Azusa Shiratori



Azusa Shiratori is one of the two members of "The Golden Pair of Kolhotz High School". She is well known for her obsession for collecting things she regards as being cute and then giving them names, usually with a french origin. "Azusa" means "catalpa tree" while "Shiratori" means "white bird".

Personality
Azusa is very unintelligent (a "half-wit" in the words of Kuno) and strange even by the standards of the series. Shiratori is a kleptomaniac and feels the need to take random objects and people regardless of ownership. If Azusa is denied, she will throw a childish tantrum and resort to violence, until she either has the object returned or is shouted at to stop.

It is worthy of note that the "level" of Azusa's kleptomania varies between the manga and anime continuities, with her being only shown to have in her possession one object at a time in the manga (the only possible exception being her having "Françoise" and "Charlotte" at the same time, although Akane was technically in possession of "Charlotte" at the time). In contrast, the anime shows Azusa as having multiple objects in her possession at the same time, each with it's own name (Azusa will also greet each object individually in the morning and evening) all of which reside in her home.

An example of Azusa's childish intellect is her coming to the conclusion that Tatewaki was a magical Tanuki after a statue fell on him. Still Azusa understands battle tactics and in a rare moment of cleverness correctly deduced that Ryoga was her Charlotte.

Martial Arts Figure Skating Arc
One day, when Akane decides to go skating with Yuka and Sayuri but, when her friends call her in, Akane forgets about P-chan who's lost on the ice. P-chan is then found by Azusa who proceeds to knock P-chan unconscious and gives him the name of "Charlotte".

Later on, Azusa goes to a nearby restaurant with her newly acquired "Charlotte", where Akane happens to be visiting as well to explain the situation to Ranma. An argument between Azusa and Akane soon ensues over the ownership of P-chan/Charlotte, until Mikado steps in by taking P-chan out of Azusa's grasp. Once Mikado has explained Azusa's habits she begins to attack him with objects ever increasing in size, until Mikado angrily demands she stops.

With tears streaming down her face, Azusa declares a challenge to Akane, with the winner getting to keep "Charlotte". At first Akane thinks it will just be a straight up fight, but Azusa soon explains that it will be Martial Arts Figure Skating that they'll be using to decide the winner. At that moment one of Akane's friends recognise Azusa and Mikado as the "Golden Pair of Kolhotz High School", with their title revealed that pair then formally introduce themselves.

Now their true identities have been revealed, Azusa uses this as a way to try and unnerve Akane, by suggesting that she give up now so Charlotte can be hers. Akane, however, refuses to back down. After Ranma also accepts the challenge, by flicking some Narutomaki at Mikado, Azusa declares the Narutomaki is called "Françoise" and begins to hit Mikado again when he doesn't return it to her. While the two fight, Akane, Ranma and their friends leave the pair.

The next day, while Akane is trying to teach Ranma (who's in his female form) how to skate, Azusa injects by knocking Akane to the floor; which sends Ranma flying across the skating rink. Before Mikado can kiss Ranma, Azusa kicks him with the toe of her skating shoe and reminds him it's time for them to practice the "Assault of a Hundred Foes".

The pair easily defeat all of the foes in nine seconds flat, which is a new record for the pair. Suddenly P-chan appears and so both Akane and Azusa skate quickly towards him, with Azusa getting P-chan at the very last moment before Akane.

With her Charlotte returning to her, Azusa presents P-chan with a gift, a collar. Akane is disgusted by this and tries to get it off, but is unable to. Azusa then reveals she locked it with a key, and adds that if Akane wants the collar off, she'll have to defeat her in their match. Azusa also watches Mikado kiss Ranma, after he stops her from falling on the ice.

Once the now angered male Ranma appears in place of the female Ranma, Azusa watches with Akane the fight between him and Mikado. After the fighting is over, Azusa declares the fight a draw since Ranma can't stand up and Mikado being unconscious. However, Azusa's inner child can't resist drawing on the unconscious Mikado, which causes the One Hundred Foes from earlier to join in.

The day of the fight arrives and Azusa and Mikado make a flawless entrance, much to the delight of their respective fans. When Ranma and Akane's entrance is less-than flattering, Azusa can't resist laughing in Akane's face about it. When Azusa finishes laughing she tells Akane that at this right Charlotte is as good as hers.

Now with the entrances out of the way, the two pairs begin their fight. Each side appears equally matched at first, with each of them giving and blocking attacks from the other. However, after Ranma manages to hit Mikado, Azusa begins to punch the point of impact until Mikado screams in pain, demanding she stops. After Mikado and Ranma exchange threats about Mikado trying to kiss Akane, Azusa pulls her eyelid down and sticks her tongue out at the opposing duo. The pairs then return to fighting each other.

Knowing the skill Akane and Ranma posses now, Mikado and Azusa try increasingly dirtier tactics to spilt up the two of them (by having Azusa land ontop-of Ranma). The Golden Pair then use this opportunity to perform their ultimate technique, the "Good-Bye Whirl", to finally split up the pair. However, Ranma refuses to let go of Akane and it is ultimately Azusa who becomes dizzy, so releases both of them.

After Ranma has shockingly recovered from his collision with the edge of the rink caused by the Good-Bye Whirl, Azusa notices that her Charlotte has mysteriously disappeared. When Mikado is ready to return to the fight, Azusa stops him and demands he finds her Charlotte first, but of course Mikado has no interest in Charlotte so just shouts at Azusa for her actions.

The lights on the Skating Rink then go out (which is due to Ryoga trying to partner with Akane instead of Ranma) and when they go Azusa and Mikado see what they believe to be a substitute pair in place of Akane and Ranma. After a quick costume change for the pair, Azusa notices that the collar the male substitute (Ryoga) is wearing is the same as her Charlottes and enquires to Ryoga if he is her Charlotte or not. Ryoga denies the claims completely.

Not giving up, Azusa and Mikado use Ryoga and Ranma's disputes with each other to their advantage, by setting up another Good-Bye Whirl. Unlike the last time, Ryoga gladly agrees to let go of Ranma, but is ultimately slammed into the floor by Azusa when Mikado leaves the base of the whirl so he can catch Ranma.

Angered by all the indignity he's suffered, Ryoga punches the rink, unintentionally breaking it up into multiple large ice flows. The Golden Pair are then declared the enemy along with Ranma by Ryoga, and so the Golden Pair just watch as Ryoga fights his partner, with only Mikado intervening when he thinks Ryoga is going too far (Ryoga just ignores Mikado and punches in into the air and out of the way). However, when Ryoga is only just about above the cold water, Azusa jumps on him and is soon followed by Mikado. Unfortunately for Mikado, Ryoga manages to smash both halves of the ice flow into Mikado in order to stop him (Azusa meanwhile wraps her legs around Ryoga's waist to stay above the water).

Once Ryoga throws the two ice flows and breaks them into several pieces, Azusa jumps away from Ryoga to go and see the fate of her partner. Once Mikado is recovered from the rink, Azusa goes up to see him (wracked with worry according to the announcer, although she doesn't appear to be so). When she gets to Mikado, Azusa notices the duck on his blanket and declares it to be her "Martina". Mikado grabs it back as it's keeping him warm, but is then set upon by Azusa armed with a folding chair. This knocks Mikado out cold, meaning Kolhotz High School forfeit the match, making the Furinkan High School team the winners. Azusa doesn't care, however, as she has her Martina now.

Anything-Goes Martial Arts
Azusa first appears at a Staking Rink that Akane happens to be visiting with Yuka and Sayuri. While they have a break from skating she finds Ryoga Hibiki (as P-chan) and decides that it is "her Charlotte" and asks him to be good and come home with her. When Ryoga tries to run away Azusa grabs him by his scarf and knocks him out with a small wooden hammer with "Marianne" written on it. Azusa then picks up Ryoga and skates off it him.

Azusa then goes to the Daikanki Ramen Shop (untranslated in the dub) where Akane is talking to Ranma about P-chan being abducted. Ranma then points out that the girl who just entered. Ryoga then comes to and begins to squeal at Akane, while Azusa continues protest against the idea that "Charlotte" isn't her's after all, just then Mikado takes Ryoga from her and gives it back to Akane, while Azusa demands that he gives her Charlotte back. Mikado then explains to Ranma and co. that Azusa has a tendency to "collect cute little things" and give them "a silly name", all the while Azusa hits Mikado on the head with increasingly larger objects until Mikado gives in and tells her to stop. Having excepted defeat Azusa challenges Akane to a Figure Staking match where the winner keeps "Charlotte". Yuka then recognises them as "The Golden Pair from Kolhotz High School", the two of them then formally introduce themselves.

After being told about the pair's winning streak, Azusa tells Akane that she should just surrender and get it over with. After Ranma flicks some Narutomaki at Mikado, Azusa wants it and begins to call it "Françoise" and after Mikado removes it from his face Azusa begins to hit Mikado over the back of the head again (at first with a frying pan and ultimately with a lamppost).

Later that day, Azusa returns to the Skating Rink where she finds Akane teaching Ranma (who has turned into his female form to try and avoid embracement). Azusa skates up behind Akane, jumps and uses her knees to knock Akane onto the floor. Just before Mikado attempts to kiss Ranma (who had been sent flying across the Rink after Akane fell), Azusa hits Mikado over the head and tells him it's time to practice the "Assault of a Hundred Foes". A large number of Ice Hokey Players then arrives and begin to attack the Golden Pair.

The Golden Pair then begin to fight the Hokey Players and using a combination of kicks and punches along with other Ice Skating moves are able to defeat all 100 of the group in nine seconds flat (which according to one of the Hokey Players is a new record). Ryoga (who had been turned into P-chan by Ranma earlier) appears and Akane and Azusa skate towards him to try and get him before the other does. Just as P-chan jumps towards Akane, Azusa skates in front and grabs P-chan. She then gives P-chan a pink collar with "Charlotte" written on it. When Akane tries to get the collar off, Azusa reveals she can't since she locked it with her key.

After Ranma leaves and returns in his male form due to Mikado kissing him in his female form, Azusa finds Genma (who was seen skating earlier) eating some Rice Balls and she decides that one of them is her "Josephine" and tries to get it off Genma. However, the Rice Ball is out of her reach so Azusa picks up a Tetsubin and begins to hit Genma over the head with it (Genma simply ignores this and continues to eat the Rice Ball). When Genma finishes eating the Rice Ball "Josephine", Azusa becomes very upset and angry so begins to hit Genma with a nearby chair (the Tetsubin she previously used had been almost destroyed/crushed by this point). This causes Genma great pain and he apologises for what he did.

Outta Control
Azusa is causing trouble in town (stealing various items and causing a cyclist to crash) when she crosses paths with Kuno and Sasuke at an antiques shop. She quicky claims Sasuke and accidently makes a tanuki statue come loose and fall onto Kuno. When Tatewaki lifted it off of him, she thought that he was a shapeshifting Tanuki named "Marianne" and that he was there to serve her. Kuno gets a short attraction to Azusa despite her wierd behavior(he attempts to rationalize it as his mere presence scrambling what little brains she has) and lets her mischief.

Big Trouble in Nekonron, China
Azusa is out window shopping with Mikado when she notices Ranma running past and begin chased by the group of others, including her Charlotte. Excited about seeing Charlotte and wondering what's going, Azusa decides to follow the group (turning her shoes into four-wheeled rollerblades through some unexplained means). She also drags Mikado with her, almost strangling him with his scarf in the process. The pair are then joined by an even larger number of characters, but are eventually sent flying by Jasmine (before being sent flying, Azusa decides to call the shadowed Jasmine "Josephine").

OVA
Azusa is one of the many visitors to the Tendo Christmas Party. She can be seen talking with some of the other guests before Ranma, Akane, Nabiki, Kasumi and Shampoo begin singing.

Abilities
Due to her being experienced in Figured Skating, Azusa is able to use this to her advantage when practicing Martial Arts Figure Skating with her partner, Mikado. The abilities and techniques the two share has allowed them to break up any Figure Skating couple who they have faced. In the anime, Azusa is also shown to able to turn her Figure Skating skills to Rollerblading as well.

Despite being a master of Martial Arts Figure Skating, Azusa doesn't have any Special Techniques which she alone possesses (although in the anime she is shown to have developed the "Dance of the Snowbird" technique). Instead Azusa seems to just be the "female half" of the Golden Pair, who deals with the males of the opposing team while Mikado deals with the females.

Good-Bye Whirl: This is the only special technique which Azusa is shown to be able to use in both continuities; which she performs in conjunction with Mikado. After getting the partners to hold each others' hands, Azusa grabs their legs while Mikado hauls all three above his head. Mikado then begins to spin and refuses to stop until the partner Azusa is holding agrees to let go of their partner. This technique is usually used as the pairs ultimate technique to breakup the opposing couple. However, it does have limitations as should the couple remain held together too long Azusa can become dizzy and let go of both members of the couple together. Should the technique be successful, Azusa will then proceed to slam the male partner she was holding into the floor of the rink.

Dance of the Snowbird: A technique exclusive to anime, Azusa claims to have developed as a sped-up version of the "Good-Bye Whirl", although the technique itself seems to be more similar to Mikado's "Dance of Death". Azusa spins with the toe of her skate on the ice, causing a mist to rise, with her in the centre. This mist is then used to act as a smokescreen against the enemy, while when the enemy tries to attack who they think is her, they are attacking their partner instead.

Along with these techniques, Azusa also has some other moves which may or may not be argued as to be "techniques" of hers/the Golden Pair's. These include:

Couple Cleaver: Unnamed in the manga, the "Couple Cleaver" involves Mikado holding Azusa above his head and throwing her so that they each end up alone with the opponent of the opposite gender to theirs. To begin with, Azusa simply sat on her male opponent while Mikado kissed the female opponent, however, in her second anime appearance Azusa is also willing to kiss the male opponent to break up the couple.

Assault of a Hundred Foes: More of a training exercise than a technique, Azusa and Mikado take on a Hundred foes (dressed in Hokey gear, presumably for their own protection) and time themselves to see how quickly the Hundred foes can be defeated. During the one occasion they did this the pair achieved a time of 9 seconds, which is said to be a new record, although Mikado wasn't impressed with the time.

Relationships
Mikado Sanzenin is her skating partner and they are often seen together. However this seems to be for practical beneficial reasons rather then true friendship as both often treat each other very poorly.

Azusa dislikes Ranma Saotome and Akane Tendo for taking away her "Charlotte."

In her second appearance in the Anime, Azusa believed Tatewaki Kuno was a tanuki, as she had decided to collect a statue of one thad fallen onto Kuno and Kuno cut his way out of it while her back was turned. She then decided that since the "tanuki" had been hers first, then that meant that Kuno was hers as well. Kuno was very annoyed by her behavior, but found her difficult to say no to, as he had a brief attraction to her (Kuno called her the "curly haired girl" in the Japanese version). At the episode's end Kuno was completly through with Azusa, like everyone else.

Sasuke Sarugakure also was unable to stop her, as she was one of the few people who treated him somewhat nicely. Though he too got over this at the end of the episode

In their brief meeting in the anime, Kodachi Kuno was shocked to see Azusa in the Kuno Estate. Kodachi found Azusa so annoying that she packed up her bags and left the Kuno mansion to find lodgings elsewhere.

Like Mikado, Azusa has her own loyal fanclub.

Non-canon Appearances
Azusa appears with Mikado in the Hot songs contest special and Azusa is mentioned in both versions of Lambada Ranma.

Trivia

 * Her personality is similar to that of Elmyra of Tiny Toons (i.e. a kleptomaniac for thinks which they view as being "cute").
 * Despite almost every character holding an antipathy towards her, Azusa has been completly unharmed at the end of both her appearances.
 * Although Azusa and Mikado were removed from the first season due to a combination low ratings and kidnappings at the time, Azusa still appears in two times of that season. The first being in the last scene of Don't Make Me Wild Like You, (the season opening theme) and in Chibi form when Ranma hits Genma in I Am a Man! Ranma's Going Back to China!?.
 * Chronologically, Azuka and Mikado's storyline is still supposed to appear in the first season prior to the introductory arc for Shampoo.

Quotes

 * You're so cute! - Azusa's catchphrase when she sees anything she thinks is cute.