Soubei Sumidaya

The character who appears in episode 17 of the anime is the leader of a traveling entertainment troupe, notorious for numerous crimes such as murdering samurai and disposing of their bodies in the Sumida River. His troupe's popularity had declined due to the explosive success of the independent Ebisu Artillery Troupe. In response, he led his subordinates—Iai, the female acrobat, the headstrong man, and the taikomochi—to disrupt one of the Ebisu Artillery Troupe's performances. However, he was ultimately defeated by Kenshin Himura and his companions. As a result, his crimes were exposed, and he was arrested by the police along with his subordinates. During this incident, Kenshin Himura demonstrated the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu technique "Umbrella Dance," showcasing a four-hit combination consisting of Umbrella Spin, Sphere Shot, Boar Evasion, and Umbrella Drop.