Manga Extras
Volume 5
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| The Making of Ranma 1/2, Part 5: Ukyo Kuonji | |
| Translation provided by: Robby Stine of Kanabits |
Ranma’s third Fiance? How did Ukyo, the surprisingly strong okonomiyaki master, come to be?
Q: There’s a lot more to Ukyo than meets the eye, isn’t there?
Takahashi: Well, of course. I did dress her up in men’s clothing after all. I thought that’s how it had to be. Making her grand appearance as is wouldn’t have been any fun. She hasn’t fallen in any cursed springs, so there had to be something surprising about her.
Q: Where did you get the idea for her to be an Okonomiyaki shop owner?
Takahashi: Shampoo had her Chinese Ramen shop, so I thought Ukyo should do something Japanese. That’s the kind of setup I wanted to create, and because of that I chose Okonomiyaki. The fact that her spatula could also be used as a weapon didn’t hurt either.
Q: So you went with Okonomiyaki, as opposed to Takoyaki.
Takahashi: Right. I thought Okonomiyaki worked better. And where there is Okonomiyaki, there are also griddles, aren’t there? Those things are hot! And dangerous. Just the thought of one all fired up makes me weak in the knees.
Q: Ukyo seems like she’d make the perfect bride.
Takahashi: I’m assuming you are talking about her devotion to Ranma?
Q: Remember that time when Ranma got really weak? Ukyo told him she’d be willing to spend the rest of her life taking care of him. I thought that was sweet.
Takahashi: That’s the sort of thing that ruins men. And if those two got married, Ranma would definitely end up walking out on her.
Q: Even though she’s so devoted to him…
Takahashi: Well, yes. Her devotion is undeniable. But think about it. She always takes the initiative. She’s not really the type that would be okay just being by someone’s side, supporting them.
Q: All the Ranma girls are kind of that way.
Takahashi: Hence why it’s always such a battlefield.
Q: Because at the end of the day, Ranma’s a pretty cool guy.
Takahashi: On the surface, anyway. He can usually accomplish what he sets his mind to, which is a lot more than I could ever say about Ataru in Urusei Yatsura. But of course that was one goal of mine with Ranma. I wanted to write a manga where the male lead was properly cool. Well behaved girls can be quite cute too, you know. So long as they can actually behave themselves...