Season
overview:
Season four was known in English as "Outta Control". Of note in the English production of the show was the departure of Sarah Strange, the voice of male Ranma. She was replaced by Richard Cox from this point onward. The fourth season marks a gradual improvement in the animation once again, as the animation at the end of the previous season began to look rough at times. The staff stayed the same with no shake ups, and the show continued to mix manga inspired tales such as the three-part moxibustion storyline and the Gambling King's story with hit-and-miss original stories such as the false introduction of Ranma's mother. As usual the stories that remained close to their original manga roots came off more successfully than those invented by the shows writers.
Some reordering was done when this batch of episodes was released in America on VHS, and episode 51 was placed in the prior "season", and episode 72 was moved into this "season" (seasons really have no bearing on anything, they are simply a way of referencing sets of episodes by what opening and ending theme they used and how they were divided into boxsets in the United States. In Japan there was no delineation of seasons).
Episode 47: 登場! 史上最強の九能
Toujou! Shijou saikyou ni Kuno (Enter Kuno! The Night Prowling Knight)
The Principal goes on a statue-making spee and insists that all the students should bow before his effigies. Soon the students rebel, however Tatewaki Kuno sides with the Principal to help bring order and discipline to Furinkan High. When Ranma once again makes short work of Kuno, the kendo club captain enlists Happosai to help him train, although helping Happosai during his panty raids is not exactly what Kuno had in mind. Witht he promise of a special light speed powder to help enhance his skills, Kuno diligently follow's Happosai's orders and gets beaten by women for peaking and stealing their underwear. However his skills improve thanks to the unorthodox training. Kuno believes the powder Happosai has given him has enhanced his speed, but in reality the powder is just the grime from under Happosai's fingernails which eventually makes Kuno sick to his stomach.
A more literal translation of the Japanese title would be "Enter! The Strongest Kuno in History".
The statue the Principal has built of himself shows him reading a book. This is a reference to widely reproduced statues of Sontoku Ninomiya (二宮尊徳), which appear at many schools throughout Japan. Ninomiya was orphaned at a young age, but managed to turn abandoned farmland into a successful agricultural venture. From their his talents received more and more notice and eventually acknowledgement from the shogun. Folklore about Ninomiya have given rise to the common depiction of him carrying firewood as a young boy while reading and trying to learn as much as he can.
"You make the school loud- no-no-no! I mean, proud!" - In Japanese the words the Principal mixes up are "trash" (ゴミ/gomi) and "exhaustion after hard work" (ほっこり/hokkori).
"Signed October 12, 1990." - That is the day this episode originally aired.
There is a coloring error on the Principal's teeth in one scene.
The other statues that are referenced include the Statue of Liberty, Emperor Augustus, the bronze statue of Saigo Takamori and his dog, the Venus de Milo, an equestrian statue of Napoleon (though probably meant to be a statue replica of Jacque Louis David's painting Napoleon Crossing the Alps), a statue of Buddha making the abaya mudra, a statue depicting a yasugibushi dancer, a maneki-neko (beckoning cat) statue, a tanuki statue and Auguste Rodin's The Thinker.
The guest voices in this episode are Koji Tsujitani (辻󠄀谷耕史), Takehito Koyasu (子安武人), Sayuri Haneda (羽田小百合), Takashi Matsuo (松尾貴司), Akira Negishi (根岸朗), Akira Ishida (石田彰), Zenchu Mitsui (三井善忠), Keiichi Ando (安藤圭一), Michiyo Sasaki (佐々木みち代), Midori Nakazawa (中沢みどり), Momoko Ishi (石桃子) and Ryuzo Ishino (石野竜三).
Episode 48: 乱馬が弱くなっちゃった!
Ranma ga yowaku nacchatta (Ranma Gets Weak)
When Ranma interrupts Happosai's panty raids and gets the old man beaten up, Happosai uses his strength-sapping moxibustion on Ranma to make him incredibly weak. Now Ranma cannot defeat Kuno at school and Happosai starts to spread the word to Ranma's other rivals. When Mousse and the Principal try to gang up on the newly weakened Ranma, Ryoga steps in to protect him, but then punches him due to how emotionally upset seeing Ranma in such a pathetic state has made him. Ukyo realizes that a newly weakened Ranma can be of no use in inheriting the Tendo Dojo and decides this might be her best opportunity to win him over. Akane and Genma consult with Dr. Tofu who sends them in search of a scroll that may have the pressure points that will reverse Ranma's weakness, however it seems Happosai stole the scroll from the temple one hundred years ago. With seemingly no cure in sight Ranma and Genma leave the Tendo home.
Moxibustion (灸/Kyuu) is a treatment where burning, dried mugwort is placed on certain key points of the body (not dissimilar to the way needles are used in accupuncture).
The kanji scarred onto Ranma's back by the moxibustion reads "poor" (貧/hin).
The title of the book that Dr. Tofu consults if "Moxabustion" (灸/kyuu).
There is an impact frame when Ranma ineffectively kicks the Principal. It shows Maomolin and his bell despite the fact that he has no yet debuted in the anime.
The kanji appearing around Ranma when Ryoga tells him how weak he is is, appropriately, "weak" (弱/yowa).
When Ukyo imagines Ranma as her husband playing with their child it shows him wearing a harumaki (腹巻) belly-warmer. By the 1970s and 1980s it was considered an out of date style of fashion worn by middle-aged men, such as Bakabon's Father in Tensai Bakabon (天才バカボン), Tora-san from Otoko wa Tsurai yo (男はつらいよ, "It's Tough Being a Man") and most famously among Takahashi charactesr, Mr. Fujinami from Urusei Yatsura.
Episode 49: 完成! とんでもない必殺技
Kansei! Tondemonai hissatsuwaza (Eureka! The Desperate Move of Desperation)
Ranma heads off into the mountains with Cologne, Genma, Ukyo and Ryoga to attempt to lean the ultimate "desperation move," the Hiryu Shoten Ha. In order to trigger the powerful attack Ranma must draw his opponents into a spiral pattern while remaining cool. The clash of their heated aura with his icy demeanor will create a powerful tornado. However, no one is able to generated the required hot aura when the fight Ranma as they pity his weak state too much. Even Ryoga cannot manage it until Ranma leads him to believe that he had his way with Akane against her will. Enraged, Ryoga attacks Ranma with all his heart and Ranma is able to unleash the poweful Hiryu Shoten Ha.
Moxibustion is the burning of dried mugwort. That is also where the name for the Yomogi Gorge (よもぎ谷/Yomogi Tani) comes from, as "yomogi" is the Japanese name of mugwort.
The "Heaven Blast of the Dragon" (飛竜昇天破) is called the "Hiryu Shoten Ha" in the original Japanese.
The training harness that Ranma wears is inspired by the one worn by Hyuma Hoshi in Star of the Giants (巨人の星/Kyojin no Hoshi).
When Ryoga tells Ranma that he is too soft-hearted to hurt Ranma in his weakened state, the weight that falls on Ranma's head has the kanji for "weak" (弱い/yowai) written on it.
The song playing when Ranma tosses the stone into the water is not found on any of the soundtracks. It is a slow-tempo version of "Don't Mind Lai-Lai Boy".
The guest voices in this episode were Takashi Matsuo (松尾貴司) and Momoko Ishi (石桃子) who both played unnamed characters.
Episode 50: 決戦! 乱馬復活なるか?
Kessen! Ranma fukkatsu naru ka? (Showdown! Can Ranma Make a Comeback?)
Having unleashed the Hiryu Shoten Ha, Ranma travels back to Tokyo to face Happosai and force him to restore his strength. However once Ranma begins to lure Happosai into the spiral pattern, the old man immediately recognizes the technique from when Cologne used it on him when he was 18 years old. Ranma struggles to draw out Happosai's heated battle aura, going so far as to burn his panty collection, however Happosai remains calm and refuses to do anything that Ranma might be able to use to trigger the Hiryu Shoten Ha. Realizing he can push Happosai's heat sky high, Ranma takes pictures of herself in lingerie and manages to drive Happosai wild. Mousse, the Principal and Kuno all join in to attack Ranma as well. With so much heated battle aura coming at him at once, Ranma unleashes a massive tornado blast. However, the vortex catches not only his enemies, but also Akane and the moxibustion's cure scroll. With the scroll in tatters, Cologne asks Ranma's school friends to pick up all the pieces and she is able to restore Ranma's strength.
Rumiko Takahashi would later discuss the creation of the Hiryu Shoten Ha in an interview here.
Additionally she spoke in an interview about how the battles depicted in Ranma 1/2 were heavily influenced by the work of Masami Kurumada such as Put It All in the Ring (リングにかけろ/Ringu ni Kakero) and Saint Seiya (聖闘士星矢). A side by side comparison proves useful.
The bucket Happosai tries to use to splash Ranma says "for fire prevention" (防火用/boukayousui).
The grafitti Ranma writes on Happosai's face includes "moron" (バカ/baka), "horny old man" (エロじいじい/ero-jiijii) and a heno heno moheji face.
"Two okonomiyaki please." - Ukyo responds to the student's order by saying "ookini" (おおきに). This is "thank you" in the Kansai-ben dialect of Japanese spoken in Osaka.
The song playing while Ranma struggles with the backpack is not found on any of the soundtracks.
The large roller that Ranma smashes when he gets his strength back is a land roller used for leveling fields. These are called by various names, "kondara" (コンダラ) or "leveling roller" (整地ローラー/seichi rooraa). Using them in training became popularized in the baseball manga and anime Star of the Giants (巨人の星/Kyojin no Hoshi).
The guest voices in this episode include Yuko Kobayashi (小林優子) as "Cologne" (meaning Young Colone), Takehito Koyasu (子安武人) as "Happy" (meaning Young Happosai), Koji Tsujitani as "Hiroshi" (辻󠄀谷耕史) and Arihiro Hase (長谷有洋) and Momoko Ishi (石桃子) as anonymous background voices.
Episode 51: 右京のスカート大作戦!
Ukyo no skirt daisakusen! (Ukyo's Skirt! The Great Girly-Girl Gambit)
Ukyo thinks that if she dressed more femininely that Ranma might like her more. When she arrives at school wearing a normal schoolgirl's uniform all the boys begin flirting with her, with even Kuno taking an interest. Ranma does not recognize her at first, but still says that she is just his friend, which Ukyo find disappointing. Akane begins to think that Ukyo is trying harder, and that she too should make more of an effort with Ranma. Later, when Ranma and Ukyo go to the park, word gets out to Ranma's other fiancées that he and Ukyo were on a "date". Jealousy erupts amongst them and Shampoo, Kodachi, Ukyo and Akane all hold a cooking contest at the school gymnasium to see who can prepare the best French food for Ranma. When pressed on who's food was best, the boys from school run in and cause chaos and Ranma admits that all the food ran together in his mind, with even Akane's being palatable. At her restaurant, Ranma tells Ukyo that he likes her best in her normal uniform which makes her happy.
A more literal translation of the Japanese title would be "Ukyo's Operation: Skirt".
The magazine Ukyo is looking at has an article saying "Autumn is dyed red" (紅に染まる秋の.../Kurenai ni somaru aki no...).
When Ranma comes to Ucchan's she greets him with "Oide yasu" (おいでやす). This is Kansai dialect for "welcome (to our shop)". "Irasshamase" (いらっしゃいませ) would be the more standard Japanese (non-regional) version.
The up tempo song that plays while the camera pans over Furinkan High students commenting on how cute Ukyo is is not found on any of the soundtracks.
"Hiroshi! I was first!" - this is one of the few times where we hear Hiroshi addressed by name. Daisuke's name is mentioned though only in the ending credits, not in the episode itself.
When Ranma next comes to Ucchan's she greets him with "maido" (毎度). This is short for "maido arigato gozaimasu" (毎度ありがとうございます) or "thank you for your continued patronage".
The voices for this episode include Takehito Koyasu (子安武人) as "Daisuke", Koji Tsujitani (辻󠄀谷耕史) as "Hiroshi" and unnamed parts for Yu Nishioka (西岡有), Akira Ishida (石田彰) and Mitsuaki Madono (真殿光昭).
Episode 52: 乱馬のママがやってきた!
Ranma no mama ga yattekita! (Here Comes Ranma's Mom)
Genma and Ranma are sparring with one another, fighting past a clown who is announcing the circus has come to town and then falling into the river as an unseed woman watches. That night at the Tendo home, the woman pays a visit and speaks to Genma who seems polite and deferential to her. Happosai speaks up, explaining that this woman is Sakura, who Genma fell in love with years and years ago. Sakura gave birth to Ranma, but her parents refused to let Sakura and Genma be together. Ranma explains he has never heard this story, but he cannot reconcile his father's strange behavior towards the woman. Ryoga, Mousse and Kuno realize that if Ranma's mother takes him away, that will leave them to win over their love interests. However, Ukyo, Kodachi, Shampoo and a reluctant Akane are all convinced by Happosai that Sakura will choose Ranma's fiancée depending on which is the best housewife. Genma disappears for a few days, returning exhausted and carrying a sprig of bamboo leaves. He seems insistant that Ranma must meet with Sakura and Akane struggles with the idea that Ranma may move out. Soun even offers to let Sakura come and live with Genma and Ranma at the Tendo home. Genma finally convinces Ranma to go meet Sakura who is at the circus. Ranma quickly realizes that Sakura is not his mother, but a circus performer who hopes to use Ranma and Genma's curses to wow the crowds. Genma had tried to take Ranma's place, knowing that his son should inherit the Tendo Dojo, but his clumsy behavior meant that the circus was not as interested in him as they were in his son who could turn into a girl. Akane confronts Happosai about his lie regarding who Sakura was, but Happosai simply says he could not help but lie.
Nodoka Saotome, Ranma's actual mother, had not yet debuted in the manga when this episode aired. She would not appear for another two years and five months.
The music playing at the circus when Ranma first speaks to Sakura is not found on any soundtracks.
The circus is called "Big Circus" (大サーカス/dai saakasu).
The guest voices for this episode are the "Clown" played by Fumihiko Tachiki (立木文彦) and "Female Leader" (obviously referring to Sakura) played by Kazuko Sugiyama (杉山佳寿子). Both appear in other Takahashi projects as Tsukumo no Gama in Inuyasha and Ten in Urusei Yatsura repectively.
Episode 53: 良牙、愛と苦悩を越えて
Ryoga, ai to kunou wo koete (Ryoga... Beyond the Pleasure and Pain)
Ryoga sits alone at night pondering his history with Ranma and his deep feelings for Akane. As he wites a letter to his rival he just cannot seem to express what he is trying to say, his rememberances are interrupted by the storm outside and the nearby farmers who are searching for their escaped pigs. While Ryoga meditates on why he continues to lose to Ranma, one little pink pig with a bow tie hides away in Ryoga's bag for protection. As the storm breaks and the night passes into day, Ryoga is determined to train in the mountains and eschew any thoughts of Akane until he can defeat Ranma. However, he accidentally wanders back to Nerima where he runs into Ranma and Akane. The little pink pig pops out and and when it kisses Ryoga with its snout, Ranma mockingly calls it Ryoga's girlfriend.
This episode is the debut of the little pig that seeks shelter with Ryoga.
The actual name of the animation director this episode is unknown, as they decided to use the alias "Yoiko Hibiki" as their credit. According to Japanese website Hatabo's Room, this was the alias of Hiroko Kazui (数井浩子). The "others" refer to the staff that wrote were involved in the clips from previous episodes that were used in this episode.
The stones placed on the roof of the hut Ryoga is taking shelter in are used to hold the boards of the roof in place and ensure they do not blow away.
The truck that drives past Ryoga says "Penguin Service Moving" (ペンギン便引越/Pingin-ben Hikkoshi).
The guest voices on this episode are Kazumi Tanaka (田中和実), Fumihiko Tachiki (立木文彦) and Mitsuru Ogata (小形満).
Episode 54: フィアンセは化け猫
Fianse wa bakeneko (My Fiancé the Cat)
Upset by a horror film she watched late into the night, Akane has the jitters. Eventually, Shampoo gives Ranma a large bell and keeps the smaller one for herself, gifts that she bought on her recent return trip to China. Legend has it that whomever holds the bells are destined to be wed. What no one realizes is that the large bell is actually haunted by a bride-seeking ghost cat. Ranma is terrified of the creature as it continues to visit the Tendo home in hopes of winning Shampoo from him, but Maomolin, the ghost cat, is inept at fighting even when Ranma is in tears and only strikes the creature out of fear. Finally giving up, Ranma angrily tells Shampoo he did not drive the ghost cat away out of love for her. Seeking revenge she gives her small bell to Ranma and knocks him into the koi pond. When the ghost cat sees female Ranma he immediately tries to make her his bride. This is too much for Ranma who reverts to her Cat-fu stance and beats Maomolin up until he flees. The next day at school, the ghost cat has returned, trying to give little bells to all the female students.
Maomolin the Ghost Cat debuts in this episode. Yo Yoshimura, who voices Maomolin passed away in 1991 and was replaced by Masahiko Anzai.
A more literal translation of the episode title would be "My Fiancé the Ghost Cat".
This episode marks one of the highest audience viewership rating of the entire series. For more information please see our article "Ranma 1/2 Top 10 Highest Rated Episodes".
The tea cups on the table while Akane is watching the horror movie say "mysterious" (玄/gen) and "longevity" (寿/kotobuki).
"I saw a faceless spectre!" - A faceless ghost is a "nopperabo" (野箆坊). The faceless ghosts are often a disguised mujina, tanuki or kitsune using their shapeshifting powers according to folktales.
"I bought for you when I visited home in China." - in episode 49 Cologne mentioned that Shampoo was back in China.
The ghost cat is a "bakeneko" (化け猫) literally a "changed cat". These are often confused for another supernatural cat creature (that has two tails)- the nekomata (猫又).
"Daikanki" - Shampoo says this rather often. "Daikanki" (大歡喜) means "overjoyed" or "ecstasy".
On the side of the box of tissues it simply says "tissue" (ティッシュ).
"Laughing on the outside, crying on the inside." - In Japanese Maomolin says "laughing with my face, crying with my heart" (顔で笑って心で泣く/kao de waratte, kokoro de naku). This is a proverb, but also a famous lyric from the song "It's Tough Being a Man" from the film series of the same name (男はつらいよ/Otoko wa tsurai yo) featuring Tora-san. As a result, the translators used an English song title "Laughing on the Outside, Ccrying on the Inside" which is a popular song from 1946.
The guest voices for this episode Yo Yoshimura (吉村よう) as "The Ghost Cat" and Masamichi Sato (佐藤政道), Fumihiko Tachiki (立木文彦) and Masashi Sugawara (菅原正志) who were all unspecified roles (likely they played the horror film narrator and characters within the movie, as well as the frightened salaryman).
Episode 55: 吹けよ風! 青春は熱血だ
Fukeyo kaze! Seishun wa nekketsuda (Blow, Wind! To Be Young is to Go Gung-Ho)
The Principal gathers everyone in front of the school to announce he has hired a new teacher to help him straighten out Furinkan High School. Everyone groans about this, but when the new teacher, Torajiro Higuma, arrives he is filled with zeal and enthusiasm to encourage everyone to explore their passions and celebrate their youth. Ukyo proudly declares her love of okonomiyaki while Akane bashfully admits to her passion for the martial arts. Ranma is dubious about the new gung-ho teacher and and Higuma takes an interest in making sure Ranma properly declares that Ranma and Akane are engaged, much to their embarrassment. Speaking with Hiroshi and Daisuke, Higuma discovers that they harbor crushes on Akane, but because Ranma has not made his feelings known, the boys are left in limbo. Higuma also worries that Ukyo is being forced to work at her restaurant to support a drunken father. Finally, Higuma announces that he feels his job is done and other schools across Japan need his help more than Furinkan. He runs into the sunset after engaging in a student/teacher rugby match that leaves Furinkan High's faculty decimated.
This episode marks one of the highest audience viewership rating of the entire series. For more information please see our article "Ranma 1/2 Top 10 Highest Rated Episodes".
This episode is the debut of Torajiro Higuma. As Akane mentions, his last name "brown bear" (ひぐま).
Torajiro Higuma is a parody of "hot-blooded" (熱血/nekketsu) characters that were popular in the 1970s. This genre is often associated with "Supokon" (スポ根/Sports Spirit). It is epitomized by series such as Star of the Giants (巨人の星/Kyojin no Hoshi), Attack No. 1 (アタックNo.1) and Ashita no Joe (あしたのジョー). Rumiko Takahashi's work (in general) is embodied by Ranma's attitude towards Higuma in this episode. This also shows up in her approach to her manga series One Pound Gospel as discussed in her interview. More specifically however, this episode also parodies School Wars (スクール☆ウォーズ) and its rugby playing coach/teacher Kenji Takezawa, who is modeled on the real life rugby player Ryota Yamaguchi (山口良治).
Hiroshi and Daisuke are mentioned by name in this episode, by this point in the series they are somewhat more frequently being addressed by their names.
Higuma attempted to grasp Kuno's bokuto when he burst into the classroom. Shinken Shirahadori (真剣白刃取り) is a fictional fighting technique mostly known in manga and anime in which a person catches a blade being swung down at them by clapping their hands together to prevent the blade’s downward motion. While this is named for an actual technique used to prevent an opponent from drawing their blade in the first place, the idea of catching a blade barehanded is entirely fictional.
"I shall visit each of your homes today." - Home visits are a real thing in Japanese schools. Teachers will visit the home of their pupils to meet with their parents and inspect the study area of the student to better understand the child's learning environment.
"Thank you, come again." - Ukyo uses two Japanese phrases in the Kansai dialect (関西弁/Kansai-ben) that she speaks with. "Ookini" (おおきに) and "maido" (毎度).
The instrumental remix of Zettai! Part 2 that is played during the rugby game is not found on any of the series' soundtracks.
There is a impact frame of the Principal's skull fracturing when he is struck by Higuma's rugby ball.
The voices for this episode are Koji Tsujitani (辻󠄀谷耕史) as "Hiroshi", Takehito Koyasu (子安武人) as "Daisuke", Hideyuki Tanaka (田中秀幸) as "Higuma", Arihiro Hase (長谷有洋) as "Teacher #1", Mitsuru Agata (小形満) as "Teacher #2", Takashi Matsuo (松尾貴司) as "Teacher #3)", Michiyo Sasaki (佐々木みち代) as "Students" and Momoko Ishi (石桃子) as "Female Students".
Episode 56: 恐るべき新弟子現わる
Osorubeki shindeshi arawaru (The Appearance of a Formidable New Disciple)
After watching Happosai make short work of Ranma, a traveling martial artist named Heita Genji decides to sign up at the Tendo Dojo to learn Anything-Goes Martial Arts with the expressed desire to study under Happosai. Heita immediately impresses the Tendos with his kind-heartedness, steady work ethic and good manners, though Ranma and Genma soon feel uncomfortable that their freeloading looks even worse by comparison. Heita is soon paying Soun in rice, helping to buy groceries, cook and clean while Ranma and Genma do nothing at all. Ryoga shows up to fight Ranma and Heita sits him down and gives him a motivational talk about not wasting his youth battling against Ranma. Later, Genma proves his incompetence when he gets distracted during practice with Heita while searching for an imaginary pork bun. However, when Happosai agrees to train the new pupil, he disappoints the old man by bungling his panty raid and lecturing Happosai that what he is doing is wrong. When Happosai refuses to train him more, Akane, tries to give Heita a pep talk to encourage him not to give up. Heita decides to steal a huge amount of panties to impress Happosai, including all of the Tendo sisters' underwear. Seeing how thick-headed and stupidly sincere he is, Ranma no longer worries that Akane might be more impresses with Heita than himself.
Heita Genji makes his debut in this episode. His first name is written with the kanji for "peace" and "plump" (平太).
Heita's starry eyes are a callback to Takahashi's own character from Urusei YatsuraTobimaro Mizunokoji. Tobimaro's eyes are themselves a reference to the main character of the classic baseball manga Star of the Giants (巨人の星/Kyojin no Hoshi).
The guest voices in this episode are Shinnosuke Furumoto (古本新之輔) as "Heita" and Michiyo Sasaki (佐々木みち代), Momoko Ishi (石桃子) and Sayuri Haneda (羽田小百合) as background voices.
"In martial arts like the Anything-Goes style the most important thing is your spirit." - Soun uses the term "kiai" (気合) for "spirit" which is accurate, but the word also means "shout", a yell used in martial arts, which is why Soun and Genma keep yelling.
"After all, they call me Happy-Go-Lucky Heita!" - In Japanese his nickname is more alliterative "Heiki no Heita" (平気の平太) meaning "Easy-going Heita".
The magazine Happosai is reading is "Ogeretu" (a mis-angliziation of "Ogeretsu"). This is likely a portmanteau of "ogen" (汚言) meaning "someone frequently uttering obscene words or socially inappropriate comments" and "retsu" (劣) meaning "sub-" or "inferior".
"Youth comes only once. You shouldn't waste it!" - Heita is very much like Higuma in the previous episode. He is a parody of the "hot-blooded" (熱血/nekketsu), sincere characters that were popular in the 1970s and had been largely mocked by the 1980s and 1990s.
The sign above the entrance to the dojo is often seen in this episode. The sign above the entrance says 館武天. However, to express the age and long traditions of the Anything-Goes Martial Arts school this is written and read right-to-left (rather than left-to-right). This is an example of how Japanese script was uncommonly written in a horizontal fashion prior to the 1920s and 1930s. This is called migi yokogaki (右横書き). Consequently, despite being written 館武天 in a modern fashion it would be written in the reverse direction and read left-to-right today: 天武館 (Tenbukan). Tenbukan is a term that is often associated with martial arts that does have a particularly literal meaning. The kanji mean "heaven warrior building", you see the term used with various dojo names or martial arts style names somewhat regularly.
The guest voices in this episode are Shinnosuke Furumoto (古本新之輔) as "Heita" and Michiyo Sasaki (佐々木みち代), Momoko Ishi (石桃子) and Sayuri Haneda (羽田小百合) as background voices.
Episode 57: おもてに出やがれ!
Omote ni deyagare! (Step Outside!)
Somewhere a young boy named Yotaro dreams of playing outside with a panda and promptly tells his mother of his dream. Meanwhile Ranma and Genma have been chased out of the house by Happosai's threats and told to only return once they have found a suitable Christmas tree that he can festoon with is bra and panty collection. While out seaching in a blizzad, Genma and Ranma become separated and after days apart Ranma calls the Tendos to see if Genma has returned. With no luck, Akane comes to join Ranma in his search for his father. Soon they find a panda named Kumahachi living a luxurious life an a mansion with Yotaro and his mother. It seems Genma has taken up residence here as Yotaro's pet. He is fed incredibly well and lives like a king as long as he remains a panda. It seems that Yotaro is a sickly child who never goes outside, but promised his mother that if he had a pet panda he would get strong enough to venture outside. When Yotaro's mother found panda Genma rooting through their garbage cans she believed the panda was sent by God to answer her son's prayers. However, all Genma does is lay around and eat expensive food, never taking Yotaro outside. Ranma and Akane chide, threaten and thrash Genma, trying to make him come home, but Yotaro insists on keeping the his "Kumahachi". Ranma soon learns that Yotaro is not actually sick, merely lazy as he just wants to play video games all day and lay in bed. Finally Ranma is able to carry panda Genma away, but Yotaro follows them 20 kilometers back to the Tendo home. Happosai is furious that Genma and Ranma did not return with his Christmas tree.
No episode of Ranma 1/2 Nettohen aired the following two weeks.
This episode marks one of the highest audience viewership rating of the entire series. For more information please see our article "Ranma 1/2 Top 10 Highest Rated Episodes".
Despite the episode being set at Christmas time, the original manga story was set during summer.
This episode is the debut of Yotaro and his mother. The name "Yotaro" (与太郎) is a reference to a liar or a slow-witted person.
The song that plays as Yotaro dreams about Kumahachi is not found on any soundtrack.
The name "Kumahachi" (熊八) is a given name in Japanese. The kanji it is witten with is "bear eight".
The song that plays when Ranma loses at the video game is "Shave and a Haircut".
When Ranma gets caught up playing the video game and Akane scolds him, he turns to Genma and slaps him with a large, paper fan. This is called a "harisen" (ハリセン). These are often used in manzai comedy where the straight man hits the funny man over the head with it.
At the Tendo home as they await Genma, Akane and Ranma's return, there is a box on the table that says "Merry Christmas". This is the sort of box that a traditional Christmas cake that is sold in Japan during the holidays is packaged in.
The synthesizer song at the end as Yotaro dreams of a sleigh pulled by pandas is also not found on any soundtracks.
The guest voices for this episode are Naoko Matsui (松井菜桜子) as "Yotaro" and Mari Yoko (横尾まり) as "Mama".
Episode 58: 良牙の天道道場居候日記
Ryoga no Tendo dojo isourou nikki (Ryoga's "Tendo Dojo Houseguest" Diary)
Finding himself wandering through Furinkan High, Ryoga stops Happosai who is pestering girls in the hallway. The students tell Ryoga that a strong boy like himself should enroll at Furinkan and help protect them. Akane agrees and soon Ryoga is living at the Tendo home while Akane helps him to study for the high school entrance exam. Ranma is annoyed by Ryoga's presence and he and Happosai continually disrupt Ryoga and Akane's attempts to study. While Akane and Ranma go to school, Ryoga remains at home, trying his best to study but finding it difficult to think about anything other than Akane's kindness. She has even tied a bandana to his hand with a pencil slipped inside to ensure he does not fight until his studying is complete. Wandering out of the house, Ryoga eventually finds his way to Furinkan High, but only after Akane has gone home. Ranma mocks him, but Ryoga keeps his promise not to fight and asks Ranma to help take him back to the Tendo home so he does not get lost. Once again Ryoga and Akane try to study, but Happosai hits Akane's pressure points to put her to sleep while dressed as P-chan, as he keeps insisting that Ryoga will do something to Akane during their late night study session. Ranma and Ryoga try to save a sleeping Akane from Happosai, but the old man easily defeats them. When Happosai cuddles up next to Akane, she starts tossing and turning and beats him to a pulp, which Ryoga confirms is how she usually sleeps when he is P-chan. Having removed the bandana from his hand in order to try to protect Akane, Ryoga feels unfit to continue studying with Akane and goes off to train, accidentally wandering to Okinawa. Soon a box of pineapples arrives with P-chan inside, as Ryoga has had himself shipped back to the Tendo home.
The graffitti that Ryoga writes on the wall using his finger has his name and Akane's name under a drawing of an umbrella. This is called "ai ai gasa" (相合傘) meaning to "share an umbrella". A couple walking together under an umbrella can stand closely with one another, and thus the umbrella with names written beneath it conjures a romantic image.
While not a wholly faithful adaptation, much of this episode's story is lifted from chapter 66 of the manga.
"By the way Akane, I'm now training in Hokkaido. It's very hot. The other day, I was almost bitten by a snake." - Ryoga is obviously not referring to Hokkaido, the chilliest, northernmost island in Japan. Instead the description and scenery suggest he is in Okinawa.
The guest voices in this episode are Masami Toyoshima (豊島まさみ) as "school girl", Momoko Ishi (石桃子) as "school girl", Sayuri Haneda (羽田小百合) as "school girl" and Masaya Kato (加藤雅也) in an unnamed role.
Episode 59: 八宝斉の恋!
Happosai no koi! (Happosai's Happy Heart)
While wandering through the neighborhood, Happosai sees some underwear in a tree and leaps up to fetch them, but realize they belong to a child. Finding himself in the grounds of a nursery school, a teacher, Midori, comes out to see what Happosai is doing. The old man lies and tells her he was returning the underwear he found in the tree and she thanks him profusely. Later Happosai tries to steal more underwear only for the targeted pair to be Midori's. He stops himself and she invites him in for tea. Happosai is immediately smitten over the young nursery school teacher. Happosai returns to the school to patiently play with the children despite their picking on him. He has tea with Midori again and she even knits him a sweater. Happosai commits himself to ending his panty thievery and Soun, Genma and Ranma all put him to the test. Through much struggle, he seems cured of his behavior, refusing to steal underwear from Kasumi's clothesline, or a bra dropped by Nabiki when bringing in the laundry. Even female Ranma in a bikini is not enough to tempt Happosai. However, while playing with the children at the nursery school Happosai soon collapses due to an extended period of not touching women or underwear. After dumping a pile of panties on his unconscious body, he soon awakens and returns to his old ways, revealing his perverse nature to Midori.
It is unclear what the true identity of the animation director one this episode was, but they used the alias "Azusa Shiratori". They also worked on episode 99. According to Japanese website Hatabo's Room, this was the alias of Atsuko Nakajima.
This episode marks one of the highest audience viewership rating of the entire series. For more information please see our article "Ranma 1/2 Top 10 Highest Rated Episodes".
This episode is the debut of Midori. Her name means "green" as mentioned in the episode when she knits a green sweater for Happosai.
The name of the kindergarten is "Nakayoshi" (なかよし) which means "close friendship".
Midori has a small piyo piyo chick on her apron similar to that of Maison Ikkoku's Kyoko Otonashi.
The children's name tags give their names as "Masa", "Saru", "Ken", and "Kayo" all written in simple hiragana.
The guest voices for this episode are Yumi Takada (高田由美), Yoshiko Kamei (亀井芳子), Michiyo Sasaki (佐々木みち代), Kei Mayama (真山恵衣), Momoko Ishi (石桃子), Sayuri Haneda (羽田小百合) all in unspecified roles. Yumi Takada plays Midori, though she is not specifically credited in the role in the credits.
Episode 60: 九能ボー然! 恋の大予言
Kunou boozen! Koi no daiyogen (Extra, Extra! Kuno and Nabiki! Read All About It)
One morning, Gindo, a wandering mountain ascetic, arrives at the Kuno home. Sasuke explains to Kuno that he is an old childhood friend of his and hopes the man can stay for a few days while passing through. He tells Kuno that Gindo is a fortune-teller as well, though Kuno puts no stock in his predictions. Gindo warns Kuno to beware of water on the way to school and as Kuno hurries to Furinkan High School, he ducks out of the way of a woman splashing water on the street. This causes him to fall into a manhole and break a waterworks pipe that launches him into the air. Gindo's next prediction tells Kuno to beware of women trouble, which Kuno merely laughs off. However, when Happosai passes by and drops a bra on Kuno's head, the angry mob of women chasing Happosai turn on Kuno and attack him. Returning home, Kuno tells Gindo that he now is ready to accept his predictions. During a ceremony as he chants over a fire, Sasuke produces a bundle of wood to stoke the fire higher. Staring into it, Gindo gives Kuno precise directions to follow in order to meet the woman he should marry. Kuno follows the path to the letter, chasing after a dog and following a balloon in the sky until he arrives at a bridge. The first woman he meets is not Akane nor the Pig-tailed Girl, rather it is Nabiki. Kuno does his best to try to love Nabiki who leads him on in order to get free dessert, even getting Ranma and Happosai to write entries in the journal Kuno asked her to exchange with him each day. Struggling to make up his mind, Kuno ultimately decides that he will marry Nabiki but keep Akane and the Pig-tailed Girl as his lovers, causing all of them to kick him into the sky. Returning home, Gindo reveals that his prediction was wrong due to Sakuke providing lumber that was used to heat the bath rather than the properly prepared wood he needed for his ceremonial fire.
This episode is the debut of Gindo. The kanji for his name means "silver hall".
"My name is Gindo, a wandering mountain priest." - Gindo says that he is a "shugenja" (修験者). A simple translation would be a "apprentice," however in a strict sense a shugenja is anyone who practices a form of mountain-based asceticism called "shugendo" (修験道). Shugendo is an amalgamation of Shinto and Buddhist concepts that originated during the 7th century (the Heian era). Mountains play a major role in Shugendo as they are seen as a holy site for deities and so much of the ceremony and practice of this religion takes place in mountainous areas. You can read more about shugendo in the cultural notes section.
Gindo's outfit is typical of a shugenja. The ringed staff that Gindo carries is a "shakujou" (錫杖) or in the original Sanskrit a "khakkhara". The rings are intended to make sounds to chase away small insects and animals that might get beneath the feet of the monk and accidently be hurt or killed, but also to alert villagers to his presence as he walks though town or the mountains.
The sign in front of the manhole reads "no entry due to waterworks construction" (水道工事につき立入禁止/suidou kouji ni tsuki tachiirikinshi).
Gindo's chanting in front of a fire is a "fire ceremony" (護摩/goma). This is a Buddhist ceremony where burning of sticks is used to ask a deity for a blessing.
The trumpet fanfare that plays when Kuno sets out to meet the girl he should marry is not found on any of the soundtracks.
Rumiko Takahashi states in an interview that she had originally pondered putting Kuno and Nabiki together as a couple but it did not work out.
The stick Sasuke hits Kuno with while he is trying to decide who he loves is a "keisaku" (警策). Often translated as a "zen stick" or an "encouragement stick" this is a stick used to strike a practitioner who's mind wanders during meditation.
Additionally, the music that plays in Cafe Coconut where Kuno and Nabiki meet is also not found on any soundtracks.
The kanji on the paper screen in Kuno's room has the kanji "愛" (ai/love).
The guest voices in this episode are Hochu Otsuka (大塚芳忠) as "Gindo", Yuzo Mikawa (三川雄三), Mitsuru Ogata (小形満), Akira Ishida (石田彰), Shigeu Shibuya (渋谷茂), Masaya Kato (加藤雅也), Momoko Ishi (石桃子) and Sayuri Haneda (羽田小百合) who all played unnamed roles.
Episode 61: 強くなりすぎた良牙
Tsuyoku narisugita Ryoga (Ryoga the Strong... Too Strong)
While lost in the woods, Ryoga comes across an brush-wielding old man. Ryoga defeats him easily, but then generously gives the old man all his rations when he realizes he is starving. As thanks, the old man reveals that he is the master of the Kimen School of Martial Arts Calligraphy and emblazons the "Mark of the Battling Gods" on Ryoga's stomach. Days later, Ranma receives a letter of challenge from Ryoga, and when he finally arrives to have their match, Ryoga is carrying dozens of sign boards of defeated dojos that he has crushed along the way. Ranma is stunned when he fights against Ryoga, who defeats him easily, and Ryoga reveals the "Mark of the Battling Gods"- a ridiculous smiley face painted on his stomach. Ryoga cannot remove the mark until someone beats him, and Ranma, his pride wounded by being defeated by Ryoga, vows to help Ryoga get rid of the silly mark on his belly. Ranma tries all sorts of underhanded techniques, but still can not defeat Ryoga. Even when he turns Ryoga into P-chan, the little piglet still beats Ranma. However, Akane sees the mark on P-chan's stomach and then later sees that Ryoga has the same mark on his stomach as well. Ryoga and Ranma flee, worried that Akane may suspect that Ryoga and P-chan are one in the same.
The Kimen School of Martial Arts Calligraphy Teacher debuts in this episode. The name of his school and technique "Kimen Ryuu Kenin Jutsu" (喜面竜拳印術) would translate as the "Happy Face Dragon Fist Mark Technique".
"The source of human strength is the dantian, or energy center." - Dantian (丹田/tanden) is a concept in traditional Chinese medicine loosely translated as "elixir field" or "energy center".
The image used to indicate where the dantian is shows Ryoga with his arm outstretched, in the original manga it shows the Glico Running Man mascot.
In Japanese the "Mark of the Battling Gods" is called the "Kimen Toushinzu" (喜面闘神図).
The vacant lot Ranma is waiting for Ryoga in is filled with large pipes. These are known as dokan (土管). Dokan can be seen frequently in manga and anime, most prominently in Doraemon (ドラえもん) as a playground for Nobita and his friends. Dokan are leftover sewer pipes from the construction boom after the post-World War II Japanese Economic Miracle. They also served as the inspiration for the warp pipes in Super Mario Bros..
Ryoga is shown to have collected a number of dojo signs. Challenging a rival dojo is often shown in Japanese fiction, and so this plotline does not originate with Ranma 1/2, even down to the idea of the loser having to give up their dojo sign. In Japanese this is called "Dojo yaburi" (道場破り). While it is unclear if the actual taking of a dojo's signboard was ever historically accurate, there have been many cases both historical and modern, where rival dojos are challenged by outsiders.
The mark that the calligrapher paints on Ryoga's stomach resembles Peko-chan, the mascot of Milky candy from Fujiya.
There is an impact frame when Ranma is throwing things out of his back and an object hits panda Genma.
And another impact frame when Ranma is using the "Wolf Fangs From Behind" (狼牙襲背態/Rouga Shuuhaitai).
Ranma's other "special techniques" are the "Tiger Swat" (猛虎一撃態/Moko Ichi Gekitai) and the "Squashed Frog Move" (蛙皪死態/Kaeru Rekishitai).
The guest voices in this episode are Joji Yaname (八奈見乗児) as the "old man" (the calligraphy teacher) and Mitsuaki Madono (真殿光昭), Mitsuo Furusawa (古沢光夫) and Akio Suyama (陶山章央) in unidentified roles.
Episode 62: あやうし! Pちゃんの秘密
Ayaushi! P-chan no himitsu (Close Call! P-chan's Secret)
Ryoga is too ashamed to stay in Tokyo any longer and sets out to leave after Ranma is still unable to defeat him and erase the Mark of the Battling Gods. However, with his terrible sense of direction, Ryoga soon finds himself back once again. Ranma, disguised as a female volleyball player knocks a ball at Ryoga and attacks him when he bends down to knock it back, somehow managing to kick him. Ryoga immediately, instinctively attacks back leaving Ranma puzzled about how she managed to land a hit on Ryoga. Soon Ryoga is splashed and Akane finds P-chan and once again attempts to wash the doodle off his belly. Thinking quickly, P-chan latches onto the kettle and drinks all the hot water to prevent Akane from changing him back into Ryoga. When Ranma arrives he tells Ryoga that he has figured out how to beat him- by making him scrunch up his stomach to alter the image, he will be without the power of the Mark of the Battling Gods. Heading into the dojo, Ryoga tries to twist and contort his belly when suddenly a ladies group that had rented the dojo burst out in laughter at him as Ranma hits him, defeating him and making the mark vanish.
The expression Ryoga makes is mimicing Edvard Munch's 1893 painting The Scream.
The Okutama Hiking Trail (奥多摩ハイキングコース) that Ryoga follows is an actual trail in Ome, Tokyo.
The old woman sprinkling water outside of her home is an example of "uchimizu" (打ち水).
After P-chan's dance at the end of the episode, it flashes a "V" behind him. This stands for "victory".
The guest voices in this episode are Natsumi Sasaki (佐々木菜摘), Masami Toyoshima (豊島まさみ), Michiyo Sasaki (佐々木みち代) and Momoko Ishi (石桃子) who all played unidentified roles.
Episode 63: たまごをつかむ男
Tamago wo tsukamu otoko (The Egg-Catcher Man)
On a snowy day in Nerima, Kasumi bumps into a man carrying an umbrella sending the eggs she just bought at the store flying. With amazing skill he deftly catches all twelve out of the mid-air and hands them back to Kasumi, telling her she has picked out some very nice eggs. Kasumi seems stunned, but in a very good mood as she continues home with Ranma and Akane. Akane mentions the strange man to Nabiki who suggests their sister might be smitten with the egg-catching gentleman. Walking in the snow, a pile of snow falls off a tree limb onto the egg-catching man who makes a snow ball to toss at the limb in retaliation, however it breaks the window of a home causing the owner to sic his dog on the wandering stranger. Mauled by the dog, he visits Dr. Tofu to seek some first aid. After dinner, Kasumi tells everyone she is going to visit Dr. Tofu, prompting Nabiki to tell Akane that Kasumi is likely weighing her options. Akane decides to go with he sister to see, while Soun becomes upset thinking that Kasumi might have fallen for some strange man thanks to Nabiki's insinuations. On the way to Dr. Tofu's Akane asks Kasumi what sort of men she likes, which prompts Kasumi to say "someone a little different." Akane surmises this could mean Dr. Tofu or the stranger named Yasukichi. Kasumi makes a passing comment about a chicken farm that used to be nearby as well, that Akane has no memory of. After staying over with Dr. Tofu and realizing how in love with Kasumi the doctor is, Yasukichi goes to the Tendo home and asks to speak with Kasumi. Soun is worried that this strange man is going to propose. Instead, it becomes clear that Yasukichi's suggestions about oden when he caught Kasumi's eggs was what made her so happy, as it helped her figure out what to fix for dinner. Yasukichi suggests she take some of the oden to Dr. Tofu and then he sets out on his wandering once again. As a parting gift Ranma tosses some eggs to him, and Yasukichi manages to catch all thirteen. However, an amulet he wears around his neck falls out and Kasumi realizes he is "Yakkun", the boy she gave the amulet to when they were children. Yakkun lived on the poultry farm and protected her from a dog that chased her. Without a word, Yasukichi wanders off into the snow and Kasumi smiles.
This episode is the debut of Yasukichi. Yasukichi speaks in an Edo-dialect and some of his old-fashionedness and vagabond lifestyle is likely supposed to be a reference to Torajiro Kuruma (車寅次郎) from the long-running film series It's Tough Being a Man (男はつらいよ/Otoko wa tsurai yo).
"Is it oden stew tonight? Or savory custard?" - Yasukichi asks Kasumi if she is making "chawanmushi" (茶碗蒸し) with her eggs, which is translated as "savory custard". Chawanmushi is an egg custard steamed in a tea bowl and mixed with soy sauce, mirin and dashi.
"Get him, Sukeroku!" - The dog sicced on Yasukichi is named "Sukeroku" (助六) which is "nari and maki sushi served together".
Happosai and the Ranma 1/2 logo appear on the Tendo family's television after dinner.
Nabiki is also reading a manga volume of Ranma 1/2 after dinner. The cover on the volume does not match any of the actual manga covers however.
Soun makes a rare reference to his late wife in this episode.
"I'll fix you some hot egg-sake!" - Egg-sake (卵酒/tamagozake) is warm sake, a raw egg and sugar. It is a traditional folk remedy for colds.
The music that plays while Yasukichi, Akane and Ranma watch Dr. Tofu and Kasumi speak from outside the clinic is not found on any soundtrack for the series.
The guest voices in this episode are Yuji Mitsuya (三ッ矢雄二) as "Dr. Tofu", Koji Tsujitani (辻󠄀谷耕史) as "Yasukichi" and Masaya Kato (加藤雅也) and Kei Mayama (真山惠衣) in unnamed roles.
Episode 64: らんまと九能の初キッス?!
Ranma to Kuno no hatsu kiss?! (Ranma and Kuno's... First Kiss!?)
After traveling to a temple, Kuno amazingly is able to pull the Manganmaru sword from the stone it is embedded in, earning him the right to the three wishes the sword is able to grant. Kuno immediately uses the first wish to humble Ranma, with the sowrd turning into a mallet, startling Ranma and allowing Kuno to clobber him over the head with it. Next Kuno wastes a wish telling the sword he wants a date with the Pig-Tailed Girl, however Ranma is only too happy to oblige in order to steal the last wish to remove his Jusenkyo curse. Ranma and Kuno's date begins and Kuno wants to share a daily exchange diary and have a meal before Genma snatches the sword after Ranma has slipped Kuno sleeping powder in his food. When Genma uses the sword to wish for more wishes the sword refuses as only Kuno can ask for the wish. Ranma tells Kuno that she has a "problem with he body" and will give Kuno anything he wants if he will solve it for her, but Akane interrupts, unable to watch Ranma debase herself for Kuno. Ranma refuses to give up and runs off with Kuno who once again tries to waste the wish by asking to catch the Pigtailed Girl. When Kuno asks for a kiss however, Ranma cannot surrender her pride and punches Kuno rather than kiss him. Kuno is undetered however and uses his final wish to summon a statue of himself and Ranma happily enjoying their date.
This episode marks one of the highest audience viewership rating of the entire series. For more information please see our article "Ranma 1/2 Top 10 Highest Rated Episodes".
"Manganmaru" (満願丸) translates to "Wishbringer sword".
Exchange diaries (交換日記/kokan nikki) were particularly popular among friends in the 1990s in Japan. Students (usually girls) would fill entries with print club photo stickers (プリクラ/purikura).
The kanji on one of the food items Kuno has to eat says "longevity" (寿/ju).
There is an impact frame when Ranma kicks Kuno in the face when he tries to use the Manganmaru to wish to catch Ranma.
The statue that Kuno lands on after being punched by Ranma is Cherry from Urusei Yatsura.
The statue that Kuno wishes for has his name and "the Pigtailed Girl" written beneath a drawing of an umbrella. This is called "ai ai gasa" (相合傘) meaning to "share an umbrella". A couple walking together under an umbrella can stand closely with one another, and thus the umbrella with names written beneath it conjures a romantic image.
The guest voices in this episode are Eiji Maruyama (丸山詠二) as "Priest", Arihiro Hase (長谷有洋) as "Priest" and Zenchu Mitsui (三井善忠), Keiichi Ondo (安藤圭一), Akira Ishida (石田彰), Mitsuaki Madono (真殿光昭), Mitsuo Furusawa (古沢光夫) and Akio Suyama (陶山章央) all as unnamed characters.
Episode 65: シャンプーの赤い糸
Shampoo no akai ito (Shampoo's Red Thread of Dread)
When a traveling salesman comes to the Cat Cafe, Shampoo purchases a magical red thead that will make anyone tied to he fall in love. She immediately heads to the Tendo home to slip it on Ranma while he naps, but Akane interrupts her. Trying again, she manages to convince Ranma to play cat's cradle with her in exchange for free food from the Cat Cafe. Once she has his hands, she ties the red thread to Ranma's pinky and he immediately falls in love with Shampoo. He goes so far as to renounce his engagement and happily follows Shampoo wherever she goes. Ukyo, Mousse and Kodachi soon hear word of this and try to break the pair up, while Kuno is happy that Ranma has clearly lost interest in Akane. Akane refuses to interrupt, assuming Ranma really has chosen Shampoo over her, but Kasumi notices the thread and Nabiki shares the information with Akane. When Akane refuses to get involve, P-chan steals some scissors, vowing to cut the thread only to ensure Akane's happiness. Ukyo manages to cut the thread with her spatula, but Kuno quickly reties it, happy to have Ranma and Shampoo marry one another. When Ryoga arrives and is told that letting Ranma marry Shampoo will free up Akane for him, he can not decide what to do. When five o'clock arrives the thread will disappear and Ranma's love for Shampoo will become permanent. Akane is too stubborn to get involved, until finally the hour draws near and she heads to the curch. Ukyo is kept from entering by Cologne, but Akane manages to get inside and gives Shampoo a bouquet of roses in order to snip the thread before it is too late.
The "red thread of fate" (運命の赤い糸/unmei no akai ido) is a popular East Asian folk belief that two lovers are bound by a red thread that connects them together. In the spin-off sequel to Inuyasha, Yashahime the character Setsuna was able to slice the threads of fate that bound people together.
The kanji written signs behind Ranma and Shampoo when Akane imagines them getting married say "congratulations" (祝/iwai) and "longevity" (寿/ju).
There are no guest voices in this episode, only the main recurring cast appear. No voice is given for the man who sells the red thread of fate, though it sounds like Shigeru Chiba (who is not listed among the credits of this episode).
Episode 66: ムース故郷に帰る
Mousse kokyou ni kaeru (Mousse Goes Home to the Country!)
Mousse works hard at the Cat Cafe to try to impress Shampoo, but more often than not he is getting carried away, breaking dishes and getting angry with customers who flirt with Shampoo. When he recieves a letter from his mother back home in China, he decides to fight Ranma and win Shampoo over, but once again fails. Shampoo and Cologne both tell Mousse he should leave, and turning into his duck form he is kidnapped by Kodachi while roaming the neighborhood. She nearly feeds him to her pet alligator, Mr. Green Turtle, and Mousse makes the sad decision to ensure Ranma and Shampoo's happiness. He dons his mask and chases Ranma around, proclaiming himself to be "Cupid" to ensure Ranma marries Shampoo and makes her happy. When he sees Ranma eating at Ucchan's Okonomiyaki, he eats up all the food that Ukyo makes for Ranma, and then when a hungry Ranma is waylaid by Kodachi, Mousse appears and get sick from eating her poisoned food. Ranma and Mousse both get splashed and Kuno soon starts pursuing the Pigtailed Girl, much to Mousse's shock and outrage. Mousse makes quick work of Kuno, and is confused that Ranma seems to have no interest in making Shampoo happy. As he sits with Ranma in the park, Akane comes by and tells Mousse that Shampoo is looking for him. When he arrives at the Cat Cafe, Shampoo and Cologne ask him to watch the store while they go on a hot springs vacation. Mousse, overcome with emotion after being accepted is only too happy to stay.
Hirotaka Suzuoki does not play Kuno in this episode for unknown reasons. Instead Kuno is played by Koji Tsujitani who would also take on the role of Kuno in the "Insense of Sping Sleep" OVA after Suzuoki's death in 2006. Tsujitani will also fill in again in episode 68.
The letter Mousse receives says "Mousse-sama, c/o Nekohanten (Cat Cafe), 0-00-00, Nerima-ku, Tokyo, Japan".
The sender is (with spelling mistakes included) "Moose no Haha (Mousse's Mother), 0-00 Joketsuzokumura (Village of the Amazons), Chaina (China)."
When Shampoo hugs Ranma after his fight with Mousse she says "daikanki" (大歡喜), which is the Japanese pronunciation of these Chinese characters meaning "overjoyed". In Mandarin it would be "dà huān xǐ".
The brown-suited statue that Ranma hides from Shampoo behind is supposed to be a reference to the ubiquitous statues of Colonel Sanders that are displayed in front of every KFC restaurant in Japan.
The guest voices in this episode are the aformentioned Koji Tsujitani (辻󠄀谷耕史) stepping in as "Tatewaki Kuno" and Reiko Suzuki (鈴木れい子) as "Mousse's Mother".
Episode 67: 史上サイテーの賭け
Shijou saite no kake (The Dumbest Bet in History)
One stormy evening as Ukyo is closing up shop, the Gambling King appears with intentions to collect a debt Ranma lost to him ten years ago. Arriving at the Tendo home, King reveals that as a child, Ranma bet the Tendo Dojo and lost a game of old maid. When Ranma and Ukyo refused to pay their debts they beat up King and tossed him in the river, and now he has come to collect. King swiftly coverts the dojo in to "Casino K", a gaming casino and arcade for children who he bilks out of their money. Soun attempts to challenge King to get back the dojo, but swiftly loses the rooms of the Tendo home one by one. Finally, Nabiki steps in and slowly begins to defeat the seemingly unbeatable Gambling King until he cheats to defeat her. Akane is concerned that Ranma has decided to move in with Ukyo, and when she goes to check on him, she is relieved to discover he is trying to learn to become a better gambler. However, Ranma is legendarily poor at gambling, with some of the most obvious tells and a tendency to pick whichever card is slightly higher than others in games of old maid. The other members of the household follow Nabiki's lead and slowly win back parts of the Tendo home that Soun had once again lost back, however Ranma insists on being the one to defeat the Gambling King for the dojo. Now however, thanks to his training to try to keep his face still, he has to wear bandages (from constantly failing and letting dumbells slam into his face), which covers his tells. King tries to cheat to win against Ranma as they pass the joker card back and forth from hand to hand, but Ranma manages to cheat to beat the King and win back the Tendo Dojo.
The curtain that Ukyo removes from her restaurant's door says "Okonomiyaki Ucchan" (お好み焼きうっちゃん), the name of her restaurant. These curtains are called "noren" (暖簾), they signify that a store is open for business.
In Japanese King is called "Bakuchi-ou" (博打玉/Gambling King) or "Kinggu" (キング/King). At times he is called "Bakuchi-ou Kinggu" which would be "Gambling King King" making it a bit redundant. His appearance is based on the double-headed king card that was designed by Charles Goodall in the early 1800s.
"Ranma Saotome, it's even, just as I called it." - The dice game King is playing is "cho-han" (丁半). Two six-sided dice are placed in a bamboo cup, shaken and then set on a table. The gamblers bet on if the sum total of the numbers on dice is even (丁/cho) or odd (半/han).
The King has two hanafuda cards on his coat. One is the "full moon" card and the other is the the "geese" card.
After King flips Ranma off with his middle finger, Ranma hits him and there is an impact frame of an unknown vaguely sci-fi looking character that flashes on the screen.
When Soun continually loses various rooms of the Tendo home, red tags appear all throughout the space. These are "akafuda" (赤札), red tags that indicate repossession or that an item has been sold.
In Japanese, the card game "old maid" is "babanugi" (ババ抜き) which literally translates as "tossing out the old woman".
The practice of rolling someone up in a bamboo mat and throwing them in the river is known as "sumaki" (簀巻き) in Japanese.
When Nabiki is explaining the King's gambling tells Ranma also displays the same habits. The words that appear over his head when he gets excited or disappointed are "lucky" (ラッキー/rakkii) and "gloomy" (どんより/donyori).
The old-fashioned vocal song that plays when Akane imagines Ranma and Ukyo working together in the snow is not found on any soundtrack for the series.
When the children comment that Ranma and King are equally stupid it shows the two famous nio (仁王) statues, Agyo (阿形) and Ungyo (吽形), behind them.
The guest voices in this episode include Takeshi Aono (青野武) as "King" and Koji Koyama (小山浩史), Yoshiko Kamei (亀井芳子), Masami Toyoshima (豊島まさみ), Momoko Ishi (石桃子) and Sayuri Haneda (羽田小百合) in unnamed roles.
Episode 68: マリアンヌになった九能
Marianne ni natta Kuno (Kuno Becomes a Marianne)
Ranma and Akane notice Azusa Shiratori causing problems downtown when she attempts to steal a man's hat and an ambulance siren only to become distracted by attempting to steal Kuno's rickshaw. As she follows after Kuno and Sasuke, she then decides that Sasuke is cute and attempts to rename him "Sophia". When a tanuki statue displayed over an antique store falls on top of Kuno, Azusa names it "Marianne" and takes it hope. Kuno pops out of the head after slicing it off and Azusa presumes that the tanuki has simply shape-changed. Initially Kuno thinks that Azusa's beauty may rival Akane's and the Pig-tailed Girl's, however he soon realizes she is quite stupid. However, Kuno mistakenly believes her stupidity results from how in love with him she is, and that he should attempt to educate her. Ranma and Akane watch from a distance, and Ranma lets slip that if Kuno will keep dealing with Azusa, maybe he would not have to worry about Akane as much, which Akane finds touching. Ranma tries to deny meaning anything by the comment, while inside Azusa has now adopted Mr. Green Turtle, Kodachi's pet alligator. Soon Azusa has laid claim to Kodachi's doll collection, causing the two of them to fight with one another. The next day Azusa sees Ranma and Akane while dragging a tied-up Kuno though the steets and angrily challenges them, having not forgotten about Akane "kidnapping" Charlotte/P-chan from her. Azusa tells her "tanuki" Kuno to build a skating rink, and Kuno obliges in order to battle against Ranma. The hastily built skating rink proves to be flimsy as the ice skating battle begins. Kuno and Ranma are both taken out quickly due to their inability to skate well, and Azusa's techniques cause Akane to accidentally knee Ranma in the face while surrounded by an icy mist cloud created by Azusa. Ultimately when Azusa spots the tanuki statue that Sasuke used to hastily help build the skating rink she yanks it out, causing the rest of the building to collapse.
Koji Tsujitani once again fills in for Hirotaka Suzuoki as Tatewaki Kuno in this episode. He previously stepped in as Kuno in episode 66. Tsujitani, best known for playing Hiroshi in Ranma 1/2 and Miroku in Inuyasha will also play Kuno in the Nightmare! Incense of Spring Sleep OVA after the death of Hirotaka Suzuoki.
The logo on the brown jacket of the bicyclist that rides past Azusa says "Kitty Express" (キティ急行/Kitii kyuko).
"You've wanted the famed oar of master swordsman, Miyamoto Musashi." - Sasuke is referring to the oar used by Musashi Miyamoto (宮本武蔵) to defeat Kojiro Sasaki (佐々木小次郎). Miyamoto used an oar to counter against Sasaki's unusually long blade.
The tanuki statue outside of the antique shop has the traditional iconography of Shigaraki made tanuki statues- a sake bottle and a wad of unpaid bills labeled "御通" (otoshi) which are meant to demonstrate trust (that his bills can be repaid). The sake bottle he is holding often says "eight" (八/hachi) as a reference to the eight special traits a tanuki is said to possess (his big belly that he can drumb on, his big eyes, and his big scrotum are some of the others). Tanuki are known as shape-changers, and so her foolish misunderstanding that Kuno is a tanuki, while very eccentric, is not as far-fetched as it might seem.
Azusa places a leaf on Kuno's head, this is often depicted as something tanuki need to do in order to change their shape.
"The Love Suicides at Sonezaki" - Azusa's special move is named after a play, The Love Suicides at Sonezaki (曾根崎心中/Sonezaki Shinju) by Monzaemon Chikamatsu (近松門左衛門).
The guest voices in this episode include Koji Tsujitani (辻󠄀谷耕史) as "Tatewaki Kuno", Naoko Matsui (松井菜桜子) returning as "Azusa Shiratori" and Akira Ishida (石田彰), Mitsuaki Madono (真殿光昭), Mitsuo Furusawa (古沢光夫), Akio Suyama (陶山章央) and Masaya Kato (加藤雅也) as unnamed characters.
Episode 69: 乱馬なんか大キライ!
Ranma nanka daikirai! (Ranma, You're Such a Jerk!)
Soun enjoys the start of another beautiful day at the Tendo home, however when becomes nervous when he sees Akane in the kitchen working intently while Kasumi prepares breakfast. Kasumi explains that Akane is working on a dish of her own, and everyone wonders if she is trying to learn to be a good bride for Ranma. Happosai, learning that Akane is cooking for Ranma, decides that he should then be entitled to Ranma's pickles as breakfast and as the two roughhouse and argue Ranma's face is knocked into the food that Akane was preparing. Akane is furious and feels defeated when Ranma gives a half-hearted apology. When Akane holds a grudge against Ranma, Soun and Genma pretend that they are fighting in hopes of encouraging their two children to settle things so life will go back to normal. Ranma makes a comment that Akane could just make more gyoza, and she explains that she was not making gyoza, she had maked a cake to celebrate the second year anniversary of Ranma and Genma coming to live with the Tendo family. Some time later Ryoga arrives at the Tendo home to find everyone is in distress as they worry that Akane has run away from home. Soun and Genma think they've found her but are accidentally chasing a girl named Noriko who rushes to a police box for help. Ryoga assumes Ranma forced himself on Akane and the two fight one another along train tracks at night and through a constuction crew before falling into the water to avoid oncoming trains. When Ranma finally returns home, he hears Akane sneeze on the roof where she had fallen asleep overnight. Akane forgives Ranma, seeing how he was worried about her, and she cooks gyoza for him as a thank you, however Ranma refuses to eat any of her cooking and asks if she can run away again.
Gyoza (餃子) is the pie-like dish that everyone mistakenly thinks Akane is cooking. They are small dumplings typically translated as "pot stickers".
Daisuke and Hiroshi's names are said aloud by Ranma in this episode, which rarely happens. Yuka's name is listed in the credits as well, which is atypical.
"This isn't even enough for takoyaki." - Takoyaki (蛸焼) are bits of octopus cooked in batter with tempura flakes and ginger.
"You and Mr. Saotome have been here for two years!" - The first episode of Ranma 1/2 aired on April 15, 1989 making this nearly two years since the first episode, however no one has gone up a grade in school or aged.
Soun mentions his late wife. It is never clarified how she passed away.
The billboard that Soun and Genma run past shows a blue sky landscape similar to the billboard that the characters sit in front of in the ending theme "Platonic Tsuranuite"
The guest voices in this episode are Sayuri Haneda (羽田小百合) as "Yuka" and Momoko Ishi (石桃子) as an unnamed character (likely Noriko, the girl Soun and Genma mistake for Akane).
Episode 70: そのおさげもらったぁ!
Sono osage moratta! (Gimme That Pigtail!)
In China a shopkeeper at a health food shop is closing up for the evening during stormy weather when he is attacked by four small men who are in search of the Dragon's Whisker. Threatening him with their swords, the shopkeeper readily tells them the 4,000 year long history of the whisker up to its last known owner. The small men then set off to Japan in search of the Dragon's Whisker. Days later, the president of the neighborhood watch comes to Soun to ask him to help do something about the epidemic of pigtail-cutting incidents that have been happening around town at night. Heading out on patrol, Soun, Genma, Ranma and Akane are soon attacked by the little Niku-men who all resemble various steamed buns. They attack Ranma, but he easily dispatches them, however when he realizes they are looking for the Dragon's Whisker, Akane notices that Ranma becomes nervous. Over the course of the next few days, the Niku-men continue to attack Ranma, attempt to snip off his pigtail, but he always manages to elude them. After they throw paint on his hair and he refuses to undo his pigtail to wash it out, Akane becomes suspicious and the Niku-men realizes Ranma is wearing the whisker as a hair tie to keep his pigtail in place and Ranma begrudgingly admits that the Dragon's Whisker is a seal. At school, they Niku-men try to lure Ranma with various traps like sleeping powder filled pork buns, but after a hard day of P.E. they manage to stagger Ranma with gas-filled pork buns. Wobbly on his feet, they pull the Dragon's Whisker from his hair and Ranma immediately panics and flees, much to Akane's confusion. Akane follows Ranma into a darkened gym equipment storage room and finds him alone in the dark with something growing from him.
The simplistic drawing of Ranma's face made by the shopkeeper uses characters for eyes (目/me), mouth (口/kuchi), ears (耳/mimi), and nose (鼻/hana) to indicate those features.
The lanterns carried by Ranma, Akane, Soun and Genma when they are patrolling the neighborhood are called "chochin" (提灯). The message written on them says "goyou" (御用) which is akin to "official business", "arrest" or "submit to authority".
The onomotopoeia "bako" (バコ) flashes on the screen when Ranma attack the Niku-men the second time. This is the sound of "crash" or "bang".
The Niku-men, all look like "niku-man" (肉まん) which are buns with a savory filling. The kanji on the back of their outfits indicates which "filling" they are. 肉まん (niku-man/pork bun), あんまん (an-man/red bean paste), カレーまん (curry-man/curry) and ピザまん (pizza-man/pizza).
When they are disguised as house painters, the Niku-men's buckets say "paint" (ペンキ/penki).
When Genma tries to untie Ranma's pigtail and Ranma kick him into the ceiling, there is an impact frame that says "ベキッ" (bekii). This means "crash".
The dragon it shows when the Niku-men find the Dragon's Whisker is shown holding an orb. This sphere is commonly seen in the talons of Chinese dragons and is said to represent a "pearl of wisdom".
The synthesizer sound it plays as the dragon is shown is not found on any of the series' soundtracks.
When Ranma retreats into the storage room after losing the Dragon's Whisker, the line drawing cart says "physical education 2" (体育2/taiiku 2) on it.
The guest voices in this episode are Tomomichi Nishimura (西村知道) as "The Shopkeeper", Isamu Tanonaka (田ノ中憂) as "Wandering Monk #1" (Niku-man), Shigeru Chiba (千葉繁) as "Wandering Monk #2" (Curry-man), Bin Shimada (島田敏) as "Wandering Monk #3" (An-man), Arihiro Hase (長谷有洋) as "Wandering Monk #4" (Pizza-man), Masamichi Sato (佐藤政道) as "Neighborhood Association President" and Momoko Ishi (石桃子) as "Girl".
