Tenchi Muyo Characters

Tenchi is just your typical Japanese 17-year-old. He is athletic because his grandfather trains him in martial arts and sword fighting. Tenchi is very conscious of right and wrong, and has a strong work ethic. He is very kind and generous, but surprisingly chaste. Tenchi shrugs off Ryoko's advances as if they annoy him. I think he likes Sasami more out of all the girls because she is always 100% honest. He really dislikes dishonesty, even in a joke. At times he can be perfectly relaxed, and then way too stressed. This ability to shift focus is a good quality. Tenchi, though young, is already a great warrior, as he proves later in the series. But when we meet him at first, Tenchi is simply an only child living with two other males who suddenly finds his home occupied by 6 feisty females and a cabbit. So it's understandable for him to be a little tense at times.

Washu joins the Tenchi clan after being imprisoned in an Earth cave for over 700 years. She immediately makes adjustments to the Masaki home, which include a personal laboratory where the storage closet formerly was and a lavish bath in the former bath created with pseudo-space (Whatever that is and however that works!) Granted, the explanations for Washu's inventions are about as scientifically accurate as Star Trek, but who cares? The humor lies in the daily disturbances Washu creates when one of her mad inventions goes out of control (which happens only too often) and the immense egotism that comes along with her genius. No doubt she is the self-proclaimed #1 Genius Scientist in the Galaxy. After all, she did create Dimension Oscillating Bullets, Ozone-Destroying Cannons, and a Time-Space Converting Tachyon Ray (whatever those are). She is 20,000 years old, but despite her great age, she has the appearance of a young girl. Only a few times in the series does her true maturity betray itself.

Ryoko does things her own way. She's a space pirate and cruises around in her ship Ryo-ohki. She meets Tenchi after crash-landing by his house. Ryoko was being pursued by Galaxy Police Officer Mihoshi, and only crashed because she had a hangover. Her favorite things to do are to drink tea, and fight with Ayeka, her longtime enemy. Though Ryoko and Ayeka are together much of the time at Tenchi's house and later in space, they learn to coexist, for the most part. Of course, every once in a while they go at each other's necks. Ryoko looks like an Earth woman, but she has a black tail and some special powers. She can levitate, transport back to any place she's been before, and she can shoot energy balls of destruction from her hands. Ryoko may be a tough criminal, but she also has a sensitive side. She craves adventure and a good time. This same trait is the reason for her laziness in the house work at the Masaki home.

Kiyone Makibi is young, intelligent, and a perfect candidate for advancement in the Galaxy Police. She is a career officer who enjoys her job and follows all matters to the letter of the law. The only thing keeping her from a senior position is her idiotic partner, Mihoshi. It is Mihoshi who screws up every assignment they have and keeps Kiyone from advancing her position. It is also because of Mihoshi that the pair wind up on Earth. While Mihoshi chases the wanted criminal Ryoko, she crash-lands on Earth near the Masaki home. Kiyone is sent to find her and the two become resident officers of the Solar System. Despite Mihoshi's foul-ups and insane comments, the two really are friends.

Sasami is the little sister of Ayeka and second in line to the throne of the planet Jurai. She cooks, cleans, and takes care of much of the household chores of the Masaki home. While Ryoko and Ayeka fight over Tenchi, she catches his eye more than either of them does. Sasami is constantly seen with Ryo-ohki, the rabbit/cat.

Ayeka is Jurain royalty, and she sure acts like royalty. She is very traditional in her dress and manner. Ayeka attempts to appear composed at all times, even when laughing. She does this by hiding her mouth behind a long sleeve whenever opening it. She even tries in vain to conceal her vanity. Ayeka is often a hypocrite. She pretends to an innocence and righteousness that she does not have. She has the evilest laugh I've ever heard, even compared to Washu's mad scientist laugh. The only thing Ayeka wants is to be Tenchi's wife. She is protected at all times by two guardians, Azaka and Kamidake. They are the big wooden things that always accompany her. For some reason, Ayeka just cannot leave Ryoko alone, and they fight over the littlest things. However, Ayeka is not entirely mean. At times she can be very nice. It's just funnier when she isn't.

His formal name is Katsuhito Masaki, but we usually regard him as Tenchi's grandpa. He takes care of the Masaki shrine and is an incredible swordfighter. He has a very cool voice, even his 'Is that so?'s are cool. He usually has something wise and appropriate to say in any situation. Although, sometimes the things that he says come out of nowhere. For instance, one time when Tenchi comes back from the woods, he asks a bunch of questions about Leprechauns. Why does he bring up Leprechauns when they're living by a lake in Japan? Or is the translation screwy? Later in the series, Grandpa becomes very mysterious and we gradually learn more about him. He is actually Ayeka's brother, to whom she was married at one time on Jurai. Strange, isn't it?! Those Juraiyans are STRANGE!!!!!

Mihoshi is a ...........well.........there are not enough euphemisms in the English language to describe how frustratingly moronic she is! Some people feel sorry for her brainlessness, but I don't. Mihoshi works with Kiyone, her Galaxy Police partner. Mihoshi is kind of the sidekick of the two, though sometimes it seems that she hurts rather than helps. Perhaps Mihoshi is what Japanese animators think American blondes are like? Another thing, she knows nothing about computers or machinery, and is always punching buttons on Washu's inventions that she shouldn't. What is wrong with her? Of course, without Mihoshi, life at the Masaki house wouldn't be as interesting.

Tenchi's father was married, then widowed. But he's worse than any regular bachelor. Nobuyuki (his first name) is just your typical dirty old man. He invites six beautiful girls to live in his house, supposedly out of the kindness of his heart (yeah right), then he hits on them. Multiple times. When he tries to sneak into the girls' bath, Tenchi has to stop him. Dad just never gives up. He flirts with his secretary and his mouth waters as he watches the swimsuit contest

These two Cabbits each belong to mortal enemies, but they have fallen in love with each other. Ryo-ohki, the female, belongs to the space-pirate Ryoko. Ken-ohki, the male, is the companion of the bounty hunter Nagi. Like all Cabbits, they look like a cross between a cat and a rabbit. They will do anything for carrots, and can transform into an armed spaceship at will.

Nagi is supposedly the greatest Bounty Hunter in the Universe. She has a perfect success record except for one criminal; Ryoko. Many times she has come close to catching up with Ryoko, but the space-pirate always manages to barely escape. They are arch-rivals, but respectful of each other's abilities. Nagi's passion for Ryoko is more than just duty; she is in love with Ryoko. The animators made it obvious that she's a lesbian several times, especially when she visits the bar that advertises 'beautiful girls'..........STRANGE. Nagi's spaceship is also a cabbit like Ryoko's named Ken-ohki.