Aoshi Shinomori

Aoshi is reserved, stoic and extremely difficult to read. He rarely displays strong emotion outwardly, maintaining a controlled expression even during dangerous battles. Beneath that restraint lies intense loyalty toward the Oniwabanshū members who followed him after the Restoration.

His greatest flaw is pride tied to responsibility. Aoshi does not simply want personal recognition as the strongest; he wants victory to validate the lives and abilities of the comrades who entrusted their future to him. When that objective becomes impossible to satisfy normally, his sense of obligation turns into obsession.

Aoshi is also capable of genuine tenderness, particularly toward Misao, although he seldom expresses it openly. His eventual development requires him to distinguish honoring the dead from sacrificing the living to an obsession created in their name.

Aoshi is one of the strongest martial artists and swordsmen in the series. He combines Oniwabanshū kenpō with exceptional speed, perception and kodachi swordsmanship.

Initially, Aoshi fights with a single kodachi while using its sheath defensively. He later employs two kodachi, creating a more aggressive style with greater offensive flexibility.

His signature techniques include Kaiten Kenbu, a rapid rotating attack delivered from multiple directions, and its more powerful two-sword development, Kaiten Kenbu Rokuren, which unleashes six nearly simultaneous slashes.

Aoshi is also highly skilled in unarmed combat and possesses exceptional tactical awareness. His Oniwabanshū training includes intelligence gathering, stealth and analysis in addition to direct fighting.

Aoshi enters the story as Kanryū's chief fighter, accompanied by Hannya, Beshimi, Hyottoko and Shikijou. These men remained with him after the Restoration because their specialized skills made ordinary civilian life difficult.

Kanryū ultimately turns a Gatling gun against Aoshi and his own men. Hannya, Beshimi, Hyottoko and Shikijō sacrifice themselves during the confrontation, leaving Aoshi obsessed with defeating Kenshin so he can place the title of "strongest" upon their graves.

That obsession brings Aoshi into contact with Makoto Shishio. He temporarily allies himself with Shishio's organization because it offers him another opportunity to fight Kenshin, even attacking Okina when the older Oniwabanshū member tries to stop him.

Kenshin eventually defeats Aoshi and forces him to recognize that his pursuit of victory has betrayed rather than honored his fallen comrades. Aoshi later returns to the Aoiya and helps defend Kyoto before assisting Kenshin during the Jinchū conflict.

Kenshin Himura is Aoshi's principal rival during his period of obsession. Kenshin ultimately helps him abandon the destructive pursuit of victory he had mistaken for loyalty to his fallen men.

Misao Makimachi was raised within the Oniwabanshū and deeply admires Aoshi. Aoshi cares for her despite his restrained manner and his attempts to distance her from his darker choices.

Nenji Kashiwazaki, better known as Okina, is an older Oniwabanshū member who helped raise Misao. Aoshi nearly kills him while consumed by his obsession with defeating Kenshin.

Hannya, Beshimi, Hyottoko and Shikijou are Aoshi's devoted subordinates. Their deaths become the driving force behind his obsession with proving the Oniwabanshū's strength.

Kanryuu Takeda employs Aoshi and his men in Tokyo before turning against them with his Gatling gun.

Makoto Shishio exploits Aoshi's desire to fight Kenshin and accepts his temporary cooperation.