On Sun, 29 Sep 1996, Ranma Al'Thor wrote:

On Sun, 29 Sep 1996, Richard Lawson wrote:

Anyone know what happened to Chris Rijik's Ranma FAQ?  I cannot access
the site.  Has the URL changed?

Thanks.  I'm trying to do some Ukyo research.  So far, I can't find
anything to support the claim that it was Ranma who coined the nickname
"Ucchan".

Go read the first Ukyou story in the manga.  He says he came up with that 
name. <It's somewhere in teh three 'episode' arc>

At least that's how VIZ translated it.

   Almost. I understand that cutesy "(Your first initial here)-chan" names 
for one's friends are current among Japanese children, and their use often 
endures well after childhood. (Ucchan and Ranchan still use theirs 
between themselves.) A Japanese saying goes that "Childhood friends are 
closer than a wife," and such friendships last a long time between people 
of the same sex--hence continued uses of the names. (Ranma still thinks 
of Ucchan, to a greater or lesser extent, as a boy, and treats and names 
her accordingly.)
   The point is, Ranma wasn't being too original. He isn't that bright. :)
   (Keep in mind, Mr. Biles, that at first Viz translated "Ranchan" as 
"Ranma honey." It not only sounded horrible, but "Ranchan" means no such 
thing, and I personally complained to the translator by e-mail. I can't 
have been the only one to complain, for it was changed back to "Ranchan" 
in short order.
   By the way, no line in the Japanese corresponds to "Ucchan was a 
nickname I came up with", according to the fan translations I have access 
to. To explain it any better, though, would have taken much cultural 
explanation that really doesn't have much place in what is supposed to be 
a humorous publication. This is Ranma 1/2 we're discussing here, not the 
Old Testament. :)
   But to render "Ranchan" as "Ranma honey" was a complete mistake.)

Paul Corrigan
pcorrig@uoft02.utoledo.edu