Editing Sagara Sanosuke (section)

== Reception ==
Among the ''Rurouni Kenshin'' reader base Sanosuke has been popular, having ranked second in every ''[[Weekly Shonen Jump|Shonen Jump]]'' popularity poll of the series<ref name="polls">{{cite book |title= Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 14|last= Watsuki |first= Nobuhiro|publisher= [[Viz Media]] |year=2005|chapter=Chapter 113|page=28|isbn= 1-59116-767-1 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title= Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 16 |last= Watsuki |first= Nobuhiro |publisher= [[Viz Media]] |year= 2005|chapter=Chapter 135|isbn= 1-59116-854-6 }}</ref> and also ranked fifth in the "Kenshin's Biggest Rival" poll featuring all of Kenshin's opponents.<ref>{{cite book |title= Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 26 |last= Watsuki |first= Nobuhiro |publisher= [[Viz Media]] |year= 2006|chapter=Chapter 237|page=170|isbn= 1-4215-0673-4}}</ref> Merchandise based on Sanosuke has been released, including sweat bands,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NWBVXA|title=Rurouni Kenshin: Sweat Band – Sanosuke|website=Amazon |access-date=2008-01-28}}</ref> keychains,<ref name="key">{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000MQRV8G|title=Rurouni Kenshin, Karou, Sanosuke Group Key Chain|website=Amazon |access-date=2008-05-01}}</ref> and plush dolls.<ref name="doll">{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000IG2AV8|title=Rurouni Kenshin: Sanosuke 8" Plush (Plush Doll Figure)|website=Amazon |access-date=2008-05-01}}</ref>

Several anime and manga publications have provided both praise and criticism of Sanosuke's character. [[Anime News Network]] said that Sanosuke's first fight in the series against Kenshin was stereotypical for an action series due to the differences between Sanosuke's and Kenshin's personalities, and to the music used in the anime that gives the impression that Kenshin would win.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/rurouni-kenshin/dvd-2|title=Rurouni Kenshin Vol. 2 – Battle in the Moonlight|last=Shepard|first=Chris|work=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date= 2008-02-13}}</ref> In the'' Critical Survey of Graphic Novels: Manga'', multiple writers acknowledged how both Sanosuke and Yahiko spend their time in the series searching for ways to become stronger. However, they do it for a heroic reason which is assisting Kenshin.<ref name="criticalsurver">{{cite book|last1=Burnham|first1=Jef|editor1-last=Beaty|editor1-first=Bart H.|editor2-last=Weiner|editor2-first=Stephen|title=Critical Survey of Graphic Novels : Manga|date=2013|publisher=Salem Press|location=Ipswich, Mass.|isbn=978-1-58765-955-3|pages=268–272 |chapter=Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story}}</ref> SciFi.com commended him for being a good source of [[comic relief]] and described his appearance as a video-game icon. However, they commented he was a "tragic figure  whose goofy peccadilloes have solid reasons behind them" due to being unable to avoid the destruction of the Sekihotai army and feeling guilty due to it.<ref name="human" /> Mania Entertainment praised Sanosuke's character development and transformation from an enemy of Kenshin into one of his most stalwart friends.<ref name="friend" /> Chris Beveridge appreciated the fight scenes from ''Restoration'' due to how Sanosuke is presented stronger than in the original manga, making his duel with Kenshin more enjoyable.<ref>{{cite web|last=Beveridge|first=Chris|title=Rurouni Kenshin: Restoration Vol. #01 Manga Review|url=https://www.fandompost.com/2013/07/04/rurouni-kenshin-restoration-vol-01-manga-review/|website=The Fandom Post|date=July 4, 2013}}</ref> In the ''[[Samurai X: Reflection]]'' original video animation, Mike Crandol of ''[[Anime News Network]]'' referred to Sanosuke's revised design as "pretty awkward" since Crandol felt Sanosuke's original character design was "perhaps being too cartoonish to translate well into this new style," with the "new style" being the "decidedly more realistic look" exhibited in all of the ''Samurai X'' original video animations.<ref name="network">{{cite news|url= http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/rurouni-kenshin-ova-series-2-part-1 |title= Ruroni Kenshin second OAV series Seisouhen, part 1 |date= 2004-09-08 |access-date= 2008-05-01 | work= [[Anime News Network]] | first=Mike |last= Crandol  }}</ref>

Sanosuke's role in the live-action films has also been the subject of commentary by writers. [[Munetaka Aoki]]'s acting was praised by Ko Ransom from Anime News Network, finding it faithful to the original character.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/rurouni-kenshin |title=Rurouni Kenshin Live-Action Movie|date=September 20, 2012|access-date=May 24, 2017| work= [[Anime News Network]]| first=Ko|last=Ransom }}</ref> Nick Creamer from the same site also noted how in the first live-action film, Sanosuke's characterization was identical to the original series as he is initially an enemy to Kenshin but later becomes his friend.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/rurouni-kenshin-part-i/origins/bd-dvd/.110043 |title=Rurouni Kenshin Part I: Origins BD+DVD|date=December 19, 2016|access-date=May 24, 2017| work= [[Anime News Network]]| first=Nick |last=Creamer  }}</ref> On the other hand, Creamer criticized Sanosuke's portrayal in the second film as he stated that he "tends to chew the scenery in his appearances" to the point he found him less realistic.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/rurouni-kenshin-part-ii/kyoto-inferno/bd-dvd/.110561 |title=Rurouni Kenshin Part II: Kyoto Inferno BD+DVD|date=January 5, 2017|access-date=May 24, 2017| work= [[Anime News Network]]| first=Nick |last=Creamer  }}</ref> For the liveaction film ''[[Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends]]'', David West from ''[[Neo (magazine)|Neo]]'' enjoyed Sanosuke's fight against Anji but felt it was too similar to his fight against the Christian priest from the first film.<ref>{{cite magazine|url= http://www.neomag.co.uk/art/asian-film/review/2601/rurouni-kenshin-the-legend-ends |title= Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends|date=October 11, 2015 |access-date=May 24, 2017| magazine= [[Neo (magazine)|Neo]]| first=David |last=West |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20190212130712/http://www.neomag.co.uk/art/asian-film/review/2601/rurouni-kenshin-the-legend-ends |archive-date=February 12, 2019  }}</ref>