This is the Rurouni Kenshin Movie which takes place during Meiji Year 12. Kenshin and the others have gone to Yokohama to do some sight seeing. While there they encounter members of a new revolutionary movement to overthrow the Meiji and install an less corrupt government in its place. Kenshin meets a man named Takimi Shigure and his ward, Takatsuki Toki, whose names seem familar to the former hitokiri. As the story developes, Kenshin discovers that Toki is a relation of Takatsuki Gentatsu, a hitokiri for the Aizu clan, whom he killed near the end of the Bakumatsu. He also discovers that Shigure is the ringleader of the revolutionaries. When the revolutionaries attack a foreign minister, Kenshin uses his influence as the former Hitokiri Battousai to request a meeting between himself and Shigure, seeking to end the battle peacefully. In the end both men face each other in a one on one battle. The movie is pretty good but best viewed in the original Japanese with subtitles. The English dubbing is very poor and a lot of meaning is lost because of that.
“I can't sleep at night. The men I've killed have mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers. They have people they love. I keep thinking about that."
Gentatsu was the Hitokiri (shadow assassin) for the Aizu clan, holding the same position as Hitokiri Battousai did for the Choshu. He was known as the best swordsmen of the Aizu Clan and one of the few masters of the Saiki Kanuma Ryu. He was good friends with Takimi Shigure and had one sister, Toki. He was the leader of the attack on the meeting between Ishinshishi leaders and was slain by Hitokiri Battousai who was protecting his own leader. Although Gentatsu was a master of Saiki Kanuma, while Battousai was not a master of Hiten Mitsurugi, he was unable to defend against the Ryu Tsui Sen employed by Battousai.
Kenshin discovers that Toki’s brother was one of the many people he had slain in his past when Toki comes to him asking for his assistance in discovering what is bothering Shigure. When she speaks Gentatsu’s name Kenshin remembers him as the Hitokiri he was “so proud of killing” on that long ago night. He agrees to help Toki, in part anyway, to atone for the death of her brother, which he feels responsible for. Neither Shigure nor Toki blame him for Gentatsu’s death since they were both soldiers engaged in a duel during a time of war.
Close friend of Takatsuki Gentatsu during the Bakumatsu and guardain of Takatsuki Toki. He wants to bring about a true restoration in Japan to save the country from the current Meiji government, which is corrupt so that those who gave their lives in the Bakumatsu will rest in peace. Organizes a rebellion if young men who are orphans of the Bakumatsu and asks Kenshin to protect Toki for him should he be killed. Later he fights Kenshin who has become his enemy when the later stands by the side of the Meiji government he helped bring about. He dies while protecting Toki when he is betrayed by one of his own men.
Sister of Takatsuki Gentatsu and also a member of the Aizu Clan. She is placed under the protection of Takimi Shigure at her brothers death during the Bakumatsu. The Kenshin-gumi protects her from the rude sailors in Yokohama and she later seeks Kenshin help in saving Shigure's life just prior to their fight at Ueno.
Member of the army who is really in league with the rebels. He gives them weapons from the governments own stores. In reality he is in this for himself playing both sides against the middle determined to be on the winning side no matter how things turn out. In the end he betrays Shigure and the rebellion.
Member of Shigure's rebellion and Shigure's right hand man. He pretends to be helping the rebellion but he is in league with Tamono, who later betrays him. He escapes the carnage at Ueno only to be taught and killed by Saito Hajime.
An orphan whose father was a samurai in the Shogitai who was killed. Shigure takes him under his wing as a member of his rebellion. He befriends Yahiko, whose own father was also a member of the Shogitai. He is later killed in the opening attack of the rebellion.