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If you have food, look out because once Sano's through, there won't be a crumb left. And don't expect him to pay you for it either. Known in Tokyo's underground as Kenkaya Zanza, Sagara Sanosuke not only has a reputation of being a brutal fighter, he's also known by every restaurateur in Tokyo as a mooch, who enters, eats everything in their establishment and then leaves before the bill can even be handed to him.

As a child, Sanosuke left his father's farm in the province of Shinshuu and joined the revolutionary army called the Sekihoutai, captained by Sagara Sozo. The Sekihoutai marched out ahead of the Ishin Shishi, promising to cut the farmers' taxes in half in order to gain their support. However, the Meiji government ended up having financial problems and couldn't keep that promise. Thus, they singled the Sekihoutai out as traitors and massacred them. Sanosuke was the sole surviver and was blinded by rage and bitterness, throwing himself into fighting, gambling and drinking to forget. Thus, he took on the nickname Zanza.

As a kenkaya (fight merchant), Sano's favorite weapon was the Zanbatou, a huge sword that was used during the Onin struggle to kill mounted warriors. After the Zanbatou was broken in twain by one Himura Kenshin, Sanosuke started relying on his fists. Sanosuke becomes Kenshin's best friend and "right hand man" (Sano's words) in many fights. Sanosuke admires Kenshin because Kenshin carries the true ideals of peace, freedom and equality that the Meiji government was supposed to have been founded upon.

Later on, Sanosuke learns an effective double punch technique from a fallen Buddhist monk, called the Futae no Kiwami. With this in his arsenal, Sanosuke can truly rely on his fists in any situation.