Hey... thanks for replying!  That and not taking off my head for being a
nit-picker... ^^;

Anyway, I really appreciate what you wrote. Accuracy is important.  The

only

*real* problem (that I'm unsure of how to change) is, I wanted a TA or

other

teaching person, not a student. there's no way Himeko could be a

professor, is

there? In America it's possible and has happened; would it carry over to

Japan?

Hmm. The TA thing is a problem.  Actually skipping grades is problem as
well... just about totally unheard of in Japan.  The slow learners, average
and the smart are all kept together and pushed along.  At the high school
and college level the only thing that separates people is the ability to
pass the exam to get in...   However, things are changing (however slowly
that is) and there are some private schools that I bet would have no problem
skipping a child genius.  A couple different takes on what Himeko could be
are...

She could still be a grad school student... although he field of research
will be restricted to that of her professor that she is assigned to work
under.  TA duties may come as this... Ranma has trouble with the class...the
professors don't tutor much as I understand (can't say firsthand...just what
I heard from my wife and friends), so he suggests that Ranma talk to his
genuis grad student, Himeko.  The prof asks Himeko to help Ranma out with
the work.  There's that interaction you needed...

One that would work real well is to say that Himeko didn't graduate yet.
Thus she is Ranma's sempai...not as much as if they were the same major,
however...  The prof can ask the two of them to stay after class one day
because he wants Himeko to tutor Ranma.  Another connection can be that they
share a same hobby, thus putting them into the same "circle."  For example
skiing... then they would have ski trips together, drinking parties
together, and during campus festivals, their circle would have some kind of
booth selling food or games for money for their trips, etc.  This is of cour
se followed by a drinking party.  Japanese college students drink
insanely... Japanese adults (particularly businessmen) only drink like
fish...

No dorms? That puts a damper on the character interactions. >_< And it

adds

some unwanted interaction...maybe Ranma should just camp out in the park.

Well the above "circle" would help with that, but another concept is that
you could have the campus make an exception for him because of... I dunno..
they have a champion martial arts team and REALLY want Ranma on it, so part
of the way they get him in is to offer him a room in the international dorm.
That would make things pretty interesting, eh?

As for the cafe, yes, I was thinking of something similar to the Denny's
concept. Under a different name. *shrugs*

Ah... I see.  No prob.  They just usually are chains..like the ones I
mentioned.  Small private owned places have a more limited menu and fall
under the category, "teishoku" restaurant...or maybe a cafe (many are
"Italian"...as in Japanese-version Italian, or French).  Anyway if anyone on
the list would like a list of foreign restaurants, fast food places, family
restaurants, etc. that I know of in Japan... drop me a line, and I'll post
it up.

I was fairly tempted to make up my own institution of study (DnR), but I'd
rather not...since you know the geography, might you tell me another

university

in the area, somewhere near Kyoritsu (for conveniance)? ^_^ Something that
Ranma and Ryoga might actually make it into...

Well making up your own always makes sure that you're not wrong about what
kind of a school it is...  but let's see....

Hitotsubashi is maybe too good... as is Keio and Meijigakuin.  Waseda is a
definite no, as is Sophia (jochi daigaku).  Here's one... Toyo University...
it's in Bunkyo-ku.  The perfect one would be Tokai University, but it's in
Hiratsuka, Kanagawa Pref. not too far from Mt. Fuji (which is in Yamanashi
Pref.).  International Christian University may not be bad either... I don't
think that they are too hard to get into, but they are not a horrible
school...

Don't be sorry to nitpick. :) I do it all the time.

Glad to know that somebody else does it too... ^^;

Thanks again!

---Irene

No prob... always happy to help

J



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