History Main / Ronin

* Yasuo in ''[Videogame/LeagueOfLegends]] is a swordsman under double disgrace -- his master was found dead ''and'' he was falsely accused of the murder. To further twist the knife, one of his accusers was his own brother, who challenged him to a duel to the death and lost.

* ''Manga/MaisonIkkoku'': Godai.

* Richard Wellington, the first antagonist of ''VideoGame/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyJusticeForAll'', is described as one of these in the Japanese version. (The English translation goes with "drifter.") He claims to be one by choice, having simply not found a university that meets his high standards, but given [[KnowNothingKnowItAll his general character]] and the fact that he's fallen into petty criminality, it comes across more as him being delusional about having flunked out.

** Yukio from ''ComicBook/FrankMillersWolverine'' does not use it as a name, but she is actually described as a ronin.

* ''VideoGame/GenshinImpact'': Kazuha is a samurai from [[{{Wutai}} Inazuma]] who is currently on the run after defying Baal's vision hunt decree, becoming a wanderer unattached to any lord in the process.

* ''{{Franchise/Anpanman}}'' has Omusubiman and Komusubiman, two rice ball-headed characters that travel througout the village, doing random good deeds when needed. Komusubiman's still a kid, so he still has a lot to learn from Omusubiman.

[[quoteright:350:[[Anime/KazemakaseTsukikageRan https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/roninranresting_2543.png]]]]

* ''Anime/KazemakaseTsukikageRan'': Ran is an uncommon example -- a 'female' ronin who's actually a much better swordsman than her male colleagues. While she never resorts to banditry, she often scours the roadside for lost wallets or change, or tricks/charms her companion Miyao into giving her money or a free meal.

See also the film ''Film/{{Ronin}}'', the comic maxi-series ''{{ComicBook/Ronin}}'' by Creator/FrankMiller or the historical novel ''[[Literature/Ronin2013 Ronin]]'' by Francisco Narla.

See also the film ''Film/{{Ronin}}'' or the comic maxi-series ''{{ComicBook/Ronin}}'' by Creator/FrankMiller.

Until the abolition of the {{samurai}} class in Japan in 1868, a ''ronin'' ("wave man") was a samurai without a master, generally due to the former master's death, the individual ronin's disgrace, or the destruction of his lord's clan. Without a job, an income, [[TheStateless or a home]], ronin could and would spend their days {{Walking The Earth}} looking for a master willing to take them on. It was common for ronin to take positions as ''yojimbo'' (bodyguards), mercenaries, or become {{Ninja}}s. Others resorted to banditry, organised crime or piracy.

* In the ''Literature/RiftwarCycle'', the survivors of the armies of Tsurani Houses that come to an end (usually violently as a result of politics) are forced to become grey warriors, who invariably become bandits due to lack of any other options. Mara of the Acoma restores her House's army's losses from the battle in which her father and brother died by pointing out that the soldier of a fallen Lord becoming a grey warrior is ''tradition'', not ''law'', and starts hiring bands of grey warriors that had turned to brigandage out of necessity - many of whom having lost their Lord to the same man who killed her father, and more than willing to sign up under someone offering a chance at revenge.

* ''Roleplay/WALLEForumRoleplay'':

* ''Webcomic/TowerOfGod'': Hatsu.

[[caption-width-right:350:The rare female ronin seen resting her feet.]]

Although in ancient days ronin were considered a dangerous threat since it was believed they were likely to become bandits, the noble ronin is a common hero type in Japanese pop culture, typically acting as a KnightErrant.

Traditional Ronin

Modern-Day Ronin

!!Traditional Ronin

!!Modern-Day Ronin