Character Profiles: All ages are calculated based on the start of the anime series. Even though a few years pass by in the span of the series, they are not accounted for and each age is calculated by the initial age of the person when introduced. In Kenshin's case, he was 18 at the end of the war and 28 at the start of the anime series and beginning of the manga.

Sword Style: Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu

Background: Himura Kenshin is the main character in the series who leads a life dedicated to helping others with the power of his god-like sword technique that in his past, gave him the famous title, Hitokiri Battousai (man-slaying assassin). After giving up his ways as a assassin due to a tragic event in his life and the end of the war, he became a wandering traveller traveling the land peacefully until he is 28 and encounters Kamiya Kaoru and joins to live with her in her dojo. Though he seems simple, his past is clouded and painful. Kenshin was born under the name of Shinta to a peasant family somewhere in Japan. When he was young, both parents died in a cholera outbreak in his village and it is hinted that Shinta may have had siblings. Anyway, he was taken under the care of three young slave women till they were attacked one night and all were killed save Shinta by a powerful swordsman named Hiko Sejuro. Hiko takes Shinta in and raises him under the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu and changes his name to Kenshin instead of Shinta since Shinta is too gentle a name for a future swordsman. (Kenshin means "Heart of Sword") He was raised this way until he was a young teenager and then left Hikos care to become a hired assassin as he thought his power could change the world for the better. After spending a few years being an assassin, he had grown to be one of the most feared asassins in all of Japan. He then met a young woman by the name of Yukishiro Tomoe (she was 18 at the time and he was a few years younger) and fell in love with her. They were married and lived together in hiding until it was revealed that Tomoe was a spy for her dead fiancé, who Kenshin had previously killed. Kenshin accidentally kills Tomoe and receives the second part of his cross scar from his battle (his first being received from Tomoe's fiancé in battle). The end of the war marks the beginning of a new era and he leaves on a journey and vows never to kill again carrying his sakabatou with him no matter where he goes. At least, until he meets a young woman by the name of Kamiya Kaoru ten long years later First Appearance: Anime Episode 01 / Volume 01:Act 01 Distinguishing Marks: His shortness, his red-hair, his cross-shaped scar on his left cheek, he always carries around his sakabatou, pink kimono. Personality: Very formal and polite. He tries to keep peace between everyone and seems very innocent like a child. When he was younger, he was totally different however. He was dark, aloof, and seemingly depressed most of the time.

Kamiya Kaoru :: Raccoon Girl

Style: Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu

Background: Kaoru's father died previously and she inherited their dojo and continued teaching the Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu (a form of kendo) in her father's place as she lived by herself. One day, she meets Kenshin by accidentally attacking him and claiming him to be the murderer that was roaming the streets calling himself the "hitokiri battousai" who supposedly was claming that he was from the Kamiya school. Because he was ruining her family's name and causing her to lose students, she took it upon herself to defeat this "battousai" and restore the dojo's honor. After Kenshin saves her life, he joins her to help restore the dojo and keep her company as she doesn't care if he is the real battousai or not. Later on in the series, a obvious romance blooms between her and Kenshin, though it's not for certain if Kenshin loves her back in that way. It's very noticable to most of the other characters and Megumi spends half her time making fun of Kaoru and flirting with Kenshin just to make her angry and jealous. Of course, they do eventually get together sometime after the Jinchuu Arc (Revenge Arc) and have a child by the name of Himura Kenji. Always worried about other people and a very caring person, Kaoru has become like a sister to both Sanosuke and Yahiko. She houses them in her later father's dojo and provides food (ehem) for all strangers that need help getting back on their feet. Kaoru is also known for having a very firey personality and her nickname, Raccoon Girl, was given to her for her personality. Despite her weak appearance, she's actually quite talented in her sword style and very strong. She studied religiously after her father past away and is actually quite powerful. Though she usually leaves all fighting related things to Kenshin, she really can take care of herself and proves to her only student (Yahiko) that she is a worthy teacher. First Appearance: Anime Episode 01 / Volume 01: Act 01 Distinguishing Marks: Her blue eyes, ponytail, usually dressed in kendo clothing for exercise. Personality: Firey, but loving. She cares a great deal for everyone and can't express her feelings towards Kenshin easily till she's older.

Myoujin Yahiko :: Orphaned Child

Style: Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu

Background: The son of a once proud samurai family in Tokyo, he was forced into stealing to pay back his family's debts after their deaths. Little did he know that he was being tricked and that there was no real debt to be repayed. After he meets Kenshin quite by accident and Kenshin realizes the boy has very good virtues, he compliments Yahiko, making Yahiko really despise his stealing and wish to earn an honest living to pay back the debts. He is later taken in by Kaoru and Kenshin, he begins training under Kaoru to become stronger. He's the closest thing to a little brother that Kaoru could have, usually getting himself into trouble and trying to live up to his father's name. It is assumed that he was adopted into the Kamiya family and lives as sort of Kenshin and Kaorus first son before Kenji. When he grows up, he helps to train Kenji and take care of him when Kenshin is gone away and later inherits Kenshins sakabatou when he is a teenager. He has a cute child-like romance with Tsumbame and when they grow up, they marry and have a child. Though he's obviously pretty weak with the sword at first, he eventually does improve a great deal during the main part of the series. He's very inventive and strongly wishes to learn Kenshin's sword art, though Kenshin made it very clear that he doesn't wish to pass down his style. Though he's a general trouble maker for Kaoru, he becomes very involved with the Kamiya Kasshin style later on and really makes some great improvements. By Seisouhen when he's a teenager, he's a very great swordsman and even helps train Kenji. First Appearance: Anime Episode 02 / Volume 01: Act 03 Distinguishing Marks: Spiky hair, carries around a wooden sword (boku or shinai) Personality: His personality matches that of Kaoru and they bicker like brother and sister. He has a great deal of pride and compassion towards other and his mental age is older than his physical one.

Sagara Sanosuke :: Gang Fighter

Style: street fighting, mixing other martial arts together as he learns them. This is his advantage.

Background: As a young child during the war, he was obviously an orphan and taken under the wing of an anti-royalist movement leader, Sagara Souzou. The man basically raised Sanosuke as his own kid or brother and Sanosuke looked up to him so much that he even asked if, after the war, he could change his last name to Sagara to match his captain's. His happiness alongside Souzou was short lived though. They were attacked by royalist troups and everyone was killed except Sanosuke, who was saved by his captain. Because of this, he grew up resenting the government and became a gangster picking fights, getting drunk, and gambling. When he first meets Kenshin, he tries to kill him as well for being part of the government who killed his best friend ten years ago. However, he eventually realizes Kenshin's true intentions are for the good of humanity and decides to join his cause. He mooches off of the Kamiya household, picks on Kaoru and Yahiko, and still continues to leave an increasing amount of unpaid bills at resturants. :) In Seisouhen, it turns out that Sanosuke went out to see the world and traveled across Europe, China, and America in the search of adventure. Years later, he encounters the sick Kenshin and helps him to get back to Japan once again, yet he himself doesn't return. First Appearance: Anime Episode 03 / Volume 01: Act 05 Distinguishing Marks: The kanji for "evil" on his back, his zanbatou which Kenshin broke in episode 4. Personality: Humourous and seems to not think things through. Likes to mess around with others, but is a generally good person after going a little crazy and trying to kill Kenshin.

Takani Megumi :: Talented Doctor

Juppon Gatana - The Ten Swords including the evil wrapped one.

Background: His body is totally burned over and he wears bandages all over his body. He was burned years ago by the Meiji government and he wishes to overthrow the government and become Japan's leader under his rule. He controls the Juupon Gatana (Ten Swords) and was the one who raised Seta Soujiro and taught him that "The strong live and the weak die". His sword skills are just as good as Kenshin's, though he can only fight for fifteen minute spans otherwise his body will overheat and kill him because he can't sweat. He is eventually killed by Kenshin in a to the death battle in which Kenshin almost lost his own life.

Seta Soujiro :: Heaven's Sword

Background: You wouldn't think he was deadly by looking at him. He's always very polite and smiling and looks very innocent when in fact his power's nearly unmatched, even by Kenshin. He was brought up harshly by his extended family forced to work day and night and nearly killed by how harshly they treated him. One night, he found the burned Shishio Makoto and helped Shishio hide and provided him with food and bandages. His family found out and decided to kill poor little Soujiro because he was betraying the family. Right before they do though, Soujiro cracks and uses Shishio's sword and kills off his family. After that, he never showed any emotions at all besides happiness. Shishio took him in as his pupil afterwards and taught him how to fight.

Komagata Yumi :: Shishio's Lover

Background: She is Shishio's lover and worships him. Though she's on his side, she does feel compassion for Kenshin and his group and fears for Shishio's life and stays with him till her death. While she doesn't attack or anything, she's a very powerful woman at heart and kind, though she does act rather cold sometimes.

Yukyuzan Anji :: Priest

Miscellaneous - All the other characters I didn't add in the other groups. Yukishiro Tomoe :: Kenshin's First Love Nicknames: Battousai's Sheath Birthday: ??? Height: 161cm (5'2") Weight: 44kg (96.8 pounds) Blood type: ??? Hair/Eyes: Black/Black Sex: Female Age: 18 Occupation: The future wife of Kiyosato Akira. Other than that, she just works as an ideal woman in Japanese society. Weapon: She carries a small dagger in the folds of her clothes, but it's just for self protection. Background: She was the intended of Kiyosato Akira. However, after he's killed by Battousai, she sets out for revenge by joining the Ishinshishi who are out to kill Battousai. She eventually meets Kenshin, sees him as just a boy, but eventually develops feelings for him. The two are "married" so to speak and they live together. Eventually however, when Kenshin's about to be killed by the Ishinshishi, Tomoe tries to stop it, but is accidentally hit and killed by Kenshin. This all happens prior to Kenshin's 10 year wandering. Yukishiro Enishi :: Brother to Tomoe Nicknames: ??? Birthday: May 1855 Height: 175cm (5'9") Weight: 68kg (150 pounds) Blood type: A Hair/Eyes: White/Turquoise Sex: Male Age: 24 Occupation: Mafia boss Weapon: Watou Style: Garyu-Watoujutsu / Kyoukeimyaku Background: Basically Enishi went... partially insane after witnessing the death of his sister, Tomoe from Kenshin's sword all those years ago. So, yeah, he was adopted, grew up, killed his adopted family and became a leader of a mafia gang in Shanghai. O.o... He returns during the Jinchuu Arc as an adult to exact his "revenge" on Kenshin by taking away Kaoru from him. Kenshin duels and fights for Kaoru and eventually wins because Enishi is finally able to see that his sister wasn't murdered and that it was her will for him to live peacefully. Other than that, he's one scary mofo with his weapons. O_o;;; Watch Seisouhen to figure out what I mean. Saitou Hajime :: Your Everyday Badass XD Nicknames: Fujita Gorou (Alias) Birthday: January 1, 1844 Height: 183cm Weight: 71kg Blood type: O Hair/Eyes: Black/Amber Sex: Male Age: 35 Occupation: Member of the Miburou group during the war and now he's a policeman. Weapon: Katana Style: Gatotsu Background: Once a member of the Shinsengumi, but now a policeman. He shows up basically throughout the series to promote peace and runs into Kenshin more than a few times. HOwever, he's not really one or against Kenshin. He also sports a powerful left-handed thrust that no other character uses. (Is he left handed? O_o;;)