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るろうに剣心 [Rurōni Kenshin] #18
Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 18
He may be one of the "good guys" now (as Misao insists) but, even a month later, Kenshin still is haunted by Kyoto. How can he not be, when it was in Kyoto that, as the feared "Hitokiri Battôsai," he once made the streets flow red...? And yet, before he departs this place of so many memories, there are ghosts which must be put to rest. It's said that, when strong feelings are attached to a particular wound, so long as those feelings persist, the scar will remain. How did Kenshin get that cross-shaped scar on his face, and who was it that gave it to him?
193 pages, Paperback
First published December 4, 1997
17 people are currently reading
414 people want to read
About the author
Nobuhiro Watsuki
246 books424 followersWatsuki Nobuhiro (和月伸宏) is a Japanese manga artist, best known for his samurai-themed series Rurouni Kenshin. He once worked as an assistant for his favorite author Takeshi Obata.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
September 26, 2017
The epilogue to the Kyoto arc continued and ended with this volume. Overall. the chapters in it are relatively quiet, allowing a breather from a recent blood-pulsing saga.
This volume was also the beginning of the end of this series as the last arc started rolling with this volume. "Jinchu" would be the name of this final story-arc and it's the earthly judgment that awaited Kenshin when a figure from his past returned to exact it on him.
This volume also introduced two new characters influenced by X-Men villains. One has Apocalypse's lips and the other has Mr. Sinister's cape; go spot them.
This volume was also the beginning of the end of this series as the last arc started rolling with this volume. "Jinchu" would be the name of this final story-arc and it's the earthly judgment that awaited Kenshin when a figure from his past returned to exact it on him.
This volume also introduced two new characters influenced by X-Men villains. One has Apocalypse's lips and the other has Mr. Sinister's cape; go spot them.
August 20, 2022
This is an exciting premise for an arc. Someone completely motivated by revenge against Kenshin. I sort of Sinister Six premise of a bunch of Kenshin's old foes working together to take him down. It's a really neat idea for a samurai series to take a twist on. Awesome stuff.
May 18, 2018
Saya sedang dalam marathon menghabiskan siri manga Samurai ini. Dulu pernah disiarkan di tv3 (ke NTV7) sewaktu saya kecil.
Mujurlah bang Perewa membenarkan komik sebagai salah satu bacaan untuk Cabaran Bacaan 32 Buku. Banyak juga, ada dekat 28 naskhah yang menghimpunkan kesemua siri Rurouni Kenshin.
Mujurlah bang Perewa membenarkan komik sebagai salah satu bacaan untuk Cabaran Bacaan 32 Buku. Banyak juga, ada dekat 28 naskhah yang menghimpunkan kesemua siri Rurouni Kenshin.
March 13, 2017
This volume kicks off with Chapter 149: An Early Summer Morning.
And just when I thought all of the poo had just ended. Now more bad guys pop out of the wood work.
I'll write more when editing mode hits me.
Have fun reading!
Ta-ta Pretties!
And just when I thought all of the poo had just ended. Now more bad guys pop out of the wood work.
I'll write more when editing mode hits me.
Have fun reading!
Ta-ta Pretties!
January 4, 2018
Might be a little biased, but this is a 5 star book and series. Can't wait to see how it shapes out in the last 10 books!
July 3, 2023
The past will haunt you if you left unfinished business. So finish the business ♾️🐒
October 10, 2014
Con Shishio muerto, los Juppongatana desbandados y Kyoto salvada, se viene una época de paz para Kenshin y sus amigos... Al menos hasta que una pregunta con ecos del pasado traiga a la luz uno de los secretos más oscuros del espadachín pelirrojo... ¿Todavía tiene la cicatriz en forma de cruz?
March 25, 2021
Rurouni Kenshin, Vol. 18 continues where the previous tankōbon left off and contains the next ten chapters (149–158) of the on-going manga series.
Himura Kenshin and his friends return to Tokyo and plan a celebration at the Akabeko. When Kenshin arrives, he sees Kujiranami Hyōgo, a man he defeated during the Bakumatsu. After dinner Kenshin confides to Sagara Sanosuke that he is worried and while Sano is attempting to reassure him, the Akobeko is attacked and destroyed.
They learn that a group known as the Six Comrades is attacking Kenshin's friends. Kenshin and Sanosuke start guarding several places which Kenshin commonly visits. One night two members from the Six Comrades, Inui Banjin and Otowa Hyōko, attack a dojo Kenshin visited with Kamiya Kaoru and Chief Uramura's house. Kenshin and Sanosuke head out to fight the two members.
This tankōbon is written and illustrated by Nobuhiro Watsuki. It introduces the group named the Six Comrades. It is a group of six men who each seek revenge against Himura Kenshin for their own reasons. Rather than simply kill Kenshin, they decide they must make him recognize his past crimes first and agreed to then disband when Kenshin is killed.
All in all, Rurouni Kenshin, Vol. 18 is a wonderful continuation to a series that seems really intriguing and I can't wait to read more.
Himura Kenshin and his friends return to Tokyo and plan a celebration at the Akabeko. When Kenshin arrives, he sees Kujiranami Hyōgo, a man he defeated during the Bakumatsu. After dinner Kenshin confides to Sagara Sanosuke that he is worried and while Sano is attempting to reassure him, the Akobeko is attacked and destroyed.
They learn that a group known as the Six Comrades is attacking Kenshin's friends. Kenshin and Sanosuke start guarding several places which Kenshin commonly visits. One night two members from the Six Comrades, Inui Banjin and Otowa Hyōko, attack a dojo Kenshin visited with Kamiya Kaoru and Chief Uramura's house. Kenshin and Sanosuke head out to fight the two members.
This tankōbon is written and illustrated by Nobuhiro Watsuki. It introduces the group named the Six Comrades. It is a group of six men who each seek revenge against Himura Kenshin for their own reasons. Rather than simply kill Kenshin, they decide they must make him recognize his past crimes first and agreed to then disband when Kenshin is killed.
All in all, Rurouni Kenshin, Vol. 18 is a wonderful continuation to a series that seems really intriguing and I can't wait to read more.
February 17, 2025
I said last volume would have been a good conclusion to the series, but the beginning of this volume serves as a pretty good epilogue to the previous story arc. This is the beginning of the end for this series and while this final story shows some of the pain caused by the legendary Killer Rurouni Kenshin, maybe I am a little sympathetic to the person he is today and feel that the road that we are beginning to go down may not be one I am going to enjoy as much. We are introduced to more characters influenced by Jim Lee's drawn X-men era in this volume. You can see Apocalypse as well as Mr. Sinister. In a way, I like this a lot! Pretty fun easter egg if you ask me.
May 30, 2020
Alright, so given that Manga is more of an ongoing story split into arcs that are in no way split up between volumes. I'm going to be reviewing story arc by story arc. This will then be copy and pasted throughout all of the 28 Volumes of the Manga. Also, let's get this out of the way. This is 1. A Reread and 2. Spoiler Warning I won't be directly recapping, but I will use points to describe my thoughts and feelings.
Tokyo Arc - Acts/Chapters 1-47 - Rating: 8/10
-A great start for a historical fiction. A bit on the nose, but I generally find with historical fictions you have to pretend that no one knows what time period you're talking about so it's nearly unavoidable.
-Great character work. Each Character introduced in Kenshin's gang are examples of how the war has hurt these people. This reflects on Kenshin as he was a key figure in the war that caused all these people that he growing to love, pain. Whether it's Yahiko who lost his parents to draft of war. Or Sanosuke who joined the rebellion and through political means lost his captain and the person he admired most. Or even Kaoru, who attempts to run a dojo in a time when Swords are forbidden by the government. All of these are monumental in Kenshin's redemption from the wrongs he has committed.
-My issue is moreso in how these conflicts come up. They seem very much villain of the week story. And most Shonens are when they initially start and I understand that. Some do it great. (Yu Yu hakusho) some do it terribly (Reborn) I think RuroKen does it OKAY. There are a lot of conveniences and Kenshin is the type of character who can nearly fix everything at any point because he's Kenshin and he outclasses the people they face.
-This arc is really split into 4 mini arcs. Beginning 6/10. Sanosuke Arc 9/10. Jin-E Arc 7/10. Oniwanbanshu arc 10/10
The Kyoto Arc - Acts/Chapters 48-151 - Rating: 9/10
-Phenomenal Arc. Kenshin must tackle with the concept of whether he can keep his oath against a man who is arguably his better. The man who replaced him as Hitokiri. Shishio Makota.
-The jupponganta, the villain group of this ark are all well designed and each one makes perfect sense why they would follow Shisho. Whether they love, respect or just want to kill him. Each one feels like a tough nit group. As for Shishio himself. He's one of those cool villains. I understand why he is and why he's so charismatic. But as far as being an actual villain. He doesn't do much. I think that's to his benefit. His whole concept is realistic in terms of, he has a time limit to how long he can fight. Which is why he created the jupponganta. But that doesn't make him still do so little in the story besides sit and wait for Kenshin to show up. My only real gripe.
-Kenshin conquers all of his fears and redeems himself completely towards the government by stopping the man that replaced him. Mastering Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu and finally allowing his friends to help him. It's a profound and beautiful arc that makes Kenshins character shine.
Jinchu Arc - Acts/Chapters 152-255 - Rating: 7/10
-Where in the last arc we saw Kenshin redeem himself in the eyes of the government. This is the arc where we see Kenshin redeem himself in the eyes of himself. When his Brother in law returns from China and threatens his friends and everyone he's grown to care for over the last 151 chapters Kenshin struggles with the reality of what murdering his late wife has become of Enishi.
-To me, there are three chunks, but they all work towards the same goal. The beginning.(7/10) The Flashback. (9/10) The End (5/10)
-The flashback is the strongest part of this. It was the missing piece in Kenshin's character and it really helps us figure out how and why he became who he became. He smiles constantly because his late wife wanted him to smile more. It's so sweet and tragic.
-However, the actual arc collects a bunch of random riff raffs to challenge Kenshin and his group of friends that also kinda have "beef" with him. But this and the end were pretty much the weak parts of this arc to me. The one dudes whole problem was that he got his hand cut off....and Kenshin DIDN'T kill him so...he decided to lose his whale-like mind and join a terrorist group. Two of the others had people they loved died. Who weren't good dudes btw, they were villains. But still...revenge. The other guy had some kind of clan responsibility but when he was defeated Kenshin just told him to go back to his family so it really wasn't an issue. And the final guy...well he didn't even have a beef. He just wanted to test out his mega unrealistic puppets. I'm talking Naruto unrealistic for a historical fiction.
-But all of those dudes at least had reasons. The villains in the final part were all just throw away villains that even Watsuki reveals himself were just throwaways. They aren't too compelling and giving the characters we have grown to love a final fight may have been appreciated by me the initial go. (because I was 14) I just found myself not caring whatsoever about these fights that lasted a whole volume by themselves upon rereading.
Overall, Rurouni Kenshin is a fantastic historical fiction centered around fantastic real life historical individuals. It's ability to write honest, true characters of the time period makes me remember them and I truly found so much more good in this series with the reread. The biggest issues this series has is staying consistent and opting to expose it's lack of authenticity for grenade launchers. Overall 8/10
Tokyo Arc - Acts/Chapters 1-47 - Rating: 8/10
-A great start for a historical fiction. A bit on the nose, but I generally find with historical fictions you have to pretend that no one knows what time period you're talking about so it's nearly unavoidable.
-Great character work. Each Character introduced in Kenshin's gang are examples of how the war has hurt these people. This reflects on Kenshin as he was a key figure in the war that caused all these people that he growing to love, pain. Whether it's Yahiko who lost his parents to draft of war. Or Sanosuke who joined the rebellion and through political means lost his captain and the person he admired most. Or even Kaoru, who attempts to run a dojo in a time when Swords are forbidden by the government. All of these are monumental in Kenshin's redemption from the wrongs he has committed.
-My issue is moreso in how these conflicts come up. They seem very much villain of the week story. And most Shonens are when they initially start and I understand that. Some do it great. (Yu Yu hakusho) some do it terribly (Reborn) I think RuroKen does it OKAY. There are a lot of conveniences and Kenshin is the type of character who can nearly fix everything at any point because he's Kenshin and he outclasses the people they face.
-This arc is really split into 4 mini arcs. Beginning 6/10. Sanosuke Arc 9/10. Jin-E Arc 7/10. Oniwanbanshu arc 10/10
The Kyoto Arc - Acts/Chapters 48-151 - Rating: 9/10
-Phenomenal Arc. Kenshin must tackle with the concept of whether he can keep his oath against a man who is arguably his better. The man who replaced him as Hitokiri. Shishio Makota.
-The jupponganta, the villain group of this ark are all well designed and each one makes perfect sense why they would follow Shisho. Whether they love, respect or just want to kill him. Each one feels like a tough nit group. As for Shishio himself. He's one of those cool villains. I understand why he is and why he's so charismatic. But as far as being an actual villain. He doesn't do much. I think that's to his benefit. His whole concept is realistic in terms of, he has a time limit to how long he can fight. Which is why he created the jupponganta. But that doesn't make him still do so little in the story besides sit and wait for Kenshin to show up. My only real gripe.
-Kenshin conquers all of his fears and redeems himself completely towards the government by stopping the man that replaced him. Mastering Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu and finally allowing his friends to help him. It's a profound and beautiful arc that makes Kenshins character shine.
Jinchu Arc - Acts/Chapters 152-255 - Rating: 7/10
-Where in the last arc we saw Kenshin redeem himself in the eyes of the government. This is the arc where we see Kenshin redeem himself in the eyes of himself. When his Brother in law returns from China and threatens his friends and everyone he's grown to care for over the last 151 chapters Kenshin struggles with the reality of what murdering his late wife has become of Enishi.
-To me, there are three chunks, but they all work towards the same goal. The beginning.(7/10) The Flashback. (9/10) The End (5/10)
-The flashback is the strongest part of this. It was the missing piece in Kenshin's character and it really helps us figure out how and why he became who he became. He smiles constantly because his late wife wanted him to smile more. It's so sweet and tragic.
-However, the actual arc collects a bunch of random riff raffs to challenge Kenshin and his group of friends that also kinda have "beef" with him. But this and the end were pretty much the weak parts of this arc to me. The one dudes whole problem was that he got his hand cut off....and Kenshin DIDN'T kill him so...he decided to lose his whale-like mind and join a terrorist group. Two of the others had people they loved died. Who weren't good dudes btw, they were villains. But still...revenge. The other guy had some kind of clan responsibility but when he was defeated Kenshin just told him to go back to his family so it really wasn't an issue. And the final guy...well he didn't even have a beef. He just wanted to test out his mega unrealistic puppets. I'm talking Naruto unrealistic for a historical fiction.
-But all of those dudes at least had reasons. The villains in the final part were all just throw away villains that even Watsuki reveals himself were just throwaways. They aren't too compelling and giving the characters we have grown to love a final fight may have been appreciated by me the initial go. (because I was 14) I just found myself not caring whatsoever about these fights that lasted a whole volume by themselves upon rereading.
Overall, Rurouni Kenshin is a fantastic historical fiction centered around fantastic real life historical individuals. It's ability to write honest, true characters of the time period makes me remember them and I truly found so much more good in this series with the reread. The biggest issues this series has is staying consistent and opting to expose it's lack of authenticity for grenade launchers. Overall 8/10
April 16, 2023
So we get the setup for the next major story arc as we get a more personal threat to Kenshin as the new group wants revenge against Kenshin personally. And I do like we are finally going to learn more about Kenshin's life during his time as the Battosai as we get a bit of a mystery surrounding a grave and a girl that had some real significance for Kenshin and a brother that wants revenge against him. The Six Comrades seem interesting and I do like the idea of them not just wanting to kill Kenshin but make Kenshin's life a living hell as they begin to target his friends and allies in Tokyo.
June 21, 2023
Wow I'm so glad I watched Trust and Betrayal before reading the manga! We finally got our first mention of Tomoe, as well as a couple other surprises I did not see coming that have me very excited for the Jinchu Arc.
Yahiko's frustrations over his own irrelevance are also cathartic and genuinely sympathetic to say the least. Megumi calling out Kaoru, as well as what appears to be a thought out and more focused narrative moving forward also have me hooked and ready for more.
Onto volume 19!
Yahiko's frustrations over his own irrelevance are also cathartic and genuinely sympathetic to say the least. Megumi calling out Kaoru, as well as what appears to be a thought out and more focused narrative moving forward also have me hooked and ready for more.
Onto volume 19!
October 18, 2024
A bit of a slow volume imo.
We get to see the epilogue of the previous arc and the beginning of the Jinchu arc.
Here’s the thing… for years I’ve read about how this Jinchu arc was so amazing and needed to be properly adapted. I guess we’ll have to wait and see. As of now, it feels as if it started with a whimper.
We get to see the epilogue of the previous arc and the beginning of the Jinchu arc.
Here’s the thing… for years I’ve read about how this Jinchu arc was so amazing and needed to be properly adapted. I guess we’ll have to wait and see. As of now, it feels as if it started with a whimper.
December 4, 2024
Musuh baru yang paling berbahaya tiba. Mereka enam orang yang menyebut diri mereka sebagai Jinchu (hukuman manusia bagi orang berdosa). Semuanya punya dendam pada Kenshin. Untuk memancing Kenshin, mereka menyerang tempat-tempat dan orang-orang yang berhubungan dengan Kenshin. Dimulai dari dihancurkannya Akabeko dengan armstrong, Dojo Maekawa, kantor polisi, dan diserangnya rumah kepala polisi.
July 29, 2021
Enishi!!! 👐👐
Okay breathe. I need to breathe. And stop reading the mangas until after the last piece of the live action films.
I need to prepare myself, because the Yukishiro siblings won't have mercy on my heart and soul.
Okay breathe. I need to breathe. And stop reading the mangas until after the last piece of the live action films.
I need to prepare myself, because the Yukishiro siblings won't have mercy on my heart and soul.
August 16, 2021
Watched the anime and rushed to read the rest of the story that was not in the anime. I wish they would adapt the rest of the story in animated form, because the live-action movie of this Jinchuu arc was really disappointing.
July 13, 2017
This is a guilty pleasure re-read of the series alongside my regular GR challenge. I’ve loved Rurouni Kenshin since I was a kid, and it makes me happy to dive back into this series.
September 15, 2017
Rurouni Kenshin is one of my favorite animes and manga. Quite enjoyable.
September 27, 2017
Inilah awal arc Enishi.Serangan Enam Sekawan benar-benar tak terprediksi.Bagaimana Kenshin dan Sanosuke mengatasinya?
November 15, 2017
This is the first volume with a story arc that wasn’t part of the anime.
March 13, 2019
Fine.
May 30, 2019
new arc is coming~
May 23, 2021
Baru santai dikit,musuh kembali datang haha
April 11, 2023
And so the wandering samurai is passed around like a hot potato from one evil mastermind who wishes to kill him to another. Forgive me for thinking that it would go any other way.
November 30, 2024
Enishi 🥰😍🥰
October 27, 2025
¿lo he disfrutado? si ¿se me ha quedado corto, como que le falta algo? también
November 21, 2016
Today's post is on Rurouni Kenshin volume 18 by Nobuhiro Watsuki. It is 200 pages long and is published by Shonen Jump. The cover has Kenshin, Kaoru and Enishi on it looking very cool. It is the eighteenth volume in the long running series. You have to have read the first seventeen in the series to understand the story. The intended reader is someone who likes historical stories, manga, and interesting characters. There is no foul language, no sex, but some violence in this series. The story is told from third person close following different characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.
From the back of the book- He may be one of the "good guys" now (as Misao insists) but, even a month later, Kenshin still is haunted by Kyoto. How can he not be, when it was in Kyoto that, as the feared "Hitokiri Battôsai," he once made the streets flow red...? And yet, before he departs this place of so many memories, there are ghosts which must be put to rest. It's said that, when strong feelings are attached to a particular wound, so long as those feelings persist, the scar will remain. How did Kenshin get that cross-shaped scar on his face, and who was it that gave it to him?
Review- We finish up with Kyoto and start the final arc of Rurouni Kenshin. The finishing in Kyoto including Kenshin to someone's grave to pay his respects. Sano has really injured his hand and we will see how this comes into play for the final arc of this series. The villain Enishi does not come near Kenshin. He gets five others who have revenge to settle with themselves and sends them to the end of this volume. I really hate what is going on with Kaoru at the moment. She is very damsel in waiting and I am afraid that she is going to be that way for the rest of the series. But the plot is set and I am very curious to learn about this new villain. So more drama, more action, and more fighting ahead!
I give this volume a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.
From the back of the book- He may be one of the "good guys" now (as Misao insists) but, even a month later, Kenshin still is haunted by Kyoto. How can he not be, when it was in Kyoto that, as the feared "Hitokiri Battôsai," he once made the streets flow red...? And yet, before he departs this place of so many memories, there are ghosts which must be put to rest. It's said that, when strong feelings are attached to a particular wound, so long as those feelings persist, the scar will remain. How did Kenshin get that cross-shaped scar on his face, and who was it that gave it to him?
Review- We finish up with Kyoto and start the final arc of Rurouni Kenshin. The finishing in Kyoto including Kenshin to someone's grave to pay his respects. Sano has really injured his hand and we will see how this comes into play for the final arc of this series. The villain Enishi does not come near Kenshin. He gets five others who have revenge to settle with themselves and sends them to the end of this volume. I really hate what is going on with Kaoru at the moment. She is very damsel in waiting and I am afraid that she is going to be that way for the rest of the series. But the plot is set and I am very curious to learn about this new villain. So more drama, more action, and more fighting ahead!
I give this volume a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.
September 21, 2018
This volume starts with the three last of the series of "Kyoto Epilogue" chapters. These opening/closing chapters (opening chapters of the volume and the official end of the Kyoto arc) set a broad new status quo for the book as Kenshin accepts the idea of the Kaoru-Dono's dojo as home, and in other ways in the opening issues of the next arc demonstrates that he seems to be done roaming and is ready to become a permanent part of the lives of these new friends in Tokyo.
Of course that immediately leads to danger as old foes of Himura Battosai arrive targeting anything and anyone having to do with Kenshin.
Some nice work here demonstrating the changes in Kenshin. They are a bit underlined by conversations Sanosuke has with other secondary protagonists in case anyone misses them, but it's not over-emphasized. In addition, Yahiko is forced to humble himself after failing to keep up with Kenshin and Sanosuke, and then after an argument with Kaoru is forced to reconsider why it is he seeks knowledge of the sword from Kaoru and Kenshin. Some nice character work with each and also a fine grounding in the next group of thugs that want to cause trouble for our protagonists.
Of course that immediately leads to danger as old foes of Himura Battosai arrive targeting anything and anyone having to do with Kenshin.
Some nice work here demonstrating the changes in Kenshin. They are a bit underlined by conversations Sanosuke has with other secondary protagonists in case anyone misses them, but it's not over-emphasized. In addition, Yahiko is forced to humble himself after failing to keep up with Kenshin and Sanosuke, and then after an argument with Kaoru is forced to reconsider why it is he seeks knowledge of the sword from Kaoru and Kenshin. Some nice character work with each and also a fine grounding in the next group of thugs that want to cause trouble for our protagonists.
March 2, 2017
Nobuhiro Watsuki’s Rurouni Kenshin vol. 18 was my favorite volume so far. It continued the original story where the anime branches off into filler. Vol. 18 takes place about a month after the battle with Shishio and shows us more of Kenshin’s time as Battosai. I felt that his past was the most exciting thing in the series so far due to how little is known about him. Nobuhiro did a very good job revealing Kenshin’s dark past and made every second more exciting than the last. It was amazing to finally see Kenshin when he was at his best and how he created the sea of blood he is famous for. Nobuhiro shows past events that were mentioned in the past, but he also shows some of Kenshin’s secrets that he has never mentioned before. The last arc was a battle of good and evil between two hitokiri, but this battle is a personal matter. I very much enjoyed the unexpected surprises Nobuhiro threw in.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews