Rurouni Kenshin: The Final

Rurouni Kenshin: The Final
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Keishi Ōtomo
Screenplay by	Keishi Ōtomo
Based on	Rurouni Kenshin by Nobuhiro Watsuki
Produced by	Hiroyoshi Koiwai Satoshi Fukushima
Starring	Takeru Satoh Emi Takei Mackenyu Arata Yusuke Iseya Munetaka Aoki Yū Aoi Tao Tsuchiya Ryunosuke Kamiki Yōsuke Eguchi
Cinematography	Takuro Ishizaka
Edited by	Tsuyoshi Imai
Music by	Naoki Satō
Distributed by	Warner Bros. Pictures (Japan) Netflix (Worldwide)
Release date	April 23, 2021 (2021-04-23) (Japan) June 18, 2021 (2021-06-18) (Worldwide)
Running time	138 minutes
Country	Japan
Language	Japanese
Box office	$36.9 million[1]

Rurouni Kenshin: The Final (Japanese: るろうに剣心 最終章 The Final, Hepburn: Rurouni Kenshin: Saishūshō – Za Fainaru) is a 2021 Japanese live-action film directed Keishi Ōtomo. It is based on the final arc of the Rurouni Kenshin manga series by Nobuhiro Watsuki, but its story differs from the original.^[2] The film focuses on the pacifist wanderer Himura Kenshin who is brought on a fight involving revenge by Yukishiro Enishi. It is the fourth installment in the Rurouni Kenshin film series, following Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends, and was followed by a fifth entry, Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning, both of which were filmed together.

Plot[]

The leader of the Shanghai mafia, Yukishiro Enishi, arrives in Tokyo to search for the former government assassin Himura Kenshin. After briefly fighting the police force at the train station, he allows police officer Saito Hajime to arrest him, revealing in the process he was the man responsible to give weaponry for the late Shishio Makoto. Enishi was later released due to the Shanghai treaty. He and his allies, who all have a grudge with Kenshin, begin their assault on Tokyo. They first fired a cannon at the Akabeko restaurant, resulting in multiple casualties. Kenshin and the police investigate the source of the attack, discovering a note with the written characters jinchū (人誅, lit. "man's judgment"). Later, Enishi sends one of his allies to destroy the Maekawa Dojo, and another one to the Chief of Police' home. After being alerted of the attacks, Sanosuke heads to the Maekawa Dojo whilst Kenshin rushes to check on the Chief of Police. Although Kenshin wins the fight, it is still not clear as to who is behind the attacks. On his way back, Kenshin is confronted by Enishi, indentifying himself as the instigator of all the attacks stating that his goal is for Kenshin to suffer the same pain he felt when Kenshin killed his sister, Yukishiro Tomoe.

Kenshin returns to the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu Dojo, revealing to his allies that fifteen years ago when he worked for the Bakufu he married Tomoe, who unbeknownst to him was a spy for the Shogunate. Her original intention was to kill Kenshin to avenge Akira Kiyosato, the one who gave Kenshin his first scar and Tomoe's late fiance. However, the two fell in love, and got married. When the assassins whom she allied with tried to ambush Kenshin, Tomoe sacrificed herself to protect Kenshin, but was accidentally killed by Kenshin himself. Before her last breath, Tomoe held a knife and gave him his other scar, resulting in cross shaped scars he carries.

Oniwabanshu members Shinomori Aoshi and Makimachi Misao arrive in Tokyo to assist Kenshin while also bringing Tomoe's diary which had been left in a temple in Kyoto for safekeeping. Saito, and his police troops were sent on a trap set by Cho Sawagejo, who pretended to be a spy with the new government, but is revealed to be working with the Shanghai mafia. As Kenshin patrols the streets at night, a few hot air balloons were seen at the sky, spreading newspapers with jinchū written on them. Subsequently, Enishi's troops begin bombing various areas of Tokyo. During the attacks, Shinomori is badly wounded trying to shield people from an explosion, while Kenshin fights and defeats one of Enishi's allies, the man responsible for attacking the Akabeko restaurant. Meanwhile, Enishi arrives at the Kamiya Kasshin Dojo via hot air balloon, beating up the dojo students and Sagara Sanosuke, then kidnapping Kamiya Kaoru thereafter.

Kaoru awakens in Enishi's mansion and attempts to escape. Enishi then tries to strangle Kaoru to death, but she reminds him of his sister and the trauma of his sister's death causes him to lose control of his body.

Kenshin prepares to face Enishi and how to redeem himself for Tomoe's death. He heads out after learning of the Shanghai mafia's location and plans, telling Yahiko to look after Sanosuke.

After initially overcoming the Shanghai mafia, who were waiting for him, Kenshin struggles as they continue to recover. He seems close to being overwhelmed, when Misao arrives together with the remaining ninja watchers. More help arrives when Saito comes together with the police and the wounded Sanosuke, all of whom tell Kenshin to leave the fight to them. Kenshin then enters Enishi's mansion where he encounters Wu Heishin and his guards, to whom Enishi has passed over the leadership of the Shanghai mafia. Seta Sojiro appears, initially pretending to be working with the mafia, but decides helps Kenshin instead, as he reveals that he has become a wanderer after losing to Kenshin. Kenshin then leaves Sojiro with the remaining guards and eventually reaches Enishi, beginning their fight.

Enishi initially beats Kenshin, and the former prompts Kenshin to commit suicide for his sister's death and his sins as a former assassin. Kenshin relents, explaining that although he still doesn't know how to atone for his sins, he will stop Enishi for his friends' and Tomoe's sake. The two continue their battle with Kenshin besting Enishi. Kenshin then allows himself to be stabbed by Enishi with Tomoe's knife, finally apologizing for Tomoe's death. Heishin then appears and tries to kill Kenshin with a gun but Kaoru intervenes. Heishin then attacks Kaoru, prompting Enishi to protect Kaoru and beat his former ally to near-death until Kenshin stops him, thanking him for protecting Kaoru.

In the aftermath, Enishi is arrested and breaks down in prison while reading Tomoe's diary sent by Kaoru as he finally understands his sister's final resolve. At the end, Kenshin and Kaoru visit Tomoe's grave to thank her, and left while holding each other's hands.

Cast[]

• Takeru Satoh as Himura Kenshin
• Emi Takei as Kamiya Kaoru
• Mackenyu Arata as Yukishiro Enishi
• Kasumi Arimura as Yukishiro Tomoe
• Yōsuke Eguchi as Saitō Hajime
• Munetaka Aoki as Sagara Sanosuke
• Yū Aoi as Takani Megumi
• Yusuke Iseya as Shinomori Aoshi
• Riku Ōnishi as Myōjin Yahiko
• Tao Tsuchiya as Makimachi Misao
• Ryōsuke Miura as Sawagejō Chō
• Takuma Oto'o as Woo Heishin
• Shingo Tsurumi as Chief Uramura
• Takeo Nakahara as Maekawa Miyauchi
• Mantarō Koichi as Kawaji Toshiyoshi
• Shinnosuke Abe as Kujiranami Hyōgo
• Shuntaro Yanagi as Otowa Hyōko
• Joey as Inui Tenmon
• Eiki Narita as Yatsume Mumyōi
• Ryūnosuke Kamiki as Seta Sōjirō

Production[]

Plans for another sequel had been revealed by Daily.co.jp on September 4, 2017, in connection the main actress Emi Takei's breach of contract due to her marriage with Exile band member Takahiro, as well as her pregnancy. Takei had agreements with up to 10 companies for commercials, including JTB and Yōfuku no Aoyama, and it was reported that her agreement with SSP might be terminated, with her commercial agreements with other companies being affected. Oscar Promotion, Takei's agency, apologized to its clients, and was negotiating penalties for breach of contract. The penalty for her breach of contract could have reached up to 1 billion yen (about US$9.11 million).^[3][4]

This fourth entry was produced at the same period of time with the fifth entry. The film started shooting on November 4, 2018 and finished on June 28, 2019. Large-scale shooting for more than 7 months was carried out at 43 locations nationwide, including Kyoto, Nara, Shiga, Mie, Hyogo, Kumamoto, Hiroshima, Tochigi, Saitama, Shizuoka, Osaka, and Nagano. It utilized a total of 6,000 extras.^[5]

The main theme of The Final is how Kenshin will live in the future. Satoh stated it was important for the movie to settle the fight against the edge, in regard to Kenshin's redemption. He further claims the highlight is the way of life of Kenshin.^[6]

Rock band One Ok Rock provided the soundtrack song "Renegades" for the film.^[7]

Release[]

The film premiered on April 23, 2021 in Japanese theaters. Rurouni Kenshin: The Final was released on Netflix on June 18, 2021, which included an English dub.

Reception[]

The work was released on 480 screens in 362 theaters nationwide from April 23, 2021. Due to the state of emergency, 63 buildings in Tokyo, Osaka, Hyogo, and Kyoto were closed from the 25th (* 64 in total from 26th and 67 in total from 27th). Despite that, the box office revenue of over 535 million yen (over 371,000 spectators) was recorded in the opening two days which became the No. 1 weekend opening box office in a live-action movie category released this year.^[8]

The film grossed 745 million yen (approximately US$6.9 million) the first three days of screening.^[7]

All five films in the Rurouni Kenshin series were screened on the 24th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF), which was held on June 11-20, 2021. Rurouni Kenshin was the first Japanese live action series invited to be screened in Movie Franchise Section in Shanghai International Film Festival, which was newly established in 2016, while only Hollywood blockbuster franchises have been invited before.^[9][10] This was also the international premiere of The Final and The Beginning.

References[]

External links[]

• Japanese official website

• Rurouni Kenshin: The Final at IMDb