Sun Tzu and Anime: Rurouni Kenshin Character Analysis
We've almost reached the dog days of summer, so let's use some remaining time off to enjoy more of Sun Tzu's exceptional wisdom rating anime legends.
As a quick refresher, here's how the rating system works. Sun Tzu cited Five Essential Factors to be Mastered for Victory: Morality, Weather, Terrain, Good Leadership, and Preparation. All under consideration can receive 0-10 points in each category. However, he also cited Five Fatal Failings of Leadership: Recklessness, Cowardice, A Hasty Temper (Anger for simplicity), Delicacy of Honor (DOH), and Caring Too Much About the Troops (Over-caring). All under consideration can lose 0-10 points in each category. At the end, the scores are tallied, and the results reveal how effective a character is in Sun Tzu's eyes, with the best aiming for 40 or better.
This time, we're checking out a legend: the primary characters from the first season of Rurouni Kenshin(also see Rurouni Kenshin 1996). As always, to keep things fair, we'll analyze them in the order they were formally introduced, plus confine everything to the first season to prevent spoilers.
Character Analysis: Kenshin Himura
Rurouni Kenshin: Kenshin Himura
Rurouni Kenshin: Kenshin Himura
Victory Factors
Factor
Score
Reasoning
Morality
8
He's kind, generous, and honorable, so much so he took an oath never to kill again (and wields a reverse-blade katana to ensure it) out of remorse for his time as "Battousai the Manslayer." However, when he briefly reverted to "Manslayer" mode against Jinei, he got very hostile.
Weather
10
Thanks to his strength, experience, and training, this isn't an issue.
Terrain
7
He's quick and agile thanks to his Hiten Mitsurugi-style skill, yet sometimes gets caught off-guard, like when he dodged Kaoru's charge...only to crash through a table.
Good Leadership
5
He's got some good diplomatic skills and gave Yahiko great advice in the restaurant arc, but mostly varies between lone wolf and follower.
Preparation
7
He's very well trained and has great combat instincts. Sadly, he's not a good cook and wasn't ready for how far some foes, like Kanryu Takeda, would go.
Total
37
Fatal Failings
Failing
Score
Reasoning
Recklessness
-7
Slight red flag. He often underestimates others, can sometimes get very careless, and has a strange habit of impulsively blurting, "Huh?!" when he's caught off-guard.
Cowardice
-4
He's got some issues with PTSD, and is a tad shy around Kaoru, although not enough to really worry.
Anger
-5
He's got a slow-burn temper, yet only snapped twice, each time requiring a lot to do so.
Delicacy of Honor
-4
He's very modest but, in "Manslayer mode", he got extremely cocky.
Over-caring
-7
Slight red flag. He cared about Kaoru so much he nearly revoked his no-killing vow to save her; he's also very protective of his many new acquaintances.
Total
-27
Final Assessment
Score: 10 (Great potential, yet deeply flawed)
Character Analysis: Kaoru Kamiya
Rurouni Kenshin: Kaoru Kamiya
Rurouni Kenshin: Kaoru Kamiya
Victory Factors
Factor
Score
Reasoning
Morality
7
She's a great person and loyal friend, yet can sometimes get very caustic, an effect that becomes more prevalent as she gets closer to Kenshin.
Weather
10
Thanks to her training, experience, and skill, this isn't an issue.
Terrain
5
She's quick and agile, but also clumsy and easily caught off-guard, most often when facing Gohei's repeated revenge attempts.
Good Leadership
5
She's a good teacher, especially with Yahiko and sumo trainee Toramaru, yet tends to go rogue when Kenshin's nearby.
Preparation
5
She's well-trained, but painfully naïve about surrounding criminal elements, isn't a very good cook, and wasn't the least bit ready for Kenshin's fighting skill.
Total
25
Fatal Failings
Failing
Score
Reasoning
Recklessness
-10
Epic red flag. She constantly underestimates others, gets very impulsive when she's angry or jealous, and is extremely careless under pressure, issues that nearly get her killed several times throughout the season.
Cowardice
-4
She's a tad shy around Kenshin initially, but slowly calms as they grow closer, hence the lower rating.
Anger
-7
Slight red flag. She's a hothead, plus easily triggered, usually by any woman getting near Kenshin, although she also has many spats with Yahiko.
Delicacy of Honor
-5
She's pretty cocky at times, particularly when she boasted of her "luck" while playing dice in the Yakuza building; she's also very proud of her family's reputation.
Over-caring
-9
Major red flag. She's in love with Kenshin, something which slowly makes her more jealous throughout the season; she's also very protective of Yahiko and her other acquaintances.
Total
-34
Final Assessment
Score: -9 (Nightmare scenario)
Character Analysis: Yahiko Myojin
Rurouni Kenshin: Yahiko Myojin
Rurouni Kenshin: Yahiko Myojin
Victory Factors
Factor
Score
Reasoning
Morality
7
He's a tad gruff and can sometimes be mischievous, yet ultimately proves a great person and loyal friend, especially when protecting others against bullies.
Weather
8
He's quick and agile, but sometimes gets awkward at night.
Terrain
7
He's observant and has incredible sleight-of-hand skills, although he sometimes gets caught off-guard, like when the corrupt guards blindsided him.
Good Leadership
4
He's got potential, namely when motivating Yutaro during the Raijuta arc, yet ultimately tends to vary between lone wolf and follower.
Preparation
5
He's street-smart and has good improv skills, but usually ends up winging things.
Total
31
Fatal Failings
Failing
Score
Reasoning
Recklessness
-10
Epic red flag. He constantly underestimates foes, is very impulsive when he's angry or annoyed, and gets extremely careless in combat, all of which nearly get him killed several times.
Cowardice
-2
He's a tad indecisive and shy with girls, yet not enough to worry.
Anger
-8
Serious red flag. He's a hothead, plus easily triggered, usually when he encounters injustice, although he also can snap out of pure impatience, a problem Kaoru perpetually struggles to restrain.
Delicacy of Honor
-7
Slight red flag. He's proud and very cocky, hence his tendency to overextend himself in combat.
Over-caring
-5
He admires Kenshin, respects Kaoru, and deeply respects his dead dad's memory.
Total
-35
Final Assessment
Score: -4 (Nightmare scenario)
Character Analysis: Sanosuke Sagara
Rurouni Kenshin: Sanosuke Sagara
Rurouni Kenshin: Sanosuke Sagara
Victory Factors
Factor
Score
Reasoning
Morality
8
He's pretty gruff, but is a great friend and profound ally, especially when saving Megumi from Kanryu.
Weather
10
Thanks to his strength, speed, and experience, this isn't an issue.
Terrain
5
He's very capable, particularly against the Oniwaban group and river pirates, but also very clumsy, most infamously when he challenged Kenshin with a zanbatou sword.
Good Leadership
4
He's got some good negotiating skills, yet ultimately is more lone wolf than leader.
Preparation
5
He's well-trained, but wasn't the least bit ready for Kenshin's influence or the many skeletons from his past that keep resurfacing.
Total
32
Fatal Failings
Failing
Score
Reasoning
Recklessness
-9
Major red flag. He constantly underestimates others, is extremely careless in battle, and gets very impulsive when he's angry or upset, like when he snapped at Megumi after he found she made the opium that killed his friend.
Cowardice
-5
He's a tad indecisive, plus also freaked out about having his picture taken.
Anger
-8
Serious red flag. He has a violent temper, and is easily triggered, most often when anyone hurts his friends, although he also snapped at Kenshin when the latter couldn't help him win at dice.
Delicacy of Honor
-7
Slight red flag. He's cocky and very proud of his past with the Sekihoutai, hence his wearing the kanji for "bad" on his clothes, even though that same attitude nearly gets him killed several times.
Over-caring
-10
Epic red flag. He took on Captain Sagara's name out of respect after their unit's betrayal; he's also a close friend of Kenshin and very protective of Megumi.
Total
-39
Final Assessment
Score: -7 (Nightmare scenario)
Character Analysis: Megumi Takani
Rurouni Kenshin: Megumi Takani
Rurouni Kenshin: Megumi Takani
Victory Factors
Factor
Score
Reasoning
Morality
8
She's a great person and very empathetic, yet sometimes gets selfish around Kenshin.
Weather
5
She's got keen senses, but is very frail and not always observant at night.
Terrain
5
She's pretty quick, yet frequently gets caught off-guard, like when she got kidnapped by the Oniwaban group.
Good Leadership
4
She's capable, but isn't always very clear and tends to go rogue at random moments.
Preparation
5
She's very smart and a great doctor, yet got blindsided by Sanosuke's influence and Kanryu's cruelty.
Total
27
Fatal Failings
Failing
Score
Reasoning
Recklessness
-9
Major red flag. She constantly underestimates others and is extremely careless, most famously when she was tricked into making opium for Kanryu, although she also bungled the quack healer arc.
Cowardice
-4
She was so crippled by Aoshi's claiming no one would save her that she almost killed herself, but made a great comeback afterward, hence the lower rating.
Anger
-4
She's got a slight temper, yet not enough to worry.
Delicacy of Honor
-3
She's a tad vain, but not enough to worry here either.
Over-caring
-4
She soon grows very close to Kenshin, and deeply respects Sanosuke.
Total
-24
Final Assessment
Score: 3 (Nightmare scenario)
Reviewing the Results
This cast was extremely awkward: incredible skills and instincts, nearly all of which were undone by short fuses, indecision, and perpetual clumsiness. With that in mind, it's no surprise the season's epic fights and brutal finishes are often unnecessarily long...but that all harkens back to what's been said all along: follow Sun Tzu, and you'll win; ignore him, and you'll lose.
Andrew's originally from Massachusetts, and has studied military history/tactics/strategy for almost 30 years. He has a BA in History (English minor) from UMASS Lowell and JD from Mass. School of Law. He can be found on Twitter (@AndrewNickers19) daily, analyzing characters via Sun Tzu.
Fun Fact
Andrew's a huge fan of anime music. He particularly recommends Crescent Love (Brighter than the Dawning Blue), Dream Riser (Girls Und Panzer), and the fight theme to Zoids: New Century.
