Kaoru Shikimori is a main character from the original anime film A New Dawn. She is a young woman who grew up in the vicinity of a 330-year-old fireworks factory called the Obinata Fireworks Shop. At some point prior to the events of the story, Kaoru left her hometown due to an unspecified incident and has since been living in Tokyo, searching for her future and a new direction for her life. She shares a deep history as a childhood friend of Keitaro Obinata, the second son of the fireworks shop, and his older brother, Sentaro Obinata.

Kaoru’s return to the factory, which is facing forced eviction and demolition, serves as a pivotal moment in the narrative. She reunites with Keitaro after four years, during which time he has been living in seclusion within the abandoned factory. Keitaro has been working tirelessly to perfect a legendary and long-lost firework known as Shuhari, striving to complete his absent father’s unfinished work. This reunion leads to Kaoru and Keitaro devising a surprising plan to uncover the secret of the legendary firework, with the discovery of a blue pigment called Paris Green holding a key to the mystery.

Kaoru’s role in the story is that of a catalyst. Her arrival from Tokyo introduces an outside perspective into Keitaro’s isolated world. While details of her personal development over the course of the film are not extensively outlined, her background suggests a personal journey of her own, having left home after a difficult incident and attempted to build a life in a major city. Her decision to return to her childhood home and reconnect with Keitaro indicates a significant step in confronting her past. Her key relationships are central to the plot, primarily defined by her friendship with Keitaro, which is the emotional core of their shared mission. She is also connected to the fireworks factory itself, representing a link to a shared history that is on the verge of being lost forever. No specific information is available regarding any notable abilities or skills she may possess.