Jump Square, the Japanese monthly shounen manga magazine, publishes today a new spin-off miniseries of the world-renowned swordsman tale of Rurouni Kenshin.

Created by Nobuhiro Watsuki himself, the two-part manga spin-off is entitled Rurouni Kenshin Ibun: Ashitaro Zenka Ari (Rurouni Kenshin Variant Story: The Criminal Ashitaro). For this one, Watsuki veered the story away from Kenshin Himura, but the setting is still set in Himura’s world. The story focuses instead into a criminal character, Ashitaro. He later meets another figure named Aran Inoue, while the two of them are under the custody of the police. Then a mysterious woman, in the name of Asahi, appears, declaring interest on a treasure that Ashitaro has secretly hidden somewhere.

Ashitaro, the hero of the latest Nobuhiro Watsuki release. Photo from nlab.itmedia.co.jp

One look at the new character and fanatics can say right away that this is a true Watsuki artwok: the katana, the look in the eyes, the color, the stance. Ashitaro actually resembles Yahiko or Enishi, from the original Kenshin story.

Rurouni Kenshin actually rose into fame after first appearing in Weekly Shounen Jump magazine in 1994. An anime series soon followed in 1996. The legacy continued until 1999, with a total of 28 volumes for the manga, 95 episodes for the anime series, a light novel, a feature film and 2 OVAs or Original Video Animations. In 2012, a live-action movie, starred by actor Takeru Sato, was released by Warner Bros. Japan. Two sequels soon followed in 2014, featuring the Kyoto Arc from the anime.

This Rurouni Kenshin Ibun miniseries has two parts, with the first one releasing today, November 4, and the finale to be published in the next volume of the Jump Square magazine.

Banner image is a fan art by Sol Racho. The Takeru Sato photo is from the Rurouni Kenshin Official Movie Photobook.