If Jesus were a Samurai

Post Author: Rune Marie Nielsen

Picture Jesus. Now imagine him in traditional Japanese warrior clothes. And put a sword at his side. I’m guessing that you don’t think that ‘Jesus’ looks much like Jesus anymore. But keep your imagination active because I’m going to present you with a comparison between Jesus and an anime character, with some aspects of the apostle Paul mixed in. 

An illustration depicts a swordsmanship student wearing traditional samurai hakama garb while extending a wooden training sword in their left hand.

Recently I was absolutely ecstatic to discover that the remake of one of my favorite anime from my teenage years, Rurouni Kenshin, was available on Netflix. With only minor adjustments to the story, this version with updated graphics is mostly the same as the original animated historical fiction I watched at age 15. Viewing the episodes now, I have the same theological curiosity as I did watching the show in my youth, particularly intrigued by how the main character Kenshin, a former samurai who has vowed to never kill again, shares some qualities with Jesus. 

The following comparison between Kenshin and Jesus is purely metaphorical, of course, as the Kenshin anime character, loosely based on a swordsman from Japanese history, was not created with the intent to mirror Jesus Christ. Furthermore, the series, set in late 1800s Tokyo, takes place in a Shinto-Buddhist society (although religion is rarely referenced in the series). However, what fascinates me is how watching the animated Rurouni Kenshin series makes me feel even more appreciation for Jesus. As an anime fan who also loves Jesus, the story in Rurouni Kenshin stirs in me a bursting excitement to read the Gospels and connect with God through the stories of Jesus serving the people around him wherever he goes.

In Rurouni Kenshin, Kenshin functions as a humble savior figure in the story’s plot, a kind and meek stranger who wanders from town to town assisting anyone in need. From helping sick people find doctors to fighting organized crime and combating injustice under a corrupt government, Kenshin is always there to save the day. When a conflict cannot be resolved through words alone, Kenshin pulls out his reverse-blade sword to defend the weak without causing major injuries to his opponents. 

Kenshin’s acts of mercy and his eagerness to turn enemies into friends inspire and warm the heart. Characters who encounter Kenshin are often surprised by his thin, lanky appearance that does not look like a typical beefed-up warrior. Expectations are flipped upside down when this soft-spoken and gentle man persuades politicians and bandits alike with sincere appeals to peace. When opponents would rather fight than talk, Kenshin wins the duels with his exceptional sword skills, but he never boasts about either of his talents in diplomacy or sword fighting.

In some respects, Kenshin’s background also resembles that of our biblical friend Paul, due to Kenshin’s past as a murderer who has since seen the error of his ways. Kenshin became a warrior because he was fascinated with the ideal of creating a better society, as promoted by the government faction that recruited him. While a samurai, he believed that he was serving the greater good by killing warriors and civilians associated with the enemy faction. Nonetheless, even though the faction Kenshin worked for won the war, the outcome was a corrupt government far from the virtuous society Kenshin had been promised. 

By comparison, the apostle Paul, before becoming a Christ-follower, took lives believing that his violent actions were defending the purity and holiness of his religion, only to realize through God’s intervention that he was sorely misguided. In Galatians 1:13-14, Paul writes that “For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.” [NIV]

Similarly, Kenshin also never denies his past crimes. He bears the weight of his sins every day with the knowledge that he must accept his dark past while moving forward to create a brighter future. He warns his fellow former samurai that “All who live by the sword die by the sword,” a poignant statement with an unintentional but similar sentiment as Matthew 26:52: “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.” [NIV]. 

A desire to protect those who are most vulnerable, mixed with guilt and a commitment to living ethically comprise a strong motivation for Kenshin that other former samurai come to admire. In 1800s Japan, samurai who failed their mission or fought poorly were expected to commit seppuku, a ritual suicide that involves slicing open one’s abdomen. Samurai believed that carrying out this act would atone for their sins or mistakes. However, instead of committing seppuku to reclaim his honor, Kenshin decides to live a virtuous life doing good deeds. Kenshin encounters other former samurai and urges them to improve the lives of others instead of committing suicide or continually seeking out duels in the hopes of dying to a worthy opponent. He opens their eyes to the struggles of the common people around them who could use their help, such as the homeless and individuals being trafficked by organized crime. I’m reminded again and again of Jesus’ kindness to strangers on the margins of society that shift their perspectives, from his conversation with Zacchaeus the wealthy tax collector to his interactions with the outcast Samaritan woman at the well, among many others. 

The animated Rurouni Kenshin series continues to be an inspiration to me about how we can strive to live like Christ, despite all our past sins, and move forward in God’s love. Although individually we may be unable to achieve monumental ideals for a better world, we can start to change the world by helping one person at a time. We can look at the people around us, whether in person or online, and be the helping hand or the Good Samaritan who changes their day, and perhaps unknowingly, changes their life. 

Rurouni Kenshin is not by any means intended to be a spiritual story, but the animated series (with elements of fantasy martial arts) is a reminder of how righteousness exists in all sorts of places, whether in the entertainment on our TVs or the Bible beside our beds. Good people or even good characters can bring us closer to God because God’s grace is actually all around us, even in the most unexpected places.