Kamiya Kaoru

Kamiya Kaoru
Rurouni Kenshin character
Created by	Nobuhiro Watsuki
Voiced by	Miki Fujitani (Japanese anime) Tomo Sakurai (CD book drama) Dorothy Elias-Fahn (English anime) Katherine Catmull (English OVA)
Profile
Title	Master of the Kamiya Kasshin-Ryū
Information
Weapon	Bokken
Technique	Kamiya Kasshin-Ryū

Kamiya Kaoru (神谷 薫, Kamiya Kaoru^?), known in Western-order (Kaoru Kamiya) in the English anime, is a fictional character in the anime and manga Rurouni Kenshin/Samurai X. Her Japanese seiyū is Miki Fujitani and her English voice actors are Dorothy Elias-Fahn in the TV series and Katherine Catmull in the OVAs. Her Spanish voice actress is Vilma Vera. In the original, "pilot" issue of Rurouni: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story, first published in 1992, Kaoru is the sister of Megumi and Yahiko. As the unrefined brainchild of artist Nobuhiro Watsuki, many of the story's details changed during the transition to serialized, mainstream manga.

Development of the character

Watsuki said that he used "no specific model" and "no specific motif" when designing Kaoru. He said that if he had to name one model, he would point to Chiba Sanako of Ryōma no Koibito. He wished to include the "commanding" quality from Sasaki Mifuyu of Ikenami Shōtarō's Kenkyaku Shōbai. According to Watsuki Kaoru became a "plain, regular girl" despite the "commanding" quality. By the compilation of Volume 1 in Japan he believed that the character model worked and stated that many female readers of Rurouni Kenshin identified with Kaoru. He had not decided at the time on whether Kaoru should be Kenshin's love interest. Watsuki wished that he could design Kaoru to be "more cutely" and "more fashionable" but decided to tone the qualities down as he felt that she needed to express "down-to-earth" and financially "poor" characteristics as well. Watsuki described the ponytail as "de rigueur" for a girl who practices kendo. Watsuki says that he enjoys drawing Kaoru and that filling in her hair is "sometimes a pain." ^[1] Watsuki describes Tomo Sakurai's CD drama voice as "not too airhead-y," "not too high," and "not too low." ^[2]

Character

The primary instructor of the Kamiya Kasshin-Ryū fighting style developed by her late father, Kamiya Koshijirō, Kaoru inherited a small dojo from her father after he was killed during the Seinan War (also called the Satsuma Rebellion) and operates it by herself. This is quite a feat, considering that she is seventeen (by East Asian age reckoning.) At the beginning of the manga, she has no students and she is likely to lose the dojo until Kenshin appears and helps her. Naturally, she is independent, possessive, compassionate, courageous, feisty, strong-willed, and a great fighter to boot- with only the occasional mood swing. Kaoru is also known for her cooking disliked by her friends and family and her ability to see the good in others. Though she is short tempered and possessive, Kaoru is incredibly selfless. She took in a 10 year old pickpocket, a 19 year old street fighter, and a wandering vagabond who used to kill for a living without thinking twice over their pasts. She began the 'kenshin gumi' out of willingness to help others. She is considered naive to be so trusting, but she has the maturity to handle the consequences. Kaoru's beliefs are held strongly and proudly, almost stubbornly, particularly her beliefs in the sword. Kamiya Kaoru adheres to her father's ideal of "Katsujin-ken" or "Swords that give life," which teaches that swordsmanship should be used not to kill, but to protect. This belief is a slap in the face to many swordsmen, who advocate that a sword is for "mastery and death," and nothing more. Himura Kenshin, however, feels that her beliefs should, in fact, become reality: "If this one had a wish, it would only be that her lie become the truth of this world."

When some female readers told Watsuki that they could not decide on whether Kaoru exhibited strength or weakness as a fighter, Watsuki responded by saying that Kaoru is a national-level champion at least but appears weak compared to Kenshin and Sagara Sanosuke. ^[1]

Kamiya Kaoru and Himura Kenshin's wedding photograph

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Plot

The series starts with a confrontation between her and Himura Kenshin, and, after some initial scuffles, lets him stay as a guest. She falls in love with him right from the beginning, and continued to do so even after learning of his past crimes. One of Kaoru's biggest fears is that Kenshin might someday return to wandering, leaving her to be alone again. She gets jealous whenever another girl is also interested in Kenshin, such as Takani Megumi. Kaoru proves to be Kenshin's greatest strength and yet his biggest weakness. Her obvious feelings toward Kenshin are noticed even by his enemies (many of whom refer to Kaoru as "Kenshin's woman"), and often use Kaoru as a chink in his armor. Though Kenshin widely discourages Kaoru from becoming involved in his often dangerous affairs, he protects her at any cost, even if it means him risking going back to his hitokiri behavior in order to do so. In reality, Kenshin cares very deeply for Kaoru, and expresses this when he gives an emotional farewell to Kaoru before leaving for Kyoto near the beginning of the Kyoto Arc. After saying goodbye to her and then leaving(thinking that they may never see each other again), Kaoru went into a deep depression, but was soon given the courage to go to Kyoto in order to see Kenshin after a more than irritated Megumi gave her a pep talk. In the original manga, Kaoru and Kenshin's feelings for each other are expressed more so during the Jinchuu Arc, where Yukishiro Enishi, the revenge-obsessed younger brother of Yukishiro Tomoe, sets off to avenge his sister's death by casting Jinchuu(lit. punishment from man) upon Kenshin. Enishi's goal was not to kill Kenshin, but to kill the person most important to him: Kaoru. Because Enishi was unable to kill any young woman who was close to the age of Tomoe's at the time of her death, he instead got his ally Gein to make a perfect, replicated doll of a murdered Kaoru, fooling everyone including Kenshin. Upon seeing the horrific scene of Kaoru's "death", Kenshin went into a coma-like state and went to the Fallen Village, believing that he failed at protecting the person that he cared for the most. Kenshin soon comes out of his depression upon finding out that Kaoru is not dead, and eventually goes to the island where Enishi kept her captive and saves her. After the events of the Jinchuu arc, Kaoru finally gains both Kenshin's trust and love. They eventually marry, and have a son named Himura Kenji. This final scene ended the Jinchuu Arc and the Rurouni Kenshin Memorial Box Set. In Rurouni Kenshin: Seisohen/Samurai X: Reflection, Kenshin and Kaoru marry, but he decides to wander again, returning to her every couple of years because he still feels the need to help others, so Kaoru allows him to go, promising to welcome him home with a smile and their child. The fans have very mixed opinions on this, considering that Seisouhen took out some key elements of the plot and the story. This does not happen in the manga (this happens in the OVA (Samurai X) and is not considered canon). In the original manga, Rurouni Kenshin ends on a happy note, with the main characters reuniting for a picnic. Kenshin and Kaoru are alive and healthy and deeply in love, parenting Kenji in his toddler years. Kenshin appears very happy, and there is no sign of him wanting to leave again. Everybody from the Kenshin Gumi, plus Aoshi and Misao, are present except Sanosuke, who sends a letter saying he's currently in Mongolia, but will return soon, and Saito, who is on an unknown mission in Hokkaido.

Kamiya Kasshin-Ryu Style

The Kamiya Kasshin-Ryu Style translated from Japanese means roughly, "Revitalized Heart", also known as 'The Sword that Protects.' The primary weapon of a practitioner is a wooden bokken, though Yahiko and Yutaro use a bamboo shinai instead. A bokken is generally considered to be a more advanced weapon in kendo practices and can deal more severe damage, hence the bokken is likely reserved only for masters of the Kasshin Ryu style or for those who are considered advanced in their studies. There are four moves of the Kamiya Kasshin-Ryu style revealed in the manga- two of these are the succession techniques, or "ougi"- which is the move one must master to become a master of the style, the master secret, and a 'contingency for a broken weapon'. Kaoru teaches the style's succession techniques to Yahiko during the beginning to middle of the never animated Jinchuu arc. The broken-weapon technique is utilized against Honjou Kamatari in the manga's 124th act. Myoujin Yahiko uses the master secret against Mutou Kaname in Rurouni Kenshin: Yahiko no Sakabatou. Hadome: This is the Kamiya Kasshin-Ryu Style's defensive succession technique. If the user of this technique is attacked, they perform the Hadome by crossing their arms over their head (and possibly other places as well, but this is the most common form and the only one shown in the manga) and catching the blade with the back of their hands. This allows the user to maintain their grip on their sword while catching the opponents blade at the same time. Kaoru rarely uses this technique however, because it requires that the timing be perfectly right or else the attacker will be given a fatal opening. However, if properly used, it can be chained into the Kamiya Kasshin-Ryu offensive ougi and thusly ensure an instant win. Hawatari: This is the Kamiya Kasshin-Ryu Style's offensive succession technique. It is a counter-attack and can only be performed after a successful use of the Hadome technique. From the Hadome position, the defender will twist his/her wrists, thusly stripping the weapon of their attacker away from their wrists and possibly throwing them to the ground. Since the defender will still have their grip on their own weapon they can almost instantaneously follow up with an attack of their own and therefore deliver the final blow on their now defenseless opponent. Kaoru and Yahiko are the only ones ever seen to use the attack. Hadachi: Blade Break This is the Kamiya Kasshin-Ryu Style's master secret. It is a counter-attack, performed after the opponent swings their sword. The opponent's blade is caught barehanded, apparently between the fingers and palm of the dominant hand, blade-edge down. This cuts the user's palm, but not enough to prevent the practicioner from further fighting. Yahiko, not Kaoru, uses this attack, in the Yahiko no Sakabatou act. Tsuka no Gedan, Hiza Hishigi: Handle Attack, Knee Crush This attack can only be used once the practicioner's bokken or shinai is broken. It is seen only once in the manga, against Kamatari. The attacker dive-lunges at their opponent's knees, bringing the handle against their knee. Pressure is applied at both ends with the hands, breaking the handle and shattering the opponent's kneecap.

Trivia

Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.

• In Japanese, Kaoru means "fragrance or scent," and Kamiya means "God Valley." Her family name "Kamiya" comes from the Kamiya district in (present day) Nagaoka.
• Kaoru's Drama CD voice actor, Tomo Sakurai, does the voice for Misao in the anime series.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Watsuki, Nobuhiro. "The Secret Life of Characters (2) Kamiya Kaoru," Rurouni Kenshin Volume 1. VIZ Media. 80.
2. ^ Watsuki, Nobuhiro. Rurouni Kenshin Volume 2. VIZ Media. 95.