Netflix Set to Stream One of the Most Controversial Anime in Years This October

Netflix has become one of the go-to streaming services for anime fans. As well as hosting popular shows like Demon Slayer, Jujutsu Kaisen, the newest episodes of One Piece, and Spy x Family, the streamer also releases plenty of original and exclusive anime, like The Summer Hikaru Died and Sakamoto Days. Along with some of the biggest franchises around, Netflix is also taking a big swing by becoming the new streaming home for one of the most controversial anime of the decade. Anime can become embroiled in controversy for many reasons, but they don’t get as serious as this once-beloved series.

Per What’s On Netflix, the streamer will release the second season of the Rurouni Kenshin remake this October. The remake of Rurouni Kenshin first began airing in 2023, and Netflix picked up the series for streaming in February of this year. Up until this October, the streamer has only held the first season of the 2023 reboot. However, Netflix is continuing to support the controversial anime by adding Season 2 to its streaming library next month.

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Why Is Rurouni Kenshin So Controversial?

Many anime become controversial for their actual content, with Mushoku Tensei and One Piece being recent big examples. But Rurouni Kenshin‘s controversy stems from its manga’s creator. The original and remake anime are based on the manga by Nobuhiro Watsuki. In 2017, Watsuki’s home was raided by police in Tokyo. During the raid, Tokyo Police found indecent and pornographic images of underage girls.

Unfortunately, the controversy doesn’t stop there. For many, such criminal charges would be a career killer (as they rightly should be). However, following only a 200k yen ($1,900) fine, Watsuki returned to continue the Shonen Jump series a year later in 2018. Not mentioning the ridiculously lackluster punishment for such a crime, Shuiesha’s decision to let Watsuki continue publishing and being paid for Rurouni Kenshin has been viewed as nothing short of egregious by many fans.

As a result, all adaptations of Rurouni Kenshin have become overshadowed by the controversy surrounding Nobuhiro Watsuki. This is applied tenfold to the 2023 reboot, which began production after the scandal was revealed. It’s unfortunate, because Rurouni Kenshin was a long-time favorite of many manga/anime fans, especially those who grew up with the 1996 anime. But Watsuki’s tarnished legacy has also tarnished the reputation of the franchise as a whole.

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H/T: What’s On Netflix