History of Sasami: The OAV: Introdution (Tenchi Muyo!/Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki)

In the 1st and 2nd OAV (known as Tenchi Muyo! in America, and Tenchi Muyo! Ryoohki in Japan), Sasami played a role about equivilant in size to the other major girls in the series (the girls that stay with Tenchi). In the upcoming 3rd OAV series, announced by OAV in early 2001, it was announced Sasami wouldn't play a huge role, but her "other half" Tsunami would, along with the other two Goddesses in the world of Tenchi.

Sasami, OAV Episode 9: "Sasami and Tsunami". Image courtesy of The Sasami Shrine.

     Sasami was born as the second daughter to King Azusa and Queen Misaki (Rulers of Planet Jurai). Her older sister is Ayeka. Her "Aunty" is Queen Funaho. I'd go more into Queen Funaho and Queen Misaki, but this is about Sasami. I'll talk about them later.

     When she was very young (about 700 years ago), Ryoko and Ryo-ohki were attacking Jurai because they were under the control of Kagato. Anyway, while everyone else was running for their lives, Sasami was playing in the Jurai Gardens, where some of the trees of Jurai had taken root. This area was a huge place. It was a maze of foot paths, if you fell off, chances are, you're dead.
     In one huge BANG, a Jurai battleship ran into the garden (which I assume is right next to or perhaps in the Jurai Palace). When this happened, Sasami slipped and fell into a dark abyss, towards the bottom of the Jurai Garden, a long way below, where the older trees of Jurai had taken root.
     When she reached the very bottom, she was lying in a pool of her own blood, dying.

     The most powerful of those Jurai Trees was named Tsunami (yes, Tsunami is a tree, sort of. Learn more about it by clicking here) Sasami had landed right in front of the powerful Goddess, and she could feel Sasami's falling life energy. To save Sasami, she gave some of her own energy to Sasami, which saved her life.

     Since this incident, Sasami has had that marking on her head. In the picture at the top of this article, you can tell that this is Sasami before her accident; she lacks the markings on her forehead. People with these markings are believed to be blessed by Tsunami. Most people who have these markings use make-up to get the effects, and they aren't really blessed by Tsunami. However, Tenchi's markings are real, as are Sasami's.
     Also, in the accident, Sasami lost all her Juraian powers. That's why her sister can but she can't. However, with Tsunami, she can create 10 Lighthawk Wings all by herself! To compare this, Tenchi can create only 3, while Achika and Yosho can create one.

     Above, you see Sasami in her first appearance in the OAV. Note the triangular markings on her forehead, and her little pet. Whatever happened to that pet, anyway? Anyways, her first appearance shows that Sasami isn't so innocent after all.

     Sasami, when she is first seen in episode 2, watches her sister go to bed. When she's asleep, she proceeds to "nose around" to see what Ayeka had been doing. When she meets Tenchi, Sasami realizes that Tenchi's no ordinary person, and promises to help Tenchi retreive his sword if he did a task for Sasami-go into Ayeka's room and get Ryoko's headband. Let's take a closer look. Sending a guy into her older sister's room? When she knows that her sister is sleeping? Does Sasami seem that innocent now?

     When Sasami becomes stranded on Earth, she isn't unhappy and quickly adjusts to her surroundings. She doesn't waste her time moping about being stranded on a strange planet.

     Then Sasami meets Ryo-ohki. From that point on, they are completely inseparable.

     Sasami does all the cooking in the Masaki household. She's so innocent! Not really. Look. Sasami realizes that Tenchi doesn't like the way Ryoko and Ayeka flirt with him. So? Ever hear the saying, "A way to a man's heart is through his stomach?" Well, that sure explains a lot about Sasami, doesn't it?

     Then, we learn about Sasami and her secret about Tsunami. She keeps it a secret from the others. Doesn't she look so sweet in that episode?

MORE WILL COME SOON!