During the final days of the Shogunate, the assassin Hitokiri Battōsai (Kenshin) killed a skilled swordsman named Gentatsu Takatsuki in battle. Years later, in 1879, Kenshin and his friends travel to Yokohama for sightseeing and encounter , a former comrade of Gentatsu. Shigure is amassing a rebel army to overthrow the Meiji government, seeking vengeance for his fallen friend. When Shigure discovers Kenshin is the man who killed Gentatsu, the conflict becomes a deeply personal vendetta. Main Characters

: Directed by Hatsuki Tsuji and written by Yukiyoshi Ohashi , based on the manga by Nobuhiro Watsuki .

The 1997 animated film (released internationally as Samurai X: The Motion Picture ) is a standalone story that pits Kenshin Himura against the shadows of his past during a trip to Yokohama. Plot Overview

: Features the popular opening theme "Niji" by L'Arc-en-Ciel and the ending theme "Towa no Mirai" by Animetal.

: Kaoru Kamiya , Sagara Sanosuke , and Yahiko Myojin accompany Kenshin and assist him in stopping the rebels. Film Highlights & Production

: Gentatsu's sister, who is caught between her love for Shigure and her desire to stop the violence.

: The movie takes place after the Kyoto Arc of the original series.