List of Rurouni Kenshin characters
![The image shows several of the main characters of Rurouni Kenshin, the faction of Shishio Makoto, and the Kyoto Oniwabanshū - Kenshin has the large picture on the top. The main characters and Kyoto Oniwabanshū characters on the top row include, from left to right, Shiro, Okon, Hiko, Kaoru, Saitō, and Sanosuke. The bottom row has Kuro, Omasu, Okina, Misao, Yahiko and Aoshi. Of Shishio's faction, Shishio has the large picture. The top row has, from left to right, Hōji, Yumi, Usui, Chō, Fuji, and Iwanbō. The bottom row has, from left to right, Sōjirō, Kamatari, Anji, Henya, and Elder Saizuchi[note 1]](/uploads/202502/18/MaincharactersRKShishioGroup4305.png)
The fictional characters from the Rurouni Kenshin manga series were created by Nobuhiro Watsuki. Set in a fictional version of Japan during the Meiji period, several of the characters are real life people who interact with the fictional characters.
The story follows a pacifist wanderer named Himura Kenshin who was previously an assassin known as "Hitokiri Battōsai"(人斬り抜刀斎) working for the Isshin Shishi during the Bakumatsu period. After helping Kamiya Kaoru, the instructor of a kendo school in Tokyo called Kamiya Kasshin-ryū, in defeating a criminal he is invited by her to stay in her dojo. During his stay in Tokyo, Kenshin befriends new people including Myōjin Yahiko, a young child descendant from Samurai family starts training with Kaoru, Sagara Sanosuke, a former Sekihō who enjoys fighting, and Takani Megumi, a doctor previously involved with illegal drug trade. He also meets old and new enemies whose ambitions cause Kenshin's return to fight to protect the innocent people.