Nagaoka, Niigata
Watsuki was born in Tokyo and was brought up in Nagaoka, Niigata. When he was in middle school, Watsuki practiced kendo. He still drew manga but also enjoyed sports, although he never won a kendo match. Watsuki grew frustrated with kendo, and eventually quit. When he was challenged to come up with a new character for "Rurouni Kenshin", he used his outlook on kendo for a base of Myōjin Yahiko.