What's a filler episode is probably what you're asking at this point. Well, it's a story that was not told in the manga of a series, it diverges from the orginal story line. All anime 'suffer' from these at sometime suring their run. Often times, as with RK, filler episodes happen when the anime catches up to the manga. There's no more of the 'real' story so the animation studio writers, in an effort to keep people happy, make up storylines.
There are arguments about these in RK. Most people will tell you that all fillers are devil spawn and should be ignored. More people still will tell you that all episodes in the Tales of the Meiji Arc are worse then devil spawn and killed the series. However, here you'll not hear that. Fillers are your friends and can be damn fun to watch at times.
This section is to inform you of the fillers. But this serves a duel purpose as well. To inform everyone of the story strains from the manga that can be seen within the plots of the fillers. The fillers are not just something stupid planned by some sad writer...no they are some more then that. So sit back and enjoy.
If anyone finds errors here...please tell us. We might have a few of the fillers confused.
This episode tells about sumo wrestler Toramaru. He's got a big plight and it's that his entire sumo school has it out for him. It would seem that Toramaru holds greater skill then all the rest of the school. His teacher knows this, but the o'seki (a top ranking sumo) is afraid of Toramaru taking his place as the best sumo in the world. They decide to tarnish his name basically and to try and get him thrown out of the school. Kaoru decides that she's going to help him train, after all form of martial arts are alike. Through hard training and several altercations Toramaru's self esteem improves and in the end he's able to show that he does have skill to everyone. Toramaru is so sweet and the story and animation is great.
Western influences have 'invaded' Japan... and the Kenshin-gumi is taking a train trip, their first ever and humor and danger ensues naturally. Kaoru and Sano argue about how the train moves and it would seem that our brave former yakuza of one is slightly fearful of the train...and cameras too. There are thieves on the train trying to steal a rich Englishman's money. They almost suceed too if it where not for the Kenshin-gumi. Mid way through this episode Kenshin is 'disposed' of and the rest of the gumi must work alone in making things right. Kenshin does return and is able to help and the train, passengers and gold all fare well in the end....with a reward to the gumi for helping. What this episode lacked in animation, which I think is the worst animation I've seen in the series, it more then makes up with the story line...and Sano is priceless in this episode.