Tenchi Masaki (柾木 天地, Masaki Tenchi) is the main protagonist of the Tenchi Muyo! metaseries.
Tenchi's name literally means 'Heaven and Earth.' It is the same as 'Tenchi' in the Shinto Kojiki which contains some of Japan's oldest myths and legends.
Tenchi is a normal boy until a number of alien girls arrive at his house. Some or all of the girls, depending on the continuity, fall in love with him, with him accepting none of their advances as a gentleman and because he cares much more about the family unit than he does about romantic conquests.
Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki
Tenchi Masaki is an ordinary boy living in Japan with his widowed father, Nobuyuki. He is a compassionate, humble, noble, level-headed, respectful young man training with his grandfather as a Shinto priest and as a swordsman. A number of alien girls arrive at his house throughout the course of the series, with all of them expressing romantic interest in the young (but innately powerful) boy. Throughout the series, Tenchi learns hidden truths about himself, his role in the universe, and just how powerful and significant he actually is.
OVA 1
Tenchi initially lives in the city with his father to attend school with his friends and visits his grandfather's shrine in rural Okayama every summer, where he trains to become a Shinto priest and learns his family's special style of swordsmanship which unbeknownst to Tenchi happens to be particular to members of the Royal Family of the planet Jurai. Tenchi's grandfather Katsuhito Masaki, always told him a legend about a warrior who defeated a demon and trapped her within the family shrine. Tenchi goes into the shrine and awakens the "demon," the space pirate Ryoko, who in a fit of rage enhanced by 700 years of being locked up, attacks Tenchi. After ending her attack on Tenchi, Ryoko attempts to seduce him in order to receive her gems that are attached to the sword that he found in the shrine. Shortly after, Juraian Princesses Ayeka and Sasami arrive on Earth to capture Ryoko and to find their missing brother Yosho, who was last known to have chased Ryoko off of Jurai (making him the "warrior" of Katsuhito's legend).
During the ordeal, Princess Ayeka is shocked to discover that Tenchi is in possession of the Master Key, Yosho's sword also called "Tenchi." After Ayeka notices that Tenchi is able to use its power, she determines that they are related by noble blood. Tenchi also makes friends with Ayeka's little sister Sasami, and they begin their older brother/little sister relationship.
Tenchi's house is permanently relocated next to the shrine after the battle between Ryoko and Ayeka. Both girls fall in love with Tenchi during their stay at his home. Additionally, Tenchi no longer attends school after the high school was decimated during the encounter with Ryoko in OVA 1, feeling responsible for his old high school being destroyed and theorizing that trouble will just follow him again if he were to return so he doesn't see his high school friends Kamikura, Ikeda, and Kazuhito Amagasaki that much.
Shortly after the arrivals of Ryoko, Ayeka, and Sasami, ditzy Galaxy Police detective Mihoshi Kuramitsu joins the extended Masaki family as well.
Subsequently, Tenchi suffers a great deal of stress as he tries his hardest to be a gentleman while most of the women within the household will take the opportunity to display their attraction for him. Though Tenchi refuses to get intimate with them, he treats them all like family, willing to risk his life for each and every one of them.
Tenchi, generating Light Hawk Wings for the first time.
More serious trouble comes for Tenchi, when ruthless space pirate and "Ruins Buster" Kagato arrives in order to take claim of Ryoko. Tenchi, after learning his grandfather's true identity as the Juraian prince Yosho, puts his life on the line to rescue her. During the climax of the battle when Tenchi is thought to be dead, both Ayeka and Ryoko reveal their true love for Tenchi, both of them going after Kagato in a suicidal battle to the death. After his life is saved by the goddess Tsunami, it is revealed that Tenchi can create three Light Hawk Wings, the most potent sources of energy in the universe, which are usually only created by the mighty Juraian Royal Treeships. In a final deul, Tenchi defeats Kagato.
OVA 2
After the battle with Kagato, Tenchi welcomes new houseguest, the universe's number 1 genius Washu Hakubi, who not only takes a huge interest in Tenchi because of his innate power, but also desires for him and only him to give her a child.
At the end of the OVA, Tenchi once again produces his Light Hawk Wings to save Ayeka, Mihoshi, and himself from a black hole during a confrontation with Dr. Clay.
OVA 3
Tench in OVA 3
Nearly a year later, Tenchi is shocked to discover that he has an older sister, Tennyo Masaki. 80 year old Tennyo arrives to introduce Tenchi's official fiancee, Noike Kamiki Jurai. The marriage was arranged by Jurai's political advisor, Seto Kamiki Jurai, who in reality, commissioned Noike to monitor the Masaki house as it has the highest concentration of power in the universe, thanks to all its inhabitants. Tenchi is also introduced to his grandmother, Airi Masaki.
Amidst all the chaos, Tenchi learns from his grandfather Katsuhito, that since Earth is a developing civilization, the Masaki clan must keep their true identities hidden since they do not age at the same rate as Earthlings, and those who are born into the Masaki family on Earth are kept from the secrets until they come of age.
During all of this news and confusion, Mihoshi's jealous brother Misao creates a master plan to kill Tenchi whom he thinks is hosting a harem, with his sister being his sex slave. After Misao's plans are thwarted, Tenchi's life is once again threatened as Z, a man who, like Tenchi, can generate Light Hawk Wings, attacks him. During the battle with Z, truths are revealed including more information about Tenchi's true nature. Tenchi is revealed to be a "potential," a person who can wield power from a higher dimension, ie: the Light Hawk Wings. For eternity, three godly sisters: Washu, Tsunami, and Tokimi -- the Chousin -- have searched for a being superior to them, and Tenchi is revealed to be that being after he defeats Z. Tenchi's true power is seen when the universe is almost destroyed by the impact of his power, if not contained by the Chousin. Tenchi's godly self hatches from his shell and is able to calm Tenchi down, reminding him of the girls he fights for.
After the entire ordeal, the truth behind everything that has happened was linked to the three. They decided to change the time line in order to repair the damage that they have done and like before, Tenchi gets knocked into the past, only this time it didn't strem from the attack on him made by Z, but by the canon of the powerful ship known as the Chobimaru. The reason for this is because if Tenchi didn't go to the past, he wouldn't have saved a little girl who would eventually becomeNoike. Additionally, in this new timeline, Tenchi creates six Light Hawk Wings, instead of his usual three that he limited himself to.
Tenchi Muyo! GXP
Although GXP takes place in the official continuity (taking place one year after the 3rd OVA series), Tenchi doesn't play a major role in this series though his unlucky childhood friend Seina Yamada is the main protagonist. The Galaxy Police did try to recruit him, but they ended up with Seina instead. Tenchi appears in Episode 17, where Seina comes to his house to see Washu to talk about Fuku, the cabbit that she had given him. Tenchi and Seina discuss their similar troubles with a harem of girls all fighting for them and also show off their superhuman feats with a race. Tenchi showed that he can move incredibly fast during a race with Seina; he can keep up with him despite Seina having drastic Galaxy Police body enhancements and going downhill on a bicycle. It is somewhat clear that at this point that Tenchi has much more confidence in his mysterious powers as well as his role as the "head of the house" and he's not interested of joining the Galaxy Police. Tenchi, as well as the girls, also appear in a brief cameo in Episode 26 where they attend Seina's wedding.
Tenchi Muyo! War on Geminar
Tenchi does not appear in this series but his younger half-brother Kenshi talks about him and his "sisters" at his older half-bother's house. In Episode 7 Kenshi mentions that he has sisters in-laws meaning his older brother Tenchi has at the very least two or more wives, as Kenchi only has one older brother, and one older sister by blood.
Powers and Abilities
Tenchi in battlesuit with Sword Tenchi
Tenchi is the most powerful character in the series, but is too young and immature to have full control over his power. He is a competent swordsman and martial artist, trained by his grandpa, and in the first episode he gains possession of a Master Key also known as Sword Tenchi (Tenchi-ken), that can form a lightsaber-like blade.
During the battle with Kagato, Tenchi receives a special ring from Tsunami that can create a Juraian battlesuit for him. Additionally, Tenchi is capable of superhuman feats thanks to his Juraian blood but has only displayed his more unusual talents during dire situations, such as his duel with Kagato, the escape from a black hole during the battle with Dr. Clay, and the confrontation with Z.
Tenchi using material metamorphosis with his LHWs.
Besides his very special power of generating Light Hawk Wings, Tenchi is able to transform this pure energy into matter, usually in the form of a sword, a shield, and battle clothing.
Tenchi's LHWs
In the final battle of OVA 3, Tenchi discovers that Light Hawk Wings are the manifestation of godly power in this dimension. The extent of Tenchi's powers is unknown. At one point they rage out of control, forcing the Chousin goddesses to step in and prevent a catastrophe. In the new "altered" timeline, when Noike secretly fired the Choubimaru's cannon to collide with the Earth, again to preserve her future, Tenchi projects his Light Hawk Wings to stop it, a total of six wings, rather than the usual three wings he limited himself to before the event.
Tenchi talking to "Kami Tenchi."
Tenchi is revealed to be the higher power that the Chousin have been searching for since before the beginning of time, though much else has yet to be explained. During the conflict with Z, Tenchi hatches from his mortal shell which causes him pain as he was not yet ready to ascend to higher dimensions. However, Tenchi, in his godly state, is able to calm himself down before he accidentally destroyed everything.
Airi notes in GXP, that Tenchi has several powers they haven't discovered yet - some examples include his instant teleportation off the planet when Z destroys much of the Earth, his speedy teleportation to Saturn when Z is about to slice him with his Light Hawk Wings, his traveling back in time after being cut in half by Z, (as well as after stopping the Chobimaru from destroying Earth during the new altered timeline), and his ability to keep up with his friend Seina in a foot race despite Seina having drastic body enhancements and going downhill on a bicycle.
Other Information
Tenchi makes these alien girls part of his family. As a result, Tenchi isn't lonely any more, despite the troubles the
girls may cause. While Tenchi is a normal teenage guy in that he finds the girls attractive, his desire for family is greater because they helped him deal with the great pain in his heart because of losing his mother.
So no matter who one's favorite girl is, Tenchi is currently going with the "I'm not choosing a single girl since I like having all the girls around me as family" strategy. One of the reasons for Tenchi not choosing a single girl is that if he did, chances are the others wouldn't stay, drastically altering the series dynamic.
Though Tenchi is not bonded to a Royal Tree, he is considered a contender for the throne of Jurai (determined by election of the four royal families) due both to his status as successor to First Prince Yosho (who was a contender due to his connection to his 1st Generation Royal Tree) and his singular ability among the Jurai to create Light Hawk Wings on his own. Tenchi is second in line behind his grandfather, followed by Seina who was bonded to a 1st generation tree seed.
It has been confirmed that Tenchi will be around for hundreds of thousands of years thanks to his great power and that Tenchi and the girls will eventually move to Jurai. Beforehand however, while stilll on Earth, Tenchi's relationship with the girls will become intimate (revealed in Masaki Kajishima's doujinshi 'Omatsuri Zenjitsu no Yoru - Omake)
Kajishima has stated that should GXP and OVA 3 do well, that he would consider another series to explore Tenchi's love life. It also should be noted that ALL of Kajishima's works end with a harem in which the guy marries (or otherwise ends up with) many if not all of the girls from that series.
Tenchi's son.
It has been revealed through Kajishima's doujins and pictures that Tenchi will have, at the very least, two children, born in the same year; a son, who is seen talking with Masaki, sister of the first emperor of Jurai, sometime in the near future. Tenchi's son will eventually marry Masaki and they will become archaeologists on the request of Washu. He will also have a daughter (little is known about her). The mothers of these children are unknown. However, the picture of Tenchi's son looks a bit like Washu (though some would say Ryoko) and the picture of Ryoko's daughter depicts her as having eyes and facial structure similar to Tenchi's. Further, Tenchi and the girls are living on Jurai by the time he has children.
Tenchi Universe
In the first TV series, Tenchi Universe, Tenchi is similar in personality to the Tenchi of official canon, but is not as
powerful as his counterpart. His abilities seem to not go beyond his use of Tenchi-ken (Sword Tenchi) and the power possessed by members of Jurai's Royal Family. Sword Tenchi is just a weapon and is not revealed to be a Master Key. Tenchi attends school in the city, but it is a long commute for him because he lives in the mountains of Okayama near his family's shrine with his widowed father, Nobuyuki, and his grandfather, Shinto priest Katsuhito.
Tenchi once again leads an ordinary life until the arrival of Ryoko to his home. Ryoko claims to be being chased by a vicious space pirate who actually turns out to be Galaxy Police detective Mihoshi. After the ordeal, both alien girls are stuck at Tenchi's home without any complaints from Ryoko who falls head over heels for Tenchi.
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Tenchi in Tokyo
In the second TV series, Tenchi in Tokyo, Tenchi's personality and background are different. He has no connections to Jurai and the sword is created from seven gems which he inherited from his late mother. As this series started out intended to be a continuation of Tenchi Universe, the girls are all with Tenchi in the house already by the start of the series. He's also much less tolerant with the girls (especially Ayeka and Ryoko), often scolding them for causing him trouble.
However, this idea of continuation was soon abandoned, and episode 7 is used as a flashback episode, revealing that one night, Ryoko and Washu came down to Earth trying to escape with the Jurai Light Stone which they'd stolen, with Kiyone, Mihoshi, Ayeka, and Sasami by proxy in hot pursuit, leading all six of them to end up at the woods near the Shrine and house. In the ensuing hijinks, Ryoko ends up absorbing the Light Stone and transforming into a monstrous form around the same time as Tenchi ends up seeing the commotion and meeting the girls, and the gem sword awakens itself as a weapon, with Tenchi forced to use it against Ryoko in self-defense, presumably almost killing her.
After Tenchi nursed the girls and especially Ryoko back to health, Ryoko had separated the gems to prevent the sword from being used against her again. Each of the six girls took one of the gems as a keepsake. However, in the first episode of the series, Tenchi moved to Tokyo to train as a Shinto priest under a friend of his grandfather's, hence the series' title. Eventually, due to the chaos surrounding the girls' visits through the inter-dimensional portal Washu created, along with Tenchi's blooming relationship with classmate Sakuya Kumashiro which did not go over well with Ryoko and Ayeka at all, Tenchi got tired of the girls coming over and ordered them never to disturb him again, and sealing the portal entrance with his blanket before asking Washu to remove the portal completely. This led to the house growing apart and the girls going in at least four separate directions midway through the series.
At the end of the series, Tenchi finds out that his family, the Masaki, are the Planet Guardians whose job is to protect the planet from evil forces when the need arises. Although it was hard for Tenchi after learning about Sakuya's true identity as a manifestation of the warped mutant Juraian Yugi's shadow, Tenchi was able to unite the gems together and chose to confront Yugi alone, feeling that he was partly responsible for what happened. With some help from Ryoko, Ayeka, Mihoshi, and Kiyone, Tenchi caught up to Yugi and chose to spare her and give her a second chance. Tenchi explained she should have come to the Masaki Shrine in the first place and become friends with him and the others rather than to wallow away in loneliness. After the final battle, Tenchi moves back to the Masaki Shrine, Yugi agreeing to be sealed in the Masaki Cave until she was mature enough to control her powers.
Pretty Sammy
Magical Girl Pretty Sammy
In the Pretty Sammy OAV series, Tenchi Kawai (河合 天地, Kawai Tenchi) (as he is known in the show) is Sasami's older brother and a high school student. He is the center of attention for his classmates, Ryoko Orikasa and Ayeka Takada, to the point where they would fight each other for his affections. When Ryoko and Ayeka were transformed by Pixy Misa into Love Love Monsters, they began to fight over him for their affections, until Pretty Sammy intervened. When Pretty Sammy was having trouble against the Ryoko and Ayeka Love Love Monsters, Tenchi was able to get through to them by apologizing to them for not choosing between them. Even after Sammy turned them back to normal Tenchi still had to deal with Ryoko and Ayeka's bickering as he doesn't understand true love yet.
Magical Project S
In Magical Project S (Pretty Sammy TV), he only appears in Episode 12 and is known as Tenchi Masaki, a director of Blue Sky Cool Rangers, a Super Sentai or to american audiences Power Rangers-style TV series. Tenchi was having problems with the production as he was starting out as a director, until Sasami decided to help by guest starring on a Cool Rangers episode as Pretty Sammy. This helped save his career. Sasami developed a crush on him, but was heartbroken, after she learned that Tenchi already has a girlfriend, and that he was moving away when he was given a job offer as a theatrical director.