Nodoka is the mother of Ranma. She has spent most of her life hunting for him and Genma Saotome, ever since they left on a lifetime training mission. Here’s the tricky part. Ranma’s father promised her that he would make Ranma a “man among men” and if not, she could kill them both by ritual suicide, or Seppuku. (Seppuku is when you basically write some poetry, slit your belly, and get your head chopped off.)

But as most of you know, Ranma is 1/2 girl, which hardly makes him a “man among men” so when Nodoka shows up for a visit at the Tendo Dojo, Ranmas’ only chance to hide is to act, in girl form, as “Ranko” and her pet, “Mr. Panda.” Poor poor Ranma! I especially feel bad for his mother, searching all these years for her husband and son, traveling back and forth all over Japan... very tragic!