140 years ago during the Tokugawa regime, there was an Imperialist in Kyoto nicknamed “Battousai the Manslayer.” He killed and created a way into the new Meiji era. Battousai was the strongest. But when the chaos came to an end, he disappeared and became legend.
In the 11th year of Meija (1979) in Tokyo, a girl accuses a red-haired man of being Battousai the Manslayer. She strikes him, accusing him of slaying three people last night. He assures her that he is merely a wondering swordsman, incapable of slaying people. Wanting proof, she pulls out his sword to find the blade on the wrong side.
A whistle blows and several guards are up against a strong opponent. The girl attacks him, but he cuts her wooden sword away. Just as the man who claims to be Battousai the Manslayer of the Kamiya Katsuhin Style is about to strike her, the red-haired girl saves her. Battousai runs away and the girl passes out.
The girl awakens in her own place bandaged up. She, Kaoru, runs a Kendo school of the Kamiya Kasshin Style. Kenshin is outside cooking miso soup with Dr. Gensai’s two granddaughters, who have taken a liking to Kenshin. He offers Kaoru breakfast. She then offers him a place to stay until he leaves town.
The Kamiya Kasshin Style was founded by Kaoru’s father. Their ideal is not to hurt people, but to bring out their potential. Unfortunately, Battousai also claims to be of her father’s style, and because of that, her students have decided to quit studying with her. She vows to be strong and defeat him to protect her father’s honor.
The man posing as Battousai is named Gohei, and he seeks revenge on Kaoru for his paralyzed thumb. When Kaoru was a small girl, she witnessed one of her father’s students, Hiruma, strike down a man. Hiruma speaks out against Kamiya. He attacks Kamiya, who counters, crushing Hiruma’s right thumb so he would never be able to hold a sword again. On that day, Hiruma was expelled, and on that day, Hiruma vowed revenge.
Gohei decides it is time to destroy the school and goes after Kaoru. Gohei’s men surround the dojo, and just as Gohei is about to strike down Kaoru, Kenshin steps in and defeats all of Gohei’s men. He then clarifies that the swordsmanship of Battousai the Manslayer is Hiten Mitsurugi Style, an ultrasonic killer style that is sure to slay anyone. Gohei challenges Kenshin, but Kenshin defeats him easily, explaining that while he has no attachments to the name Battousai, he won’t give it away so easily.
After the fight, Kenshin apologizes to Kaoru and bids her farewell. She requests that he, the wanderer not Battousai, stay with her and help her rebuild her father’s style. Realizing what she had just said, she turns and quietly asks him that if he insists on going, to at least tell her his real name. He replies Himura, Himura Kenshin, and then agrees to stay.
Comments: The first episode is not that serious. You would think he would be more violent but he is not. Kenshin shows he other side when he needs to.