Azusa Arai

Azusa is warm, practical and strongly devoted to her family. She shares Seikuu's ordinary civilian life and supports the household-goods business through which he has deliberately separated himself from his father's legacy as a maker of killing weapons.

Her most immediate concern during the danger surrounding the Arai family is Iori. She responds as a mother caught in circumstances created by a violent world with which neither she nor Seikuu wants anything to do.

Azusa has no established martial-arts abilities or supernatural powers. She is a civilian whose skills center on supporting her family and their business.

Her lack of combat training is significant during the confrontation over Shakku's final sword. Unlike Kenshin, Seikuu's family cannot simply fight their way out of the threat, making their protection dependent on those capable of confronting an experienced Juppongatana warrior.

Azusa is introduced when Kenshin searches Kyoto for Seikuu after Soujirou Seta breaks his original reverse-blade sword. She is part of the peaceful family life that explains why Seikuu refuses to return to weapon forging.

The situation becomes dangerous when Chou Sawagejou, obsessed with collecting rare swords, pursues the last blade made by Shakku. The dispute escalates beyond a disagreement over craftsmanship when Chou targets the Arai family directly.

Chou takes Iori hostage to force Seikuu to reveal the location of Shakku's final sword. Kenshin intervenes and rescues the child during his battle with Chou, allowing Azusa and Seikuu's family to survive the confrontation.

Seikuu Arai is Azusa's husband. She shares the peaceful life he chooses after turning away from his father's sword-making legacy.

Iori Arai is Azusa's infant son and the central focus of her concern when the family is threatened.

Shakku Arai is Azusa's father-in-law, whose legacy as a renowned swordsmith brings danger to the family even after his death.

Kenshin Himura becomes involved with the Arai family while searching for a replacement sakabatou and protects Iori during Chou's attack.

Chou Sawagejou threatens Azusa's family while searching for Shakku's final masterpiece.