was so emotionally stunted that she couldn't properly express her feelings for him and he went to Kyoto to become a warrior who could win her love, but he was killed by Kenshin.
- Damsel in Distress: Kenshin's enemies use her as a hostage in order to lure Kenshin into a trap.
- Deadpan Snarker: The original manga gave her a few moments of deadpan wit.
- Defrosting Ice Queen: Although it was short-lived, she did eventually warm up to Kenshin and even sacrificed herself to save Kenshin.
- Died in Your Arms Tonight: She dies in Kenshin's arms.
- Eerie Pale-Skinned Brunette: It's almost as if she was designed to be a perfect yurei/"avenging ghost", which she probably sees herself as one—considering she was part of a plot to put down Battousai. Ironically, when she actually dies, her sole appearance as a ghost is very tender and loving to Kenshin.
- Emotionless Girl: Subverted. She does have emotions, but isn't good at expressing them. It brings her lots of heartbreak since she couldn't express her genuine love for Kiyosato as much as she wants to... which leads him to go to Kyoto and then die at Kenshin's hands.
- First Love: For Kenshin—setting him down into the path of atonement and new living he chose in the anime proper.
- Flower Motifs: In the live-action film, Tomoe's appearance is noted by white plum petals, a nod to her perfume in the original story.
- Go Out with a Smile: She gave Kenshin one last smile before dying.
- The Gwen Stacy: It is through her death that marks one of Kenshin's greatest sources of immense guilt for the rest of his life.
- Heroic Sacrifice: When Kenshin was about to make a suicidal final blow, Tomoe threw herself between Kenshin and his opponent, intending to protect him. Blinded with pain, Kenshin was unable to see her until it was too late, and delivered a fatal blow to his opponent and to her with the same slash of his sword.
- Honey Trap: She thought she was just The Mole, but actually the Shogunate spymasters sent her to make Kenshin fall in love with her and lure him into a trap.
- In Love with the Mark: Tomoe was a spy for Kenshin's enemies, with the intention to discover his weaknesses and kill him in revenge for her fiance. Then Tomoe abandoned her mission once she fell in love with him.
- Laser-Guided Karma: With an extra twist of Ironic Echo. Kenshin comes to kill Kiyosato, and though honors his sacrifice, does not realize the full extent of his actions. When it is the fiancee of the Kiyosato who falls in love with him and dies not just within a battle, but by the sword of Kenshin, the tragedy comes to not just shove into his face the pain and suffering when loved ones suddenly are taken away by the act of cold-blooded murder, but brings to him what he has done full circle by showing what he did not truly champion: being able to save innocent people from dying in an unneeded conflict.
- The Lost Lenore: Her death really messed Kenshin up and contributed to him making his no-killing oath.
- Morality Chain: Prior to the Kenshin-gumi, Tomoe's presence made the Battousai less of a cold, ruthless killer. As his employer, Choshu clan head Katsura Kogoro, asked of Tomoe, she serves as "the sheath to temper his mad justice."
- Never Got to Say Goodbye: She deeply regrets never have been able to openly express her love for Kiyosato, especially since it was her lack of expressiveness that led to him going to Kyoto in the first place.
- Onee-sama: Her role in Enishi's life. The fact that she became his Parental Substitute kind of piles on this even more, feeding the guy's relationship with her mother.
- The Ophelia: Has a fit of this because of her fiancé's death. The first time she meets Kenshin, she's drunk and her only reaction to getting splattered by the blood of someone Kenshin just eviscerated is to say that he made it rain blood. She then promptly faints.
- Posthumous Character: She is already dead by the start of the series.
- Promotion to Parent: She helped raise Enishi since their mom died when giving birth to him, so Enishi sees her more as a mother than a sister.
- Rei Ayanami Expy: The author has stated that Tomoe's appearance and personality were modeled after Rei Ayanami. This is made clear with her being a pale-skinned Emotionless Girl who warms up to the protagonist.
- Revenge: She took the role of The Mole in order to avenge her fiancé Akira Kiyosato, whom Kenshin killed.
- The Rich Have White Stuff: She wears a white, delicately-patterned kimono—which actually tips off Katsura and the Choshu men on the fact that she can't be a stray woman: she's a well-educated daughter of a samurai family. A family connected to the Shogunate, in fact.
- Signature Scent: Tomoe is noted to have a white plum fragrance.
- Snow Means Death: She dies in the snow.
- The Stoic: She rarely let her emotions show in her face.
- Sugar-and-Ice Personality: For most of her appearances, she's been a very stoic and detached woman. When she opens up, she can be a very comforting presence.
- Unwitting Pawn: The Shogunate spymasters knew Kenshin would fall in love with her and when she tried to save him, they used her as a hostage to lure Kenshin into a trap.
- Walking Spoiler: Being an incredibly important part of Kenshin and Enishi's past, and motivations, she is inevitably this.
- When She Smiles: Kenshin and Enishi have visions of her, but she isn't smiling at them, which causes them great grief (and madness in Enishi's case). When she smiles at them, they have finally found peace.
- White Shirt of Death:
- When she and Kenshin met, she was wearing a white kimono. He had just killed a man in front of her. She said "you made it rain blood". Do the math.
- Tomoe was wearing the white kimono too in her own death scene. Finally, as in traditional Japanese burial fittings, she wears a clean, plain white kimono as a corpse—before Kenshin burns their home as her funeral pyre.
- Yamato Nadeshiko: Subversion: she looks and acts the part but her train of thoughts is very different. Tomoe wanted revenge for her fiancé's murder, and she also felt horribly guilty because he went to Kyoto to make a name for himself and got killed off. Double subverted after she falls for her mark, i.e. Kenshin.
Kiyosato Akira
Voiced by: Tetsuya Iwanaga (JP); Ray Clayton (EN, OVA), Joel McDonald (EN, live-action; original trilogy), Xander Mobus (EN, The Beginning and The Final)
Portrayed by: Masataka Kubota (live-action)
The second son of a shōgun retainer, he was the childhood friend and fiancé of Yukishiro Tomoe. Fearing that his own meager position would not be enough to impress his betrothed, Akira postponed the wedding and left Edo for Kyoto to join the Mimawarigumi, where he became a bodyguard for the high-ranking samurai Shigekura Jūbei.
- Chekhov's Gunman: It's thanks to him that Tomoe becomes The Mole and the Honey Trap. We won't know it for a while, though.
- Childhood Friend Romance: Had this with Tomoe. And then he got killed by Kenshin.
- Curb Stomp Cushion: He was completely outclassed by Kenshin. Despite this, he did manage to inflict a permanent injury by slashing his cheek hard enough to form the first half of his trademark cross-shaped scar, which is something other swordsmen far more skilled than him have struggled to do.
- Determinator: To the point that despite being hopelessly outclassed, he gave Kenshin the first half of his X-shaped scar before dying. Which Kenshin acknowledges.
- Family-Unfriendly Death: Akira is brutally killed by Kenshin in their encounter, whatever the version. In the manga, he was slashed with a massive frontal diagonal cut before being stabbed in the heart. In the OVA, the first part stands, but he was stabbed by Kenshin through the neck. The live-action movie ramps this up with him persisting after multiple individual slashes, before being finished off in the heart.
- Honor Before Reason: He engages Kenshin, despite the fact that Kenshin is far more skilled than he is, the fact that Kenshin already killed Shigekura, and the fact that Akira is scared out of his mind during their fight. The OVA really sticks the point home that Akira hadn't needed to fight Kenshin, as Shigekura actually saves him from Kenshin before he is killed.
- Middle Child Syndrome: Implied more than anything. He's the second son of a samurai family, and to make his girlfriend Tomoe happier with their engagement, he sent off to Kyoto. It doesn't do any good for both of them.
- Posthumous Character: He is dead by the start of the series.
- Small Role, Big Impact: His death would serve as a catalyst for the majority of what happens to Kenshin.
Katsura Kogoro
Voiced by: Tomokazu Seki (JP); Corey M. Gagne (EN, OVA), Christopher Wehkamp (EN, live-action)
Portrayed by: Ichirota Miyagawa (2012 film), Issey Takahashi (The Beginning)
Katsura Kogorō was the legendary young leader of the Chōshū Ishin-Shishi who, along with Ōkubo Toshimichi and Saigō Takamori, became one of the three key figures of the Meiji Restoration after they forged an alliance between former enemies Chōshū and Satsuma. After witnessing young Himura Kenshin's impressive performance in the Kiheitai, Katsura recruited the fourteen-year-old swordsman into his service as a hitokiri in Kyoto and acts as the Battōsai's immediate superior during the Bakumatsu.
- Alliterative Name: Katsura Kogoro.note
- Big Brother Mentor: He and Takasugi are this to young Kenshin.
- Historical Domain Character: Among the historically-established Ishin Shishi—together with Okubo Toshimichi and Saigo Takamori. He's better known in formal history as Kido Takayoshi.
- I Did What I Had to Do: His extremist politics (which included turning Kenshin into the Hitokiri Battousai) is not something he's proud of. He even chose to never wield his sword again as his self-imposed punishment on his pride.
- Knight in Sour Armor: Being a ruthless revolutionary leader of your domain does that.
- Mirror Character: Despite being a Historical Domain Character, his portrayal as a revolutionary and his role in Kenshin's life borrows significantly from another historical contemporary, Takechi Hanpeita of Tosa—a mid-level samurai who swings his domain towards revolution against the Bakufu, as well having a number of assassinations attributed to him (most notably those of Okada Izo—one of the many historical parallels to Battosainote ). The key difference, of course, is that while Takechi was a) usually portrayed as a manipulative mentor to his assassins and b) ultimately contained and executed for his actions, Katsura/Kido was a more positive influence to Kenshin and dies peacefully under the government he helped build.
- Not So Stoic: Katsura is usually portrayed as the somber leader of the Choshu shishi (particularly in the OVA). That said, in the manga, he's seen spending a lot of time hanging out and hosting drinking nights with his comrades. He's even the first to point out to his men to stop teasing Kenshin for bringing home Tomoe—noting that he has a mistress herself.note
- Posthumous Character: At least during the anime proper. He is a major character in the Tsuiokuhen flashback chapters/OVA.
- Revenge: Basically believes in this as a life philosophy, which is consistent with most shishi of his time. His belief that the Tokugawa Shogunate has been abusive (exemplified in executing his mentor Yoshida Shoin) drives his extremist methods. (Which is probably why he sent Shishio to murder the traitorous Iizuka after the latter played a part in turning Kenshin's life into hell).
- Shipper on Deck: Mild case, as he notices how Tomoe is a calming influence on Kenshin and refers to her as "the sheath of his sword".
- Supporting Leader: As Kenshin's handler/Mission Control, he serves this role.
Takasugi Shinsaku
Voiced by: Wataru Takagi (JP); Jason B. Phelps (EN, OVA), Alejandro Saab (EN, live-action)
Portrayed by: Masanobu Ando (live-action)
Takasugi Shinsaku is the best friend of Katsura Kogorō who opposed his friend's recruit of a young boy named Himura Kenshin as Hitokiri Battōsai. Takasugi believed that Kenshin suffered deeply as an assassin, due to him having to take away the lives of others in order to create the new Meiji era.
- Always Save the Girl: Implied to be one of his beliefs—suggesting that a man can't be trusted to fight for his ideals if he can't protect the woman he loves.
- Big Brother Mentor: He and Katsura are this to young Kenshin.
- Blood from the Mouth and Incurable Cough of Death: Again, following the real Takasugi.
- Everyone Has Standards: He found Katsura's choice to turn Kenshin into the Hitokiri Battousai distasteful, suggesting that Katsura should've been doing the assassinations himself. The latter concedes the point.
- Historical Domain Character: The leader of the Kiheitai, the crack unit troops of the Choshu shishi that eventually became the prototype for the Imperial Japanese Army.
- Hot-Blooded: Iizuka noted that he was this so much that when he got bored of his imprisonment by the conservative Chōshu government, he just broke out of jail and waged a coup d'etat with the Kiheitai, winning control of the domain for the Ishin Shishi.
- Knight in Sour Armor: He has no illusions about Kenshin's future role in the war, or of what will happen to him if he's officially recruited.
- So Proud of You: In a scene that could be seen as Black Comedy, he laughs and expresses pride at Kenshin's choice to "live with" Tomoe (in keeping with his Always Save the Girl belief) while coughing up blood and in prison.
- Tall, Dark, and Snarky: He was pretty tall, with dark hair/eyes, and had quite the wit.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Wasn't too happy with Katsura's plans for Kenshin. Not like he could do a lot about it at that point.
Iizuka
Voiced by: Ryūsei Nakao (JP); Lowell B. Bartholomee (EN), Kaiji Tang (EN, live-action)
Portrayed by: Shima Ōnishi (live-action)
Iizuka is the examiner of executions for the Choshu Clan. After a member of the Choshu Clan (for example, Kenshin) kills, he goes and takes care of the body. He usually puts a note warning the Shogunate. He appears to be somewhat skilled at kenjutsu.
- Asshole Victim: Really, his death at Makoto Shishio's hands was well-deserved.
- Big Brother Mentor: In the field, he's the one who works with Battousai more closely (being his "mission inspector"/lookout), and has more bantering time with him. As you can see with the other spoiler-tagged tropes, this is pretty much a sham.
- Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: Pretended to be a kind, loyal person while plotting behind his comrade's backs.
- Deadpan Snarker: So much that he gives the younger, whinier Kai Shiden a run for his money.
- It's All About Me: Turns out to have this personal philosophy, which is why he sold out his Ishin Shishi comrades to get a more comfortable life after the revolution. Of course, Katsura didn't let him get away with it and sent out Shishio after him...
- The Mole: A spy for the Yaminobu.
- Sixth Ranger Traitor: Betrayed the Choshu Clan and became The Mole for the Yaminobu.
- Smug Snake: Turns out to be a smug, slimy jerk.
Himura Kenji
Himura Kenji
Voiced by: Yuki Kaida (Japanese); Joey Hood (English)
The son of Himura Kenshin and Kamiya Kaoru, who gets quite the spotlight in the Reflection OAV (whether it's canon or not)note and in the first chapter of the Hokkaido arc manga.
- Ancestral Weapon: The sakabato in Reflection. Years after Kenshin relinquished the blade to Yahiko, Yahiko gives it to Kenji after defeating him in their duel. He's still carrying it after the events of the OVA.
- Ascended Extra: Kenji gets more screen time in Reflection in his goal to surpass his father.
- Early Installment Character-Design Difference: Kenji's artwork on the spine of the final volume showed him with red hair just like his father. Not too long afterward, starting with the Kenshin Kaden epilogue, Watsuki changed his hair color to brown and has been that way ever since.
- Food as Bribe: In Hokkaido arc, Alan gets the Kamiya Kasshin-ryu manual by simply tricking little Kenji into giving it to him in exchange for candy. Kaoru isn't amused, logically.
- Fragile Speedster: In Reflection, he becomes just as skilled and quick as Kenshin in his prime after briefly training with Hiko. However, he's unable to overcome Yahiko's experience, who blocks all of Kenji's strikes before ending the fight with a single swing of his sakabato.
- Like Parent, Like Spouse: At the end of Reflection, the cute girl who's all but stated to be his girlfriend looks a lot like his mother Kaoru.note
- Momma's Boy:
- He prefers his mother over his father, feeling rather relaxed and happy around Kaoru while being more irritable around Kenshin, often prone to pulling his hair. This becomes even more intense as he grows up.
- Subverted in the Hokkaido Arc manga, where he's a Cheerful Child who loves both of his parents equally.
- The Rival: He would grow up to be a rival to Yahiko and Tsubame's son.
- Strong Family Resemblance: Kenji bears an uncanny resemblance to his father, his brown hair being the only thing that separates him from his father. This resemblance becomes even more pronounced in Reflection, becoming the spitting image of the young Hitokiri Battousai.
- Turning Into Your Parent: In Reflection, Kenji resented Kenshin and sought out the power of the Hiten Mitsurugi style to separate him from Kenshin. Ironically, his skill and stubborness isn't that far off from Kenshin when he was still training with Hiko and may have had the potential to end up just like his father had he continued. Luckily, his fight with Yahiko instilled a sense of humility that may have ultimately saved him.
- Used to Be a Sweet Kid: The anime ending showed him loving his dad as much as his mother. Reflection shows that besides his grumpier demeanor, he also developed a strong hatred of his father. Noticeably, Hokkaido arc shows him as a little kid and keeps up with his sweeter side.
Dr. Elder
Dr. Elder Peaberry
Voiced by: Kanae Itō (Japanese)
A young doctor introduced in Act Zero who tries to care for the sick wherever she goes. Unfortunately for her, her services in Yokohama comes into conflict with a local doctor who tries to stop her. Luckily for her, a certain Rurouni just so happened to be in Yokohama that day.
- A-Cup Angst: In the manga. While she's thankful that her slim figure allows her to easily disguise herself as a man, she still bemoans her lack of assets.
- Adaptation Dye-Job: Though no specific color is mentioned or shown in the manga, the shading on Elder's hair implies that its a shade of brown or at least a darker blonde. Her hair in the 2023 anime is a very bright blonde.
- Adaptational Job Change: Downplayed. While she's still a doctor, she mentions that she had previously done theater in her homeland, which allowed her to easily play the role of a man. This fact is never mentioned in the manga.
- All There in the Manual: Her family name, Peaberry, is only revealed in Watsuki's post-chapter Free Talk segment and in the credits of the 2023 anime. Additionally, he notes that Elder is a distant relative of Dr. Hildegard Peaberry from Embalming.
- But Now I Must Go: With her work in Yokohama done, Elder decides to travel to another land to treat those in need. In the 2023 anime, she is joined by Espiral, who vows to protect her as thanks for helping him turn his life around.
- Foil:
- To Kenshin. Both work tirelessly to save the people around them so they don't suffer anymore, though Elder does so as a doctor while Kenshin does so as a swordsman, and were willing suppress themselves to do so. However, Elder realizes that she can only do so much in the world she lives in and strives to focus on saving those around her. This is similar to how Kenshin functions as a Rurouni, but only after he went through the trauma he experienced as a Hitokiri.
- To Espiral in the 2023 anime. Espiral made his life goal to challenge the strongest swordsman and travelled all the way to Japan to challenge the strongest "samurai", Hitokiri Battousai. However, when he was utterly trounced by Kenshin, he felt lost with no way forward. By comparison, Elder takes pride in achieving smaller victories, like healing a child's mother, rather than getting lost in attempting to achieve some ultimate goal. It's this mindset that allows Espiral to rethink his life and decides to follow Elder as her bodyguard when she leaves Yokohama.
- Sweet Polly Oliver: As female doctors are looked down upon in this time period, she disguises herself as a man (using platform boots, a longcoat, a tophat, and a mask) so that she can be more easily accepted when treating those in need. While her disguise and the fact that she's a foreigner makes her look suspicious to the townsfolk, she feels that they'd more readily accept her as a strange-looking male doctor than as a woman.
