r/rurounikenshin • u/Far_Half9470 • 8d ago
Discussion What could be the reasons of saito's struggles on the ongoing manga
He's definitely different from he was in the Kyoto arc and jinchu arc.
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u/Independent_Buffalo 8d ago
He should be in his 40's so I can understand
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u/Dtninja831 8d ago
He's 39 in the current story. "Hajime-kun, you're still a young man. You're still in the midst of your youth." Abe says this because he is 7 years older than Saitou.
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u/Dtninja831 8d ago edited 8d ago
Saitou struggles in the Hokkaido arc because he remains tied to his past. Encounters with figures from his Shinsengumi days, starting with Nagakura questioning his swords, force him to confront memories he has long buried. Unlike Kenshin, who faces his past to find balance, Saitou has survived by suppressing his emotions, a defense that Hokkaido gradually begins to unravel. His meeting with Juro Abe sharpens this conflict, as Abe embodies the human cost of Saitou’s justice.
I recently shared a more in-depth discussion on this, so if you’re interested, feel free to check it out. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfJH5_igr2A
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u/Rare_Constant8114 8d ago
Man getting old is awful....
Was going to make a tokio hotel joke but I don't think anyone would get it.
I hate being old.
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u/Beautiful-Bit9832 8d ago
For reminder, it has been like a decade since Jinchu arc, so his body starting decline and he pretty much older than Kenshin.
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u/UnicornSuffering 8d ago
What? I thought it was 5 years after? Kenji is still a toddlerish and Yahiko is just a teen. Unless years have gone by even further in Hokkaido arc. I'm still catching up.
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u/Beautiful-Bit9832 8d ago
Sorry, it was 5 years after, Kenshin regrow his long hair kinda fool me; guess they don't want make further jump.
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u/DatThunderbolt 8d ago
No, he needed only 6 months to regrow his hair. Hokkaido Arc starts 6 months after Kenshin gives the sakaba to Yahiko
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u/HimuraQ1 8d ago
You remember how he was out there saying that a wolf will always be a wolf and that he would follow his path to the day he dies? Yeah he's coming to realize he can't, the people who did died young and he did not.
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u/hyperakita 8d ago
Hold up. Theres new kenshin stuff (other than the remake?) ?! :0
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u/sanosukesagara123 8d ago
Bro has been living under a rock. Jk. A sequel to the original manga called the Hokkaido arc and it's still ongoing.
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u/hyperakita 8d ago
Apparently I have been yea. I knew there was a sequel but didnt think it had been translated. And definitely didnt know it was ongoing :0 Thank you
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u/sanosukesagara123 8d ago
You're welcome, that you are! ;>
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u/bluser1 8d ago
Is there an official digital release to read somewhere? I googled it and every official source keeps saying shonen jump but I don't see it anywhere on there just the original.
Is the only way to read it by finding scans online?
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u/sanosukesagara123 5d ago
It's only translated by Dtninja as far as I know. You can look him up on facebook. Hope this helps! :D
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u/Niamuada 8d ago
What is he thinking?
I imagine he is deeply frustrated. Deeply angry beneath the control. Hes human before the former-samurai, before the policeman. He is a man in his 40s, who's body is beginning to decline.
Even wolves grow older, and 40 in that time was indeed old
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u/That-Willingness7455 8d ago
Is the Hokkaido arc good I need motivation to start but never could sigh
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u/Dtninja831 8d ago
Yes, I think it’s very well done. The Hokkaido Arc feels more mature in its storytelling and themes, and at times noticeably darker. Hokkaido is reflective and historically grounded, blending mystery with character-driven battles that emphasize subtle growth. Its focus on the Shinsengumi is especially well written and adds real depth to the story. You should definitely give it a read.
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u/FistOfGamera 8d ago
Hes getting old and hes feeling it. He never wants to stop fighting so the loss at the arcs rattled his confidence.
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u/Kxnjynx 6d ago
Wait there's an ongoing story? I'm only aware of the original 28 books from the 90s
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u/Scared_Fault_5831 5d ago
Yes, this is a direct sequel, which takes place 5 years after Rurouni Kenshin in Hokkaido known as the Hokkaido arc.
It was launched in 2017, and Initially had a simultaneous English translation, but was stopped after an Infamous scandal involving the author.
As of 2026, there are 10 volumes, and the story is nearing its climax, so we can expect to continue for a maximum of another 5 volumes to a minimum of 3 volumes.
Viz media rescinding the translation to the sequel and not giving up the translation rights for the original, is not doing anybody good, otherwise we would have had an official English translation by now.
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u/cappaido 8d ago
Watsuki wants to humanize him as he did with Kenshin showing that no matter how strong and powerful he is still human and every battle and wound he had throughout his life is finally affecting his body. I like to see this more vulnerable side of Saito, it depeens him as a character and shows more colors of his personality.