Rainbow Samurai

My wife, who is Japanese, recommended we watch this anime together as she had fond memories of watching it as a child. I'm not one to write reviews, but as nobody else has I felt it was my duty to do so - and hope it will be to the benefit of others who stumble across this hidden little gem. The anime covers the Japanese revolution, also referred to as Bakumatsu Period, which translates to "end of the Shogunate" - anyone with an interest in Japan will surely want to study that period of time from the history books - but rather than that I wouldrecommend this anime as one of the best places to start. There is no need for me to delve into the details regarding the historical context or the plotline of what this anime is about - just read the synopsis. Instead I will focus on some elements that stood out for me, and summarise my overall thoughts on why you should watch this anime. Ryouma is not glorified as some all conquering hero as one might see in Western stories - quite the opposite - he is in fact a very ordinary man. It is a typically Japanese trait to be humble and show humility and this anime does exactly that throughout with respect to Ryouma. The story presents his entire life, starting from his childhood, where he was known to have been a coward, a bedwetter, borderline illiterate and unable to do anything properly, to his final days where his independent position enabled him to forge alliances and compromises between Japan's greatest leaders allowing his country break free of the feudal structure and towards the more modern interpretation of society we see today. This growth and transformation of Ryouma really gives the viewer some insight into his life, and in particular his relationship with his older sister (psuedo-mother) Otome, who is both the driving force and the rock that supports him during this transition. The presentation is quite childlike, which does not deter from its appeal, in fact I think it makes it more accessible. The art style is simple but genuine, and the likeness of the characters is captured well compared to their real life photos. For the most part the anime showcases the historical events with incredibly accuracy and the characters themselves come across as extremely authentic. There are plenty of humorous moments that punctuate the dramatic events that lead to Ryouma seeking a new world - some of which are incredibly tragic and the anime does not hold back when it comes to the raw and emotive scenes. The brutality of the period is well known. Over and above that through every interaction - be it a Kendo sword fight, an encounter with a foreigner, or protecting others to the detriment of himself - Ryouma's charm and charisma comes across in particular, as he seems to touch all those he encounters which his strong sense of justice and authenticity. Finally the biggest merit to this anime is the amazing research that has been done on Sakamoto Ryouma. It can be legitimately considered an excellent biography, as well as an excellent history book on the Bakumatsu Period. But in contrast to history books and biographies, it does one more thing, it brings Sakamoto Ryouma and his dreams, as well as the time he lived in back to life in a human and relatable way, which is so much more important that knowing some facts about history... You don't learn from history by knowing times and events, you learn from history by living through it. [As a word of warning - I could not find any subs for this anime, so it had to be consumed Raw, so you will need some comprehension of Japanese to understand this fully, although given the accessibility of the presentation I would not let that deter you.] Overall Rating: Good, and a must watch for anyone interested in learning more about the events and context surrounding the Japanese revolution and an honest and inspiring presentation of the man that was Sakamoto Ryouma.