If you have a Japanese-equipped, graphical browser, you might like to visit the Gokoroku Map (Azaka) at the Ryoko no Hokora web site, which has fairly detailed maps and some information about the origins of many of these names, and photos from some of the places. (Thanks to Happosai for finding this.)
Each entry contains the Kanji itself (an opaque GIF image - if you would like a transparent GIF of the same Kanji, send me an email), the Westernised name that it corresponds to, the meaning of the compound (that is, the entire name) if it's in the dictionary, and the definitions of the individual Kanji characters.
Most Kanji characters have more than one reading, sometimes with widely varying meanings. I've only included the most relevant readings. In some cases - e.g. Mihoshi - a character may have no reading that corresponds exactly to any of the dictionary entries. It's just one of those things; a character may have readings that are only ever used in names, and which aren't listed in the dictionaries.
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On-readings (the imported Chinese readings) are given in uppercase.
Kun-readings (the native Japanese readings) are given in
italicised lowercase, with additional kana parenthesised.
Kun-readings often require additional kana characters to
complete the word. These are written in parentheses.
For example, the second character in Ryoko's name has the On-reading KO, but it also has several kun-readings. The kun-reading yo(bu) call, call out to, invoke etc would normally be written using the Kanji character followed by the Hiragana for bu, as shown at right. In this case, KO and yo(bu) have the same root meaning. |
![[yobu]](kanji/yobu.gif) yo(bu) |
The numbers given after the definition each kanji are:
| NN | Index number for The New Nelson Japanese-English Character Dictionary, by John H. Haig, Tuttle, 1997. ISBN 0-8048-2036-8. This volume is the source of all the translations on this page. |
| JIS | Japan Industrial Standard code. |
![[Ryouko]](kanji/ryouko.gif)
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Ryoko
RYOU spirit of mountains and rivers.
KO yo(bu) call, call out to, invoke;
summon; invite; attract; send for; name, designate; bring about.
yo(bawaru) shout, exclaim, cry, yell, roar, howl;
cry for, clamor for, advocate.
-yo(bawari) suru treat as, denounce as, call (someone something). |
![[Orikasa Ai]](kanji/orikasaai.gif)
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Orikasa Ai
Ryoko's Japanese voice actress. I've written it family name first, in accord with normal Japanese practice.
o(ru) break, snap, fracture, knock out (teeth), fold, turn
down, make (origami), yield (oneself), give in.
o(ri) breaking; small food box; time, occasion, juncture; opportunity.
ori(shimo) just then.
o(ri kara) just at that time.
-ori- folding; signature (of a book).
kasa bamboo hat; one's influence; lampshade; (chimney) hood.
AI love, affection, favourite.
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![[Oryousan]](kanji/oryo-san.gif)
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Oryo-san Oryo-san is Ryoko's alter-ego in the Pretty Samy TV series. For more information on her (and lots of pictures), please visit Oryo-san's Page. Her name is unusual, in that only one Kanji character is used. Here is Luriko-Ysabeth's take on the matter:
During the Shogunate period, female names consisted of one character and were usually preceded by an o, particularly when the woman was of a certain class. For instance, in Musashi (the classic historical novel of Japanese literature), the female characters include O-Kou, O-Tsuu, O-Gin, O-Sugi, O-Kuni (the inventor of Kabuki), and so forth. The O- prefix appears to be a mandatory honorific, similar to ocha (tea). The -san suffix is used almost everywhere, even in the show's credits where everyone else has to do without an honorific. But it's not part of her name; in the character design sketches that accompany the laserdiscs, there is one instance of the -san being omitted. It's the only instance that I've been able to find. In any case, I've given her name in its full form, with all Hiragana supplied.
RYOU Spirit of mountains and rivers. |
![[Ryououki]](kanji/ryououki.gif)
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Ryo-Ohki
RYOU Spirit of mountains and rivers.
KOU, OU sumeragi, sumera emperor.
KI devil, demon, spirits of the dead.
oni devil, demon, ghost; spirits of the dead;
fiend; creditor; the one who is "it" (in games).
oni- sharp, relentless, crack (detective),
tough, extremely competent. oni(gokko) tag games. |
![[Minagi]](kanji/minagi.gif)
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Minagi
Ryoko's look-alike genetic daughter from the Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki manga (aka the Viz No Need for Tenchi! comics and graphic novels). Her creator and genetic father was Yakage, another of Washu's assistants. The Kanji given here are the ones found on the map; I have not yet confirmed that they are the ones used in the manga.
BI beauty, grace, charm.
TEI. TAI bag; counter for bags.
fukuro bag, sack, pouch.
(o)fukuro mama.
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![[Washu]](kanji/washu.gif)
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Washu
SHUU, JU, washi eagle
U, ha feather. hane feather, plumage, wing;
blade, paddle, fan. wa bird counter. |
![[Hakubi]](kanji/hakubi.gif)
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Hakubi
Compound: hakubi prominence, excellence, best example, the pick of HAKU, BYAKU white. [NN 3863/ JIS 4772] BI, MI, mayu eyebrow. [NN 3917/JIS 487d] |
![[Masaki]](kanji/masaki.gif)
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Masaki
Tenchi's family name; not to be confused with Aeka's mother, Misaki.
masa, masame straight grain. masaki spindle tree.
BOKU tree. MOKU tree; Thursday. ki, ko tree; wood; timber; lumber;
wooden clappers.
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![[Tenchi]](kanji/tenchi.gif)
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Tenchi
Compound: tenchi, amatsuchi heaven and earth, the universe, nature; top and bottom; world, realm, sphere. (New Nelson also includes the four-character compound tenchimuyou this side up; do not turn over.)
[NN 1136/JIS 4537] NOTE: This character should not be confused with the very similar YOU early death, calamity (see image at right). Although come to think of it...
CHI earth, land, ground, the surface of the earth;
soil; place, region; territory; room, space;
position; site; foundation. ji ground, land, earth;
the surface of the earth; foundation, soii; texture, weave, fabric;
field (of a flag); region; disposition; respectability;
accoompaniment; narrative part; fact.
ji(beta) the ground, the earth.
tsuchi earth, soil, ground. |
![[Nobuyuki]](kanji/nobuyuki.gif)
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Nobuyuki
The written forms of some Japanese names remind me of that old joke, "The name's Czwrtsplsky, pronounced Smith."
SHIN truth, faith, fidelity, sincerity; trust, confidence, reliance.
makoto sincerity, fidelity, devotion.
KOU happiness, fortune.
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![[Achika]](kanji/achika.gif)
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Achika
A, O, omone(ru), hetsura(u) flatter, fawn upon. kuma corner,
nook, recess; indentation, bend, turn; shade, shading; makeup.
CHI knowledge, acquaintance, sense.
KE. KA flower.
hana flower, blossom; cherry blossom; essence; spirit; pride;
pearl; youth; best days; beautiful woman, flower arrangement; flower-card game.
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![[Mayuka]](kanji/mayuka.gif)
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Mayuka
MA. asa flax, hemp, ramie, jute, linen. YUU, YU. yo(ru) depend on. [NN 3724/JIS 4d33] GE. KA flower; petal; shining, luster; appearance; ostentation. [NN 5058/JIS 325a] |
![[Mihoshi]](kanji/ebara.gif)
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Ebara
Ebara is Ryoko's old flame from her early days, as recounted in manga tankoban volume 9 - see the manga page for some scans. Her memory of Ebara was removed by Kagato. He seems to be connected in some way with a tree which features prominently in some parts of the story, which presumably has something to do with his name.
KYOKU thorn. toge thorn, splinter; spine; biting words.
odoro briers, thicket, the bush.
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![[Mihoshi]](kanji/mihoshi.gif)
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Mihoshi
BI beauty, grace, charm.
hoshi star; spot, dot, mark; bull's eye;
one's fortune; point, score. |
![[Kiyone]](kanji/kiyone.gif)
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Kiyone
Compound: seion unvoiced sound.
SHOU. SEI. SHIN China, Manchu (dynasty).
kiyo(meru) purify, cleanse; consecrate; exorcise.
kiyo(maru), kiyo(mawaru) be purified, be cleansed.
su(masu) clear, clarify, settle; strain (one's ears); look grave.
kiyo(i) clean, clear; pure, innocent; noble.
kiyo(me) purification, sanctification; cleansing, purgation;
exorcism; ablution.
kiyo(rakana) clear.
ON sounds; noise; pronounciation.
ne sound, tone, note, voice, chirping. |
![[Azaka]](kanji/azaka.gif)
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Azaka
A, O, omone(ru), hetsura(u) flatter, fawn upon. kuma corner,
nook, recess; indentation, bend, turn; shade, shading; makeup.
ZA seat, cushion; throne; a gathering; stand, pedestal, platform;
(metal) washer; theater; troupe; constellation.
KA influence.
ka(suru), ka(su), ke(suru) change into, convert into, transform,
be reduced; influence, improve (someone).
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![[Kamidake]](kanji/kamidake.gif)
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Kamidake
KA fire; Tuesday.
BI beauty, grace, charm.
MOU wildness, fierceness; strength.
take(ru) become furious, rush, rage, rave.
take(ku), mou (ni) valiantly, bravely, fiercely.
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![[Jurai]](kanji/jurai.gif)
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Jurai
JU ki tree, wood.
RAI ikazuchi thunder.
kaminari thunder, thunderbolt.
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![[Aeka]](kanji/aeka.gif)
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Aeka
The true meaning of Aeka is, so I'm told, buried in an ancient and obsolete Japanese word for which I have no translation. Because of this, the readings given here don't make a lot of sense.
A, O, omone(ru), hetsura(u) flatter, fawn upon. kuma corner,
nook, recess; indentation, bend, turn; shade, shading; makeup.
CHOU, JUU nest of boxes. kasa(neru) pile up, heap up, add, repeat.
kasa(naru) pile up, be piled; lie on one another. omo(ru)
get heavy; grow serious. omo(njiru), omo(nzuru) honor, respect,
esteem, prize. omo(i), omo(tai) heavy, massive, serious, important,
severe, oppressed. omo(mi) imortance, weight, dignity. omo(sa)
weight. kasa(ne) pile, heap, layer; suits; set; course (of stones).
kasa(nete) repeatedly, again. omo(na), omo(naru) main,
principal, important. juu- heavy; double. -e -fold, -ply.
-juu -fold.
KA. kasu(mu) be hazy; grow dim (eyes), be blurred.
kasumi haze, mist; dimness of sight. |
![[Azusa]](kanji/azusa.gif)
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Azusa
A, O, omone(ru), hetsura(u) flatter, fawn upon. kuma corner,
nook, recess; indentation, bend, turn; shade, shading; makeup.
SU. SHUU, SHU Lord; lord, master, employer; aim; main thing.
aruji head of the house, master, mistress, husband.
nushi owner; master, husband; lover; a god; you.
omo(na), omo(naru) main, principal, important.
omi(ni) chiefly, principally, mostly.
shu(taru) main, principal, major.
shu (toshite) mainly, chiefly.
omo- main.
SA. SHA. isago, suna sand.
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![[Funaho]](kanji/funaho.gif)
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Funaho
SHUU boat.
fune boat, ship, vessel, steamer, liner, barge; shipping;
tank, trough, cistern, vat.
SUI. ho ear, head (of grain); crest (of waves).
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![[Misaki]](kanji/misaki.gif)
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Misaki
Aeka's mother's name. Not to be confused with Masaki, the Tenchi family name.
BI beauty, grace, charm.
SA. SHA. isago, suna sand.
JU ki tree, wood.
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![[Sasami]](kanji/sasami.gif)
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Sasami
SA. SHA. isago, suna sand.
SA. SHA. isago, suna sand.
BI beauty, grace, charm.
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![[Tsunami]](kanji/tsunami.gif)
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Tsunami
And exactly how many Tenchi fans out there still think that Tsunami means tidal wave?
SHIN. tsu port, harbor; ferry.
tsuyu juice; sap; soup, broth; gravy.
MYOU. MEI distinguished, noted; wise; name.
na name; fame, reputation; pretext.
na(zukeru) name, call.
na(ute no) notorious, famous.
MI. mi(suru) charm, fascinate, bewitch, enchant.
baka(su) bewitch, confuse, enchant, delude.
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![[Tidal wave]](kanji/tidal-wave.gif) Tidal wave |
![[Youshou]](kanji/youshou.gif)
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Yosho The original Tenchi OAVs appear to be based heavily on traditional Japanese and Shinto traditions. From Stefan Scrivener:
I found it intriguing to discover that the name Yosho appears in Japanese mythology. Yosho was a Japanese saint whose spirit lives on to help people. Maybe Pioneer used a bit of artistic licence to depict the fight between Ryoko and Yosho centuries ago as not only the start of the legend Tenchi knew but also of the tale of Saint Yosho. Only a few people would register the connection and I'm probably miles off the mark but it makes an interesting theory all the same.
YOU. haru(ka ni) far off, in the distance; a long time ago; by far.
SHOU. te(ru) shine.
te(rasu) shine on, shed light on, illuminate; compare with.
te(reru) be bashful.
te(ri) sunshine; dry weather, drought; gloss, luster.
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![[YOU]](kanji/you.gif)