Saito Hajime's Introduction

Lore & Background

Saitō Hajime carries a heavy history as the former third squad captain of the Shinsengumi, a pro-shogunate force, where he developed a long-time rivalry with Himura Kenshin, an assassin of the Imperialist cause. During the Bakumatsu, Kenshin stated that he and Saitō had fought each other three times, but none had ever finished. After the pro-shogunate forces were defeated, Saitō changed his name to Fujita Gorō and started working for the Meiji Government as a spy agent. He is also married to a woman named Tokio, who appears in both the manga and anime. His combat philosophy is defined by the code "Aku Soku Zan" (悪即斬, Swift Death to Evil), which dictates that evil must be cut down immediately. As a former Shinsengumi captain, he utilizes the Gatotsu (牙突), a specialized left-handed stabbing technique derived from the historical Hirazuki method. This style allows him to execute precise thrusts and slashes with lethal speed, distinguishing his fighting style from Kenshin's reverse-blade approach. His combat prowess is highlighted by his ability to defeat opponents who believe themselves invincible, earning him the moniker "Mibu no Okami" (壬生の狼, lit. "Wolf of Mibu"). Despite their opposing methods, Saitō holds a profound respect for Himura Kenshin as a warrior of unparalleled skill. Their relationship evolves from adversarial to collaborative as they face common enemies threatening the nation's stability. This dynamic adds depth to the story by exploring how justice is interpreted differently by those who wield swords in the Meiji era.

In Their Own Story

The steam from his tea curled into the cool Kyoto air, but Saitō felt no chill. He stood on the wooden bridge overlooking the canals, the weight of his katana familiar against his hip. Somewhere in this city walked a ghost from the Bakumatsu, a man who had killed thousands and now sought to save lives. Saitō tightened his grip on his fist until the skin turned red with internal heat. The law demanded justice, but his heart knew only the truth of steel.

Reader's Guide

During the Kyoto Arc, Saitō Hajime arrives under the alias Fujita Gorō, posing as a police officer while secretly working as a spy agent for the Meiji Government. His initial appearance involves attacking and injuring Sagara Sanosuke as a warning to Kenshin. While Kenshin is dueling Shibumi's assassin Akamatsu Arundo, Saitō appears at the Kamiya dojo and poses as a police officer who urgently needs to speak with Kenshin. When Kenshin returns, upon recognizing Saitō, he reveals Saitō's true identity as the former Shinsengumi third squad captain. They fight, and just as they are about to kill each other, Ōkubo Toshimichi appears and stops the duel, revealing that Saitō was only testing Kenshin's abilities to see if he was skilled enough to face Shishio Makoto. Having revealed his true allegiance with Ōkubo, Saitō postpones the duel and leaves to kill Shibumi and Arundo. He then travels to Kyoto to fight Shishio under government orders. Along with Kenshin and Sanosuke, he assaults Shishio's battleship, the Purgatory. Accepting Shishio's challenge to fight on Mount Hiei, Saitō kills Uonuma Usui, one of the Juppongatana, and later ambushes Shishio, almost but failing to kill him as Shishio had been wearing a hachigane (iron headband). Months later, Saitō is sent to arrest Yukishiro Enishi and helps Kenshin fight against Six Comrades, defeating Yatsume Mumyōi. He also fights against the first of the four Sū-shin guards of Woo Heishin, Enishi's second-in-command, and defeats him. Afterwards, Saitō is transferred to work in another location after rejecting the continuation of his duel with Kenshin. Five years after the end of series, it is revealed that Saitō continues to work for the government.

Did You Know?

• Saitō's signature technique Gatotsu was derived from the historical figure's favorite move, the 'Horizontal Thrust' (hirazuki), which Watsuki adapted to fit the action-comic theme.
• Voice actor Hirotaka Suzuoki voiced Saitō in the anime, OVAs, and The Motion Picture until his death in 2006, after which Ken Narita took over for the New Kyoto Arc movies.
• Saitō ranked third in the 'Favorite Character Now' poll from the official Rurouni Kenshin anime.
• Watsuki included a joke in the manga where Saitō sells 'Ishida powdered medicine' made by the Hijikata family, which drew complaints from some fans.

Origins and Creative Conception

Nobuhiro Watsuki crafted Saitō Hajime as a deliberate fictionalized counterpart to the historical Shinsengumi captain of the same name, drawing inspiration from the real figure's role while significantly altering his narrative weight. Unlike other historical figures in the series who remain peripheral, Saitō was designed as an anti-heroic foil to protagonist Himura Kenshin, embodying a "dirty" hero archetype who strictly adheres to the "Swift Death to Evil" code without seeking friendship with Kenshin's group. Watsuki intentionally gave him a villainous facial design to reflect his initial antagonistic role, viewing him as a "curse" for other villains due to his ability to defeat those who consider themselves strongest. The character's signature left-handed thrust technique, named Gatotsu, was derived from the historical Saitō's favorite move, the "Horizontal Thrust" (hirazuki), adapted here to fit the action-comic aesthetic. In July 2006, the Japanese publishers released the kanzenban edition, and in the sixth volume, Watsuki included a draft page featuring a redesigned appearance of Saitō's character. In the anime adaptation, Watsuki's designs were combined with the talents of voice actor Hirotaka Suzuoki, who also voiced Saitō in the original video animations and Rurouni Kenshin: The Motion Picture. Due to Suzuoki's death in 2006, he was replaced by Ken Narita as the new voice actor for Saitō in the two-part Rurouni Kenshin: New Kyoto Arc movies.

Narrative Arc and Shifting Allegiances

Introduced initially as an antagonist under the alias Fujita Gorō, Saitō infiltrates the Kamiya dojo posing as a police officer to test Kenshin's capabilities. His early appearance involves injuring Sanosuke as a warning before engaging in a deadly duel with Kenshin, which is abruptly halted by government official Ōkubo Toshimichi. This revelation exposes Saitō not as an enemy, but as a spy for the Meiji Government tasked with evaluating if Kenshin is strong enough to face the formidable Shishio Makoto. Following this disclosure, Saitō transitions into a reluctant protagonist, forming an uneasy alliance with his former rival. He actively participates in major conflicts, including the assault on Shishio's battleship, the Purgatory, and the fight atop Mount Hiei, where he eliminates key antagonists like Uonuma Usui. Despite his loyalty to the new government, he maintains a distinct separation from Kenshin's circle, eventually rejecting further duels with him before being transferred to other duties. Five years after the end of series, it is revealed that Saitō continues to work for the government.

Combat Philosophy and Signature Techniques

Saitō is defined by his ruthless efficiency and adherence to the "Aku Soku Zan" philosophy, which dictates that evil must be cut down immediately. As a former third squad captain of the Shinsengumi, he utilizes the Gatotsu, a specialized left-handed stabbing technique derived from the historical Hirazuki method. This style allows him to execute precise thrusts and slashes with lethal speed, distinguishing his fighting style from Kenshin's reverse-blade approach. His combat prowess is highlighted by his ability to defeat opponents who believe themselves invincible, earning him the moniker "Wolf of Mibu." Throughout the series, he demonstrates this capability by ambushing Shishio Makoto on Mount Hiei (almost killing him, but failing as Shishio wore a hachigane iron headband) and defeating members of the Juppongatana and Enishi's forces. Even when facing overwhelming odds or powerful enemies like the Sū-shin guards, Saitō relies on his unique stance and unwavering resolve to secure victory, often operating alone as a government agent rather than relying on team support.

Cultural Impact and Media Presence

Beyond the original manga, Saitō Hajime has secured a prominent place in the broader Rurouni Kenshin franchise, appearing in motion pictures (Rurouni Kenshin: The Motion Picture), original video animations (Trust & Betrayal and Reflection), and numerous electronic games including Jump Super Stars and Jump Ultimate Stars (though not as a playable character). His popularity is evidenced by consistently high rankings in official character polls, making him one of the series' most beloved figures—ranking third in the last two Weekly Shōnen Jump character popularity polls and second in the "Who is Kenshin's Biggest Rival?" poll. Two polls by the official Rurouni Kenshin anime featured Saitō as one of the series' most popular characters, ranking third in both the "Favorite Character Then" and "Favorite Character Now" polls. This enduring appeal has led to extensive merchandising campaigns featuring figurines, key-chains, and wall scroll posters. The character's voice portrayal also holds significance; while Hirotaka Suzuoki provided the iconic voice for the anime and OVAs until his passing in 2006, Ken Narita later took over the role for the New Kyoto Arc films. Saitō's design initially received negative feedback from Shinsengumi fans who believed that Saitō had a more handsome face than the face Watsuki used. The author also recalled that one of the complaints criticized Saitō's selling of "Ishida powdered medicine" made by the Hijikata family, which Watsuki revealed he included as a joke.