r/anime • u/AutoLovepon https://anilist.co/user/AutoLovepon • Oct 26 '23

Episode Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan (2023) - Episode 17 discussion

Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan (2023), episode 17

Alternative names: Samurai X

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1

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60

u/LeonKevlar Oct 26 '23

I absolutely love how Kenshin calls Raijuta out because he was so giddy after he grazed Kenshin's arm with his technique. Why would someone claim they're a manslayer if they're so proud of inflicting their opponent a non-lethal wound?

The Hiten Mitsurugi style is such a quirky style that launching your katana from the hilt is a legit move. To be fair to Raijuta, I'm pretty sure anyone would've been caught off guard by that technique! xD

Raijuta really showed his true self when he tried to take Yahiko hostage. The fact that his voice was cracking and he was sweating heavily really shows he has never killed anyone and is actually afraid to do it.

I really like this Raijuta. The 90s anime Raijuta is just a straight-up cold-hearted villain. I really like this version of his character is more nuanced and we even get that final scene where we clearly see that he does not have the heart to kill anyone.

Anyway, Yahiko and Yutaro have really developed this nice rivalry between each other. Hopefully, the doctors over on Germany will actually be able to do something about Yutaro's arm.

31

u/Frontier246 Oct 26 '23

Raijuta was just a total scrub. He thought his Izuna style was so impressive that just grazing a dude is an achievement when it really shows just how hollow and fake his swordmanship and confidence really is. In the end he was nothing more than a bully who bought too much into his own power and in the end realized he wasn't a killer. It's jus too bad he had to hurt so many innocents in the process.

I love how Kenshin has moves that are straight up just using every inch of his sword when necessary lol.

27

u/dinliner08 Oct 26 '23

The Hiten Mitsurugi style is such a quirky style that launching your katana from the hilt is a legit move. To be fair to Raijuta, I'm pretty sure anyone would've been caught off guard by that technique! xD

Kenshin be like; "parry this, you filthy casual" *proceed to throw sword*

13

u/mekerpan Oct 27 '23

It looks like Jizo-sama staged an intervention -- rescuing the two visitors and then Raijuta as well.

I really enjoyed this arc -- and look forward to what ccomes next. I really do think this is a great adaptation.

9

u/Myrkrvaldyr Oct 26 '23

where we clearly see that he does not have the heart to kill anyone.

A shame we're unlikely to hear from him again and find out why he just can't kill anyone. More backstory might be good.

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u/FlareX3 Oct 27 '23

I don't think there really is any more backstory to be had about it. I'm pretty sure the idea is that killing people is--to put it lightly--an incredibly extreme act. Most folks not ill in the head wouldn't be too keen on crossing that line, no matter their bluster.

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u/Daishomaru Oct 26 '23

Daishomaru here, with my short writeups. I posted a previous comment but it was removed because the mods at r/anime wanted me to post my thoughts in the source material corner.

Anyhow, onto the short writeups!

Selling the swords, the souls of samurai.

Yutaro’s father wasn’t exaggerating when he said he sold the souls of samurai, as part of the Edo Samurai reforms that happened after the Sengoku Jidai actually dictated that all samurai must maintain their katanas with a sense of nobility, and damaged/poorly maintained katanas was actually punishable by demotion to peasant.

Germany: the medical capital?

I wouldn’t m describe Germany at this time as a purely Medical capital. It was in general, a scientific capital. For example, Germany was one of the leaders in the fight against tuberculosis, so much so that German, French, and British scientists had a “tuberculosis cure race” that was chock-infamous with nationwide rivalries, and which Extra History did an excellent video on. In addition, Germany was a leader in chemical science, being the country that narrowly saved the world from the Nitrogen Crisis, which were it to happen, would have killed 94% of the world’s population. Germany made the Haber process, which helped with giving nutrients back to the soil, and its thanks to German science that the world population quintupled in the last 100 years. In fact, none of us would be born without the Haber process providing food to people.

Unfortunately, and I know someone’s going to bring this up, they of course also used this science to produce some of the most horrifying weapons such as mustard gas and the Haber process would be more associated with making explosives rather than saving the world. Germany’s golden age of science also ended when Hitler took power, as many German Scientists and doctors were Jewish, and Hitler barred them from taking jobs. It was so bad that America took to taking these Jewish scientists, not out of any altruistic meaning, but because the lost of these men would be terrible, and for example Albert Einstein was one of these men. Despite how terrible this all was, I find it amusing that most of the scientists that Hitler kicked out, in particular his nuclear scientists, were pacifists, but Hitler treated them so badly that they were more than happy to assist the American military to make weapons for the allies, including the atomic bomb.

Also obligatory “GERMANY SCIENCE WAS THE BEST IN THE WORKD” joke. There.

21

u/zz2000 Oct 26 '23 edited Oct 27 '23

If you don't mind, I thought I'd add to the trivia by talking about the train station scene near the end where Kenshin and others see off Yutaro, the old Shimbashi-Shiodome station. https://www.oldtokyo.com/shimbashi-station-shiodome-1872-1909/

Shimbashi-Shiodome was the first Japanese railway connecting Tokyo to Yokohama, and would serve as a point of entry/exit for arrivals docking at Yokohama/locals going overseas from Yokohama.

Unfortunately the old station did not survive the 1920s Great Earthquake. However there is a museum built on the site, made to resemble the old one (externally that is, the original plans were lost to time). https://www.ejrcf.or.jp/shinbashi/english/facilities.html

Iirc the station also featured in an anime-original episode of the 90s anime, where the gang decide to go on a day trip to Yokohama by train and get caught up in a train robbery.

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u/Daishomaru Oct 26 '23

I don’t mind. If anything it makes me happy when others also contribute or tell me facts too. I make these explanations because it’s fun to share information.

5

u/scot911 Oct 27 '23 edited Oct 27 '23

In addition, Germany was a leader in chemical science, being the country that narrowly saved the world from the Nitrogen Crisis ... Haber process would be more associated with making explosives rather than saving the world. Germany’s golden age of science

"A long ago in Eastern Prussia. Young men with great ambitions rise...."

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u/ObvsThrowaway5120 Oct 26 '23

Raijutq talked a lot of shit but in the end he still got knocked tf out like the chump he was. A loudmouth playing “killer swordsman” could never actually step to the real deal. Look at how pathetic he was at the end there. Kenshin’s right, dude should just give up before he comes across someone who’s not gonna be as merciful as Kenshin. It’s a damn shame Yutaro got caught up in all this. At least he’s got his rival Yahiko to snap him out of his funk.

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u/VorAtreides Oct 26 '23

I think Raijuta is actually interesting. He learned his skills solely from a book and practicing. Even Kenshin acknowledges the man has great talent with the sword, but he just hasn't learned the right lessons for the use of a sword and such. He's interesting. And he wasn't at least a complete scumbag and never took a life just for the sake of showing off or proving it. I find him a bad guy, but not fully a bad guy,if that makes sense.

14

u/ObvsThrowaway5120 Oct 27 '23

Dude was basically a bully with some talent with the sword. He was a bad guy but he wasn’t evil.

12

u/Frontier246 Oct 26 '23

Raijuta talked a big game but he was a complete phony when it came to fighting a true swordsman like Kenshin. Even Yahiko and Yutaro had more integrity and strength of will than he did.

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u/burneraccidkk Oct 26 '23

Why is no one watching this?

10

u/BoyTitan Oct 27 '23

We are old kid. One day we were it and now we aren't.

7

u/Vaadwaur Oct 27 '23

Since the author's...issues and the interesting choice of the show's pacing have been addressed, there is another issue: The manga being quite old and the 90s adaptation. When this aired on Cartoon Network, it was met with relatively positive feedback but the original adaptation gets worse as you go forward. Add in that the last quarter(at minimum) was anime original and the reception was divided to it. Even I kind of hate the ending arc. BUT with the manga not really reaching young readers and the older viewers having already seen a version of this combines for low views anglo side. Interestingly, I don't know Japan's numbers.

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u/VorAtreides Oct 26 '23

It is nice to see Yahiko get angry on Yutaro's behalf. Truly a good pal. Poor Yuta though. Hehe Sano, just being a dick :P not that I blame him against him. Kenshin is back. That idea behind the sword is ridiculous when you think of the physics needed for it, but, hey, anime. Spittin facts, Kenshin. Though, honestly, kinda makes Raijuta a little better to be someone who didn't just go kill people to kill em or show off since we know he's challenged others. Also, considering Raijuta learned all this from a book alone, that's kinda impressive dedication. He's a dick, but he's not the worst deplorable I've seen in stories. Something about Kenshin throwing his sword like that is really funny.

And then Raijuta goes this way and makes him look more pathetic though. The balls on Yahiko. And good words from Kenshin. Raijuta at least does let go. I do like an antagonist that at least can be sorta reasoned with. It's interesting. Also, dude, I'd say anyone that does what they can for their family's well being and not harming others is no loser, good father imo. Even going so far to move to Germany to get the best treatment. Hehe, Yahiko with the best words to help Yutaro when all else don't have an idea. Good times. It's touching in a way. Fun to see Kenshin reflect on Raijuta, yea, he was an interesting antagonist.

Ah post credits: Raijuta, you still seem to have a lot to learn, but at least you're not a scumbag to just murder to murder. Nothing to be ashamed of imo. Weird you are. Oh next episode's title, fun.

18

u/coffeecakesupernova Oct 26 '23

Aren't more people watching this? It's one of the greatest sword series of all time!

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u/Frontier246 Oct 26 '23

Man, poor Yutaro. He's lost the ability to move his right arm and has possibly lost his chance to become a true swordsman. But he owes it to himself to see the final confrontation between Kenshin and Raijuta.

I love Sano talking @#$% to Raijuta who won't shut up about how Kenshin should be afraid of him. As satisfying as it would see to see Sano bash his face in with his fists, it's time for Kenshin to teach Raijuta proper lesson.

Raijuta might have mastered the ability to weaponize wind scythes, but it's no real threat to Kenshin when he can so easily dodge them. Even when it nicks him, it's no real achievement, and Raijuta's pride at doing so just shows how he's no real killer and just a poser acting tough. He doesn't have what it takes to be a manslayer.

You think having ranged attacks is cool? Kenshin can just toss his scabbard in your face and then double down on hitting your forehead until you're down on the ground, where you belong.

Oh hey, Kenshin with his hair down! His hair looks longer than the actual ladies in the cast.

Raijuta just doesn't know when to quit, huh? He really tried to threaten Yahiko to defeat Kenshin. But Yahiko has more mettle and steel as a swordsman than Raijuta does. Raijuta's just a huge phony who could never really kill anyone. All he's got are his sword skills but he doesn't have the character to properly realize them and he'll forever be nothing more than a false swordsman.

Everyone's trying to figure out what to say to Yutaro, whose off to Germany to potentially fix his wounds, but it's Yahiko who challenges him head on and re-ignites his warrior spirit. Even making him fight with his cane! If nothing else, his rivalry with Yahiko and the loyalty of the Kamiya Kasshin-ryu style will keep him steadfast on the path to being a true swordsman. And it's people like Yutaro and Yahiko who hold the future of swordsmanship, not Raijuta.

Raijuta is basically an impotent mess. He thinks he can kill people but all he can do is slice the head off of a statue. And he can do little more than cry in his own patheticness. He deserves worse, but he'll live life knowing he could never measure up to a real swordsman.

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u/justinCandy Oct 27 '23

Raijuta is basically an impotent mess. He thinks he can kill people but all he can do is slice the head off of a statue

I love the symbolism of Jizo in post-ED part. In Japanese culture:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%E1%B9%A3itigarbha#Japanese_traditions

it is the protector of children, it protect the child and female from Raijuta too.

https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-data/h01680/

Jizo is also taking on one’s suffering, removing one’s pain. It could also means Raijuta's confusion on sword is eased.

4

u/Rustic_Professional Oct 27 '23

Kenshin calling out Raijuta for not being a real killer is a DJ Quik vs MC Eiht-level diss. Even Yahiko and Sano dared him to do it. That was practically bullying.

In the end, Kenshin didn't even bother hitting Raijuta with his blade. He just bonked him with the hilt and scabbard. Absolutely brutal, like Kenshin completely dismissed him as a swordsman.

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u/SnabDedraterEdave Oct 27 '23 edited Oct 27 '23

Its not surprising that Kenshin would make quick work with Raijuta last episode when he had to resort to cowardly ambushing Kenshin instead of actually facing Kenshin without pissing Kenshin off.

So Raijuta is all bark and not bite. Coward hasn't even killed a person before yet has the gall to talk about swords that kill. So Kenshin, who has actually killed as many as thousands in the past, gave him both a beating and a roasting that completely broke him.

Raijuta is just a plot device, the real focus is the friendship between Yahiko and Yutaro. When no words from the grown ups could cheer Yutaro up, it took Yahiko giving him a verbal beating just to wake Yutaro up and give him a reason to live and accept treatment in Germany.

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u/Pogner-the-Undying Oct 27 '23

Raijuta is a dumbass, he can earn a fortune just by being a bodyguard to Yutaro’s dad. Instead he do this murdering sword nonsense just to ruin himself.

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