In the 11th year of Meiji, in the middle of Tokyo, this tale begins....” Also a hit anime series, Rurouni Kenshin is beloved by fans around the world for its mix of historical detail, spectacular battles and, of course, romantic comedy. The “Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story” begins in this new edition from VIZ.

Historical detail, spectacular battles and romantic comedy combine in Rurouni Kenshin by Nobuhiro Watsuki, the wildly popular manga series about the wandering swordsman or "rurouni," Kenshin, and the people he meets (both friends and foes) during the exciting, chaotic early days of modern Japan. The days of the samurai are over, and the Emperor has been restored to the throne. Those who once fought as rebels now rule, while the rest of the country tries to adjust itself to this new notion of "equality." Himura Kenshin, a legendary assassin or "hitokiri," has recently resurfaced on the streets of Tokyo, where he meets Kamiya Kaoru. The rules of conduct have changed in this daringly new society, and anything goes. Yet some things remain the same - a people's dignity, a true warrior's nobility, a young woman's determination. One of Japan's most interesting historical periods provides the backdrop for this timeless story, now in English for the first time ever from VIZ. THE TWO HITOKIRI Things are settling down at the Kamiya dojo. Former "fight merchant" Sanosuke has come to grips with his past, realizing perhaps that things aren't quite so black and white as he may once have thought, that good men may serve bad causes, and vice-versa. Yahiko, the angry-fisted young man, is learning to relax. And Kenshin is enjoying Kaoru's cooking (as much as he can, anyway). But even in these confused, ambiguous, early days of modern Japan, there is such a thing as pure evil - Udo Jin-e, black-hatted, crazy-eyed former assassin, still is chasing the scent of blood, his mad thirst for vengeance felling the innocent and guilty alike. If a man kills too many, too long, as Kenshin says, he loses his original purpose, and has his heart stolen by the color and smell of blood. Hitokiri vs. hitokiri...can Kenshin withstand the strange, hypnotic effect of Jin-e...?

A REASON TO ACT A night out gambling and what Kenshin and Sanosuke bring back are not winnings, but a woman - Takani Megumi, mysterious and beautiful, pursued by the crooked industrialist Takeda Kanry - and in need of Kenshin's protection. Megumi, it seems, is the daughter of a famous family of physicians and, however unwillingly, has been participating in the production of a super-powerful, super-profitable form of opium. But now Kanry wants his "hen who lays the golden egg" back, while Sanosuke - who lost a friend to an opium overdose, and therefore sees only the worst in Megumi - would just as rather she did disappear. Kenshin, though, has looked into her eyes...seen the sadness...and knows that, whatever reason a man may need to act, for one who has seen as much as he, the plight of Megumi is for him enough.