Rurouni Kenshin Manga Translations
Volume Five--Patterns of Meiji Swordsmanship
Part 37--Conversation at the Tsukayama Estate
(At the Kamiya Kasshin dojo)
Sanosuke: Isurugi Raijuuta . . . Huh. Can't remember the last time I met a guy that
interesting.
Kaoru (whacking him with a shinai): It wasn’t "interesting"! Because of him the Maekawa dojo
will have to close for a while!
Sanosuke (dodging): But there’s nothing you can do. (catching the tip) Maekawa and Raijuuta
fought fairly, right? And one side lost.
Kaoru: But--
Sanosuke: If he's the master of that school and that style, saying his opponent was too strong
is no excuse. Right, Kenshin?
Kenshin: That’s certainly true. (thinking) Even so, he was too strong. He had passed the
point of needing to hone his skills or showing off for the fun of it. Why would someone who treats
the shinai with contempt, a trueborn killer, have to gain by destroying dojos . . .
Messenger (entering the gate): Excuse me. Is this the residence of Mr. Himura Kenshin?
Kenshin: I’m Himura.
Messenger: Oh? Then this is for you. (he hands him a letter with "invitation" written on the
front.)
Kenshin: An invitation?
Messenger: Yes.
(He turns it over. Raijuuta’s name is written on the back.)
Kaoru: What on earth . . .
Sanosuke: It’s gotta be a challenge.
Messenger: Well, I’m merely a servant, so I couldn’t say. But there’s a carriage waiting for
you outside. Please.
(They are taken to a mansion with a spacious Japanese garden outside.)
Sanosuke: Hey, this Raijuuta is some rich guy?
Kaoru: No way! He’s such a thug. . .
Tsukayama (coming out of the house): Are you Mr. Himura? Good to meet you. I am Tsukayama
Yuzaemon, the master of this house.
Yahiko: Tsukayama . . . not that brat’s dad?
Yutarou (coming out of nowhere to kick Yahiko from behind): You’re the brat!!
Kenshin: Oro.
Yutaro: Raijuuta-sensei only called Himura! What are you doing here!
Tsukayama: Stop it, Yutarou! I won’t permit such behavior towards the sensei’s guest. (to
Kenshin) I apologize. My son is very rude.
Kenshin: Oh no, not at all.
Yahiko & Yutarou (thinking): I’ll get you someday!
Tsukayama: The sensei is waiting near the pond. Yutarou, take care of our other guests.
(He and Kenshin walk off.)
Yutarou: Guess I'm stuck with you. We’ve probably got some leftover tea and scraps around
someplace.
Sanosuke (undoing one of the bandages at his wrists): Oh, don’t put yourself out. Sorry, but
you’ll just have to keep out of our way.
Yutarou: Huh?
Tsukayama: I’m a merchant exporting swords overseas. As you’re probably aware, Japanese swords
fetch high prices in Europe as works of art. However, there are those who resent this. Three months ago
my carriage was attacked by bandits. I was saved by the sensei. Since then, he’s stayed here
as a kenjutsu instructor for Yutarou. A man must grow up to be strong. Don’t you think? Sensei.
(Raijuuta, standing on a bridge, looks back to meet Kenshin’s gaze.)
Tsukayama (leaving): Well, take your time.
Sanosuke (hidden in the bushes with Kaoru and Yahiko): So that’s Raijuuta.
Kaoru: Do you think the kid’s okay?
Yahiko: Who cares? Jerk.
(Yutarou is tied to a tree with the cords from Yahiko’s shinai, gagged with Sanosuke’s bandage.)
Kenshin: What do you want with me, Raijuuta?
Raijuuta: Himura, what do you think about the state of Japanese kenjutsu? Don’t you think it's soul is
dying? That it’s fragile and weak? It has become weak in all respects. The weak should be
weeded out. This is nature’s way. Himura, I want you to join my Shinko school, and from now
on, help me in the great revival of Japanese kenjutsu.
Kenshin: I would be your student?
Raijuuta: Not at all. The Shinko school has no forms or techniques. Merely strength. This is
the only qualification for a member of my school.
Kenshin: Then rather than a school, you’re forming a kind of swordsman’s unit . . .
Raijuuta: You might think of it that way. I have traveled throughout Japan destroying dojos
for many years. There have been
swordsmen who could match the power of the Shinko school, but you are the first to block the secret
sword Izuna. With you and others like you, we can upset and eradicate more than five hundred
of today's kenjutsu schools.
Kenshin: Eradicate . . .
Raijuuta: There will be a revival, but not before we remove what is useless. First we will
destroy the root of this weakness, shinai kenjutsu. After that we
will begin the revival with my Shinko school as the only true form of Japanese kenjutsu! There
will be no second descent! There will be a time of kenjutsu so terrible that
swordsmen using the Izuna will be called sorcerers, as in the olden days of war! We will bring
the old style of kenjutsu of the Shinko school into the Meiji world! Only the talented, the
greatest few. With such a goal we cannot lose even to Western firearms. With matchless kenjutsu.
Kaoru: No . . .
Sanosuke (thinking): There’s some truth to that. If only the best pass down kenjutsu, like
in noh and kabuki, then maybe its strength and purity could be preserved . . .
Raijuuta: Lend me your strength, Himura.
Kenshin: Old style kenjutsu is the killing art from times of war. Do I understand you
correctly?
Raijuuta: Of course. But kenjutsu is the art of war. Shinai kenjutsu is a mere imitation.
Kenshin: Then I cannot join you. (turning away) You already heard my answer. I have sworn
never to use the killer’s sword.
Raijuuta: Himura. Do you not think kenjutsu will be destroyed if this continues?
(A pause. Kenshin turns again.)
Kenshin: That’s not the point. As a swordsman, I have regret for the future of kenjutsu. But a
future where the killer’s sword runs rampant is a future I would rather not see.
That kenjutsu’s true nature is killing is undeniable. The Shinko school or any other, if
you want to raise it up, raise it, Raijuuta. But to persecute others or destroy those who
practice the sword that protects life--that I will oppose with all my power.
Raijuuta: I see. Well, they say a stubborn swordsman leads a hard life. (loosening his
katana from its sheath) As I expected, you’ll only understand me sword to sword.