Rurouni Kenshin is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Nobuhiro Watsuki. The story begins in 1878, the 11th year of the Meiji era in Japan, and follows a former assassin. After participating in the Boshin War as the assassin Hitokiri Batt?sai, Himura Kenshin wanders the countryside of Japan, offering protection and aid to those in need as atonement for the murders he once committed.