As Rurouni Kenshin reaches its 30th anniversary, a grand exhibition is set to be held in Japan, celebrating the series that has left an undeniable mark on the manga industry. On the surface, it seems like an exciting, nostalgic event for fans of the wandering swordsman Kenshin Himura. But beneath the surface, there’s a deeply unsettling shadow: the creator of the series, Nobuhiro Watsuki, is a convicted pedophile. Yet, despite his criminal actions, the manga industry continues to celebrate his work as if nothing ever happened.
In a time when accountability should be paramount, the silence from both the industry and much of the fanbase is deafening—and dangerous.
A Legacy Tainted by an Unforgivable Crime
Rurouni Kenshin is a story that has captivated audiences worldwide since its debut in 1994. It follows Kenshin Himura, a former assassin who vows to never take another life as he seeks redemption in the chaotic Meiji era. For many fans, Kenshin represents honor, morality, and the possibility of change. But what happens when the man behind this character is someone whose actions are the antithesis of the values the story preaches?
In 2017, Nobuhiro Watsuki was arrested for possession of child pornography. The content found in his possession was far more than a minor infraction; it was a shocking big collection linked to a disturbing and vile world that exploits the most vulnerable. The sheer volume and nature of the material led police to suspect that Watsuki might have been a distributor rather than merely a collector. He received a mere ¥200,000 fine (approximately $1,800 USD), an astonishingly lenient sentence given the severity of his crimes. Remarkably, after a brief hiatus, Watsuki was allowed to return to work on Rurouni Kenshin as if nothing had transpired.
The manga industry’s response? Silence. And worse yet, celebration.
The Industry’s Complicity: Silence is Not Neutrality
Despite Watsuki’s horrific actions, the manga industry has chosen to brush his criminal past under the rug. The upcoming Rurouni Kenshin 30th Anniversary Exhibition is clear evidence of this. The exhibition will feature 38 high-profile mangakas, including giants like:
Mangaka | Notable Works |
---|---|
Eiichiro Oda | One Piece |
Hirohiko Araki | JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure |
Gege Akutami | Jujutsu Kaisen |
Takehiko Inoue | Slam Dunk |
Masashi Kishimoto | Naruto |
Yoshihiro Togashi | Hunter x Hunter |
Kohei Horikoshi | My Hero Academia |
Yusuke Murata (illustrator) | One Punch Man |
Yoichi Takahashi | Captain Tsubasa |
Yūki Tabata | Black Clover |
Hideaki Sorachi | Gintama |
Takeshi Obata | Death Note |
Naoya Matsumoto | Kaiju No. 8 |
Takeshi Konomi | The Prince of Tennis |
Sui Ishida | Tokyo Ghoul |
Daisuke Ashihara | World Trigger |
Yūsei Matsui | Assassination Classroom |
Tenya Yabuno | Inazuma Eleven |
Hiroyuki Takei | Shaman King |
Kaiu Shirai & Posuka Demizu | The Promised Neverland |
Tsukasa Hojo | City Hunter |
Kazue Kato | Blue Exorcist |
Kentaro Yabuki | To Love Ru |
Yasuhiro Nightow | Trigun |
Tadatoshi Fujimaki | Kuroko’s Basketball |
Katsura Hoshino | D.Gray-man |
Shinya Suzuki | Mr. Fullswing |
Haruto Umezawa | Hareluya II Boy |
Takeshi Okano | Jigoku Sensei Nube |
Yoko Kamio | Boys Over Flowers |
Jigoku no Misawa | Tenshi no Drop |
Sho Makura (writer) | Kamikaze Kaito Jeanne |
Katsunori Matsui | Neko Majin |
Daisuke Moriyama | Chrono Crusade |
Takayuki Yamaguchi | Shigurui |
Mikio Ito | Normandy Secret Club |
These renowned artists are creating special tribute illustrations for the event, essentially endorsing Watsuki and his work. It’s not just a celebration of Rurouni Kenshin; it’s a celebration of Watsuki, a convicted criminal. The decision by these artists—and by extension, the manga industry—to participate in this event sends a clear message: talent trumps morality, and crimes can be ignored if they’re committed by someone profitable.
This complicity from the manga industry is both shameful and dangerous. By refusing to take a stand, the industry allows Watsuki to continue profiting from his work and shields him from the social consequences he rightfully deserves. It’s a slap in the face to victims of exploitation and a warning sign that in this world, there are no real consequences for powerful men.
Fans Grapple with the Moral Dilemma: Can You Still Love Rurouni Kenshin?
For fans, the 30th anniversary exhibition is not just about reliving their love for Rurouni Kenshin—it’s also about confronting the uncomfortable truth about its creator. Some fans have chosen to separate the art from the artist, arguing that Kenshin’s story of redemption and honor stands on its own. But is it really possible to separate the two?
By continuing to consume Watsuki’s work, fans are contributing to the financial success of a man who exploited children. While Rurouni Kenshin may be a fictional story, the money it generates is real, and some of that money goes into the pockets of a criminal.
It’s a bitter pill to swallow, especially for long-time fans who grew up with Kenshin’s journey. But choosing to ignore Watsuki’s crimes because of nostalgia or attachment to the series is, in essence, choosing complicity. It’s a decision to value personal enjoyment over the protection of real-life victims.
A Hypocritical Industry That Praises Fictional Heroes, but Ignores Real-Life Villains
The 30th Anniversary Exhibition is being positioned as a celebration of Rurouni Kenshin’s impact on the manga industry. Attendees will be treated to exclusive illustrations, original manga panels, and immersive experiences based on the story’s most iconic scenes. But this glorification of a series created by someone with such a reprehensible past feels hollow.
The industry seems more than happy to capitalize on Watsuki’s artistic contributions while turning a blind eye to the real harm he’s caused. The manga industry’s reluctance to confront the crimes of its creators shows just how far behind it is in addressing accountability and justice.
We’ve seen other industries, such as film and television, grapple with the separation of art and artist when creators have been found guilty of similar crimes. Many have chosen to cut ties with such individuals, refusing to allow their work to overshadow their reprehensible actions. But in the case of Watsuki, the manga industry has chosen a different path: to carry on as if nothing ever happened.
A Troubling Precedent for Future Offenders
The manga industry, particularly through major publishers like Shueisha, is demonstrating a disturbing trend: allowing serious offenses to slip by with little more than a slap on the wrist. Nobuhiro Watsuki’s 2017 arrest for possession of child pornography was shocking, yet it only resulted in a temporary suspension of Rurouni Kenshin. As soon as the public outcry subsided, he was back in the industry, an alarming message that his crimes were merely a speed bump in his career.
This troubling precedent isn’t new. In 2002, Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro was arrested for soliciting sex from underage girls, openly admitting to having done so multiple times. Despite the gravity of his actions, the industry welcomed him back after a brief hiatus, allowing him to thrive with Toriko. The collaboration with Eiichiro Oda, one of the most beloved figures in manga, underscores the industry’s hypocrisy. How can we celebrate creators like Oda while allowing their associations with proven predators to tarnish the integrity of their work?
These repeated failures to hold creators accountable send a chilling message: that the manga industry prioritizes profit over the safety and dignity of vulnerable individuals. By continuing to elevate figures like Watsuki and Shimabukuro, the industry reinforces a toxic culture where the powerful can evade true consequences for their actions.
As readers, we must recognize the dangers of this normalization. The manga community must demand that publishers take a firm stand against sexual predators, rejecting the complacency that allows them to thrive. It’s time to hold these companies accountable and advocate for a cultural shift that values integrity over financial gain. The voices of victims must be heard, and the industry must be forced to confront the reality of its choices—before it’s too late.
Final Thoughts: A Celebration with a Dark Shadow
The Rurouni Kenshin 30th Anniversary Exhibition should have been a celebration of one of the greatest samurai stories ever told. Instead, it stands as a testament to the manga industry’s inability—or unwillingness—to confront uncomfortable truths. While the series itself may have offered lessons of redemption, peace, and justice, its creator’s actions represent the very opposite.
As fans, we have a responsibility to ask difficult questions. Can we continue to support works that are tied to such immoral behavior? Should the success of a series allow us to forget or overlook the serious crimes of its creator?
In the end, this anniversary is more than just a tribute to Kenshin—it’s a stark reminder that in the world of manga, artistic talent can still protect individuals from the consequences of their actions. And that’s a lesson none of us should be willing to accept.