Kuno and the Phoenix Sword

Tatewaki Kuno

Vital Statistics:
Name: Kuno "many/nine skills" Tatewaki "bring a sword" (!?)
Age: 17
Entrance: V1.3, Nibbonoichi 2
Sex: Male (well duh)
Hair: black
Eyes: brown
Dimensions: yeah right, go somewhere else
Martial Arts: Kendo (fencing)
Distinguising features: swordsman robes, bokken
Weapons: bokken (wooden sword), or a real metal sword
Aliases: Blue Thunder to peers, Tacchi to Principal Kuno
Loves: Ranma (girl form), Akane
Loved by: Mariko (until she 'dumped' him)
Friends: Kodachi (sort of)
Hates: Principal Kuno, Kodachi (sort of), Ranma
Voice: Suzuoki Hirotaka (Japan), Ted Cole (US)

Strike!The 17-year old enemy of Ranma, Tatewaki Kuno is the captain of the kendo club and class president. He was kicked from his No.1 spot in school when Ranma showed up, and has been seeking vengeance ever since.

Kuno is in love with Akane and the 'pig-tailed girl,' seeing both as perfect. He believes all girls want to date him, but only allows his 'chosen' to date him.

Tatewaki is effectively the head of the Kuno Household, being the eldest member living in the mansion. One can say he runs the household by himself, as the only other Kuno around is Kodachi, and she doesn't appear to do anything.

Kuno's oblivious to the feelings of others, and is very self-centered. He has an ego about the size of Ranma's.

Some like to say Kuno's stupid about Ranma's curse, but I say its blinding by love for the pig-tailed girl. If he ever discovered the truth of Ranma's curse, his hatred may increase a hundredfold, perhaps to the point where rage augments Kuno's abilities to make him an actual threat to Ranma.

Honor means a great deal to Kuno, and he'd like nothing better than to avenge his dishonor at the hands of Ranma, sometimes even restorting to dishonorable means. Tradition probably means a lot to him, too, but I suppose all that goes out the window when his father is concerned.


Martial Arts

Kuno practices kendo, the art of fencing. He's the best at what he does, but that's also his fatal weakness-- he relies too much on his sword. The speed of Kuno's attacks are his greatest advantage.

The Blue Thunder Attack technique involves jabbing with his bokken in lightning-quick fashion, almost like Ranma's own Amaguriken.

The Watermelon Cyclone Slash technique involves spinning in a 360 degree circle and cutting watermelons (or by extension, any similarly bulked object) cleanly in half.

The Phoenix Sword technique hasn't been learned as of yet, but Kuno seeks to use this on Ranma one day. Chi-manifested flames surround the sword, channeling energies into one deadly blow. Take note: I don't consider the Phoenix chick sitting on his head a technique.

Heaven and Earth The Tenchi raimei kiri (Murderous Heaven and Earth Thunder) is a technique from the SNES game, Ranma 1/2 Super Battle (not released in USA). Kuno jumps doing an uppercut motion with his sword and comes down with sword extended, with chi-manifested blue lightning trailing on the descent.

Sky Arc Decapitator The Kokuzan (Sky Arc Decapitation) is a technique from the SNES game, Ranma 1/2 Super Battle (not released in USA). Doing an uppercut motion with his sword (without jumping) Kuno sends out a projectile (actually just plain air), which almost acts as a shield.

Kuno's easily distracted by Akane or the pig-tailed girl. Sometimes he spouts needless speeches, giving opponents an opening. He has an ego that matches that of Ranma; he believes he can't lose in the end. Take away his weapon, and Kuno's helpless. He also doesn't fight girls, especially his sister, as he can't bear to see harm to them.

Comparing skill levels with other characters, Kuno's approximately between Ryoga and Shampoo. Sometimes he beats tougher opponents (Ranma) through special skills or powers. Of course just about anyone can pound on Kuno, given his fatal weaknesses and bloated ego.

Like Ukyo, Kuno fights better when he's angry, but not enough that Ranma would take the battle seriously.


Relationships with Others

Ranma. Kuno hates Ranma's male side, but loves his female side. Blinded by love, Kuno can't see his perfect pig-tailed girl and the vile sorcerer Ranma as the same person, despite obvious evidence. The fact that Ranma uses this to his advantage doesn't help the situation.

Akane. Akane hates Kuno. Kuno loves Akane, seeing her as the perfect woman.

Shampoo. Neutral. Although beautiful, Kuno doesn't see her as perfect.

Ukyo. Neutral. In the anime episode where Ukyo came to school in a girl's uniform, Kuno recognized her immediately (unlike Ranma and other classmates), and was willing to skip over Akane and the pig-tailed girl to go out with her.

Kodachi. Hates her because she hates the pig-tailed girl, and loves Ranma. Otherwise, Kuno's very protective of his sister, and gets upset when harm comes her way; however, when it's time to fight he leaves Kodachi alone. He acts like a father to Kodachi at times, considering his behavior and the fact that their real father's never around.

Mousse. Neutral. Sometimes an ally in the battle against Ranma.

Ryoga. Neutral. Sometimes an ally in the battle against Ranma.

Nabiki. A neccessary evil, Kuno buys photos of the pig-tailed girl from her. Kuno hates Nabiki a lot. Nabiki doesn't care so long as business flows.

Gosunkugi. The pathetic boy is treated like dirt to Kuno, but he does have his uses.

Principal Kuno. Hates him for shaving his head three years ago. The two fight most of the time they're around each other.

Mariko. Kuno's indifferent to Mariko, the martial-arts cheerleader. However, Mariko fell in love with Kuno, and even challenged Ranma over him. In the conclusion of the story Mariko 'gave-up' on Kuno. Probably Kuno's best chance at love.

Kuno's pretty much a joke to those around him, despite his cultured upbringing and obvious skill, all blamed on Ranma. While he gets along with most of the cast, he's not generally well-liked as a person. In fact most people consider him a joke.

Of course that doesn't mean Kuno hasn't done some good things for others. Quite a few times Kuno worked to spare harm done to his sister. In his noblest times he fights for Akane's honor, which often goes unappreciated by the others.


You Know You Like Kuno Too Much When...



Kuno and Kodachi Karuta card

Kuno Image Gallery.

Fanart Gallery.

Ranma Fanfiction Only three actually have much to do with Kuno.

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