# Rurouni Kenshin Part I: Origins (2012) — Celluloid fact sheet

Source: https://celluloidscore.com/movies/rurouni-kenshin-origins-2012/
Last reviewed: 2026-07-23

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Celluloid Score | 80% |
| Critic Score | 88% |
| Audience Score | 91% |
| Metascore | 72/100 |
| Letterboxd | 3.8/5 |
| IMDb | 7.5/10 |
| Director | Keishi Otomo |
| Genres | Action, Adventure, Drama, History |
| Runtime | 134 min |
| Festival premiere | Tokyo 2012 |

## Quick answer

Rurouni Kenshin Part I: Origins (2012) earns a 80% Celluloid Score — Recommended. Keishi Otomo’s live-action debut delivers kinetic swordplay and heartfelt Meiji-era romance, with Takeru Satoh’s Kenshin Metascore 72/100. Directed by Keishi Otomo.

## Critics consensus

Keishi Otomo’s live-action debut delivers kinetic swordplay and heartfelt Meiji-era romance, with Takeru Satoh’s Kenshin an instant franchise icon.

## Synopsis

In 1868, after the Bakumatsu war ends, former assassin Kenshin Himura wanders Japan with a reverse-blade sword, vowing to protect the weak without killing. When he shelters at Kaoru Kamiya’s dojo, an opium conspiracy and ghosts from his Battosai past force him to defend his new family — and prove that a killer can choose a gentler path.

## Cast

Takeru Satoh, Emi Takei, Koji Kikkawa, Yu Aoi, Munetaka Aoki, Go Ayano

## Accolades

Premiered at Tokyo 2012.

## Where to watch

the United States: Netflix
the United Kingdom: Netflix
Indonesia: Netflix
India: Netflix

## Critic reviews on Celluloid: 1

## Common questions

**Is Rurouni Kenshin Part I: Origins worth watching?**
Rurouni Kenshin Part I: Origins holds a 80% Celluloid Score. Keishi Otomo’s live-action debut delivers kinetic swordplay and heartfelt Meiji-era romance, with Takeru Satoh’s Kenshin an instant franchise icon.

**What is Rurouni Kenshin Part I: Origins about?**
In 1868, after the Bakumatsu war ends, former assassin Kenshin Himura wanders Japan with a reverse-blade sword, vowing to protect the weak without killing. When he shelters at Kaoru Kamiya’s dojo, an opium conspiracy and ghosts from his Battosai past force him to defend his new family — and prove that a killer can choose a gentler path.

**Who directed Rurouni Kenshin Part I: Origins?**
Rurouni Kenshin Part I: Origins (2012) was directed by Keishi Otomo.

**What is the Celluloid Score of Rurouni Kenshin Part I: Origins?**
80% — the average of five public sources: critics 88%, audience 91%, Metascore 72/100, Letterboxd 3.8/5, and IMDb 7.5/10.

**Where can I watch Rurouni Kenshin Part I: Origins?**
Rurouni Kenshin Part I: Origins is on Netflix in the United States; on Netflix in the United Kingdom; on Netflix in Indonesia; on Netflix in India. Availability varies by region.

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Reviewed and scored by Celluloid · Editor: Kaiser Khan (https://celluloidscore.com/author/kaiser-khan/)

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