The original model for Kenshin was a guy named Kawakami Gensai, and
his style was something like Shiranui or Furanui Ryu, I've never
been able to find out one way or the other. He was one of 4
assassins working for the ShiShi and was from Higo. After the war
was over he raised a stink about the direction the government was
moving in and raised a stink about it. He was thereafter found
guilty on some trumped up charges and executed. Far as I know
though he was only occasionally called Hitokiri Gensai, never
Battousai. Watsuki had even said he used Kawakami as one of the
models for Kenshin.
Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu DID NOT exist. I'm fairly certain I read an
interview when Watsuki Nobuhiro said he invented the style for his
Kenshin style. (I'm gonna have to bookmark that interview next time
I manage to find it.)
The Sakabato also never existed. It's a creation for the manga. A
while ago a custom smith named Rick Barret made it for a customer.
However, it was never used by any samurai.
Bottom line, what that kid goes off about, is a bunch of things I've
neither heard about let alone believe.
--- In
SHQ@yahoogroups.com, "Hirotada Tokugawa"
wrote:
> Just got this in one of the other groups I'm in. It's got some
details we
> NEED to investigate. This practically turns everything on its
head...
>
> --M.
>
> --------
>
> >From: "Marwin Tristan"
> >Reply-To: kagetai@yahoogroups.com
> >To: kagetai@yahoogroups.com
> >Subject: [kagetai] thought you should all know
> >Date: Mon, 11 Oct 2004 07:40:34 -0000
> >
> >
> >Being a fan of the Rurouni Kenshin series, i tried to acquire the
> >hostorical background of the series. While I found out some
> >interesting bits of info such as the real Saito and Yamagata and
> >even Katsura, the others were depressing (no Kenshin!). a friend
> >even helped me pst my requests for info but all I got were more of
> >the same.
> >
> >That is, until someone mailed me the info I was looking for. No
> >matter how much I wrote back, he/she never answered. Here is the
> >summary of what he/she sent me:
> >
> >Hitokiri Battô-sai - the legendary warrior of Choshu did exist.
His
> >name and true identity was unknown even today except for the fact
> >that he was called THE Battô-sai (yep, that's how the sender said
it
> >should be spelled). He was one of the best warriors unfortunately
he
> >did not reach the customary cult status since no one even knew
where
> >he was buried. There are a few rumors here and there butno
> >substantial proof. He started as an assassin but became a warrior
> >after the death of his wife (whom he did not accidentaly kill but
> >rather died of other circumstances). He became one of the
bodyguards
> >of Kido Tadayoshi known then as Katsura Kogoro. He was never
> >defeated but he was also not much known probably because of the
fact
> >that only Katsura knew his real identity. After Meiji took over
the
> >government, he offered his sword in a shrine (unnamed) to a person
> >who gave him another sword in return: the Shin Uchi (Sakabatou
were
> >pretty much in use as an alternative weapon but Battô-sai used it
as
> >self-defense. Arai Shatku was rumored to be that person but it is
> >also unconfirmed. We all knew Kawakami Gensai was caught and
> >executed but we do not know why. Battô-sai was the reason he fell
> >(unfortunately again, the sender did not tell me how Battô-sai
> >helped). Another note, after the edict forbidding the wearing of
> >swords Battô-sai carried his in a sort of bag the way Yahiko does
in
> >Seisouhen. That way, he both did not break the law, and did not
> >provoke the government soldiers. He settled down and faded into
> >anonymity.
> >
> >Makoto Shishio - here's the case: Watsuki said that Himura's real
> >life model was Kawakami Gensai. Correction, Kawakami Gensai is
more
> >like Makoto Shishio in the story. They were both isolationists,
they
> >were both unbeaten assassins from Choshu, they were both executed
> >after the restoration and they fight pretty much the same way.
> >Makoto Shishio was not and never will be Battô-sai's successor.
For
> >one, there are not only one Hitokiri or assassin of Choshu, there
> >are literally dozens of them. Kawakami Gensai was using Furanui
> >style Ken-jutsu and not Battô-juttsu.
> >
> >Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu - was a style of Kenjuttsu that originated ryt
> >after the Battle of Sekigahara. Battô-sai was reportedly the last
> >master. The style persists but goes by another name today. The
style
> >was not pure anymore and Hiko of the OVA was telling the truth
when
> >he said that Mitsurugi Ryu ends with him although in real life, it
> >was Battô-sai who said those words.
> >
> >The Kagetai - while I doubt that it was Hajime Saito really formed
> >an assassination/espionage group, towards the end of the
> >Shinsengumi's life, Hijikata's tactics became dirtier, resorting
to
> >assassinations and bribery and even threats. The group was formed
in
> >order to accomplish certain missions that were not approved by the
> >powers that be (Kondou or Matsudaira or whoever else). They were a
> >band of mercenaries and/or ronin. And they never exceeded 20.
Their
> >actual name is unkown.
> >
> >That's it. And while there are other info included, I think these
> >are the things others may be interested, whether you believe them
or
> >not. I am also interested on info about Bakufu Hitokiri. I am
> >writing a book about Battô-sai based on what I found out. And
maybe
> >I can borrow some characters from your wonderful group. Thanks.
> >
> >
> >
>
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