Rurouni Kenshin: Season 1

1996 · 27 episodes · ★ 8.5

Wandering Samurai

What Season 1 of Rurouni Kenshin

Japan, eleventh year of the Meiji era. Himura Kenshin, a former Ishin Shishi, arrives in Tokyo, where Kamiya Kaoru, an instructor at a fencing school, attacks him, convinced that he is the Hitokiri Battōsai. A man pretending to be the Battōsai appears and tarnishes the dojo's name, so Kaoru wants to restore her school's prestige. Kenshin decides to help her and stays at the dojo, where he meets Yahiko, a boy who steals for a mafia gang, as well as Sanosuke and Megumi. The conflicts multiply: Gohei Hiruma seeks revenge after his defeat, Zanba wants to make Kenshin pay for his past suffering, and the government asks him to stop a ruthless killer.

27episodes

Jan 10, 1996premiered

Oct 16, 1996final episode

11.3 hrtotal runtime

Season 1 Episodes

1x01 The Handsome Swordsman of Legend: A Man who Fights for Love
Jan 10, 1996 · 25 min
A mysterious wanderer known as Kenshin is taken at the Kamiya Kasshin Dojo, a martial arts school run by a young woman named Kaoru.
Directing: Kazuhiro Furuhashi · Screenplay: Michiru Shimada
1x02 Kid Samurai: A Big Ordeal and a New Student
Jan 17, 1996 · 25 min
Following an encounter with a young pickpocket named Yahiko, Kaoru risks her own freedom to gain his from some local gangsters.
Directing: Shinichi Matsumi · Screenplay: Michiru Shimada
1x03 Swordsman of Sorrow: The Man Who Slays His Past
Jan 24, 1996 · 25 min
After reining in some renegade police officers, Kenshin is recognized as the Samurai whose bravery helped establish the Meiji Era and is asked to rejoin the army.
Directing: Akira Shimizu · Screenplay: Michiru Shimada
1x04 Bad! Introducing Sanosuke, Fighter-for-hire
Jan 31, 1996 · 25 min
Gohei enlists a vicious street-fighter known as Sanosuke to seek revenge against Kenshin. And even though Kenshin exposes Gohei's plan, Sanosuke makes it clear that the two of them will fight each other one day.
Writing: Yoshiyuki Suga
1x05 The Reverse-blade Sword vs. the Zanbatou: Beyond the Battle
Feb 7, 1996 · 25 min
After accepting Sanosuke's challenge, Kenshin encourages him to release his anger towards the corrupt Royalist forces.
Directing: Nobuhiro Takamoto · Writing: Yoshiyuki Suga
1x06 The Appearance of Kurogasa: Visitor from the Shadows
Feb 14, 1996 · 25 min
With a ruthless ex-Samurai killing high ranking politicians, the Chief of Police asks Kenshin to catch him. But as Kenshin confronts the deadly Jin-nai Udo, Kaoru's efforts to stop the battle end with her kidnapping.
Directing: Naoto Hashimoto · Screenplay: Michiru Shimada
1x07 Deathmatch under the Moon! Protect the One You Love
Feb 21, 1996 · 25 min
After kidnapping Kaoru, the ruthless Jin-nai Udo draws Kenshin into the fight he's been seeking for years. Though Kenshin tries to resist, Jin-nai's powerful spell over Kaoru leaves him no other choice.
1x08 A New Battle! The Mysterious Beauty From Nowhere
Feb 28, 1996 · 25 min
When local gangsters threaten the life of a beautiful woman, Kenshin and Sanosuke step in to save her.
Starring: Shōzō Iizuka, Akio Nojima
1x09 The Strongest Group of Ninjas: The Horrible Oniwaban Group
Mar 6, 1996 · 25 min
Though her medical knowledge has saved Yahiko's life, Sansosuke suspects Megumi of producing the opium responsible for a close friend's death.
Directing: Nobuhiro Takamoto · Writing: Yoshiyuki Suga · Starring: Kazuhiro Nakata, Akio Nojima
1x10 Aoshi: Someone so Beautiful it's Frightening
Mar 13, 1996 · 25 min
Having pledged to save Megumi, the Peace Force must first take on a band of ruthless drug dealing mobsters. But when a rift inside the gang leads to a change in leadership, Kenshin must confront a fighter whose powers he's underestimated.
Starring: Akio Nojima
1x11 Farewell, the Strongest Men: The Clash of Light and Shadow
Apr 24, 1996 · 25 min
Kenshin defeats a local mob's most powerful fighter, only to then face a gang leader who's determined to spread powerful new guns across Japan.
Directing: Takashi Kobayashi · Starring: Shōzō Iizuka, Kazuhiro Nakata, Akio Nojima
1x12 Birth of a Boy Swordsman: The Battle of First Apprentice Yahiko
May 1, 1996 · 25 min
When a criminal gang threatens a young girl he loves, Yahiko seeks Kenshin's advice on how to defend her in a lopsided fight.
Starring: Yuri Shiratori
1x13 Strive for the Grand Championship: Toramaru's Sumo Battle Log!
May 8, 1996 · 25 min
After jealous harassment forces an aspiring young man out of a sumo wrestling school, Kaoru steps in to take over his training.
Starring: Yuri Shiratori
1x14 Save a Small Life: The Challenge of the Beautiful Doctor, Megumi
May 15, 1996 · 25 min
After a shady faith healer discredits her medical skills, Megumi's patients abandon her. And once a worried family panics and pays the phony shaman to heal their sick daughter, Megumi must intervene in order to save the young girl's life.
1x15 Assassination Group of Fire: Jinpuu Squad on the Run
May 22, 1996 · 25 min
A group radicals intent on assassinating political leaders attempt to recruit a local teacher into their cause. After finding that Heihachiro is a former foe who's now dedicated his life to helping children, Kenshin steps in to repel the assassins.
1x16 A Promise from the Heart: The Secret Technique of the Shiden Renga Blade
Jun 5, 1996 · 25 min
After saving Heihachiro's life, Kenshin sets out to stop the teacher's misguided former student from being used as a pawn in a game of political corruption.
1x17 Fly to Your Dreams: The Adventures of Marimo, the Human Bullet
Jun 12, 1996 · 25 min
Kenshin protects a circus ringmaster and his talented human cannonball daughter from the threats of a jealous competitor.
1x18 Run, Yahiko: Get the Reverse-blade Sword Back!
Jun 19, 1996 · 25 min
After stopping a restaurant robbery, Yahiko's boastfulness lands him in trouble with Kenshin's old foe, Gohei Hiruma. And once Yahiko agrees to a fight, Gohei uses the opportunity to steal Kenshin's Reverse Edged Sword.
1x19 Raijuta's Ambition: Dream of a Forbidden Kingdom
Jun 26, 1996 · 25 min
While on vacation at the home of Dr. Gensai's niece, Kenshin and company attracts the attention of a wealthy but arrogant boy who wants to learn the art of swordfighting.
Starring: Mayumi Tanaka
1x20 Revival of the Shinko Style: The Technique Which Heralds a Storm
Jul 10, 1996 · 25 min
Though Kenshin tries to warn him of the bad influence, Yutaro continues to believe in Raijuta, unaware that the renegade is using him plot his revolution. So, when he's told that the government is out to stop him, Yutaro sneaks away to warn Raijuta.
Starring: Mayumi Tanaka
1x21 The Dissolution of a Nightmare: Raijuta's Ambition Concludes
Jul 21, 1996 · 25 min
After learning the truth behind Raijuta's duplicitous plan, an injury sidelines Yutaro, leaving Kenshin to fight the renegade Samurai alone.
Starring: Mayumi Tanaka
1x22 First Train Ride: Danger on a Runaway Locomotive!
Jul 31, 1996 · 25 min
During a train trip to Yokohama, Kenshin and his friends must save a wealthy English passenger from being robbed by thieves.
1x23 Sanosuke's Betrayal: The Fateful Reunion
Aug 14, 1996 · 25 min
An artist's work leads Sanosuke to a reunion with an old army comrade, Tsukioka. But when his old friend wants him to join in avenging the death of their former leader, Sanosuke must stop him.
1x24 Midnight Battle: Sanosuke Verses Kenshin Revisited
Aug 21, 1996 · 25 min
Following a lavish party at the dojo, Sanosuke can no longer resist joining his old army troop's plot to punish the government. However, in an effort to stop them, Kenshin is forced to take on Sanosuke.
1x25 The Crimson Pirate: Kenshin and Kaoru Separated!
Aug 28, 1996 · 25 min
In order to earn money for their dojo, the Peace Force signs on to help protect a merchant ship from pirates. However, to keep Kaoru from falling into the hands of the pirate's female leader, Shura, Kenshin offers himself in exchange.
1x26 Lightning Incarnate: The Noble and Mysterious Female Pirate, Shura
Sep 4, 1996 · 25 min
After Kenshin's kidnapping, a bond begins to develop between him and Shura. However, while Shura is confident in the loyalty of her crew, the profits to be made from dealing opium draws them into a mutinous plan.
1x27 Burn, Island of Terror: The Crimson Pirate Chapter Concludes Season Finale
Oct 16, 1996 · 25 min
After her trusted colleagues betray Shura, it's left up to Kenshin to save her life and stop the pirate's opium smuggling scheme.