Rurouni Kenshin OVA: Trust & Betrayal (Tsuioku-hen)
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Anime DetailsFINISHED

Format
OVA
Episodes
4
Episode length
30 min
Total watch time
2 hours
Status
Finished
Aired
February 20, 1999 – September 22, 1999
Season
Winter 1999
Source
Manga
Original creator
Nobuhiro Watsuki
Music
Taku Iwasaki
Age rating
R — 17+ (violence & profanity)
Country
Japan
AniList score
85/100
Estimated watch time
2h
⚡ 1 days at 5 eps/day

Tags & Tropes

Samurai96%Tragedy94%Historical90%Philosophy87%Male Protagonist82%Swordplay80%Heterosexual75%Gore66%Primarily Adult Cast56%
OVAFINISHED1999 WINTER8.5 / 10 AniList score

Rurouni Kenshin OVA: Trust & Betrayal (Tsuioku-hen)

るろうに剣心―明治剣客浪漫譚―追憶編• Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan - Tsuioku-hen
overview details

Synopsis

In the days before the Japanese Revolution, Hiko Seiijuro, a wandering master swordsman and hermit, encounters a bandit raid on a slave wagon. Hiko kills the raiding bandits in hopes of saving as many lives as possible, but only manages to spare one life from the massacre. Hiko leaves the child, advising him to go to the nearby village and have them take care of him. A few days later, as Hiko comes back to check upon the child he saved, he is shocked to see the child had created graves, both for the slaves he befriended and the bandits who killed them. Seeing potential in the young one, Hiko takes the child under his wing, names him Kenshin, meaning "heart of sword," and teaches him about the art of swordsmanship under the Hiten Mitsuruugi Ryu. Struggling in a constant challenge with his ideal beliefs reflecting against the harshness of reality, Tsuiokuhen tells the melancholic and dark story of Himura Kenshin as one of the most feared assassins of the Japanese Revolution: the Hitokiri Battousai. (Source: MAL Rewrite)

Should you watch Rurouni Kenshin OVA: Trust & Betrayal (Tsuioku-hen)?

Rurouni Kenshin OVA: Trust & Betrayal (Tsuioku-hen) has been exceptionally well received, with an average AniList score of 85/100 — 83% of 18,851 ratings are 8/10 or higher.

It ranks #2 highest-rated anime of all time, and #62 most popular anime of all time, and #1 highest-rated anime of 1999 on AniList.

Of the 28.7K AniList users who started it, 1.2% dropped it, so it is very rarely abandoned; 26.9K have finished it.

At about 2 hours in total, it is a short commitment — a weekend binge.

Best for viewers who enjoy Action, Drama, Romance — especially samurai, tragedy, historical, philosophy.

Where to Watch Officially

Availability, audio and subtitles vary by region and service.

Episodes

4 episodes are listed.

Main cast & voice actors

Creators & key staff

Original creator
Nobuhiro Watsuki
Character design
Masahide Yanagisawa

Where it fits in the series

  • Start here. Rurouni Kenshin OVA: Trust & Betrayal (Tsuioku-hen) is the first entry in its story.
  • Watch next: Rurouni Kenshin (1996)
Full franchise watch order

Opening & ending themes

Openings (1)

  1. OP1“In Dreams” · eps 3

Endings (1)

  1. ED1“Quiet Life” · eps 1-2

Theme data from AnimeThemes.moe.

If you like Rurouni Kenshin OVA: Trust & Betrayal (Tsuioku-hen)

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Rurouni Kenshin OVA: Trust & Betrayal (Tsuioku-hen) FAQ

How many episodes does Rurouni Kenshin OVA: Trust & Betrayal (Tsuioku-hen) have?

Rurouni Kenshin OVA: Trust & Betrayal (Tsuioku-hen) has 4 episodes of about 30 minutes each, roughly 2 hours in total.

How long does it take to watch Rurouni Kenshin OVA: Trust & Betrayal (Tsuioku-hen)?

About 2 hours back to back. At two episodes a day it takes 2 days; at one hour a day, about 2 days.

Is Rurouni Kenshin OVA: Trust & Betrayal (Tsuioku-hen) finished?

Yes. Rurouni Kenshin OVA: Trust & Betrayal (Tsuioku-hen) has finished airing — the final episode aired September 22, 1999.

Is there a season 2 of Rurouni Kenshin OVA: Trust & Betrayal (Tsuioku-hen)?

Yes — the story continues in Rurouni Kenshin (1996).

Where do I start Rurouni Kenshin OVA: Trust & Betrayal (Tsuioku-hen)?

Start here: Rurouni Kenshin OVA: Trust & Betrayal (Tsuioku-hen) is the first entry, followed by Rurouni Kenshin.

Is Rurouni Kenshin OVA: Trust & Betrayal (Tsuioku-hen) based on a manga?

Yes. Rurouni Kenshin OVA: Trust & Betrayal (Tsuioku-hen) adapts the manga by Nobuhiro Watsuki.

Who animated Rurouni Kenshin OVA: Trust & Betrayal (Tsuioku-hen)?

Rurouni Kenshin OVA: Trust & Betrayal (Tsuioku-hen) was animated by Studio DEEN and directed by Kazuhiro Furuhashi.

Who sings the opening of Rurouni Kenshin OVA: Trust & Betrayal (Tsuioku-hen)?

The opening, "In Dreams", is performed by an uncredited artist.

Where can I watch Rurouni Kenshin OVA: Trust & Betrayal (Tsuioku-hen)?

Rurouni Kenshin OVA: Trust & Betrayal (Tsuioku-hen) is listed on Bilibili TV. Availability varies by region — check the streaming links on this page.