, also known as
Rurouni Kenshin and
Samurai X, is a Japanese
manga series written and illustrated by
Nobuhiro Watsuki. The story begins during the 11th year of the
Meiji period in Japan and follows a former assassin from the
Bakumatsu, named Known as Hitokiri Battosai. After his work against the
bakufu, Hitokiri Battosai disappears to become
Himura Kenshin: a wandering samurai who protects the people of Japan with a vow of never to take another life. Watsuki wrote this series upon his desire of making a
shonen manga different from the other ones that were published at the time, with Kenshin being a former assassin and the story taking a more serious tone as it continued. The manga revolves around themes of ,
peace, and
romance.