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I've been told that Kenshin, at least partially, is based on a real life
assassin. Who was he based on, and what pieces of his story are inspired by
this person?


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rurouni-kenshin
Who is Kenshin based on?


[According to the
author](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himura_Kenshin#Creation_and_conception)1,
he is based on [Kawakami
Gensai](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kawakami_Gensai), a Japanese samurai of
the late Edo period, who was executed by the Meiji Government.

Not having seen the series nor being familiarized with the Gensai's story, I
cannot tell you how much of it is based on samurai's story and how much of it
is fiction.

* * *

1: *Watsuki, Nobuhiro (2003). "The Secret Life of Characters (1) Himura
Kenshin". _Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 1_. Viz Media. p. 56. ISBN 1-59116-220-3.


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