Kenshin Himura
Nicknames: Ken-san, Samurai Boy (seriously), Himura Battousai and variations of the above.
Meaning: Himura = Village, Kenshin = Sword Heart
Birthday: June 20, 1849
Height: 158cm (5'2")
Weight: 45kg (114 pounds)
Blood type: AB
Hair/Eyes: Red/Purple (Amber when he's angry)
Sex: Male
Age: 28 (at the beginning of the anime)
Occupation: Wandering, masterless swordsman
Weapon: Sakabatou (reversed-edge samurai sword)
Sword Style: Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu
History
Background: Himura Kenshin is the main character in the series who leads a life dedicated to helping others with the power of his god-like sword technique that in his past, gave him the famous title, Hitokiri Battousai (man-slaying assassin). After giving up his ways as a assassin, he becomes a wandering rurouni traveling the land peacefully until he is 28 and encounters Kamiya Kaoru and joins to live with her in her dojo. Though he seems simple, his past is clouded and painful.
Kenshin was born under the name of Shinta to a peasant family somewhere in Japan. When he was young, both parents died in a cholera outbreak in his village and it is hinted that Shinta may have had siblings. Anyway, he was taken under the care of three young slave women till they were attacked one night and all were killed save Shinta by a powerful swordsman named Hiko Sejuro. Hiko takes Shinta in and raises him under the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu and changes his name to Kenshin instead of Shinta since Shinta is too gentle a name for a future swordsman. (Kenshin means “Heart of Sword”) He was raised this way until he was a young teenager and then left Hiko’s care to become a hired assassin.
After spending a few years being an assassin, he had grown to be one of the most feared hitokiris in all of Japan and his name was spoken with great fear. He then met a young woman by the name of Yukishiro Tomoe (she was 18 at the time and he was a few years younger) and fell in love with her. They were married and lived together in hiding until it was revealed that Tomoe was a spy for her dead fiancé, who Kenshin had previously killed.
Kenshin accidentally kills Tomoe and receives the cross scar from his battle. Afterwards, he leaves on a journey and vows never to kill again carrying his sakabatou with him no matter where he goes. At least, until he meets a young woman by the name of Kamiya Kaoru ten long years later…
First Appearance: Anime Episode 1 (he's the main character, obviously)
Distinguishing Marks: His shortness, his red-hair (which is very uncommon), his cross-shaped scar on his left cheek.
Personality: Very formal and polite. He tries to keep peace between everyone and seems very innocent like a child.
Techniques
Ama Kakaru Ryu No Hirameki -