Oei

Oei is the wife of Kondo Shusai and adoptive mother of Kondo Isami.

Story
Oei is the mistress of Ten’nen Rishin-Ryo Shieikan Dojo in Edo and works around the dojo doing various chores. She is a very harsh woman who wants things done a particular way and is usually unhappy with the hired help.

When Okita Souji was 9 years old, he was sent to the Shieikan Dojo as a servant to work for Oei. Unfortunately, Oei was unimpressed by her new servant and would constantly criticizing him, often to the point of him crying.

When Oei learns that her husband intends on training (and perhaps adopting) Soji, she becomes furious before finally breaking down into tears. The truth is finally revealed when Oei begins to blame herself for not being able to give her husband any children; Shusai retorts that Oei is actually his ninth wife, and, since he has had no children with any of his previous wives, the cause must be on his end.

After this revelation, Oei becomes much nicer to Soji, though she is still an extremely strict and hardworking mistress.