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The author of the mangas “Phantom Thief Jeanne” and “Idol Dreams”, Tanemura Arina has published an illustration of Kenshin and Tomoe, inspired by the movie “Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning”, highlighting their beautiful and sorrowful love story. The illustration was followed by a commentary from the author.

The illustration made by Tanemura looks almost as if it belongs to a gorgeous Shojo manga world, depicting the assassin Hitokiri Battosai/Himura Kenshin (portrayed by Sato Takeru in the movie) and his wife Yukishiro Tomoe (portrayed by Arimura Kasumi in the movie) laying side by side. Kenshin, who fights for the future, lies in the ground next to Tomoe, who softly touches his sword as though in a gentle attempt to draw closer to his heart.

Tanemura mentioned that “The scene from the original work where Battousai is sleeping stood out the most for me. This same scene was used to show Kenshin’s change of heart in the movie, and my illustration was inspired by that”. The picture conveys the tragic yet beautiful story of the couple, sharing a fragile dream-like and fleeting moment.

“Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning” is the final installment in the “Rurouni Kenshin” live-action film series. The movie is a prequel to the other entries, laying the events from which the rest of series develops upon.
The movie was praised not only for its action scenes, but also for exploring thoroughly the relationship between Kenshin and Tomoe.

In regards to the movie, Tanemura remarked “Tomoe’s is a character whose name matches the crucial role she plays in the story (in Japanese Yukishiro means melted snow). She is the one who, while mesmerized to the point of becoming breathless by the intensity of Battosai’s killer instinct, melts his heart in a time where his heart only grew colder.”

She concludes “The story of the couple is a beautiful and ephemeral one.”, describing the loving bond of the couple in face of the twists and turns of fate. The illustration indeed blends all these themes in a stunning visual brimming in grace and ephemerality.

“Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning” tells the way too tragic tale as never seen before, revealing the origins of Kenshin and serving as the starting point for the rest of the saga. Along with Kenshin’s final arc movie, “Rurouni Kenshin: The Final”, it is definitely one of those movies to rewatch countless times in the theater.

[Tanemura Arina]
Tomoe’s is a character whose name matches the crucial role she plays in the story (in Japanese Yukishiro means melted snow). She is the one who, while mesmerized to the point of becoming breathless by the intensity of Battosai’s killer instinct, melts his heart in a time where his heart only grew colder. The story of the couple is a beautiful, and ephemeral one.
The scene from the original work where Battousai is sleeping stood out the most for me. In the movie the same scene was used to display Kenshin’s change of heart, so my illustration was inspired by that.

(C)Watsuki Nobuhiro / Shueisha (C)2020 Movie “Rurouni Kenshin: The Beginning” Production Committee