Kamiya Kaoru

{{Short description|Fictional character from Rurouni Kenshin}} {{family name hatnote|Kamiya|lang=Japanese}} {{good article}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2015}} {{Infobox character | name = Kamiya Kaoru | series = Rurouni Kenshin | image = 230px | caption = Kamiya Kaoru on the cover of ''Rurouni Kenshin'' ''Kanzenban'' Volume 4 | first = ''Rurouni Kenshin'' Act 1: Kenshin ● Himura Battōsai | creator = Nobuhiro Watsuki | voice = '''Japanese''' <br> Tomo Sakurai (drama CD)<br> Miki Fujitani (1996 anime series)<ref>{{cite episode|title=伝説の美剣士...愛ゆえに闘う男|number=1|series=Rurouni Kenshin|credits=Aniplex, Fuji TV|network=Fuji TV|air-date=January 10, 1996}}</ref><br> Rie Takahashi (2023 anime series)<br /> '''English''' <br> Reba West (1996 anime series, Sony dub)<ref name="rebeccaforstadt.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.rebeccaforstadt.com/my-sexy-voice/|title=Rebecca Forstadt Female Voice – My Sexy Voice – Rebecca Forstadt – Voice Actor|work=rebeccaforstadt.com|access-date=March 3, 2015|archive-date=July 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170710004634/http://www.rebeccaforstadt.com/my-sexy-voice/|url-status=dead}}</ref><br>Dorothy Melendrez (1996 anime series, Bang Zoom! dub)<ref>{{cite episode|title=Handsome Swordsman of Legend: A Man who Fights for Love|number=1|series=Rurouni Kenshin|credits=Aniplex, Fuji TV|network=Cartoon Network|air-date=March 17, 2003}}</ref><br>Kara Bliss (''Requiem for the Ishin Patriots'')<br>Katherine Catmull (''Reflection'')<ref name="ova"/><br>Amanda Hanawa (''New Kyoto Arc'')<br>Alexis Tipton (live-action films)<br> Risa Mei (2023 anime series)<ref>{{cite tweet|user=LoveRisaMei|author=Mei, Risa|number=1724589426506928136|title="Hold it, battosai!" You can hear me as Kaoru Kamiya in the new @rurounikenshin reboot!!! Huge huge thank you to the team at @BangZoom @mummynyan @staleybud, and the rest of the production team for trusting me with such an iconic role 🙏🎀|date=November 15, 2023|access-date=November 15, 2023}}</ref> | portrayer = Emi Takei | nickname = | alias = Kory Kamiya (anime, Sony dub only)<ref name="rebeccaforstadt.com"/> | title = Master of Kamiya Kasshin-ryū | relatives = Kamiya Koshijirou (father) <br> Himura Kenshin (husband) <br> Himura Kenji (son) }} {{nihongo|'''Kamiya Kaoru'''|神谷 薫}}, known as '''Kaoru Kamiya''' in the Media Blasters English-language dub and '''Kori Kamiya''' in the English Sony ''Samurai X'' dub,<ref>"Episode 1." Sony ''Samurai X'' dub.</ref> is a fictional character in the ''Rurouni Kenshin'' manga created by Nobuhiro Watsuki. In the story Kaoru is the instructor of a kendo school in Tokyo, {{nihongo|Kamiya Kasshin-ryū|神谷活心流}}. The students leave when many people are killed by someone claiming to be the {{nihongo|''Hitokiri Battōsai''|人斬り抜刀斎}} from the ''Kamiya Kasshin-ryū''", damaging the school's reputation. Kaoru is saved from the murderous impostor by the real ''Battōsai'', Himura Kenshin, now a wanderer who has sworn to stop killing. During the series, Kaoru grows fond of Kenshin due to his good actions to society and becomes his ally.

Kaoru also appears in the film version of the series and other media of the franchise, including electronic games and a series of original video animations (OVAs). Although Watsuki wanted to design Kaoru "more cutely" and to be "more fashionable", he toned down those qualities and made her poor and "down-to-earth". There was concern that Watsuki would kill her off, with her critical reception having been mostly positive.

==Appearances== ==={{anchor|In ''Rurouni Kenshin''}}''Rurouni Kenshin''=== [[File:Rurouni Kenshin Kyoto Inferno The Legend Ends, Red Carpet Premiere Emi Takei.jpg|thumb|upright|left|alt=Young woman in a sleeveless red blouse, talking into a microphone|Emi Takei, who played Kamiya Kaoru in live-action films]] Kaoru is the instructor of the Kamiya Kasshin martial-arts school.<ref name="Profiles">{{cite book|title=Rurouni Kenshin Profiles|publisher=Viz Media|year=2005|isbn=978-1-4215-0160-4}}</ref> She inherited her fighting style and a small dojo from her father, who was drafted by a police swordsmen unit and died defending a comrade during the Seinan War.<ref name="Profiles"/> At the beginning of the story, Kaoru has no students and runs the dojo alone; she seems likely to lose it when Kenshin helps her. Despite occasional mood swings and a reputation for bad cooking, she is independent, compassionate, courageous and a good fighter. In her first appearance, Kaoru searches for the assassin Hitokiri Battosai, who claims to be from Kamiya Kasshin-ryu. Kaoru is saved by the real Battosai, Himura Kenshin, and invites him to her dojo.<ref name="start">{{cite book |title= Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 1 |year=2003|last= Watsuki |first= Nobuhiro |publisher= Viz Media |chapter=Act 1: Kenshin ● Himura Battōsai|isbn= 1-59116-220-3 }}</ref> One of her greatest fears is that Kenshin might return to wandering, leaving her alone again,<ref>{{cite book |title= Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 2 |year= 2003 |last= Watsuki |first= Nobuhiro |publisher= Viz Media |chapter= Act 11 |isbn= 978-1-59116-249-0 |url= https://archive.org/details/rurounikenshinme00wats_1 }}</ref> and she is jealous if another girl (such as Takani Megumi) is interested in him.<ref>{{cite book |title= Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 3 |year=2003|last= Watsuki |first= Nobuhiro |publisher= Viz Media |chapter=Act 16|isbn=978-1-59116-250-6}}</ref> In the series' first story arc, Kaoru gains a student (Myojin Yahiko) and loses one (Tsukayama Yutaro).<ref>{{cite book |title= Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 1 |year=2003|last= Watsuki |first= Nobuhiro |publisher= Viz Media |chapter=Act 3|isbn= 1-59116-220-3 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 6|year=2004|last=Watsuki|first=Nobuhiro|publisher=Viz Media|chapter=Act 44|isbn=978-1-59116-356-5|url=https://archive.org/details/rurounikenshinme00wats_2}}</ref>

When the Meiji government requests Kenshin's aid to kill the former Hitokiri Shishio Makoto, he bids Kaoru an emotional farewell and leaves for Kyoto.<ref>{{cite book |title= Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 7 |year= 2004 |last= Watsuki |first= Nobuhiro |publisher= Viz Media |chapter= Act 57 |isbn= 978-1-59116-357-2 |url= https://archive.org/details/rurounikenshinvo00nobu_3 }}</ref> Kaoru falls into a depression before she follows him to Kyoto after a pep talk from Megumi. With the Oniwabanshu's Makimachi Misao, she defeats one of Shishio's Juppongatana: Honjō Kamatari.<ref>{{cite book |title= Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 25|year=2005|last= Watsuki |first= Nobuhiro |publisher= Viz Media |chapter=Act 123|isbn= 978-1-59116-810-2}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title= Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 15|year=2005|last= Watsuki |first= Nobuhiro |publisher= Viz Media |chapter=Act 124|isbn= 978-1-59116-810-2}}</ref>

In Tokyo, after Kaoru learns about Yukishiro Enishi's plans to kill everyone connected to Kenshin she teaches Yahiko the ''ougi'' of the Kamiya Kasshin. Enishi says that his goal is not to kill Kenshin, but to make him suffer by killing the person most important to him: Kaoru.<ref>{{cite book |title= Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 23|year=2006|last= Watsuki |first= Nobuhiro |publisher= Viz Media |chapter=Act 206|isbn= 978-1-4215-0276-2}}</ref> He kidnaps her, leaving a replica of her dead body.<ref>{{cite book |title= Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 24 |year=2006|last= Watsuki |first= Nobuhiro |publisher= Viz Media |chapter=Act 211|isbn= 978-1-4215-0338-7 }}</ref> Convinced that he again failed to save the one who was most important to him, Kenshin flees to the Fallen Village and falls into a catatonic depression. When he learns that Kaoru is alive, he and the group rescue her from Enishi. They marry and have a son, Himura Kenji.<ref>{{cite book |title= Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 28 |year=2006|last= Watsuki |first= Nobuhiro |publisher= Viz Media |chapter=Act 255: Toward a New Era|isbn= 1-4215-0675-0 }}</ref> Five years later, after taking in Hasegawa Ashitaro, Inoue Aran, and Kubota Asahi into the Kamiya dojo, Kaoru receives information from them that her father is presumably alive and living in Hokkaido, prompting her and her family to travel there in the hopes of reuniting with him.

==={{anchor|Appearances in other media}}Other media=== In ''Rurouni Kenshin: Reflection'', although Kenshin and Kaoru are married he begins wandering again because he needs to help others; he returns every couple of years. Kaoru lets him go, promising to welcome him home with a smile and their child. Kenshin develops a mysterious disease, and Kaoru convinces him to transmit it to her. He leaves to help people in the First Sino-Japanese War, as he had promised the Meiji government. When he returns to Japan, Kenshin collapses in Kaoru's arms and dies.<ref name="ova">{{cite video |date = 2003 |title = Samurai X: Reflection|medium = DVD |publisher = ADV Films}}</ref> In the pilot issue of ''Rurouni: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story'', first published in 1992, Kaoru is the sister of Megumi and Yahiko. Many of the character's details changed in her transition to mainstream manga.<ref>{{cite book |title= Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 3 |year= 2004 |last= Watsuki |first= Nobuhiro |publisher= Viz Media |chapter= Rurouni: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story (2) |isbn= 1-59116-356-0 |url= https://archive.org/details/rurounikenshinme00wats_2 }}</ref> Kaoru appears in all ''Rurouni Kenshin'' video games<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.banpresto-game.com/rurouni/main.html|title=Rurouni Kenshin: Enjou! Kyoto Rinne official website|publisher=Banpresto|access-date=February 6, 2008}}</ref> (including ''Jump Super Stars'' and ''Jump Ultimate Stars''), primarily as a supporting character.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ds/ajsj/p3.html#|title=Jump Super Stars official website|publisher=Nintendo|access-date=February 6, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ds/ajuj/character/chara_38.html|title=Jump Ultimate Stars official website|publisher=Nintendo|access-date=February 6, 2008}}</ref> In the manga reboot ''Rurouni Kenshin: Restoration'', Kaoru works for Takeda Kanryū to regain her dojo. After Kenshin defeats Takeda, she continues living in the dojo with Kenshin and his friends.<ref>{{cite book |title= Rurouni Kenshin: Restoration, Volume 1 |year= 2013|last= Watsuki |first= Nobuhiro |publisher= Viz Media |chapter=Act 1|isbn=978-1-4215-5231-6 }}</ref> Kaoru was played by Emi Takei in 2012's ''Rurouni Kenshin'' and its three sequels.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2011-07-25/emi-takei-to-play-live-action-rurouni-kenshin-kaoru|title=Emi Takei to Play Live-Action Rurouni Kenshin's Kaoru|date=July 25, 2011|access-date=November 12, 2015}}</ref>

=={{anchor|Creation and conception}}Concept== Watsuki said that he used "no specific model" and "no specific motif" in designing Kaoru, saying that if he had to name one model it would be Chiba Sanako, who was Sakamoto Ryōma's fiancée.<ref>{{cite web |last= Konno |first=Yoshihiko |date=September 15, 2021 |title=「るろうに剣心」のヒロイン・神谷薫のモデルは、あの坂本龍馬の元婚約者〜幕末の恋物語 |trans-title=The heroine of "Rurouni Kenshin", Kaoru Kamiya, is modeled after Ryoma Sakamoto's former fiance - A love story at the end of the Edo period |url=https://yorozoonews.jp/article/14439817 |language=ja|website=Yorozoo | publisher =Daily Sports|access-date=May 19, 2024}}</ref> He wanted to include the "commanding" qualities of {{nihongo|Sasaki Mifuyu|佐々木 三冬}} from Shōtarō Ikenami's ''Kenkaku Shōbai'' (剣客商売). According to Watsuki, Kaoru is a "plain, regular girl" despite her commanding qualities. By the first Japanese compilation, he thought that the character worked and many female ''Rurouni Kenshin'' readers identified with Kaoru. At the time, Watsuki had not decided if Kaoru would be Kenshin's love interest. Although he wanted to design Kaoru "more cutely" and to be "more fashionable", he toned down those qualities and made her poor and "down-to-earth". The artist described her ponytail as "''de rigueur''" for a girl practicing kendo. According to Watsuki, he enjoys drawing Kaoru but filling in her hair is "sometimes a pain."<ref name="KaoruDesign">{{cite book|author=Watsuki, Nobuhiro|page=80|title=''Rurouni Kenshin'' Volume 1|publisher=Viz Media|isbn=978-1-59116-220-9|year=2003}}</ref> At the end of ''Rurouni Kenshin'', Kaoru received a new hairstyle. Watsuki felt that Kaoru would look odd without her ponytail, but her original hairstyle did not look maternal and he changed it for the ending.<ref name="KenjiDesign">{{cite book|author=Watsuki, Nobuhiro|page=154|title=''Rurouni Kenshin'' Volume 28|publisher=Viz Media|isbn=978-1-4215-0675-3|year=2006}}</ref> When female readers asked Watsuki if Kaoru was a strong fighter, he called the character "quite independent for her age" who could "hold her own" against the local dojo masters and compete at the national level (although she is weaker than Kenshin and Sagara Sanosuke).<ref name="KaoruDesign"/>

Watsuki said that in volume seven the series took on a more adult tone, influenced by the shōjo manga he was reading at the time. During the series he considered killing Kaoru off, deciding against it in favor of a happy ending for a manga aimed at young readers<ref name="kadenint">{{cite book |title= Kenshin Kaden|year= 1999|last= Watsuki |first= Nobuhiro |publisher= Shueisha |chapter=Interview with Nobuhiro Watsuki|isbn=4-08-782037-8 }}</ref> and influenced by the previous story arc's upbeat ending. However, he thought the storyline then lost its main theme (revenge); readers praised and criticized the twist. Watsuki apologized to his young audience for the dark chapters suggesting that Kaoru was dead.<ref>{{cite book|author=Watsuki, Nobuhiro|page=96|title=''Rurouni Kenshin'' Volume 24|publisher=Viz Media|isbn=978-1-4215-0338-7|year=2006}}</ref> Miki Fujitani (who voices the character) said in an interview that in the OVA series Kaoru is brave and very different from her original version whose characterization has been felt closer to the calm Yukishiro Tomoe.<ref>{{cite video | people=Miki Fujitani|date=2002|title=Rurouni Kenshin Seisouhen 2| medium=DVD|publisher=Sony}}</ref><ref name="network"/> Watsuki described Tomo Sakurai's CD-drama voice as "not too airhead-y," "not too high" and "not too low."<ref>{{cite book|title=Rurouni Kenshin Volume 2|author=Watsuki, Nobuhiro|publisher=Viz Media|page=95}}</ref>

==Reception== Kaoru has been popular with ''Rurouni Kenshin'' readers, placing fourth or fifth in every popularity poll.<ref name="popular">{{cite book |title= Rurouni Kenshin, Volume 16 |last= Watsuki |first= Nobuhiro |publisher= Viz Media |chapter=Chapter 135|date= July 5, 2005 |isbn= 1-59116-854-6 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2011-06-02/rurouni-kenshin-poll/favorite-character-then-and-now|title=Rurouni Kenshin Poll: Favorite Character Then & Now|date=June 2, 2011|work=Anime News Network |access-date=June 2, 2011}}</ref> Kaoru merchandise includes plushes,<ref name="plush">{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000GEE9SE/|title=Rurouni Kenshin: Kaoru 8" Anime Plush Toy |website=Amazon |access-date=February 16, 2008}}</ref> keychains<ref name="key">{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000EONRKC/|title=Rurouni Kenshin: Key Chain – Kaoru (Key Chains)|website=Amazon |access-date=February 16, 2008}}</ref> and sweatbands.<ref name="band">{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NWDXMC/|title=Rurouni Kenshin: Sweat Band – Kaoru|website=Amazon |access-date=February 16, 2008}}</ref> Manga, anime and video-game publications have responded positively to Kaoru; in T.H.E.M. Anime Reviews, Carlos Ross called her a "spirited girl".<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=387|title= Rurouni Kenshin manga review|access-date= February 18, 2008 | publisher= T.H.E.M. Anime Reviews | first=Carlos |last= Ross }}</ref> Kaoru and Kenshin's relationship ranked eighth in About.com's "Top 8 Anime Love Stories", with Katherine Luther calling it a "classic romance."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://anime.about.com/od/animeprimer/tp/aa100303.htm|title=Top 8 Anime Love Stories|access-date=June 26, 2009|author=Luther, Katherine|publisher=About.com|archive-date=March 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307145429/http://anime.about.com/od/animeprimer/tp/aa100303.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> Rebecca Silverman of Anime News Network was disappointed by Kaoru's lack of development in the series ''Rurouni Kenshin Restoration''.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/rurouni-kenshin/restoration/gn-1|title= Rurouni Kenshin: Restoration GN 1 & 2|date=January 29, 2014|access-date=February 23, 2015 | work= Anime News Network | first=Rebecca|last= Silverman }}</ref> SciFi.com liked her character due to how Kaoru does not see Kenshin as the past murderer Battosai but instead as a kind wanderer who wants protect others. The writer also enjoyed the good actions Kaoru does like protecting Yahiko in early episodes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scifi.com/sfw/issue181/anime.html|title=Rurouni Kenshin TV The first steps down a very popular road|author=Robinson, Tasha|publisher=SciFi.com |access-date= May 1, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080418060250/http://www.scifi.com/sfw/issue181/anime.html |archive-date = April 18, 2008}}</ref> Megan Lavey from Mania Entertainment found Kaoru more appealing in the manga version over the anime adaptation due to that, while in both versions it is obvious that she has romantic feelings for Kenshin, in the manga she has a better understanding of Kenshin's darker persona most notably when former assassin prepares to leave Tokyo.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mania.com/rurouni-kenshin-vol-07_article_81868.html|title=Rurouni Kenshin Vol. #07|publisher=Mania|date=October 27, 2004|author=Lavey, Megan|access-date=April 17, 2017|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121206035720/http://www.mania.com/rurouni-kenshin-vol-07_article_81868.html|archive-date=December 6, 2012}}</ref> For the final arc in the manga, ''Mania Entertainment'' felt that twist that happens shortly after Kenshin's battle with Enishi helps to show why Kaoru loves Kenshin carefully.<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090528091334/http://www.mania.com/rurouni-kenshin-vol-28_article_82756.html|archive-date=May 28, 2009|url=http://www.mania.com/rurouni-kenshin-vol-28_article_82756.html|title=Rurouni Kenshin Vol. #28|author=Lavey, Megan|access-date=October 26, 2020}}</ref>

Kaoru's ''Reflection'' OVA series version was criticized; Efrain Diaz Jr. of IGN wrote that although some of Kenshin and Kaoru's private moments are touching, others are depressing.<ref name="ign">{{cite web|url=http://dvd.ign.com/articles/505/505495p1.html|title= Samurai X|date= April 9, 2004|access-date= February 6, 2008| website= IGN |first= Efrain Jr.|last= Diaz}}</ref> According to Anime News Network's Mike Crandol, Kaoru is the least visually successful character redesign in the ''Reflection'' OVA. Citing the manga version's "distinctive girlish charm", Crandol said that the staff members tried too hard to make her look like Yukishiro Tomoe.<ref name="network">{{cite web|url= http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/rurouni-kenshin-ova-series-2-part-1|title= Ruroni Kenshin second OAV series Seisouhen, part 1 |date= January 22, 2002 |access-date= January 25, 2008 | work= Anime News Network | first=Mike |last= Crandol }}</ref> Don Houston from DVD Talk noted the controversy between the fandom as they refrained from treating ''Reflection'' as canon due to how tragic the life of Kaoru and Kenshin's family became.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/13973/samurai-x-reflection-directors-cut/ |title=Samurai X - Reflection - Director's Cut |access-date=April 17, 2017 |work=DVD Talk |first=Don |last=Houston |date=December 28, 2004 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170418081617/http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/13973/samurai-x-reflection-directors-cut/ |archive-date=April 18, 2017 }}</ref> About.com's Serdar Yegulalp felt the romance between Kaoru and Kenshin was entertaining to watch but at the same time criticized they often acted out of character, commenting on how Kaoru lets her husband leave the house in contrast to how in the original series, Kenshin left Tokyo while still not married with her.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://anime.about.com/od/rurounikenshin/fr/Rurouni-Kenshin-Seisou-Hen.htm|title=Rurouni Kenshin: Seisou-hen (Reflection)|date=December 6, 2012|access-date=May 25, 2017|publisher=About.com|first=Serdar|last=Yegulalp|archive-url=https://archive.today/20160204053128/http://anime.about.com/od/rurounikenshin/fr/Rurouni-Kenshin-Seisou-Hen.htm|archive-date=February 4, 2016|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Ridwan Khan from Animefringe praised the romance between Kaoru and Kenshin, feeling it was well developed in the OVAs and served as a fitting finale to the series.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animefringe.com/magazine/02.06/reviews/6/index.php3|title=Rurouni Kenshin: Sei Sou Hen Vol.2|date= June 2002 |access-date= 2017-05-13 | publisher= Animefringe | author=Khan, Ridwan }}</ref> On a more negative review, Carl Kimlinger stated that Kaoru was one of the most damaged characters in the OVAs as a result of being a more stereotypical female character waiting for her husband to come back home rather than Watsuki's original version where Kaoru would not allow Kenshin to leave or instead go with him when he leaves Tokyo to work.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/rurouni-kenshin/reflection/blu-ray-limited-edition|title=Rurouni Kenshin: Reflection Blu-ray Limited Edition|access-date=November 1, 2020|date=October 31, 2011| publisher= Anime News Network | author=Kimlinger, Carl}}</ref> According to Ashley D. Lake from UC Riverside, Kaoru represents the Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu values defied in the ''Meiji era'' that Kenshin chooses to protect due to the values it offers to people, something rare in anime series due to prominent violence during the time ''Rurouni Kenshin'' premiered in Japan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://escholarship.org/content/qt90r5k8sz/qt90r5k8sz.pdf|title=UCR Honors Capstones 2020-2021|website=UC Riverside|access-date=August 11, 2023}}</ref>

ABC CBN's Karen Flores praised Emi Takei's portrayal of the character in the first live-action film, stating the actress played her character just like the one from the manga and anime. However, she was criticized for lacking her tomboyish traits when interacting with the young Myojin Yahiko.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/12/06/12/review-5-reasons-watch-rurouni-kenshin |title=Review: 5 reasons to watch 'Rurouni Kenshin'|date=December 6, 2012 |access-date=May 25, 2017| publisher= ABC CBN| first=Karen |last=Flores }}</ref> The lack of the love triangle between Kaoru, Kenshin and Takani Megumi was criticized by Ko Ransom from Anime News Network, as the writer noted the first film covered too many subplots.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/rurouni-kenshin |title=Rurouni Kenshin Live-Action Movie|date=September 20, 2012|access-date=May 24, 2017| work= Anime News Network| first=Ko|last=Ransom }}</ref> David West from ''Neo'' lamented Kaoru had few appearances in the final film, citing her role in the previous ones appealing.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.neomag.co.uk/art/asian-film/review/2601/rurouni-kenshin-the-legend-ends |title= Rurouni Kenshin: The Legend Ends |date= October 11, 2015 |access-date= May 24, 2017 |publisher= Neo |first= David |last= West |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171018071640/http://www.neomag.co.uk/art/asian-film/review/2601/rurouni-kenshin-the-legend-ends |archive-date= October 18, 2017 |url-status= dead }}</ref>

==References== {{Portal|Anime and manga}} {{Reflist|30em}}

{{Rurouni Kenshin}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kamiya, Kaoru}} Category:Anime and manga characters introduced in 1994 Category:Female characters in anime and manga Category:Fictional kendoka Category:Fictional martial arts trainers Category:Fictional swordfighters in anime and manga Category:Rurouni Kenshin characters Category:Teenage characters in anime and manga Category:Fictional characters from the Meiji era