Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning

Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning

Year: 2021

Runtime: 138 mins

Language: Japanese

Director: Keishi Otomo

Echo Score: 80
RomanceDramaAdventureActionEpic heroes

Before becoming a protector, Kenshin was the deadly Battosai, a notorious assassin. His life takes an unexpected turn when he encounters Tomoe Yukishiro, a kind and beautiful young woman concealing a significant emotional burden. Their meeting marks the beginning of a transformative journey for Kenshin.

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In the waning days of the Tokugawa shogunate, Japan teeters on the edge of revolution. The streets of Kyoto pulse with clandestine intrigue, and the clash between tradition and a burgeoning modernity casts a restless shadow over every alley and tea house. Against this backdrop, a restless energy drives the nation toward an uncertain future, where warriors must choose between loyalty to the old order and the promise of a new age.

Enter the feared Kenshin, a legendary swordsman whose legend as the Battosai—an assassin of unrivaled skill—has spread like whispered legend across the land. His reputation is built on a cold efficiency that has made him both a prized asset to the revolutionary cause and a figure of dread to those who would oppose it. Yet beneath his stoic exterior lies a conflicted soul, searching for purpose beyond the blade that has defined his life.

His world is altered the moment he encounters Tomoe, a gentle and striking young woman whose serene presence conceals a deep, personal sorrow. Their meeting is brief yet charged, sparking a subtle shift in his relentless resolve. Tomoe’s quiet strength and the mystery that lies behind her eyes hint at a path that could lead Kenshin away from the darkness of his past and toward something softer, yet no less formidable.

The film weaves together sweeping vistas of a nation in transition with intimate moments of introspection, balancing kinetic swordplay with a lingering melancholy. Its tone is both grand and personal, inviting the audience to feel the weight of history while rooting for a man who yearns for redemption. As the story unfolds, the promise of change hangs in the air, suggesting that even the most hardened warrior may find a new purpose when faced with an unexpected connection.

Last Updated: September 05, 2025 at 18:14

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