Kenshin Historical Accuracy.

Evangelion Unit 01 · Post by **Evangelion Unit 01** » Thu Sep 09, 2004 2:02 pm

I remember hearing from a friend that Rurouni Kenshin is based of some actual histrorical facts. I just want to know how true that is. I just got the series so that is why I am curious.

ryuu_hime13 · Post by **ryuu_hime13** » Thu Sep 09, 2004 3:38 pm

I can tell you that a lot of the characters in the show really existed, like certain political officials, as well as Saitou Hajime and Okita.

The plan to burn Kyoto was factual, I believe.

Kenshin himself is based on a battosai called Kawakami Gensai.

Hope that was of some use...I actually did some research on it sophomore year, but I've forgotten much of what I found.

Org Profile · Post by **Otohiko** » Thu Sep 09, 2004 5:45 pm

Hmm, my understanding is that history here is not so much the focus, but more a setting for the story. You could say it's something like a history-based novel, where some concessions are made and things are made up to dramatize the story and compensate for lack of completely-reliable knowledge.

The setting (civil war, etc.), from what I know, is real; as mentioned by ryuu_hime, a few of the characters did have historical counterparts; but the story itself is certainly made-up.

Evangelion Unit 01 · Post by **Evangelion Unit 01** » Fri Sep 10, 2004 12:08 am

ryuu_hime13 wrote:I can tell you that a lot of the characters in the show really existed, like certain political officials, as well as Saitou Hajime and Okita.

The plan to burn Kyoto was factual, I believe.

Kenshin himself is based on a battosai called Kawakami Gensai.

Hope that was of some use...I actually did some research on it sophomore year, but I've forgotten much of what I found.

Just curious if you still remeber where you found it so I can look it up. Thanks

doughboy · Post by **doughboy** » Fri Sep 10, 2004 2:40 am

Anime Insider covered this many issues back, possibly even last year.

I'll have a look when I get home and post all the info you seek.

Zaxafel · Post by **Zaxafel** » Fri Sep 10, 2004 2:50 am

doughboy wrote:Anime Insider covered this many issues back, possibly even last year.

I'll have a look when I get home and post all the info you seek.

no it was this year, march or april i believe

and its just like samurai deeper kyo that it uses factual characters to implement some history to the story.

look at this
http://www.uni.uiuc.edu/~ychiang/kenshinmoves.html

ryuu_hime13 · Post by **ryuu_hime13** » Fri Sep 10, 2004 5:22 pm

Evangelion Unit 01 wrote:
ryuu_hime13 wrote:I can tell you that a lot of the characters in the show really existed, like certain political officials, as well as Saitou Hajime and Okita.

The plan to burn Kyoto was factual, I believe.

Kenshin himself is based on a battosai called Kawakami Gensai.

Hope that was of some use...I actually did some research on it sophomore year, but I've forgotten much of what I found.
Just curious if you still remeber where you found it so I can look it up. Thanks

Unfortunately, I found that website 2 years ago, so I don't remember the name of URL. However, if you'll check out the first volume of the Kenshin manga it contains some information on Gensai and the Shinsengumi.

doughboy · Post by **doughboy** » Fri Sep 10, 2004 6:23 pm

The AI thing is really in depth, if I had my scanner I'd simply take that route... but my lazy brother has had it for months.

The Anime Insider issue was from February 2004, if you're able to order backissues I'd suggest giving it a look.

Here's a site I found simply doing a search for "Meiji Restoration " & Rurouni Kenshin", http://www.ex.org/4.1/04-feature_ruroken1.html.

Seems to cover a bit, so that'll give you a place to start from.

Blackwatch · Post by **Blackwatch** » Fri Sep 10, 2004 11:03 pm

all i know is that battosai the manslayer was real. his style his tale everything the thing is there sayin' that he dissappeared and was never found so rouni kenshin never took place kina like a japanese jimmy hoffa.

ryuu_hime13 · Post by **ryuu_hime13** » Sat Sep 11, 2004 1:52 pm

...not exactly.

The man Nobuhiro Watsuki says he based Kenshin on, Gensai, was captured and executed under supposedly false charges in the Meiji Era. There were other manslayers, of course.