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[ café reviews ]

The immensely powerful Sagara Sanosuke arrives in town...
Rurouni Kenshin logo

Rurouni Kenshin
(Samurai X)

Episode 4: Akuno Ichimonji Kenkaya Sanosuke Tojo

[ production info ]

Copyright: Fuji Television Network Inc., Sony Pictures Entertainment (Japan) Inc.
Length: 25 minutes
Rating: Contains Violence, Parental Guidance Suggested
Format: Original Japanese (LD/VHS)

Screenplay: Director: Producers: Character Design: English Version Executive Producer: Translation by:


[ plot summary ]

Kenshin TV LD 2 jacket

Enter Kenkaku Zanza, a.k.a. Sagara Sanosuke;a fighter who enjoys fighting for the sake of fighting, but hates the sight of weak individuals. Upon meeting the fighter, Kaoru can't quite decide if he's a good or bad person... difficult to say since he seems to be like a good guy, but he also has a tendency to eat and run. Without paying his bill that is.

Having been hired by Hiruma Gohei to fight with Kenshin, Sano finds out that the person he's been hired to fight (and preferably kill) is in fact the infamous Hitokiri Battousai. It seems that Sanosuke has a personal grudge against the Ishinshishi from the Bakumatsu period, but why? Sanosuke looks unlike any of the other people Kenshin has had to fight to date. Not only is he quick but he is also very strong, and just wait 'til you see his weapon of choice... a zanbattou. Will Kenshin and Sano be able to get along without having to fight or is there no way out of battle for Kenshin?


[ capsule review ]

A quiet meal? You know this can't last...

Sanosuke offers the first blow.







Hmm... I dunno. I know that Tae (the owner of Akabeko) is supposed to be from the Kansai region but hearing Osaka-ben and Kyoto-ben mixed together seems a bit strange. I know that Osaka and Kyoto are close together and all (hey I live in Kyoto and work in Osaka!) but even now, I don't think I've heard the two mixed together in said manner. I would find it even more difficult to believe that the two would have been so mixed in the past therefore. Still, it's rather interesting to hear someone speaking such errrr.... clear Kansai-ben. Otherwise, this episode concentrates on introducing another character who will eventually become one of Kenshin's close friends. Of course, from the start, Sano and Kenshin are not on good terms, at least not on Sano's part. And we are left wondering just what was there in the past to cause Sano's grudge against the Ishinshishi, and as such, we know that we will get a little more history from that time. I really wonder how accurate the events in the anime are to actual history. The music in this episode is quite nice although rather minor in key... which is true for a fair amount of the music in this series in general.
- JYN, 98.08.12



[ café rating ]

Original: Subbed: Dubbed:
Story: 4 stars N/A N/A
Direction: 3 stars N/A N/A
Acting: 4 stars N/A N/A
Animation: 3 stars N/A N/A
Music: 4 stars N/A N/A
Translation: N/A N/A N/A
Overall Rating: 4 stars N/A N/A



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