Every man needs a good woman. Tenchi Masaki has six.
Tenchi Masaki is a normal high school student in Japan, who spends the summers doing chores around his grandfather's family shrine. One day, Tenchi manages to steal the key to a mysterious cave where an oni (Japanese demon) is said to have been sealed away by his ancester Yoshou, whose sword still stands guard over it. When he enters this cave, he finds that, much to his surprise, the legend is indeed true when the oni's dessicated skeletal form ("mira"--Japanese mummy) comes to life and attacks him. Tenchi flees the cave in a panic, and later returns to high school, taking the hilt--seemingly all that remains of the ancestral sword--with him. At school, Tenchi is again attacked by the oni, whose name is Ryouko, who has now completely revived herself. Tenchi manages to defeat her with the sword's help, but this is only the beginning of a hilarious Japanese romantic comedy OAV (Original Animation Video, the Japanese equivalent of American made-for-video movies) series which has spawned several spin-off OAVs, soundtrack and drama CDs, and a new TV series in Japan.—Christopher E. Meadows <cmeadows@nyx.cs.du.edu>
Life for Tenchi Masaki, a "normal Japanese schoolboy", is shattered one day when a spaceship falls from the sky! Space Pirate Ryoko emerges, attaching quite quickly to Tenchi...and that isn't all! More alien females land at the planet, including the royal princess from the planet Jurai, starting Tenchi off on an adventure he won't forget!—David Goodwin
Set in yet another different Tenchi Muyo universe, this series follows the adventures of Tenchi as he leaves his home for Tokyo for more schooling and there he meets Sakuya, a girl his age who seems quite eager to become Tenchi's girlfriend, an ambition which brings on the wrath of Ryoko and Ayeka. Also thrown into the mix is a strange being named Yugi who's interest in Tenchi may not be entirely benevolent—Anonymous
The story of the show starts centuries ago in the Juraian Empire, a large space empire ruled by humanoid aliens. The Crown prince (designated heir to the throne) Yosho is secretly unwilling to assume the responsibilities of a head of state. So he willingly disappears, and hides himself on planet Earth.
While on Earth, Yosho settles in Japan. He marries a female member of the Masaki family of priests, and assumes the identity of Katsuhito Masaki. In the modern era, Yosho assists in the upbringing of his teenage grandson Tenchi Masaki. Tenchi initially has no idea that he is both an alien hybrid, and a descendant of royalty.
Tenchi lived a largely peaceful alive, until age 17. A struggle between notorious space pirate Ryoko and Galaxy Police officer Mihoshi Kuramitsu, results in both young women crash-landing on Earth. Tenchi finds an unconscious Ryoko and takes care of her. Since both aliens are stranded on Earth, the Masaki family offers them hospitality.
At some point, Mihoshi attempts to summon help with an emergency beacon. The call is answered by Princess Ayeka Jurai, Ryoko's archenemy. Her arrival results in a battle between Ryoko and Ayeka. With Ayeka's ship damaged, she is also stranded on Earth. She becomes the third house guest of the Masaki family.
Both Ryoko and Ayeka develop romantic feelings for Tenchi. Ayeka is eventually located by her kid sister, Princess Sasami Jurai. Sasami arrives with the intention to rescue her sister, while Ryoko attempts to leave on her self-generating ship. The two spaceships accidentally collide, and Sasami is stranded on Earth. She becomes the fourth house guest of the Masaki family.
The next arrival in the household is mad scientist Washu Hakubi, long imprisoned in a crystal prison as a punishment for her dangerous creations. This prison was hidden on Earth for centuries, but Ryoko accidentally releases Washu. Washu settles herself in an inter-dimensional closet within the Misaki household. She regularly crosses dimensions to communicate with her new housemates.
Kiyone Makibi, Mihoshi's partner in the Galaxy Police, arrives to rescue Mihoshi. But their superiors at the Galaxy Police decide to assign both Mihoshi and Kiyone as their only patrol officers in the Solar System. The assignment is effectively a demotion and exile, something which frustrates Kiyone. The duo settle in their own apartment, but Mihoshi's clumsy nature causes problems for Kiyone.
Meanwhile, there is a major change in the Juraian Empire. An impostor impersonates Prince Yosho, and takes control of the Juraian military. The impostor (actually named Kagato) feels threatened by Ayeka and Sasami, and orders their arrests. He frames the princesses' allies for crimes of treason and terrorism, resulting in Tenchi and his friends becoming fugitives from the law.
For a while, the fugitives are operating their own spaceship and trying to cover its expenses. Ryoko is the only one experienced in the life of an outlaw, and commits various crimes to cover their expenses. They gain a new enemy in the bounty hunter Nagi, a long-time personal rival to Ryoko.
The group eventually attempts to infiltrate Juraian security, using Washu's stealth devices in the process. But Mihoshi accidentally blows their cover, resulting in a pursuit by a Juraian worship. Grandfather Katsuhito rescues the group by instructing them to hide in a planet regarded as a holy place, which prevents any pursuers from entering.
Katsuhito reveals his identity as the true Prince Yosho to his family and crew. Feeling that they need help, Yosho resurrects the long-dead knights Azaka and Kamidake, who pledge their loyalty to the man who restored them to life. Yosho realizes that he is the only one who remembers Kagato's real identity, since he once defeated the other Juraian man in combat.
Tenchi struggles with the revelation that he is a Juraian hybrid, rather than a normal human. Ayeka is actually happy, since this makes him a suitable mate for her.
Kagato challenges Yosho to a private rematch of their battle, but there is a catch. Yolsho has aged considerably since their previous battle, but Kagato seems to be still youthful. Kagato defeats Yosho, and next faces Ryoko in combat. He wounds Ryoko, kidnaps Ayeka, and flees. The wounded Ryoko tries to convince Tenchi to flee with her, but Tenchi has become determined to defeat Kagato.
Tenchi decides to invade the palace where Kagato lives, using Azaka and Kamidake to defeat Kagato's guards. Meanwhile, Washu uses a computer virus to disable the entire Juraian fleet. In a fight between the girls and the Juraians, Ryoko is the only casualty. She is missing in action.
In a duel to the death between Kagato and Tenchi, the sacred trees which empower the Juraian Empire intervene. The trees reject Kagato and empower Tenchi, who wins the battle. Kagato admits defeat and then dies. Tenchi successfully rescues Ayeka.
In the aftermath of the battle, Ayeka and her group are exonerated from all crime charges. Ayeka has no intention to punish Kagato's loyalists, but the conspirators do not trust her. The conspirators quietly retreat into civilian life, hoping to escape retribution.
Washu is pardoned for her former crimes and offered a position in a science academy. She takes the offer and vows to work for peace. She is quickly kicked out of the academy, when her fellows realize that her next invention is a weapon of mass destruction.
The Galaxy Police promotes Kiyone to the rank of Detective Sergeant, ending her term as a patrol officer. Mihoshi also receives a promotion, but she chooses to shirk her duty in favor of hanging out with Kiyone.
Tenchi, like his grandfather, is unwilling to become a head of state. He wants to return to Earth and to live a normal life. Once back in Japan, Tenchi feels lonely because he misses his alien housecoats. However, he is not the only one feeling lonely. A healed Ryoko and a bored Washu individually return to Earth, and Ryoko proclaims that she intends to win his heart.
Kiyone and Mihoshi also return to Earth, and settle back in their shared apartment. They have grown accustomed to living on Earth. In the Juraian Empire, Ayeka feels fed up with her royal duties. She runs away with the intention of returning to Earth and reclaiming her position at Tenchi's side. Sasami decides to follow her sister's example, and runs away towards Earth. There is an open-ended ending to the first part of the Tenchi story-line.
