Summary
- Rurouni Kenshin is an anime series set in the Meiji era of Japan, following the story of Himura Kenshin, a former assassin turned wandering samurai.
- The series features a range of strong and formidable characters, such as Hiko Seijuro and Shishio Makoto, who are widely feared and possess immense combat abilities.
- Kenshin himself is one of the strongest characters in the series, known for his exceptional swordsmanship skills, agility, speed, and unique fighting style with the Hiten Mitsurugi-Ryu technique.
Rurouni Kenshin is an anime series set in Japan during the Meiji era. The story follows Himura Kenshin, a former assassin who went by the name Hitokiri Battosai. Now, Kenshin has vowed never to kill again and wanders the country as a Rurouni (a wandering samurai). Along the way, Kenshin meets a variety of characters, both friends and foes, and becomes embroiled in various conflicts and battles.
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From the legendary Hiko Seijuro to the cunning and intelligent Shishio Makoto, various Rurouni Kenshin characters have proven themselves capable warriors, but only a few have been able to stand among the best.
Updated March 29, 2025, by Oluwatokiloba Folami: As a wandering Samurai, Kenshin comes across a plethora of strong allies and adversaries, but some stem from his past actions as a Battosai. Characters like Yukishiro Enishi and Makoto Shishio are examples of the effects of Kenshin's past actions that have returned to haunt him. With his unique position as a former Battosai and a Rurouni, Kenshin is no stranger to worthy opponents, and the rerun of the anime series ensures that fans themselves can appreciate the strength and varied techniques of the strongest characters in Rurouni Kenshin, particularly in the airing Kyoto Disturbance arc and the introduction of the Juppongatana (ten swords).
16 Makimachi Misao
A Master Of The Oniwaban-Ryu Fighting Style
- Manga Debut: Act 62
While a kunoichi, Misao retains the temperament of an adolescent girl and gives in to her emotions. Rather than stealthily try to attack an enemy, Misao would rather make her presence known, fighting more as a warrior than the kunoichi she’s supposed to be. Despite her shortcomings, Misao can hold her own in a fight, as she’s a master of the Oniwaban-Ryu fighting style alongside hand-to-hand combat and Kempo.
Like most kunoichis, Misao primarily uses a kunai as her weapon of choice and utilizes it with various throwing techniques. Initially, she left home to search for Shinomori Aoshi, someone she shared a brother-sister relationship with while growing up, but eventually ended up tagging alongside Himura Kenshin.
15 Myojin Yahiko
From Pickpocketer To National Champion
- Manga Debut: Act 3
Throughout the series, Myojin goes from being a child pickpocketer to a warrior. Starting off as a 10-year-old working for the Tanishi Yakuza by compulsion, Yahiko was eventually saved by Himura Kenshin and raised in the way of the sword, something he had always dreamed of due to his Samurai lineage.
Compared to characters like Kenshin, Enisu, and Seta Sojiro, Yahiko has a long way to go; however, he’s considered a child prodigy due to the relentless effort he put into Kenjutsu and the mastery he gained from it. After becoming a national champion-level swordsman at the age of 15, Yahiko is even able to catch blades and break them with his bare hands.
14 Okita Soji
A Genius Who Succumbed To Illness
- Manga Debut: Act 48
Among Rurouni Kenshin's characters, Soji might not have been the most portrayed, but in terms of strength, he was ranked similarly to Saito Hajime. Unfortunately, Okita had an illness that made him unable to show his full power, particularly for long periods of time, as he would begin to cough up blood during a battle.
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While he ultimately died of illness, during his life, Okita was able to stand his own against Kenshin and was renowned as one of the best among the Shinsengumi, even becoming the first unit captain. Moreover, he also created his own sword move that involved a three-way thrust.
13 Yukyuzan Anji
From Buddhist Monk To Vengeful Juppongatana
- Manga Debut: Act 72
As a former member of the Juppongatana, Anji is a powerful warrior who few could match. Despite his now-vengeful nature, Anji used to be a Buddhist monk. However, after the Meiji government came to power, their anti-Buddhist ideals also took over, and Anji’s temple was burned to the ground alongside the five orphans that he had in his care. This made Anji decide that Buddha was unable to choose righteously who lives and who dies. As such, he took matters into his own hands, avenging the orphans who were killed.
Anji would later go on to meet Shishio and join his Juppongatana. He mainly indulges in hand-to-hand combat, and with his muscular build, few can stand up to his blows. Anji also developed the killer technique ‘Futae no Kiwami,’ which he would later teach to Sagara Sanosuke.
12 Sawagejo Cho
The Ambitious Sword Hunter Of Rurouni Kenshin
- Manga Debut: Act 76
Sawagejo Cho, also known as Cho the Sword Hunter, is a man who seeks to use all types of swords and consequently collects them. With his various blades, he has a bloodthirsty and arrogant demeanor, causing him to look down on many others. However, compared to the likes of Kenshin and Shishio, Cho stands no chance in battle. However, he is still stronger than the average individual.
Cho has a lot of tricks up his sleeve, although some of them may not be the most useful of techniques. He has been seen to particularly love swords made by Shakku Arai. And so, when Kenshin is stated to have the last of Shakku Arai's swords, he quickly leaves to battle Kenshin, who promptly defeats him.
11 Fuji
A Towering Giant Of Destruction
- Manga Debut: Act 97
Fuji is easily the largest character in the Rurouni Kenshin series. This giant of a man has incredible strength and durability, with only a few select warriors being able to face him. With his large sword, he can easily decimate countless buildings, and few warriors would be able to defend against such an attack.
In the series, Fuji was initially portrayed as a mindless monster as he worked under Saizuchi, who saved his life countless years ago. Despite being mistreated and used for evil things, Fuji continued to obey and stay with Saizuchi, believing that he owed him. However, after facing and losing to Hiko Seijuro, Kenshin’s master, Fuji realized that he had garnered the respect of Seijuro, who then explained to him that there was no need for him to remain with Saizuchi, encouraging him to turn on a new leaf.
10 Sagara Sanosuke
Kenshin’s Unbreakable Right-Hand Man
- Manga Debut: Act 5
While Sagara Sanosuke may stand no chance against enemies like Udo Jin-e, Shishio, and Kenshin, his physical prowess puts him above various others. With his upright, brash, and thick-headed personality, Sanosuke serves as a dependable friend and ‘right arm’ for Kenshin.
Sanosuke’s battle prowess lies not in the use of a blade but in his sheer physical prowess. With strength capable of splitting trees with a punch and breaking down doors with a kick, few are a match for Sanosuke in terms of raw power, but even his strength might prove insufficient against various enemies.
9 Usui Uonuma
A Blind Warrior Improved By Defeat
- Manga Debut: Act 93
As a former member of Shishio’s Juppongatana, Usui Uonuma was a violent and bloodthirsty person who saw killing as entertainment. Usui saw Shishio as a rival, but when they fought, Usui lost to Shishio, who blinded him. After losing his sight, Usui was deemed useless and discarded.
However, Usui learned to sense movements and emotions through hearing to make up for his blindness. In battle, he uses a short spear and a turtle carapace as a shield. As he developed himself as a warrior after his defeat at Shishio’s hands, Usui joined Shishio’s Juppongatana on the condition that he could attempt to kill Shishio at any time.
8 Shinomori Aoshi
The Cold And Calculated Leader Of The Oniwabanshu
- Manga Debut: Act 16
The tall and lean Aoshi is the leader of the Oniwabanshu, an elite cadre of ninjas and assassins. Aoshi’s skills in combat, stealth, and reconnaissance are unmatched, and he uses them in tandem with his cold, calculating nature and intelligence to get what he wants.
As a grandmaster of the Oniwabanshu Ninja clan, Aoshi’s skills with a blade leave corpses in his wake. He also has great observational skills that help him deduce the most minute distances and sounds. With all his abilities, Aoshi seeks to become the strongest and challenges Kenshin to defeat his Battosai personality and earn the title of strongest.
7 Udo Jin-e
The Hitokiri Who Paralyzes His Prey
- Manga Debut: Act 9
As a Hitokiri with a passion for killing, Jin-e murdered his allies and enemies alike during the war. He became bloodthirsty soon after and then became a hired assassin for the fun of it. Jin-e possesses mastery over the Nikaido Heigo sword style and can effectively wield his sword in either hand, increasing his dexterity with a blade.
Despite his heightened agility, endurance, and physical strength, Jin-e’s most dangerous technique is his unique paralyzing terror technique. With it, Jin-e paralyzes and hypnotizes his opponents. He can even paralyze a person's lungs, causing them to suffocate and die.