Number of Volumes: 28

Story and Art by: Nobuhiro Watsuki

Characters:

• Himura Kenshin
• Kamiya Kaoru
• Myojin Yahiko
• Sagara Sanosuke

Summary: Once he was a hitokiri, an assassin, called Battosai. His name was legend among the patriot warriors who launched the Meiji Era. Now Himura Kenshin is a rurouni, a wanderer, who carries a reversed-edge sakabato blade to prohibit himself from killing. He comes upon a woman named Kamiya Kaoru, who owns a dojo, but has lost all of her students. After exposing a plot by the Hiruma brothers to steal Kaoru's school, he decides to stay at the dojo for a while, helping Kaoru and protecting many people along the way.

Commentary: A friend recommended this title to me. I really enjoy the story. I've never seen the anime so I don't know if it's very different, but after reading the manga, I'm going to watch the anime. I like how Rurouni Kenshin teaches you a little bit about history (in a very general manner - don't go looking for true stories or anything) and also a little about swordplay. I've taken a lot that I've learned from Rurouni Kenshin and been able to apply it to sword-fighting that I've seen or learned about in other places.

Rating: 10/10
Reasons for Rating: Great story, intriguing characters, good animation!