Kamiya Kaoru, sole daughter of swordsman Kamiya Koshijirō, inherits his Tokyo dojo after her mother’s early death and her father’s demise in the Seinan War, drafted into a police swordsmen unit. Koshijirō founded the Kamiya Kasshin-ryū style on the "katsujin-ken" principle (swords that protect life). Kaoru is approximately seventeen at the story’s start. Slender with large blue eyes and black hair, she typically wears it in a high ponytail secured by a vibrant ribbon—indigo-blue her favorite—accommodating kenjutsu practice. Her hairstyle features a thick fringe of slightly curled bangs parted centrally and face-framing shoulder-length strands. For training or combat, she dons a worn off-white uwagi, navy blue hakama, and sarashi torso wrapping. Socially, she prefers colorful patterned kimonos. Post-marriage to Kenshin and motherhood, she adopts a shorter, mature hairstyle, cutting her ponytail. Her personality blends fierce independence, compassion, and a strong moral compass from her samurai heritage and dedication to her father’s philosophy. She fiercely protects her dojo, friends, and ideals, risking her life for them. Yet she exhibits a volatile temper when slighted, often resorting to physical violence when verbally flustered, causing self-inflicted embarrassment. Her expressive reactions invite "tanuki" (raccoon dog) comparisons. Despite martial skill, domestic tasks like cooking and cleaning elude her, lagging behind Kenshin’s abilities. She harbors insecurities about her appeal and flusters in adult or romantic discussions. Central to her character is her bond with Himura Kenshin. She shelters him after he saves her from an impostor defaming her dojo, undeterred by his past as Hitokiri Battōsai. She becomes his emotional anchor, rebuilding his self-worth and motivating him to abandon wandering. Their relationship evolves from mutual respect to romance, though Kaoru remains shy, possessive, and jealous of Takani Megumi’s interest in Kenshin. Her deepest fear is his regression to hitokiri violence and abandonment. They eventually marry and bear a son, Kenji Himura. Kaoru forges a sibling-like bond with Myōjin Yahiko, her first student and eventual Kamiya Kasshin-ryū successor. They bicker constantly—Yahiko taunts her as "ugly girl" or "raccoon"—but share profound mutual respect. Her rapport with Sagara Sanosuke begins contentiously as he freeloads at her dojo, maturing into devoted friendship; Sanosuke rages when she’s endangered and prioritizes her safety. Initial rivalry with Takani Megumi over Kenshin shifts to mutual admiration, particularly for Megumi’s medical skill and resilience. Makimachi Misao becomes a lighthearted sisterly ally; together they defeat Shishio’s subordinate Kamatari during the Kyoto Disturbance. Her adversaries include Udō Jin-e, who kidnaps her to provoke Kenshin’s violent past; the Hiruma brothers, scheming to seize her dojo’s land; and Yukishiro Enishi, Kenshin’s brother-in-law, who abducts her to inflict emotional pain. Enishi spares her for resembling his late sister Tomoe, even rescuing her from ally Woo Heishin. As Kamiya Kasshin-ryū master, Kaoru wields a bokken, specializing in non-lethal techniques. Her nationally competitive swordsmanship is overshadowed by Kenshin or Sanosuke’s combat prowess. She excels in the style’s succession techniques: "Hadome" (catching blades barehanded) and "Hawatari" (disarming opponents). She improvises tactics like "Tsuka no Gedan: Hiza Hishigi," a knee-breaking strike defeating Honjō Kamatari. Her ken-ki (swordsman’s spirit) rivals veterans like Jin-e, breaking his psychological intimidation. During the Kyoto Disturbance, Kenshin’s departure to confront Shishio Makoto plunges Kaoru into depression. Megumi’s encouragement spurs her to Kyoto with Misao, aiding battles against Shishio’s forces. In the Jinchū arc, Enishi fakes her death with a lifelike doll, driving Kenshin to despair until her survival is revealed. Pre-marriage, she visits Tomoe’s grave with Kenshin. The manga concludes with them raising Kenji and adopting three students—Hasegawa Ashitaro, Inoue Aran, Kubota Asahi—then relocating to Hokkaido upon hints her father may live. The "Reflection" OVA depicts Kaoru marrying Kenshin, who resumes wandering to aid others, returning sporadically. When Kenshin contracts a terminal illness during the Sino-Japanese War, Kaoru convinces him to transmit the disease to her; he dies in her arms upon return. Live-action films retain her core traits, though she prioritizes safeguarding Kenshin’s ideals during conflicts. The "Restoration" reboot shows her initially working for antagonist Takeda Kanryū to reclaim her dojo, rejoining Kenshin’s group after Takeda’s defeat.