About 140 years ago in Japan, with the landing of America ship, Perry, began the most tumultuous periods in modern Japanese history occurred in the late 1860's which is known as the Meiji Restoration.

A war was fought in Japan over whether or not to abolish the samurai cast system and adopt western ways of government and living. There were two sides who fought in the war, the Bakufu side which consisted of the samurai who did not want a western style government and living, and the Ishinshishi side which wanted to abolish the samurai cast system and adopt western ways. In order to protect themselves from Bakufu, Ishinshishi hired swordsmen as bodyguards or asssasins. These swordsmen were called the Ishinshishi.

Among those Ishinshishi, there was one brutal swordsmen whose had killed so many people with his speed and skill that he earned himself a nickname "Hitokiri Battousai". His used his sword to path out the way for the new Meiji era through these bloody battles. With the ended of Edo Bakufu, he disappeared. As time went on, his deeds became a legend and was known as the invincible swordman ever alive.

On the other hand, the major military leaders voluntarily ceded power and feudalism which had abolished the bestowed great privileges on the samurai class of warriors. As a result, many former samurai were left directionless, with no master to serve and no means of employment. These men were known as ronin.

And so this is the beginning of our story, let us go back to Tokyo, in the year 1879...

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