VIZ MEDIA RELEASES THE SAMURAI MANGA ACTION OF RUROUNI KENSHIN: RESTORATION

RUROUNI KENSHIN Creator Nobuhiro Watsuki Offers A Twist On His Original Smash Hit Samurai Story in a New Manga

San Francisco, CA, June 6, 2013 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, celebrates the return of one of manga’s most iconic samurai – Rurouni Kenshin – with the release of RUROUNI KENSHIN: RESTORATION. This new series is published under the Shonen Jump imprint, rated ‘T’ for Teens, and carries an MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN. A digital edition is also available on VIZ Manga and the VIZ Manga App for $4.99 (U.S. / CAN).

Nobuhiro Watsuki, the creator of the original RUROUNI KENSHIN series (also published by VIZ Media in North America; rated ‘T’ for Teens) revisits his classic manga story. Action, romance, and historical intrigue abound in RUROUNI KENSHIN: RESTORATION, a tale of a wandering swordsman during Japan’s chaotic Meiji Restoration.

During the violent upheaval of the Bakumatsu era (1853-1868), Hitokiri Battosai was a feared and ruthless assassin. But now that the Meiji Restoration has begun to heal the wounds of civil war, Battosai has taken up a new name and calling! He is now Rurouni Kenshin, a ronin (masterless) wanderer who has vowed only to draw his sword to protect those in need. But not everyone is pleased with Kenshin’s new direction, and enemies from his dark past have vowed to bring him down!

“Rurouni Kenshin, a slight and mild-mannered young man who once served as an assassin for anti-Shogunate forces, returns with his reverse-bladed katana and his deadly skills in this fast-paced new treatment from creator Nobuhiro Watsuki,” says Pancha Diaz, Editor. “Watsuki’s artwork, particularly his kinetic action sequences, shine in this new edition and fans of the original RUORINI KENSHIN series, as well as those interested in adventure, romance, Japanese history, and samurai culture are invited to join Kenshin, Kaoru, Yahiko and others as they take up their swords once again!”

Manga creator Nobuhiro Watsuki earned international accolades for his first major series, RUROUNI KENSHIN, about a wandering swordsman in Meiji Era Japan. Serialized in Japan's Weekly Shonen Jump from 1994 to 1999, it quickly became an international sensation, selling more than 57 million copies and inspiring a spin-off short story, an animated TV series, and several successful animated feature films. The RUROUNI KENSHIN series is published in North America by VIZ Media under its Shonen Jump imprint and is also available as a VIZBIG omnibus edition. Watsuki's other series, BUSO RENKIN is also available in English from VIZ Media (rated ‘T’ for Teens) and also digitally through VIZ Manga and the VIZ Manga App.

For more information on RUROUNI KENSHIN or other titles from VIZ Media, please visit www.viz.com.

About VIZ Media, LLC

Headquartered in San Francisco, California, VIZ Media distributes, markets and licenses the best anime and manga titles direct from Japan.  Owned by three of Japan's largest manga and animation companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media has the most extensive library of anime and manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa. With its popular digital manga anthology WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, BLEACH and INUYASHA, VIZ Media offers cutting-edge action, romance and family friendly properties for anime, manga, science fiction and fantasy fans of all ages.  VIZ Media properties are available as graphic novels, DVDs, animated television series, feature films, downloadable and streaming video and a variety of consumer products.  Learn more about VIZ Media, anime and manga at www.VIZ.com.

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RUROUNI KENSHIN © 1994 by Nobuhiro Watsuki/SHUEISHA Inc.