Tenchi Muyo! (天地無用! Tenchi Muyō!), is an anime and manga series about a boy named Tenchi Masaki and the alien women that love him.

The Original Series, Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki, was a six episode OVA (Original Video Animation or Direct-to-Home Video) series; released in Japan in 1991–92. As its popularity grew, it spurred a seventh episode (also known as the Tenchi Special) and the standalone Mihoshi Special. In 1994, the second OVA series was created and released, featuring episodes 8–13. From 2003 to 2005, a third OVA series was released, with episodes 14–19, centering around the three goddesses introduced in the second OVA series. This is then followed by a special twentieth episode which centered around some of the remaining plot threads towards Tenchi's mother, as well as Noike, who was introduced in episode 15. The series can be somewhat confusing to newcomers because it has several continuities, although due to later creative changes many consider the original OAVs 'true' canon.

Before the popularity of series like Love Hina, to American fans Tenchi Muyo! set the benchmark for a series with a somewhat meek but kind male lead surrounded by attractive but often bizarre women, an anime subgenre (harem comedy) which would later become common. The TM franchise is also well-known in having a manga developed after an animated version was released, when typically the reverse is true.

Tenchi Muyo! was one of the early successes for AIC, the animation company behind it, which went on to create El-Hazard, Battle Athletes, Oh My Goddess!, Dual! Parallel Trouble Adventure and many other anime series. The main artist for the series is Kajishima Masaki.

The name of the manga is a play on words. Tenchi muyō (天地無用, Tenchi muyō^?) in Japanese means "This way up", a phrase written, for example, on boxes to show they should not be upturned. The word muyō also means "unnecessary", thus with a lead character "Tenchi" this name could also mean "unnecessary Tenchi" and is more often than not translated to "No need for Tenchi" (even so far as the episode titles for the "Universe" series to have the running gag of having the titles start with "No need for...".

Canon

Series

Summary

The three major series continuities are Tenchi Muyo!, Tenchi Universe, and Tenchi in Tokyo. The first series, TM!, is the original OVA (Original Video Animation) which introduces the core characters. The other two are spin-offs that utilize the same characters, with the addition of Kiyone Makibi, though the backstory is quite different from the original OVAs. The first of the spin-offs was Tenchi Muyo!, TV (also known as Tenchi Universe), in 1995; it is a twenty-six episode TV series that retells the original series differently. This anime was one of few anime to be broadcast on PBS member station KTEH San Jose, according to the ANN.

Tenchi Muyo! OAV series, Kajishima canon

The canon accepted by series creator Kajishima is as follows:

Animation

• Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-ohki OAV 1 (episodes 1-6)
• Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-ohki OAV 1 Special, The Night Before the Carnival (episode 7)
• Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-ohki OAV 2 (episodes 8-13 + the bonus episode 13.5)
• Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-ohki OAV 3 (episodes 14-19)
• Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-ohki OAV 3 Special (episode 20)
• Tenchi Muyo! GXP: Galaxy Police Transporter

Other Materials

• Shin Tenchi Muyo! Jurai (novel, tells of Azusa's life from a boy to the events in episode 13)
• Shin Tenchi Muyo! Yosho (novel, tells of Yosho's life from a boy until he defeats Ryoko on Earth)
• Shin Tenchi Muyo! Washu (novel, tells of Washu's life from when she was found 20,000 years ago through the death of her friend Naja)
• Tenchi Muyo! GXP 01 (novel, novel form of the TV series with very little NB)
• Tenchi Muyo! GXP 02 (novel, 2006 release)
• Various doujinshi from Kajishima
• Various interviews with Kajishima
• The book 101 Questions and Answers of Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Oh-Ki (aka. 101 Secrets)

For more details about these materials, see Tenchi Muyo! FAQ

Tenchi Muyo! OAV series, Hasegawa canon

Naoko Hasegawa, co-writer of the first OAV series, uses a different canon, which includes the following:

Animation

• Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-ohki OAV 1 (episodes 1-6)
• Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-ohki OAV 1 Special (episode 7)
• Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-ohki Galaxy Police Mihoshi's Space Adventure (also known as the Mihoshi Special), though except for the framing sequence, much of the story is an exaggeration by Mihoshi and is not canon as shown
• Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-ohki OAV 2 (episodes 8-13 + the bonus episode 13.5). Note that although Hasegawa did not work on these OAVs, her novels include elements from them such as Azusa.
• Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-ohki Manatsu no Eve (movie 2, known as Daughter of Darkness in English)

Other Materials

• Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-ohki Manatsu no Carnival (radio drama)
• A series of 12 novels by Hasegawa, including the Manatsu no Eve book upon which the movie was based

Hasegawa also worked on the TV series, which includes her characters Kiyone and (in the movies) Achika, but the TV series is not considered to be in the same continuity.

Tenchi Universe, a.k.a. the Negishi canon

Called the "Negishi canon", after Hiroshi Negishi, the director who was the main creative force behind the series and connecting movies, the TV series (known only as Tenchi Muyo! TV in Japan) has no sentient Jurai trees, Ayeka is not closely related to Katsuhito, and Washu is the person sealed in the cave. Kiyone has a major role in this series. Also, this series has a stronger emphasis on Ryoko, as shown in the show's opening credits and in some episodes, as well as Tenchi Forever, although Ayeka also gets equal billing in the latter title.

Animation

• Tenchi Muyo! TV (Tenchi Universe), 26 episodes
• Tenchi Muyo! In Love (movie 1)
• Tenchi Muyo! In Love 2: Haruka Naru Omoi (Tenchi Forever!) (movie 3)

Other Material

• Tenchi Muyo! In Love 2: Eternal Memory (manga)

Tenchi in Tokyo

Shin Tenchi Muyo! (known as Tenchi in Tokyo in English), in 1997, is yet a third version of the story, but this time centered on Tenchi's high school adventures in Tokyo. It is also a twenty-six episode TV series and many of the main characters had some personality changes. Because it is completely different from the OVAs and first TV series, Tenchi in Tokyo was met with mixed reviews among fans.

Animation

• Shin Tenchi Muyo! (26 episodes)

Movies

There are also three movies: Tenchi Muyo in Love!, 1996; Tenchi Muyo: Manatsu no Eve (The Daughter of Darkness), 1997; and Tenchi Muyo in Love 2: Haruka Naru Omoi (Tenchi Forever), 1999.

Movies 1 and 3 are intended to be in, and match with, the Tenchi Universe continuity. Movie 3 concludes the Tenchi Muyo! TV (Universe) series.

The continuity of movie 2 is more complicated. It is written by Naoko Hasegawa, who co-wrote the first OAV series and wrote several Tenchi novels in Japanese; the movie is based on one of her novels.

Movie 2 is sometimes believed to be in Tenchi Universe continuity because of the presence of Kiyone and because Ayeka refers to my brother's tree instead of your tree while speaking to Katsuhito. Neither of these are related to Tenchi Universe; Kiyone is present because she is from Hasegawa's OAV-based novels, and the Ayeka line is a misleading translation. In reality, the movie is an animated version of the Hasegawa novel of the same name, and is part of her continuity. In Japanese, a name or title may be used in some circumstances where English would require a pronoun; saying brother's tree to Katsuhito does not mean that her brother is someone other than him.

Tenchi the Movie: Tenchi Muyo! in Love (1996)

Tenchi Muyo! in Love was the first Tenchi movie, and takes place within the Universe timeline.

The movie is about how the gang must save Tenchi from utter disappearence by capturing a criminal named Kain, which had traveled back in time to destroy Tenchi's mother, Achika Misaki so that Tenchi isn't born to threaten his conquest of Jurai. In order to save Achika and Tenchi, Tenchi and crew travel back in time to the year of 1970 to protect Achika.

Tenchi the Movie II: The Daughter of Darkness (Manatsu no Eve, 1997)

Tenchi the Movie II: The Daughter of Darkness (Manatsu no Eve) is the second Tenchi movie.

The movie is about a girl named Mayuka who appears out of nowhere claiming to be Tenchi's daughter. Ryoko and Ayeka are jealous and/or suspicious, Sasami befriends her, Kiyone and Mihoshi are the same, and Washu suspects something. Mayuka turns out to have been created by the demonic villain Yuzuha, who wanted revenge on Yosho because after befriending Yosho as a child she was banished by the Juraians.

Tenchi Forever: Tenchi Muyo! in Love 2: Haruka Naru Omoi (1999)

Tenchi Forever: Tenchi Muyo! in Love 2 is a continuation of the TV series (Universe) and is the last of the movies. The movie takes place after Tenchi Muyo! in Love 1.

After a fight between Ryoko and Ayeka, Tenchi runs into the mountains to be seduced by a beautiful woman and disappear. Six months later, he is found with a woman named Haruna and he has forgotten his previous life.

Manga

The Tenchi manga consists of two series, Tenchi Muyo! and Shin Tenchi Muyo! (the shin here means new and has no connection to the second television series, Shin Tenchi Muyo (aka Tenchi in Tokyo)), written by Hitoshi Okuda. They have been released in America as No Need for Tenchi and The All-New Tenchi Muyo!.

Unlike most anime/manga combinations, for Tenchi the anime came first, and the manga is considered unofficial. It is based on OAV series 1 and 2. Since the manga originally began in Japan before the release of OAV 2, the OAV 2 elements are not introduced immediately at the beginning. Because the manga is unofficial, new elements introduced in the manga do not carry over to the anime.

Manga series released in the US:

• "No Need for Tenchi" series! (Volumes 1-2, earlier half of volume 3, 4-6, first half of 7, and 8-12.)

• "No Need for Tenchi: Magical Girl Pretty Sammy" (Later half of Volume 3, based on the Magical Project S "Pretty Sammy" anime. Not thought of as part of the Manga storyline)

• "No Need for Tenchi: Tenchi in Love" (Second half of Volume 7, based on the first Tenchi movie. Has characters from the Tenchi Universe timeline. Not thought of as part of the Manga storyline)

• "Tenchi Muyo: Sasami Stories" (A collection or reprint of several of the Sasami related events that happened in the No Need for Tenchi Manga series. However, the book itself is in the new smaller format, and also features bonus comics in the back that were printed over the years. The bonus comics are not thought of as part of the overall Manga story.)

• "The All New Tenchi Muyo" series (Volumes 1-7/still being published. Set in the same story and time (It is a continuation of the No Need for Tenchi manga) as the No Need for Tenchi series, but with a smaller book format. Introduces several new characters that weren't in the No Need for Tenchi series.)

Spin-offs

The first Tenchi spinoff is the Pretty Sammy, the Magical Girl series, a magical girl series where Sasami is the lead character. The first use of Pretty Sammy was in the Tenchi Muyo! Sound File, a Japanese-only music video release. The same animation was used in the ending of the Mihoshi Special. In 1995, a three episode Pretty Sammy OVA series began, where Sasami, who is known as Sasami Kawai, magically becomes Pretty Sammy. The second Pretty Sammy is a TV series (titled in America as Magical Project S), which came out in 1996. This series is a separate continuity from the OAV series. Pretty Sammy also appears in the Mihoshi Special and in an alternate reality sequence in the Tenchi Universe series.

The second is Tenchi Muyo! GXP, which was released in 2001. The series takes place during the Kajishima version of the OVA continuity, directly after the events in the third OVA series, though it was released first. The main character of this twenty-six episode TV series is Seina Yamada, a friend of Tenchi Masaki who accidentally joined the Galaxy Police. Many characters from the Tenchi OAV series make appearances in this series, including the use of Seiryo as a major character and a full-fledged Tenchi Muyo! crossover in episode 17.

Other versions of Tenchi Muyo! are also available as graphic novels, video games and radio dramas.

English Adaptions Distributor History

The manga is published in English in North America by Viz Communications. In Singapore it is published in English by Chuang Yi as No Need for Tenchi!

Pioneer USA (now Geneon Entertainment) has brought out most of the releases in the USA up to 2002. They released the Tenchi OAV series, the Mihoshi Special episode, both of the Tenchi Muyo! television series, and all three of the Tenchi Muyo! movies. Pioneer USA has also distributed the Pretty Sammy spinoff, with both the Pretty Sammy OAV's and Magical Project S TV series. On DVD the Mihoshi Special is released with Pretty Sammy, not with the rest of the Tenchi series.

OVA1 and OVA2 were released on DVD in the UK in 2004.

Funimation Productions licensed the second Tenchi Muyo! spinoff series Tenchi Muyo! GXP for distribution in the United States in 2003, and released it in 2004. FUNimation also licensed the third OAV series and released it on DVD starting July 2005. FUNimation has kept most of the original dub voice cast except for Petrea Burchard, who dubbed Ryoko's voice in the Pioneer/Geneon releases. She is replaced by Mona Marshall in the GXP and OAV 3 series.

Main Characters

The names are in English order, with the surname after the given name. Their names also involve quite a bit of wordplay. One of the features that a Westerner would most likely miss is that just about all the main characters are both connected to space aliens and are Japanese, instead of foreigners.

• Tenchi Masaki (柾木天地 Masaki Tenchi), the hero of the series. Tenchi's name means 'Heaven and Earth'. It is the same as 'Tenchi' in the Shinto Kojiki which contains some Japan's oldest myths and legends.
  • In the OAV-based continuities, Tenchi is the grandson of a Juraian prince named Yosho and a Airaian priestess named Airi. He gains possession of a 'Master Key' called 'Tenchi', also known as the Tenchi Sword (Tenchi-ken), that can form a lightsabre-like blade. He later receives a special ring from Tsunami that can create a Juraian battlesuit for him and acts as a 'Guardian System', protecting him. Tenchi also has the innate ability to create kou-ou-yoku ('Light Hawk Wings'), and the ill-defined ability of 'material conversion'. Tenchi initially lives in the city with his father to attend school and visits his grandfather's shrine every summer, where he trains to become a Shinto priest and learns his family's special style of swordmanship (which happens to be particular to members of Jurai's Royal Family). The house is permanently relocated next to the shrine after a battle, and Tenchi lives in the house with the girls while refusing to get intimate with them. Tenchi no longer attends school, after the school was blown up in OAV 1.
  • In the first TV series, Tenchi Universe, Tenchi is similar in personality to the Tenchi of the OVA, but has no powers beyond the ability to use Tenchi-ken (and, apparently, the blessing of his royal ancestors should he decide to take Jurai's throne). The Tenchi sword is just a weapon and is not a Master Key; there are no intelligent Royal Trees in the TV series. Tenchi does attend school, but it is a long commute for him because he lives at his family's shrine in the mountains.
  • In the second TV series, Tenchi in Tokyo, Tenchi is very different. He has no connections to Jurai and the sword is created from seven gems which he inherited from his late mother. Ryoko separated the gems to prevent the sword from being used against her again. Each of the six girls took one of the gems as a keepsake. Tenchi moved to Tokyo to train as a Shinto priest under a friend of his Grandfathers. Eventually Tenchi got tired of the girls frequent visits and ordered them never to disturb him again. At the end of the series Tenchi finds out that his family are the Planet Guardians whose job is to protect the planet from evil forces when the need arises.

Voices: Masami Kikuchi (Jap), Matt K. Miller (Eng; also credited as "Kermit Miller"), Chris Kent (Eng; GXP)

• Ryoko (й­Ће‘ј RyЕЌko, romanized as Ryouko), a girl from space who is in love with Tenchi.

• • In the original OVA series, she is a 5,000 year old wanted criminal that was imprisoned for 700 years by Youshou and accidentally released by Tenchi. Ryoko is a hybrid clone of one of Washu's ova and a lifeform known as the Masu. She also has a spaceship named Ryo-Oh-Ki. "Ryoko" is given to mean "spirit caller".
  • In both TV series, Ryoko is an infamous space pirate and not related to Washu.
  • At the beginning of the Tenchi Muyo! series that are aired in they UK, she was seen as a demon that was trapped in a shrine when she battled his ancestor. She was later released by Tenchi and lives with him and the gang.

Voices: Ai Orikasa (Jap), Petrea Burchard (1st Eng; also credited as "Celeste Burch"), Mona Marshall (2nd Eng; OAV 3 and GXP)

• Ayeka (й�їй‡Ќйњћ romanized as Aeka, also spelled Aeka in Singapore), the first princess of Jurai, a particularly powerful and wealthy planet, who has found her way to Earth. She has a Royal Tree named Ryu-Oh and her Key is shaped as an ornament that she always wears. She is also infatuated with Tenchi. Her full name in the OVA is Ayeka Masaki Jurai (жџѕжњЁй�їй‡ЌйњћжЁ№й›· Masaki Aeka Jurai). The romanization of her name in the Pioneer English subtitles is "Ayeka" instead of "Aeka" to clarify its pronunciation for Western viewers.

Voices: Yumi Takada (Jap), Jennifer Darling (Eng; also credited as "Kristen Tanner"), Rebecca Forstadt (Eng; GXP; also credited as "Reba West")

• Sasami (з ‚жІ™зѕЋ Sasami), the second princess of Jurai and Aeka's little sister. She has a trigger-like key and her Royal Tree is Tsunami-no-ki (Tsunami). She is a sweet soul who does all the cooking and cleaning, and is often the most reasonable person in the household despite her young age. In the OVA, her full name is Sasami Masaki Jurai (жџѕжњЁз ‚жІ™зѕЋжЁ№й›· Masaki Sasami Jurai). She is Ryo-Oh-Ki's best friend (particularly in 'cabbit' form) and the two are usually found together. In the second TV Series she is Ryo-Oh-Ki's owner. In the OVA, her existence is intertwined with the original Royal Tree of Jurai, also Tsunami-no-ki, after an accident involving Ryoko. This forced Tsunami to merge with Sasami into one being in order to save Sasami's life. On some posters, the kanji characters composing her name mean in turn "Sand Beach Beauty". Those shown here represent the colloquial Japanese word which means "little one" or "tyke". Voices: Chisa Yokoyama (Jap), Sherry Lynn (Eng; also credited as "Katie Ashley"), Kari Wahlgren (Eng; GXP, also credited as "Renee Emerson")

• Washu Hakubi (з™Ѕзњ‰ й·ІзѕЅ Hakubi WashЕ«, romanized as Washuu),

Washu, the greatest scientific genius in the universe, is a different character depending on the series. She has a number of innate powers but she rarely uses them, preferring to solve problems with reason or technology. In the OVA, she is over 20,000 years old and is the mother of Ryoko, and creator of the Souja and Ryo-Oh-Ki. The kanji comprising her name mean "Japanese prisoner", which refers to her original appearance, trapped in Kagato's ship, or when she was trapped in stasis for 700 years in the first TV series. But the name "WashЕ«" is an ancient one for Japan; specifically, the region around Osaka. Washu's hair is derived from a costume from Noh plays, hair intended to resemble the (usually black) legs and claws of a crab. For her, it's a red crab, because this is a food specialty of Osaka. Voices: Yuko Kobayashi (Jap), Kate T. Vogt (Eng; also credited as "Gee Gee Loo Loo"), Jessica Gee (Eng; GXP)

• Mihoshi Kuramitsu (д№ќзѕ…еЇ† зѕЋж�џ Kuramitsu Mihoshi) is a Galaxy Police detective. In the OVA, she constantly enters Washu's lab and breaks things, sleeps often, and is the most lucky of the Galaxy Police (though she is also quite competent). In the OVA, Mihoshi is actually a direct line descendant of Washu, although this is only stated outside the series itself, and her Grandfather is the Grand Marshall of the Galaxy Police. Her name refers to the planet "Venus", but in the Western sense as "Pretty Star", not the Chinese sense of "metal star".
  • In both of TV series and movies, Mihoshi is partnered with a woman named Kiyone Makibi.

Voices: Yuko Mizutani (Jap), Ellen Gerstell (1st Eng; also credited as "Jean Schwartz"), Rebecca Forstadt (2nd Eng; also credited as "Reba West")

• Ryo-Oh-ki (й­Ћзљ‡й¬ј RyЕЌ'ЕЌki), the cabbit. Ryo-Ohki is Ryoko's pet in the OVA and the Tenchi Universe series while Ryo-Ohki is Sasami's pet in Tenchi in Tokyo. In the OVA storyline, she was created by Washu using a sample of a creature called Mass (romanized from the Japanese katakan as masu) along with a dirt sample. In the OVA, when not being used for transport, RyЕЌko's ship remains hidden in the large pond by Tenchi's house. The primary CPU of Ryo-Oh-Ki has the appearance of a cabbit, a cross between a cat and a rabbit. Westerners utterly miss the huge build-up in that Ryo-Ohki literally means "Dragon King" and, before its first appearance, is considered a ruthless criminal ship that Mihoshi is pursuing. Later in the OVA and manga, Ryo-Ohki gains two "cabbit-girl" forms — an adult form and a child form. However she chose to remain with the child form because the adult form is unstable and too hard to walk with.
  • In Tenchi in Tokyo she can transform into a giant pink mecha-like cabbit robot.

Voices: Etsuko Kozakura (Jap), Debi Derryberry (Eng; also credited as "Marie Cabbit"), Mona Marshall (Eng; GXP)

• Noike Kamiki is a character introduced in the third OVA series. She is the adopted daughter of Seto Kamiki Jurai, grandmother of Ayeka and Sasami, and is believed to be a sister of Z. She was also at one time both a Galaxy Police Officer, and Mihoshi's partner. She is sent to Earth supposedly after being selected by Seto as Tenchi's fiancГ©e, and soon becomes as much a member of his extended family as the other girls. However, it is quickly revealed that this is only a cover story, and that she is actually there to monitor the situation in the Masaki home.

Voices: Naomi Shindoh (Jap), Mona Marshall (Eng: GXP), Kari Wahlgren (Eng: OVA3)

• Kiyone Makibi (зњџе‚™жё…йџі Makibi Kiyone) Kiyone, first appeared in the novels by Naoko Hasegawa, one of the scriptwriters for the first season of Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki OVA. She later appeared in the Tenchi Muyo! special "Galaxy Police Mihoshi's Space Adventure" and later became a staple in the TV series timeline, is Mihoshi's partner. Kiyone does not appear in Kajishima's canon — In that continuity Tenchi's mother is named Kiyone and Mihoshi's old partner is Noike.

Voices: Yuri Amano (Jap), Sherry Lynn (1st Eng), Wendee Lee (2nd Eng)

• Sakuya Kumashiro is a character from the second TV series (Tenchi in Tokyo). Tenchi meets her after he moves to Tokyo to begin his Shinto Priest training. Eventually Tenchi starts to care for her to and they spend a lot of time together. Sakuya turns out to be the "shadow" of Yugi, the villain of the series.

Voices: Mayumi Iizuka (Jap), Julie Maddalena (Eng)

Secondary Characters

• Nobuyuki Masaki, Tenchi's father. He is a Peeping Tom and tries to encourage Tenchi to be more active towards women. In the OVA's he is a descendant of Yosho (Katsuhito), while in the TV series he is just Katsuhito's son-in-law, although in the first TV series he addresses Katsuhito as father. In the third OVA series it is revealed that Nobuyuki is living with Reiya, an old friend of the family and, the two of them have moved into an apartment in the city. At the end of that series, he and Reiya officially marry. Voices: Takeshi Aono (Jap), Jay Hopper (1st Eng), Bob Papenbrook (2nd Eng; also credited as John Smallberries)

• Katsuhito Masaki, Tenchi's grandfather (on his mother's side). In the OVA, Katsuhito Masaki, also known as Yosho (YЕЌshЕЌ), fled Jurai over 700 years ago to "retire" on Earth. He was once the greatest swordsman on Jurai. Currently Katsuhito is a Shinto priest who is not only training Tenchi be a Shinto priest but also training him in Jurai swordsmanship. Yosho had a marriage arranged with Ayeka, but left. Not all Juraians liked the idea of mixed blood heritages (he iss part Earthling) and he used Ryoko's attack as an excuse to slip away to Earth. In the OVA, he expected that Ayeka was trying to track him down and arranged for Tenchi to fight Ryoko so that his grandson would go in his place to Jurai. In the first TV series he is still known as Yosho and is related to Jurai's royal family and is the greatest swordsman who has ever lived, but is not a close relative to Ayeka or Sasami. Voices: Katsuhito: Takeshi Aono (Jap), Jay Hopper (1st Eng), Bob Papenbrook (2nd Eng; also credited as John Smallberries) Yosho: Takehito Koyasu (Jpn), Matt K. Miller (1st Eng; also credited as "Kermit Miller"), Richard Cansino (2nd Eng; TMIL2), Bob Papenbrook (3rd Eng; GXP and OVA 3, also credited as John Smallberries)

• Tennyo Masaki, Tenchi's older sister, who appears in episode 14, 15, and 20 of the third OVA. Tennyo is an exact double for Kiyone Masaki, Tenchi's mother in the OVAs. Despite her young looks, Tennyo is 80 years old, and like her grandfather Katsuhito (Yosho), she often uses an older appearance when among others. Because of her similarity to Kiyone Masaki, Tennyo would often swap places with her and take care of Tenchi when he was a baby. She left right after Tenchi's mother had died, only to reappear when it came time to introduce Noike. Voices: Emi Shinohara (Jap), Peggy O'Neal (Eng)

• Airi Masaki: Appeared only in the OVA continuity in both the third OVA series and the spinoff series Tenchi Muyo! GXP. Airi is Katsuhito's current wife which makes her Tenchi's Grandmother. Tenchi originally met Airi in the second episode of the third OVA, when she travelled to Earth to introduce Tenchi's arranged bride Noike to Tenchi and the girls. Airi also works as the chairwoman for the Galaxy Police academy. Although Airi has a minor role in the third OVA's, she does however has a more supporting role in the GXP series. Voices: Sakiko Tamagawa(Jap), Kari Wahlgren (Eng, OVA 3 and GXP; also credited as Renee Emerson)

• Azaka and Kamidake, Ayeka's guardians, in the form of floating logs. They can generate a barrier that allows them to protect Ayeka and paralyze their target, though their powers pale in comparison to the power held by the Royal Trees of Jurai. In the OVA they are minor characters and serve as doorposts to the Masaki home whenever they are not needed. In the first TV series storyline the personalities of two legendary Jurai knights with the same names have been downloaded into them. Near the end of the series the original Azaka and Kamidake are resurrected. They also appear in the second TV series in log form. Voices: Japanese version; Azaka - Kenichi Ogata, Kamidake - Wataru Takagi English version; Azaka - Phil Fox (1st Eng), Mark Tracy (2nd Eng), Doug Stone (3rd Eng), Kamidake - Mark Tracy (1st Eng), Michael Sorich (2nd Eng)

• Minami Kuramitsu is Mihoshi's grandfather and the grand marshall of the Galaxy Police in the OVA. The Kuramitsu family is one of the most powerful families on the planet Seniwa, and is very dominant in the Galaxy Police. He loves his grandaughter greatly, so much so that when he received a letter in the third OVA series, saying that she was being abused by Tenchi, he dispatched her younger brother Misao aboard the Choubimaru, a huge ship owned by the Kuramitsu family, to rescue Mihoshi... and destroy Earth to kill Tenchi. In the final episode of the third OVA series he is demoted to the head of maintenance at the GXP spaceship dock as punishment for this incident. Minami has also made a cameo appearance in Tenchi Muyo! GXP where he welcomed Seina Yamada to the Galaxy Police. Voices: Fumio Matsuoka (Jap) Jay Hopper (1st Eng; OVA 1), Michael McConnohie (2nd Eng; OVA 3 and GXP)

• Azusa Masaki Jurai, the Emperor of Jurai. Only appears in OVA episode 13 and briefly in Tenchi Muyo! GXP episode 25. Azusa is the father of Yosho, Ayeka, and Sasami. He strongly disapproves of Ayeka's interest in Tenchi, and also greatly underestimates Tenchi's abilities. He is the head of House Masaki, though Funaho rules the house while he is on the throne of Jurai. Voices: Akio Ohtsuka (Jap), John DeMita (1st Eng; OVA 2), Dave Mallow (2nd Eng; GXP)

• Funaho Masaki Jurai, the First Queen of Jurai. Only appears in OVA episode 13 and briefly in Tenchi Muyo! GXP episode 25. Funaho is Azusa's first wife, and the mother of Yosho. She also serves as Jurai's Minister of Intelligence, and sees right through Yosho's "Katsuhito" disguise. She is a distant descendant of Masaki, the sister of the first ruler of Jurai, but considers herself to be an Earthling, since she was born on Earth. Voices: Rei Sakuma (Jap), Grace Zandarski (Eng; OVA 2)

• Misaki Kamiki Jurai, the Second Queen of Jurai. Only appears in OVA episode 13 and briefly in Tenchi Muyo! GXP episode 25. Misaki is Azusa's second wife, and the mother of Ayeka and Sasami. She possesses immense physical strength, and is the commander of the royal bodyguards. She is from House Kamiki of the Royal Family. Voices: Yoshiko Sakakibara (Jap), Grace Zandarski (Eng; OVA 2)

• Nagi, the bounty hunter. She is a character in the first TV series only. In the first TV series, Nagi is a recurring character who is obsessed with capturing the one fugitive to ever elude her: the space pirate Ryoko. Like Ryoko, Nagi has spiky light-blue hair and elongated ears, suggesting that they could be of the same species. However, Nagi has no special powers, and instead must rely on a sword, an energy whip, and her impressive fighting skills in combat. She is known as the best bounty hunter in the universe. At the end of the series she passes on a chance to fight Ryoko because Ryoko was badly injured from her previous battle against Kagato, and helps the group against the Jurai fleet because she doesn't want anyone else to take Ryoko's life. She also has her own pet cabbit, which serves as a spaceship. However, Ken-Ohki is male, and madly in love with Ryo-Ohki. Voices: Mizue Ohtsuka (Jap), Julia Demita (Eng)

• Minagi, who exists only in the manga adaptation of Tenchi Muyo, looks exactly like Ryoko, with the exception of two crescent-shaped marks on her cheeks. From a genetic standpoint she would be considered Ryoko's daughter, but considers herself Ryoko's younger sister. She was created artificially when Yakage, an apprentice of Washu, stole a sample of Ryoko's DNA and spliced it with his own. While similar in both appearance and abilities to her "sister", Minagi is very different in personality. She is highly enthusiastic, very polite, and shows no interest in alcohol. While Minagi becomes a pirate, her activities are more akin to the stories of Zorro or Robin Hood than to Ryoko's former career, as she targets only corrupt governments and merchants.

• Naja Akara, Washu's best friend from her days in the academy, appears only in Masaki Kajishima's novels (though it is speculated she appears in OAV 3, and may be the true identity of another character). A philosophy major born at the Jurai Royal Academy, Naja was Washu's first friend at the academy, as well as her research partner. The two worked on many projects for several years, including researching the three gems. It was Naja and Washu's efforts that were responsible for the Jurai Royal Academy shifting into the Independent Royal Academy, and together (by hacking the Academy's network), they stumble upon information regarding the Light Hawk Wings, and the power of Jurai's Royal Family. Sadly, she vanished several thousand years ago during a pirate attack on planet K1190, and was presumed dead. Washu attempted to clone her friend back to life, but failed to truly replicate Naja, as the clone was a much different person than Naja. As Washu and the clone continued the research Washu and the real Naja had been involved in, the clone spiritually possesed a powerful, male Ryoko prototype, changing his/her name to Kagato. The rest is history. It should be noted that Naja and the original Kagato are depicted differently art-wise; Kagato/Clone Naja is depicted with square mini-specs similar to the OAV Kagato's round ones, as well as red lipstick. The original Naja has none of these things.

Villains

• Kagato is the main villain in the first season of the OVA series and first TV series. What impresses Mihoshi most about his record is that for centuries he has been plundering and destroying sacred sites around the universe. The collar of his costume resembles a clerical one, and on it he wears a three-armed emblem composed of the same sort of arms that a crucifix is made of. The interior of his ship has an organ and in its two rows of gothic arches resembles a Christian cathedral. It is named the SЕЌja, which means "temple consecrated to several gods," and so refers to the plundered artifacts. The name also translates to "Twin Serpents", "Double-headed serpent", or "Serpent's nest" represented by the serpents who attack Mihoshi, its design like a wicker basket, and dual dimensions. Finally, it even means "Bad Religion." The ship is obviously a combination of these dual meanings. The significance of these references is lost on Westerners. His name is given in kanji as "I am God-like" or "God Ego Man" but in common Japanese, the name merely means "heel".

• • In the first OVA series, Kagato was once Washu's student, and assisted her in creating Ryoko before capturing Washu in her own ship, Souja, which he took as his own. Like Ryoko, he is a Masu-hybrid humanoid and due to his high willpower, can seize control of Ryoko to have her do his bidding (in the final episode of the third OVA, it was revealed that Kagato was actually a hermaphrodite, but discarded the female half. That gentler female half now resides within Noike). For five thousand years, Kagato scoured the galaxy for hints of the secret of Jurai's power, which he believed was connected to the ultimate power of the universe. Every time he examined a location for clues, he would destroy it after he finished, ensuring that no one else could replicate his research. Eventually he discovered that Jurai's power came from the original Royal Tree called Tsunami, but his plan to capture her was thwarted by Tenchi, who killed Kagato in single combat.

• • Masaki Kajishimi's novels shed a little more light on Kagato. After her friend, Naja Akara, went missing and was presumed dead, a grief-stricken Washu attempted to clone Naja using some of her DNA. The clone, however, exibited behavior much different than the real Naja. Once the clone was born, she and Washu experimented on creating a being to control the power of the gems (research that would eventually lead to Ryoko's birth). During this time, the Naja clone spiritually possesed a male Ryoko prototype, and took the name "Kagato". Shortly thereafter, Kagato sealed Washu away, and persued his own goal of figuring out the Unified Field Theory. After this, Kagato, with the help of an enslaved Ryoko, went on a 5,000 year crime spree that gained him his reputation. He is also the reason that Azusa came to meet Funaho, as he had lost in battle against Kagato, and fled to Earth. Kajishima himself has hinted that Kagato may still be alive in some shape or form. This is presumably referring to the Naja clone, who's body still may exist (she only spiritually possesed the prototype, not physically).

• • In the first TV series, he has a different appearance than his OVA counterpart, is connected to Jurai's Royal Family, and was a great swordsman. He would have been the legendary hero instead of Yosho, but he became obssesed with Jurai's power, committing countless destructive acts in his pursuit of more power. Yosho defeated him, and Kagato's name was erased from Jurai's records. But years later Kagato would return to pose as Yosho, having greatly increased his power having spent his time in the Darkness of the Universe (presumably Hell). Such power granted him, among other things, Eternal Youth and a Master Key of his own (which resembled a dark bastard sword, as opposed to Tenchi-ken's katana-like appearance). From posing as Yosho and displaying his great power, he became Jurai's King and Emperor. He then declared Ayeka and Sasami wanted for treason, which was all part of his plan to eliminate the rest of Jurai's royal bloodline, and to get revenge against against Yosho. This forces the Tenchi Family to leave Earth to journey to Jurai to clear their names.
  • Voices: Norio Wakamoto (Jap), Michael Scott Ryan (Eng; also credited as "Weston Peese")

• Tokimi is a mysterious god-like woman belonging to a race known as Chousin, as her sisters Tsunami and Washu. Introduced in the Second Ova series, she was the one who ordered Dr. Clay to bring Washu to her. Although it could be thought of that she has some manevolent motives in mind, it is not altogether clear if she really IS a villain, since she wishes no harm to come to Tenchi and his family. It was through her manipulations that Z had gained the power of the Lighthawk wings. Later, when Tenchi's power would threaten to destroy all universes, Tokimi and her sisters try to contain a possible explosion, but Tokimi would be attacked by a being Z would call the "counter-actor", which in a human form would resemble an insane Empress Misaki. Tenchi would later save Tokimi from death. Voices: Yumi Touma (Jap), Jennifer Darling (1st Eng; OVA 2), Jane Alan (also credited as; Mari Devon) (2nd Eng; OVA 3)

• Dr. Clay is the main antagonist from the second OVA series. He was a colleague of Washu, prior to her capture by Kagato, and was highly jealous of her superior intelligence. At some point, he came into the employ of a mysterious and powerful extra-dimensional being known as Lady Tokimi, who ordered him to bring Washu to her. To this end, Clay had his creation Zero replace Ryoko, copying her form, powers, and even memories. However, Zero also did something she was supposed to be incapable of: she copied Ryoko's emotions, which led her to defy her creator. In the end, Clay was arrested by Mihoshi, and the dying Zero was merged with Ryoko. However, Tokimi's servant D3 modified the memories of both Clay and Zero to conceal Tokimi's existence. Voices: Seizo Katou (Jap), Wess Mann (Eng)

• Z is the antagonist of the third OVA series, though his first on-screen appearance was in the second (albeit in silhouette only) OVA's short clip Here Comes Jurai Part 2. Serving Lady Tokimi, he is given orders to monitor Tenchi Masaki but not to interfere with him. He immediately disobeys her orders, and when he tampers with a communication from Mihoshi to her family, he sets in motion the chain of events that make up much of the story of the third OVA series. When his attempt to manipulate others into killing Tenchi fails, he attacks him directly in an attempt to eliminate him as a rival. Z is a being of great power, even capable of punching holes through planets seemingly without effort, and like Tenchi he can produce kou-ou-yoku ('Light Hawk Wings'), five of them to Tenchi's three. Voices: Eiji Hanawa (Jap), Brad MacDonald (Eng)

• Yugi is the main antagonist from the second TV Series. She is a Mutant Juraian created 3,500 years ago. She caused trouble on Jurai, until she was sealed away by Empress Hinase. Her pod landed on earth and she laid dormant until an earthquake broke the seal. She wants to build a kingdom on earth which she couldn't do on Jurai. But first she had to separate Tenchi and the girls because the Planet Guardian Gems which form the Tenchi-ken are the only thing that can interfere with her plan. So she creates Sakuya Kumashiro to help manipulate Tenchi in order to keep him separated from the girls when he moved to Tokyo for Shinto Priest Training. She also created three servents Hotsuma, Tsugaru, and Matori to help carry out her mission. She takes a liking to Sasami after they meet in Tokyo and wants to include her in her kingdom, but is unaware that Sasami has no interest in that sort of thing. Voices: Akiko Yajima (Jap), Debi Derryberry (Eng)

• Yakage is the first villain of Okuda's Tenchi Muyo manga series. Previously one of Washu's assistants, Yakage specialized in swords and swordplay, and even designed the energy sword used by Ryoko. However, he ran off on Washu, stealing some of Ryoko's DNA and mixing it with his own. After that, he began raising and training his Ryoko, named Minagi, to be a superior warrior, and to make her the one to wield the ultimate sword. At the same time, he began researching the method to create the ultimate sword. The full extents of his research are still unknwown, but he did discover many powerful blades. The culmination of his work was a dual-bladed, artificial Lighthawk Sword. He had managed to stay for thousands of years to further his studies by cloning himself each time he was near death, training Minagi in the ways of swordsmanship all the while. However, the cloning wasn't perfect, making each clone weaker than the last. Early in the manga, after Minagi was beaten by Ryoko and was stricken with Amnesia as a result, Yakage came to earth himself, along with his two drones, Kuze and Hakkou, to meet Tenchi himself. During this encounter, Kuze and Hakkou easily dispatched Tenchi, and Yakage took Ayeka prisoner in order to entice Tenchi into facing him with his full force. Ryoko failed in her attempt to defeat Yakage alone (to keep Tenchi from having to fight him), so Tenchi and the others quickly headed off to Yakage's ship to take him down and rescue Ayeka. Through fighting with him, and seeing the scar on his face (which he got from the first time Minagi beat him in combat), Minagi's memories returned. The final Yakage was too weak to live for long, and through a combination of his deteriorating body, and inferiority of his artificial sword against Tenchi's real one, he was struck down by Tenchi.

• The Shima Brothers, Hishima, Mushima, and Takashima, are collectively the second main villain of the manga series. At the command of Hishima, the leader of the three, the three cybernetic brothers manipulated a series of events in order to acquire the fabled Jurai Book of Secrets. Much of their plan involved manipulating the Royal Tree Sculptor of Jurai's Royal Family from behind the scenes, using his influence to their advantages. The brothers have a strong, and loyal bond to each other, and can pass on their core units containing their memories and skills to one another. Each brother is completely cloaked, save for a mask, and their hands when they attack.
  • Mushima, the oldest and shortest of the three, fought using his bladed fingers and great speed and agility. Mushima himself had dual personalities, one being a scheming, disonorable snake-in-the-grass, while the other personality was that of an honorable warrior who enjoyed fighting challenging opponents superior to himself. After being beaten by Katsuhito, and the monk, Gohgei, he used the last of his strength to return to his brothers. Moments before his death, he gave Hishima his core device, containing his skills and memories. His body is thin, with many exposed wires, and his mask only reveals his right eye (left in the flipped English manga).
  • Takashima, the youngest and tallest, communicates only with shouts of "glah". We don't see much of his abilites, as he is promptly dispatched by Gohgei. He has a bulky, cybernetic build, and his mask doesn't show either of his eyes.
  • Hishima, the middle brother in both age and height, is the leader, as well as the most powerful of the three. His abilities are varied; at first, all we see of his powers are mind control, and the ability to stretch his fingers, and a great deal of martial arts skill. However, after his mask and cloak are blown off, it is revealed that he is designed after the Gagutan life forms (a shape-shifting, poweful race). On top of that, he has the ability to take on abilities used against him, and use them as his own. Before he was de-cloaked, his body was visibly humanoid, and his mask only revealed his left eye (right in the flipped English manga).

External links

• FUNimation's Official Tenchi Muyo! Site
• Pioneer's Official Tenchi Muyo! Site
• AIC's Official Tenchi Muyo! Site
• Formerly the Unofficial AIC BBS FAQ and now the Tenchi Muyo! FAQ
• Tenchi Muyo Another Universe — Very Useful Resource Site covering all of the Tenchi Series, Movies, and Spin-Offs as well as the latest news.
• Tenchi in Tokyo — Wiki dedicated to the Tenchi anime series.
• Tenchi Muyo Information Archives — Has a archive of screenshots from Tenchi Episodes and has a Character Guide that explains the character differences between each of the Tenchi series.
• 101 Tenchi Muyo Facts — Masaki Kajishima himself answers 101 of the most important and frequent fan-submitted questions about his story. Translated by Rolf.
• The Tenchi Muyo Fan Fiction Archive — the largest Tenchi Muyo fan fiction colletion on the net.de:Tenchi Muyo!

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