Kenshin's parents

Is anything else known about Kenshin's parents other than that they were peasant farmers and died of cholera? In particular is anything known about Kenshin's father? Was he Japanese or was he an American who came over on the black ships? I'm wondering this because of Kenshin's hair color. Having an American or European father would explain the auburn hair.

 

If you read the post you will read that kenshins hair is red because the maker of RK wanted kenshin to stand out more. Remember Kenshin is based off Kawasami Gensai. His parents All they are, are farmers they probaly died somehow which the story never told unless teh manga tells you.

 

Kenshin had a lonely past.

His parents were probably merchants or maybe even samurai, as they had a last name, which among the peasent class was unheard of. Himura Shinta, lost his parents to Cholera when he was just 6 years old. He was an only child and was found by slave traders and taken away. He met three girls, there who "adopted" him as their younger brother. However these times were chaotic, the governmental system for watching the byways of Japan had broken down, the once tight checkpoints in Hakone and other cities had fallen to pieces and bandits and ronin wandered the roads preying on whoever they pleased. This small band of slave traders came under attack by such bandits. They killed countless people and in the end Kenshin found himself wielding a sword to protect his sisters. But they grabbed him and died to protect him. Out of pure luck, Kenkaku Hiko Seijurou happened to be wandering by. Perhaps thats the only reason Kenshin didnt join his parents in Meido. Hiko killed all the bandits and left Kenshin telling him that there was a town up the road. The next day Hiko came to the town and asked if anyone had seen the boy, but no one had. So Hiko returned to the site where the Bandits had attacked and found Kenshin standing alone over the numerous graves he had dug. Hiko saw strength in the young boy and took him and told him that he would be strong for this new Era.



anyhow, Kenshin's parents arent really mentioned throughout the series. not much is really known about them at all apart from what Kenshin mentions in the OVA's

 

That's some good info. I thought I read though, that Kenshin didn't get his surname until later in life. But I'm not 100% sure.

 

well it never really says anything like that. Its assumed that the name Himura was the name he had from birth... he recieved the name Kenshin from Hiko Seijurou, his orginal name being Shinta. The name Himura on a side note reads Peony Village (Hi is a kenji specifically used for color peony and Mura means village) so fully translated Himura Kenshin means the heart of the sword in the Peony Village.

 

Wasn't Kenshins family death shown in the beginning of Samurai X?

 

No it wasnt.. nothing of his family was shown in samurai X and i think the family your ralking about are the 3 girls tat took him in as a lil bro

 

The three girls were young girls who had been bought into the slave trade probably from impoverished families, they were most likely on their way to Naka (Japans imfamous pleasure district). They had "adopted" Shinta as their younger brother.