(L) Rurouni Kenshin Hokkaido Arc

[LKK]

Originally Posted by Arabesque

Just a small update, but Viz's August 28th issue preview confirms that they will be picking up the series.

Thread prefix has been updated to Licensed. The licensed manga rules are now in effect.

[Mad Pierrot]

Wait, so Hokkaido started already?

[n0m@n]

It's coming up in the next SQ Jump which will be released in less than a week from now.

[n0m@n]

The heck...

Chapter 1

Spoiler for chapter 1:

Kaoru's dad was alive all this time??? The hell with this sudden change...

And wow, Ashitarou. He used Shishio's move, Homuradama.
And Karou described Shisho as Kenshin's strongest and greatest foe!
I so want to laugh at those guys who had been saying Enishi was stronger than Shishio all this time.

[Mad Pierrot]

A little offtopic but

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news...-works/.120897

Spoiler for comparisons between Kenshin's enemies:

While Shishio nearly killed Kenshin, Enishi actually managed to ruin almost all Hiten Mitsurugi techniques except for the nuttou and the true Amakakeru Ryu no Hirameki

[Random14]

Its such a nostalgic thrill to see the Kenshin gang together again, well, almost all together.

Spoiler for chapter 1:

Kaoru's father?! Never expected him to pop up, though as Kenshin immediately realizes, a supposedly dead relative showing up alive is a bad sign, and I expect Kaoru's fond memories of her father are probably going to take a beating. Though the foreshadowing is clear now (Kaoru's prayer, that book, etc.).

Heh, Sanosuke reference. When he does show up in person, wonder how large his debt is. Ah, and that explains why someone supposedly adverse to violence was with the Shishio rebels. Huh, I'm reminded a bit of Nami from One Piece, though probably nicer. And I do hope Yahiko gets to take action soon, rather than just giving the sakabato back to Kenshin all the time. That special when Yahiko went to teach elsewhere was a good start.

Yeah, I would rank Shishio above Enishi. Personally I'd say Kenshin's guilt over Tomoe's death was slowing him down, which is why for their final duel they said Kenshin had found his "answer". I'm curious what direction this series will go, but wherever it goes, I'm looking forward to it.

[n0m@n]

Originally Posted by Mad Pierrot

A little offtopic but

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news...-works/.120897

Spoiler for comparisons between Kenshin's enemies:

While Shishio nearly killed Kenshin, Enishi actually managed to ruin almost all Hiten Mitsurugi techniques except for the nuttou and the true Amakakeru Ryu no Hirameki

Enishi felt like he could pull out twice his true strength when he fights Kenshin. But against others it doesn't seem like he could pull out such brutal strength. Kenshin was like his doping drugs lol.

Originally Posted by Random14

Its such a nostalgic thrill to see the Kenshin gang together again, well, almost all together.

Spoiler for chapter 1:

Kaoru's father?! Never expected him to pop up, though as Kenshin immediately realizes, a supposedly dead relative showing up alive is a bad sign, and I expect Kaoru's fond memories of her father are probably going to take a beating. Though the foreshadowing is clear now (Kaoru's prayer, that book, etc.).

Heh, Sanosuke reference. When he does show up in person, wonder how large his debt is. Ah, and that explains why someone supposedly adverse to violence was with the Shishio rebels. Huh, I'm reminded a bit of Nami from One Piece, though probably nicer. And I do hope Yahiko gets to take action soon, rather than just giving the sakabato back to Kenshin all the time. That special when Yahiko went to teach elsewhere was a good start.

Yeah, I would rank Shishio above Enishi. Personally I'd say Kenshin's guilt over Tomoe's death was slowing him down, which is why for their final duel they said Kenshin had found his "answer". I'm curious what direction this series will go, but wherever it goes, I'm looking forward to it.

Spoiler for chp1:

I sure do miss Sanosuke.
Saitou also appears at the end. Wonder if we can watch the rival match between Saitou and Kenshin in this arc. I can't see Kenshin beating Saitou now.

[Mad Pierrot]

Spoiler for Now that I think about it:

Was Kaoru's father ever mentioned in the manga? I think only the anime and the Seisohen OVAs featured him

[n0m@n]

Havent read the original for so long but Im sure it was mentioned that...

Spoiler for l:

he died in war (briefly).

I wonder if Ashitaro will become Yahiko's rival?

[Mad Pierrot]

I haven't read the Hokkaido chapter yet, but I remember in the Ashitaro's chapter, Yahiko wanted to teach him if they ever entered the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu Dojo. Still, I think Watsuki said Yutaro was Yahiko's rival.

[Random14]

I doubt Yahiko would be Ashitaro's rival, whoever his main rival/enemy will be will probably be someone new, while Yahiko is "previous generation" as it were. Especially with Yutaro back in Japan already.

Originally Posted by Mad Pierrot

Spoiler for Now that I think about it:

Was Kaoru's father ever mentioned in the manga? I think only the anime and the Seisohen OVAs featured him

Spoiler for chapter 1:

If my memory is accurate, the anime and manga said that he founded the Kamiya sword style, a sword that protects rather than a sword that kills. I'm pretty sure the first chapter has a scene with the villains mocking that "silly" idea, and even Kenshin admitting that its false, but he'd much rather believe that sweet lie rather than the harsh truth.

So basically back then he sounded like a nice guy who had died, standard background for someone's parent, but never expected he would play such a bigger role. And to be targeted by some mysterious group.

I don't think Kenshin and Saitou would duel again. At the end of the original manga Saitou gave up on their rivalry, even when Kenshin called him out (before he declined from his peak). He basically didn't recognize Kenshin as Battousai anymore.

[Diluc]

So is Hokkaido prequel or sequel?
I read somewhere Hokkaido supposed to be arc before the ending but the raw i read i saw the new MC Ashitaro in the raw.

[Mad Pierrot]

Originally Posted by Roxis

So is Hokkaido prequel or sequel?
I read somewhere Hokkaido supposed to be arc before the ending but the raw i read i saw the new MC Ashitaro in the raw.

it's a sequel based on Kenshin and Kaoru having a child,
Yahiko being a teenager among other stuff. However, Watsuki apparently didn't like Kenshin's short hair from the manga finale so it grew up again.

[n0m@n]

Oh, shit. I had forgotten about Yutaro lol.
Hijikata appearing was already confirmed but the other character I want to see the most now is Soujirou. Seijuurou on other hand is too OP and I think Watsuki himself said Seijuurou is a character who is hard to handle due to his strength. Though I would love to see him appear too.

[Mad Pierrot]

Originally Posted by n0m@n

Oh, shit. I had forgotten about Yutaro lol.
Hijikata appearing was already confirmed but the other character I want to see the most now is Soujirou. Seijuurou on other hand is too OP and I think Watsuki himself said Seijuurou is a character who is hard to handle due to his strength. Though I would love to see him appear too.

The real Hijikata Toshizō?! Isn't Hijikata supposed to be dead?

Also, I remember that Watsuki said was difficult to write was Hiko (at least vol 12 says that) while he views Sojiro hard to develop in the same way as Anji due to their tragic backstories

[n0m@n]

oh shit. I meant Saitou lol. Not Hijikata. What have i been smoking...

[Diluc]

I always have under impression Hijikata Toushiro was Saitou..

[Mad Pierrot]

Lol, Saito's characterization was so dark that Misao and Cho couldn't believe he was a good guy. Even Kenshin once said Saito got in his nerves as much as Hiko. The real Hijikata would have taken that personality considering he was "vice demon" or something like that.

[germanturkey]

someone let me know where they're reading this? thanks!

[Diluc]

Spoiler for chapter 1:

Chapter 1
Generally Ashitaro is acceptable character being MC or not but his random cliche power up able to mastered Shishio technique is irking one also i don't recall Shishio sword was cursed at all. There is trick from his flame sword ; that flame came from incinerated fat of death people which has flaked to Mugenjin.
Karou father was the big plot twist of this arc, i think the reason why Kaoru father never returned is not because he was involved with something but he probably became amnesiac thus he forgot his past and Kaoru. That photograph pretty much explained it if he was under pressure or something there is no way he would able to do funny pose like that.

I am not going to surprise if Kaoru turn out has another sibling now XD