Genma Saotome

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Genma Saotome 早乙女 玄馬
Genma Saotome with his curse
Alias:	Pop, by Ranma Mr. Panda, by Nodoka Kumahachi, by Yotaro Uncle Saotome
Gender:	Male
Age:	Late 30s/Early 40s
Curse:	Human to Panda
Family:	Ranma Saotome, son Nodoka Saotome, wife Saotome family ancestors
Love Interest:	Nodoka
Loved By:	Nodoka
Rivals:	Ranma Happosai Potential engagement breakers
Occupation:	Freeloader Cute Panda Assistant (briefly) to Dr. Tofu Ono
Residence:	Formerly: The Saotome Household Now: Tendo Dojo, Furinkan
Fighting Style:	Anything Goes Martial Arts
Attacks:	Cradle from Hell (Jigoku no Yurikago) Yamasenken Umisenken
Seiyū:	Kenichi Ogata
Voice Actor:	Robert O. Smith
1st Appearance (Manga):	Volume 1
1st Appearance (Anime):	TV Series, Season 1

Genma Saotome (早乙女 玄馬 Saotome Genma) is a fictional, important supporting character in Rumiko Takahashi's anime and manga series Ranma ½.

Contents 1 History 2 Story 3 Character 4 Special Techniques 5 Trivia 6 References

[edit] History

Genma Saotome is Ranma Saotome's father and the sensei of the Saotome Dojo of Musabetsu Kakutō Ryū karate ("School of Indiscriminate Grappling", more commonly known in the West as "Anything Goes Martial Arts"). During the time when Genma took Ranma on a decade-long training voyage to improve their martial arts skills, he insisted on going to Jusenkyo in China - a place which he believed to be a training ground. However, because of Genma's ignorance of the Chinese language, he did not realize that the ground was unfrequented because it was cursed. Genma realized all too late the mistake he made, after his son knocked him into a cursed spring during this fateful training session.

Genma was knocked into Shonmaoniichuan (Xióngmāoníquán 熊猫溺泉), the Spring of Drowned Panda. Due to the nature of the Jusenkyo curse, a victim who falls into the spring is cursed to turn into who or whatever drowned there when doused with cold water. Thus, whenever Genma is splashed with cold water, he becomes a giant panda. Hot water, as with the rest of the Jusenkyo-cursed characters, can change him back into human form. Occasionally the top half of Genma's gi as well as his glasses will remain when he turns into his panda form.

Genma is unique amongst the Jusenkyo-cursed characters of Ranma ½ for one reason; he is the only person with a non-human(oid) cursed form who automatically shifts back into his clothing when he returns to normal. The only other characters who share a similar trait are Ranma (who remains human but changes sex), Rouge (a manga character who transforms into a large, three-faced six-armed fire-breathing version of herself) and Pantyhose Taro (whose cursed form, a hybrid of Yeti, Ox, Eel, Crane and, later, Octopus, resembles a demon).

[edit] Story

Despite the fact that he and his son were cursed, Genma still brought Ranma back to Japan to fulfill a marriage engagement with his long-time friend and fellow martial artist Soun Tendo, the terms of which were as follows: Ranma would marry one of Soun's daughters and carry on the Anything Goes School of Martial Arts.

Genma and Soun decided that Soun's youngest daughter Akane would one day marry Ranma—after Akane's sisters made the ruling on their own—against their will, at least at first. Genma currently resides in the Tendo Dojo along with Ranma, in the hopes that one day Ranma and Akane will get married and fulfill the agreement made by the two families. He spends most of his time playing Go or Shogi with Soun, although he briefly had a job at Dr. Tofu's clinic.

[edit] Character

Genma follows his own interpretation of the Anything Goes Martial Arts code, which isn't exactly all that virtuous itself to begin with. Though he himself claims to be a model martial artist, and makes a point of telling Ranma about the right thing to do, it is evident that he does not practice what he preaches. He concerns himself with food, seems to look out for himself most of the time, and is a notorious coward when it comes to confrontational situations. He is by no means dishonorable or directly evil, but he has been known to attempt to justify what he has done through ridiculous logic and pleading tones of language. In short, Genma does have a sense of honor, but is definitely willing to bend the rules more than the average martial artist.

Despite being cursed, Genma actually seems to like his panda form and freely goes about in public in it. He has even been known to use his panda form to get out of situations detrimental to his immediate future or otherwise use it to his advantage. If he cannot avoid the problem, he foists the obligation onto Ranma, which usually creates even more chaos. Although pandas cannot talk, Genma is able communicate his thoughts by writing on wooden signs, which he sometimes uses as weapons when he is annoyed with his son.

Kumahachi is the name that Genma was adopted under in an episode of Ranma ½ while in his panda form, in which a young boy named Yotaro discovered him and took him in. Yotaro, having desired a panda of his own, thus begins to treat his newfound pet, affectionately named Kumahachi, like a king and bringing him large amounts of food, much to Genma's delight.

When his wife Nodoka visits, he turns into a panda in an effort to hide his and Ranma's curses from her. In this situation, he is known as Mr. Panda and is Ranko's (Ranma's female form's alias to Nodoka) pet.

Genma loves beating on Ranma since he believes that no matter what, "dear old dad" can always win. However like any father, there are a few times where it is shown that Genma cares about his son. A story in the manga shows Ranma training for a fight against Genma. While he is sleeping, Genma comes and covers Ranma with a blanket much like a father tucking in a small child. And, when teaching him the Body of Ice, he wept genuine tears when using the "Embarrasing Photo-Fu."

[edit] Special Techniques

As a former student of the master martial artist Happosai and the founder of the Saotome-Style Anything Goes Martial Arts, Genma is easily one of the more powerful warriors of his time. He regularly trains with his son Ranma, who is also one of the best, even superior to Genma now. Although his age, cowardice and laziness have reduced his abilities somewhat, Genma could still defeat most of his opponents through experience rather than sheer power.

• The Ultimate Skill of the Saotome School of Anything Goes Martial Arts: The Crouch of the Wild Tiger: This groveling technique is accomplished by first crouching, placing both palms on the ground, and then bowing and scraping for forgiveness. Genma says it is "named for the legendary wild tiger that fell from a cliff and..." but is cut off by a blow to the head from Ukyo. He taught Ranma this before apologising to Happosai for angering the old master. In the "Hard Battle" Super Nintendo Game, this technique is depicted as using the grovelling to trick the opponent into lowering their guard, whereupon the user then launches a swift and savage assault.

• Battle Aura: Focusing all of his battle aura, Genma can generate a skyscraper sized version of himself, which can then fight on a far greater scale. This special attack is extremely taxing for him and unlike Happosai, he can't keep this technique up for more than a few seconds. He uses this mostly when he's in panda form. In the anime, this doesn't seem to be an energy construct, but an actual size transformation, and Genma can use it for longer periods of time.

• Jigoku no Yurikago: (地獄の揺篭 – Cradle of Hell): Genma's only remaining move that is still able to beat Ranma in regular sparring, without special moves like his battle aura or sealed senken schools. A powerful grappling attack reminiscent of a parent embracing their infant child. It's so effective in part because it freaks out Ranma. Its effectiveness also requires the user does not shave, and grows thick abrasive bristles, so he can rub them onto his enemy's cheek. Genma practiced this move by playing with a tire in panda form.

• Embarrasing Photo-Fu: A terrible technique, and one that can only be used by a parent on a child. The user first clasps his hand to the inside of his shirt, before removing an extremely embarrasing photograph from the target's childhood and displaying it to nearby members of the opposite sex. While very powerful, it takes a great toll on the user's mind, as his concience is wracked by pain. Genma used it to teach Ranma the Soul of Ice, weeping all the while.

• Yamasenken (山千拳 – Mountain of 1000 Fists, also known as the "Way of the Noisy Thief"): One of two secret and forbidden styles of martial arts that Genma developed when he was younger. This one is based upon burglary, specifically the movements and techniques of a noisy bandit who smashes through the front door of a house. Genma taught this set to Ryu Kumon's father years ago, which indirectly led to the poor man's death. Ryu now utilizes these moves as well.
  • Opening Move: the user shouts something distracting at the opponent, such as "Freeze!" or "Behind you!" This stops the opponent in their tracks. The techniques are...
    • Mōko Kaimon Ha (猛虎開門破 – Fierce Tiger Opening the Gate Strike): Deliver a powerful kick through the opponent's guard by separating their arms.
    • Dokuja Tanketsu Shō (毒蛇探穴掌 – Poison Snake Searching Hole Palm): Fierce open palm snake strike to the chest area.
    • Kinshi Kinbaku Shō (金絲緊縛翔 – Gold Thread Tight Bind Flight): Throw a rope around your opponent, then tie them up with it.
    • Geimon Tessen Shi (迎門鉄扇指 – Welcome Gate Iron-Fan Fingers): After Kinshi Kinbaku Shō, an open palm strike to the throat.
    • Kaichū Hōju Satsu (懐中宝珠殺 – In the Pocket Precious Gem Kill): Armlocked bearhug submission maneuver while holding one arm behind the back.
    • Kijin Raishū Dan (鬼神来襲弾 – Fierce God Assault Blast): Spreading arm strike so powerful it creates vacuum arc projectiles that tear into anything.
    • Saidaikyū Kijin Raishū Dan (最大級鬼神来襲弾 – Highest-Rank Fierce God Assault Blast): An extremely powerful Kijin Raishū Dan. Larger, faster, and much more powerful than the basic Kijin Raishū Dan because it's charged with the user's ki.
    • Kijin-Gun Dai Ranbu (鬼神群大乱舞 – Group of Fierce Gods Great Dance of Chaos): Perform a strange whirling dance as one throws multitudes of Kijin Rashū Dans in every direction.

• Umisenken (海千拳 – Sea of 1000 Fists, also known as the "Way of the Silent Thief"): The other of a pair of secret and forbidden styles created by Genma. Like the last one, this too is based upon burglary, however, this one is specifically designed upon the movements and techniques of a quiet thief who sneaks in through the back door. When Ryu arrived to find the scroll for this partner martial art, he took on Ranma's identity. Genma had no choice but to teach the Umisenken to Ranma to restore his son's identity.
  • Opening Move: the user takes a stance like that of a ghost, hands limp in front of their abdomen on slightly bent arms. The user then hides their ki. Once the user moves, they become invisible. The techniques are...
    • Haku Dato Shin Shō (白蛇吐信掌 – White Snake Venom True Palm): Slipping under one's opponent while striking along both sides of their back.
    • Shichū Rakuchi Sei (支柱落地勢 – Braced Falling Down Strength): Force one's opponents feet apart, striking their legs, so they drop into a split.
    • Goshin Ryūsei Fu (護身流星布 – Self-Protection Shooting Star Cloth): Wrap a star cloth around your opponent's head to blind them and stop their attack.
    • Goshin Dai Ryūsei Fu (護身大流星布 – Self-Protection Great Shooting Star Cloth): Whirling a star designed cloth around the user's body and vanish from sight.
    • Rigyo Honshin (鯉魚翻身 – Carp-Fish Bodyflip): Flip out of a hold, then move behind an opponent while wrapping them in the star cloth.
    • Haizan Tōkai Tai (背山倒海態 – High Mountain Reverse Sea Ability): After Rigyo Honshin, drive one's feet into the back of the opponent's legs while pulling down on the cloth.
    • Gaito Retsuga Dan (鎧戸裂牙断 – Armored Door Splitting Fang Failure): Counter a hand attack, like the Geimon Tessen Shi, by biting the opponent's attacking limb.
    • Yasha Tankai Hō (夜叉探海包 – Demon-Guardian Searching the Sea Wrap): After Goshin Ryūsei Fu, place a large bundle of earth into the star cloth, flip over the opponent who is then crushed by the dirt. If one's ki is properly infused in the cloth, it will allow the user to hold an opponent's attack within the cloth, so that it can be unleashed against them.

[edit] Trivia

• Latin American voice actors: Alejandro Illescas and Roberto Mendiola
• Genma can translate into 'dark or mysterious horse.' Saotome means 'rice-planting girl,' which applies more to Ranma's condition.

[edit] References

• Genma Saotome at AnimeInfo
• Genma Saotome at Furinkan.com

Ranma ½ Characters v • d • e
Saotome Family
Ranma Saotome | Genma Saotome | Nodoka Saotome
Tendo Family
Soun Tendo | Kasumi Tendo | Nabiki Tendo | Akane Tendo | Mrs. Tendo
Chinese
Shampoo | Mousse | Cologne | Jusenkyo Guide | Pantyhose Taro
Kuno Family
Tatewaki Kuno | Kodachi Kuno | Principal Kuno | Sasuke Sarugakure
Notable Furinkan Residents
Ukyo Kuonji | Hikaru Gosunkugi | Dr. Tofu Ono | Hinako Ninomiya | Konatsu
Major Adversaries
Ryoga Hibiki | Happosai | Mariko Konjo | Herb | Ryu Kumon | Saffron
Recurring / Other Characters
Akari Unryu | Tsubasa Kurenai | Shinnosuke | Ranma ½ minor characters
Other Articles
Locations in Ranma ½ | Anything Goes Martial Arts | Items in Ranma ½