激動の時代を懸命に生きる人々の物語

[From September Issue 2014]

Rurouni Kenshin (Wandering Swordsman Kenshin):
A Romantic Tale of a Meiji Swordsman
Set in the closing days of the Edo period (19th century), the main character is HIMURA Kenshin, a master swordsman widely feared as Hitokiri Battosai (Battosai the Killer Swordsman). The tale is set in a dramatic period when the governing Shogunate is overthrown by force and political machinations, bringing about a dramatic change from the Edo period to the Meiji period (the 19th to 20th centuries). This series was published in Weekly Shonen Jump between 1994 and 1999, and it was also adapted into a variety of media, including movies and novels. It’s popular both in Japan and overseas.
“Rurouni” is a coined word that means “aimless wanderer.” Having carried out assassinations as an anti-Shogunate swordsman, Kenshin is forced to quit because of an unfortunate incident. When the Meiji period arrives, he vows to never kill again, instead becoming a wanderer who travels around the country.
One day, Kenshin saved a girl named KAMIYA Kaoru in downtown Tokyo. Kaoru has inherited the dojo of Kamiya Kasshin School from her father, however, it is just about to fail financially. Kenshin and Kaoru develop feelings for each other. Now living in Kaoru’s home, he becomes good friends with MYOJIN Yahiko and SAGARA Sanosuke, spending his days peacefully in their company.
However, his past as a killer relentlessly comes back to haunt him. Because of an incident, Kenshin’s ability becomes known to the authorities, and he began to receive requests to escort military officials. Eventually he is challenged to a duel by UDO Jin-e, a man obsessed with perfecting his deadly swordsmanship. Though Kenshin wins this duel to the death, Jin-e tells him with his dying breath that Kenshin is a killer at heart.
After some heavy fighting, Kenshin discovers that his instinct as a killer swordsman is reawakening. While fearing that he might lose sight of himself, he resolves to do battle against SHISHIO Makoto, who is plotting to wage war against the Meiji government.
Just when it seems as if Kenshin has conquered his fear of losing control of himself and going on a killing rampage – that he has finally freed himself from the past – a man named YUKISHIRO Enishi appears. Enishi is the younger brother of Kenshin’s deceased wife, Tomoe. Enishi saw Kenshin kill his sister in the confusion of battle. Determined to take his revenge Enishi kidnaps Kaoru. Kenshin must once again come face to face with his greatest sin – of having lost his lover by his own hand.
Set at the historic turning point from the Edo period to the Meiji period, the tale introduces characters that really existed and events that really happened at that time, giving the drama a realistic appeal. The characters in the tale, while being thrust into the upheaval of the times, struggle to live life to the fullest according to their own principles.
Text: HATTA Emiko[2014年9月号掲載記事]

るろうに剣心-明治剣客浪漫譚-
江戸時代末期(19世紀)に人斬り抜刀斎として恐れられた剣の達人、緋村剣心が主人公。幕府という政治体制が、武力行使と政治工作によって倒され、江戸から明治(19~20世紀)へと劇的に変化した時代を背景にしています。1994~1999年まで週刊少年ジャンプにて連載され、映画や小説などさまざまな方面でメディア化されました。国内外を問わず人気の高い作品です。
「るろうに」とは、流れ者を意味する造語です。討幕派の志士として暗殺を実行していた剣心は、ある不幸な事件をきっかけに影の任務を退きます。明治になってからは「不殺」の誓いを立て、流浪人として全国を旅します。
ある日、東京の下町で神谷薫という少女を助けます。薫は神谷活心流の道場を父から受け継いでいましたが、道場を奪われそうになっていました。二人はいつしか心を通い合わせるようになります。薫の家に居候することになった剣心は、明神弥彦や相楽左之助と親しくなり、穏やかな日々を過ごします。
しかし人斬りだった過去は容赦なく追いかけてきます。ある事件で剣心の実力を知った警察から、陸軍の役人を護衛する依頼が舞い込みます。そして人斬りへの強烈な欲望を持つ鵜堂刃衛に戦いを挑まれます。死闘の末に勝利しますが、刃衛は剣心の中にも人斬りの本性が巣食っていると言い残します。
厳しい戦いをいくつも経て、封じていた人斬りの本能が目覚めていきます。自らを見失う恐れを抱えたまま、明治政府に戦争を仕掛けようと企む志々雄真実との戦いを決意します。
人斬りとして暴走する恐怖を克服し、過去に区切りをつけたかに見えたとき、雪城縁が現れます。縁は剣心の妻だった巴の弟で、戦いの巻き添えで剣心に殺される姉を目撃していました。縁は復讐するために薫を誘拐します。ついに剣心は最大の罪――愛する人を自分のせいで失った過ち――と再び向き合います。
本作は江戸から明治という歴史の転換期を舞台に、実在する人物や事件を物語に盛り込むことでリアリティーが演出され、魅力を増しています。登場人物たちは、激動する時代に振り回されときに踏みにじられながらも、各々の立場で懸命に生きています。
文:服田恵美子

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