HI,
just a brief observation. I have ,in one of my various
books, a story concerning a Japanese family. The
mother-in-law stole some money. The mans wife was
blamed and sentenced to die. Her husband knew his
mother had stolen the money but let his wife die to
protect his mother. The man was praised for his filial
duty and devotion. (I'll try  to find the exact
reference after exams are over. ^_^) My point is that
Japanese concepts of Honor are different, sometimes
VERY different from Western concepts. Traditionally a
parent COULD obligate his/her children. AND the
obligations could be unreasonable AND un-fulfillable.
It was the child's DUTY to shield the parent---NO
MATTER the consequences. As with western concepts of
honor and morality there was often some creative
interpretation of these concepts. however a cursory
reading of Japanese history and mythology will reveal
some chilling (to western eyes) incidents (fact and
fiction). A favorite theme is lovers suicide when there
is an unresolvable conflict between honor and love.
(they usually tie themselves together and leap off a
cliff into the sea . . .[there is a scene in Blue Seed
that seems based on this]) Idealy (the Japanese ideal)
Ranma SHOULD have to take care of all of these
obligations. It is RANMA`S responsibility to resolve
the problems. And care for Genma and Nodaka in their
old age. 

I have to ask; when did *Ranma* promise to marry

her?

It was *Genma* who 
made that promise - a promise he had no right to
make, one made just to 
satisfy his own stomach!

Chad Walker, cswvna@hotmail.com (main)
csw1test@hotmail.com (FFML handler)

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