Name: Kaoru Kamiya

Referred to as: Kaoru-dono by Kenshin, Tanuki musume (Raccoon girl) by Megumi, Jo-chan (it means something like little lady or little missy) by Sanosuke, and Busu (Ugly) by Yahiko when he wants to piss her off.

Birthday: June 2, 1862

Age in the series: 17 at beginning, 18 by episode 95 (in the anime). 23 by the end of the manga.

Height: 155 cm

Weight: 41 kg

Blood type: O

Eye Color: Ocean blue

Hair color: Raven black

Fighting Style: Kamiya Kashin Ryuu. Kaoru's father founded the Kamiya School of the sword that protects life at the start of the Meiji era, which uses the principle of non-violence. Ironically, her father died in contradiction of what he believed in for he was drafted in the civil war of Seinan.

Weapon: Bokken, a wooden sword (most of the time) and shinai, a bamboo sword (sometimes)

Love interest: Kenshin Himura

Family Background: No known living relatives. Her father, Koshijirou Kamiya, and mother (name not mentioned) died before the series started. She had no brothers or sisters.  In the Seisouhen, it was shown that the marriage between Kaoru's parents was not a love match (if I remember correctly since it's been months since I last saw that oav).  Kaoru's father was very distant, and her mother was afraid of him.

I assumed that Kaoru's mother died when she was still very young because Kaoru grew up into an unconventional woman. I think that if Kaoru's mother lived a little longer, she would have trained her to be the perfect Japanese wife, and Kaoru would have been more like Tomoe. Well, not really that cold, but at least with some knowledge about some wifely duties, like cooking, cleaning, etc, and a little more womanly. As for Kaoru's father, I think he died a few years later after Kaoru's mother, but not before he was able to train her daughter in kendo. I think that Kaoru grew up into the woman she is because of her father's training. He must have been a very adequate father, strict at times and not very affectionate. He must have treated Kaoru like the son he never had.

Distinguishing characteristic: a high ponytail tied back in a pink, sometimes blue, sometimes green ribbon.

Often seen in these clothings: Her pretty kimono (in the manga, she was often seen in the kimono with the sakura petals print) and practice outfits (sometimes short-sleeved, sometimes long-sleeved, sometimes with an outer jacket)

Occupation: Teaches Kendo at the Maekawa dojo, which was owned by the friend of Kaoru's father.