Mariko Konjo
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| Mariko Konjo 今条 マリ子 | |
|---|---|
| Image:Marikomanga.jpg M-A-R-I-K-O! MARIKO! | |
| Gender: | Female |
| Age: | 16 |
| Family: | Unknown |
| Love Interest: | Tatewaki Kuno |
| Loved By: | Kuno |
| Rivals: | Akane Tendo Pigtailed Girl |
| Occupation: | Student Captain of the Seisyun High School Cheerleading Team |
| Residence: | Konjo Household, Furinkan |
| Fighting Style: | Martial Arts Cheerleading |
| Attacks: | Nyoibo Baton Crash Love Bursting Out All Over The Fireworks of Love The Shower of Confidence Love's Deepest Cut Quicksand of Love Flying Sea Urchin Pom-Pom Love Bomb Black Widow Ensnaring of the Lover Ribbons Zombie of Love |
| Seiyū: | Yuko Kobayashi |
| Voice Actor: | Jocelyn Loewen |
| 1st Appearance (Manga): | Volume 21 |
| 1st Appearance (Anime): | TV Series, Season 7, Episode 136 (8/7/92), Bring It On! Love's Cheerleader, Part I |
Mariko Konjo (今条 マリ子 Konjo Mariko) is a fictional character in Rumiko Takahashi's anime and manga series Ranma ½.
Contents |
[edit] Introduction
When Mariko's school played Furinkan High's girls volleyball team, Mariko and her cheerleading companions helped the other team win by throwing their cheerleading materials (batons, pom pons, etc.) at the Furinkan Team, knocking them all out except for Akane, who is saved from being knocked out by Onna-Ranma, who happened to be passing by.
Akane cries later on, over losing the game because of Mariko's actions, and Onna-Ranma tries to comfort her without much success. Kuno tries to do the same, only to be hit away and into the air by an angry Akane, who had been hugged by Kuno from behind.
[edit] Meeting Kuno
Mariko and her fellow cheerleaders are walking home when the flying Kuno just happens to land right on top of her. Kuno hands her a band-aid, apologizes, and leaves. Mariko, however, after seeing Kuno immediately falls in love with him. Later on when Kuno is chasing Onna-Ranma as usual, Mariko notices this and immediately challenges Onna-Ranma, who she calls "Kuno's girlfriend", to a match of martial arts cheerleading, which Onna-Ranma gladly accepts in order to get even with her for what she did to Akane.
[edit] Story
The match's rules, as set by Mariko are as follows - the one who can prove that they love Kuno more is the one who can win the match. Various tactics were used by both participants, including love letters and pictures thrown by both Mariko and Onna-Ranma, as well as declarations of undying love on both sides. Eventually during the match, the outcome of the Mariko/Onna-Ranma matchup turns into something which depends on a fight between Kuno and a masked kendoist who turns out to be Akane. The match ends in a draw with both Kuno and Akane knocked out.
[edit] Personality
Mariko is in love with Kuno and will try anything in order to get him. She believes Onna-Ranma is currently invovled with Kuno and is looking to steal him away from her. A very versatile fighter with her cheerleading tools, she is willing to work hard to achieve her goals and will stop at nothing to succeed in them. Mariko views Kuno in a similar manner to how Kuno sees Akane and the 'Pigtailed Girl'—the perfect man for her, even though he sees otherwise. In a way, this makes her the female equivalent to Kuno.
[edit] Special Techniques
Her fighting style is very similar to Kodachi's in that she uses cheerleading tools in much the same way that Kodachi uses gymnastic tools in her martial arts competitions.
As it turns out, Martial Arts Cheerleading doesn't only involve interfering to help your team win, but also involves building your team up to the point where they feel invincible. Mariko is quite good at this, but Ranma has trouble confessing his "love" for Kuno.
Mariko is not as strong as Shampoo, Ukyo, or Kodachi but she is still one of the best female fighters in the series.
- Nyoibo Baton Crash: Mariko extends her baton to attack. Nyoibo is the name of Goku (from Dragon Ball Z)'s extending stick. In the manga, the spectaters even make a comment about it being a Dragonball referance and as if they are in the right manga.
- Love Bursting Out All Over: The Love Bursting Out All Over technique involves Mariko's team throwing her into the air while she hids behind her pom-poms. It is followed by the kicking manuver "I Get A Kick Out of You."
- The Fireworks of Love: Mariko's pom-poms explode and spell out "Kuno" and "Love".
- The Shower of Confidence: Mariko showers Kuno with love letters, giving him the confidence he needs in order to win.
- Love's Deepest Cut: Mariko throws razor-sharp cheerleading batons at her opponent.
- Quicksand of Love: Mariko is supported by her teammates pom-pom's while her opponent is held in place.
- Flying Sea Urchin Pom-Pom Love Bomb: Mariko's pom-pom turns into a ball of spikes.
- Black Widow Ensnaring of the Lover Ribbons: Mariko uses ribbons to disarm her opponent.
- Zombie of Love: Mariko uses Kuno to attack Akane using the "Midair Clash of Hearts" baton throw and "Puppet of Love Baton Storm."
- Midair Clash of Hearts:
- Puppet of Love Baton Storm:
[edit] Trivia
- Mariko is a common Japanese name meaning "child of true benefit." This could be a reference that she benefits the teams she cheers for and ensures that they do not lose. Konjo is broken down into "today's law."
- While apparently a dumb, superficial girl on the outside, Mariko is actually quite cunning, capable of planning devious strategies to achieve her goals. To some fans, her blind love for Kuno indicates that she might be the female equivalent of him, evidenced in part by the massive photographs of him she has plastered all over her bedroom. The source of these pictures is unknown, although it would be reasonable to assume that she obtained them from Nabiki.
- She often speaks in rhymes or spelling words, probably a habit born of cheerleading all the time.
- Mariko gives her special techniques weird love-related names like: Love Confession Pom-Pom Fireworks, Love Boomerang or Innocent Girl Love Letter Blast.
| 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 | Chinese Amazons | |
