Editing Sagara Sanosuke (section)

{{Short description|Fictional character from Rurouni Kenshin}}
{{Family name hatnote|Sagara|lang=Japanese}}
{{Good article}}
{{Infobox character
| name         = Sagara Sanosuke
| series       = [[Rurouni Kenshin]]
| image        = Wikisano.jpg
| caption      = Sagara Sanosuke on the cover of ''Rurouni Kenshin'' ''Kanzenban'' Volume 5
| first        = ''Rurouni Kenshin'' Act 5: The Fight Merchant
| creator      = [[Nobuhiro Watsuki]]
| voice    =  {{ubl|'''Japanese'''|[[Tomokazu Seki]] (drama CD)<ref name="Watsuki 2005 99" />|[[Yūji Ueda]] (1996 series)<ref>{{cite episode|title=悪の一文字・ ケンカ屋左之助登場!|number=4|series=Rurouni Kenshin|credits=Aniplex, Fuji TV|network=Fuji TV|airdate=January 31, 1996}}</ref>|[[Yuriko Fuchizaki]] (1996 series, child)<ref>{{cite episode|title=逆刃刀対斬馬刀・ 闘いの果てに!|number=5|series=Rurouni Kenshin|credits=Aniplex, Fuji TV|network=Fuji TV|airdate=February 7, 1996}}</ref>|[[Taku Yashiro]] (2023 series)<ref>{{cite web|last=Hodgkins|first=Crystalyn|title=New Rurouni Kenshin TV Anime's New Promo Video Reveals Cast for Yahiko, Sannosuke|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-12-18/new-rurouni-kenshin-tv-anime-new-promo-video-reveals-cast-for-yahiko-sannosuke/.193052|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=December 18, 2022|date=December 18, 2022}}</ref>|[[Natsumi Fujiwara]] (2023 series, child)<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:「るろうに剣心」声優一覧│新アニメの全キャスト49人を網羅＆随時更新|url=https://times.abema.tv/articles/-/10093163|publisher=[[Abema|Abema TV]]|access-date=September 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230902090121/https://times.abema.tv/articles/-/10093163|archive-date=September 2, 2023|language=ja|date=September 15, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref>|'''English'''|[[Derek Stephen Prince]] (''Samurai X'' version)|[[Lex Lang]] (1996 series)<ref>{{cite episode|title=One Word: Evil. The Fighter Sanosuke Appears|number=4|series=Rurouni Kenshin|credits=Aniplex, Fuji TV|network=Cartoon Network|airdate=March 20, 2003}}</ref>|[[Brianne Siddall]] (1996 series, child)<ref>{{cite episode|title=The Reversed-Blade Sword Vs. The Zanbatou|number=5|series=Rurouni Kenshin|credits=Aniplex, Fuji TV|network=Cartoon Network|airdate=March 21, 2003}}</ref>|[[Gray G. Haddock]] (OVAs and movie)<ref name="ova" />|[[Eric Vale]] (live-action films)|Darius Johnson (2023 series)<ref>{{cite tweet|user=DariusJ_VO|author=Johnson, Darius|number=1724926973900718338|title=I'M BAD 惡 Proud to be a part of the reboot of the legendary Rurouni Kenshin as English voice of Sanosuke!!!!⚔️ Thank you @mummynyan , @staleybud , and everyone @BangZoom PS, I don't support the actions of the author! Many of the cast have donated to @childrescuecoalition|date=November 15, 2023|access-date=November 16, 2023}}</ref>}}
| portrayer = [[Munetaka Aoki]]
| nickname     = Sano (English anime only)
| alias        = {{nihongo|Zanza|斬左}}
| lbl21   = Affiliations
| data21        = [[Sekihōtai|Sekihō Army]] (formerly)
}}

{{Nihongo|'''Sagara Sanosuke'''|相楽 左之助}} is a fictional character from the ''[[Rurouni Kenshin]]'' [[manga]] and [[anime]] series created by [[Nobuhiro Watsuki]]. In the English anime adaptations he is known as '''Sanosuke Sagara''' and nicknamed '''Sano'''. Watsuki, being a fan of the [[Shinsengumi]], created Sanosuke by basing his name and characteristics on that of a real Shinsengumi member named [[Harada Sanosuke]].

Set during a fictional version of Japan in the pre-[[Meiji period]], Sanosuke is a former member of the [[Sekihōtai|Sekihō Army]]. When the group is destroyed by the [[Government of Meiji Japan|Meiji Government]], he becomes a fighter-for-hire to calm his anger by fighting. During his introduction in the series, he encounters the wanderer [[Himura Kenshin]], who easily defeats him and is able to convince him to stop his mercenary work and instead start protecting people. After that encounter, Sanosuke becomes Kenshin's best friend as well as his partner in most of their fights.

Sanosuke appears in the featured films of the series and in other media relating to the ''Rurouni Kenshin'' franchise, including a plethora of electronic games and [[original video animation]]s (OVAs). Numerous anime and manga publications have commented on Sanosuke's character. Mania Entertainment praised his character development, noting that he becomes more trustworthy and reliable as the series progresses.<ref name="friend">{{cite web|url= http://www.mania.com/rurouni-kenshin-vol06_article_81696.html |title= Mania.com Review: Rurouni Kenshin volume 6 |date= 2002-01-22 |access-date= 2008-01-25 | publisher= Mania Entertainment | author=Lavey, Megan | archive-date=2009-07-18 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090718203407/http://www.mania.com/rurouni-kenshin-vol06_article_81696.html}}</ref> [[Syfy#Websites and divisions|SciFi.com]] referred to him as a "video-game icon", and noted how he is portrayed  as a "tragic figure".<ref name="human">{{cite web|url= http://www.scifi.com/sfw/issue181/anime.html|title=Rurouni Kenshin TV The first steps down a very popular road|author=Robinson, Tasha|publisher=[[Syfy#Websites and divisions|SciFi.com]] |access-date= 2008-05-01 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080418060250/http://www.scifi.com/sfw/issue181/anime.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2008-04-18}}</ref> Sanosuke has been  popular with the ''Rurouni Kenshin'' reader base, placing second in every popularity poll. Merchandise based on Sanosuke has also been released, including [[Keychain|key chains]], and [[plush]] dolls.