Mariko Konjo
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| Mariko Konjo | |
|---|---|
| Ranma ½ character | |
 Mariko Konjo in the anime. |
|
| First appearance | Volume 21 |
| Created by | Rumiko Takahashi |
| Voiced by | Yuko Kobayashi (Japanese) Jocelyn Loewen (English) |
| Profile | |
| Age | 16 |
| Occupation | Student Captain of the Seisyun High School Cheerleading Team |
| Known relatives | Unknown |
| Information | |
| Fighting style | Martial Arts Cheerleading |
Mariko Konjo (今条 マリ子 Konjo Mariko?) is a fictional character in Rumiko Takahashi's anime and manga series Ranma ½.
Mariko is a common Japanese name meaning "child of true benefit." This could be a reference that she benefits the teams she cheers for and ensures that they do not lose. Konjo is broken down into "today's law", which could also be an ironic reference to the fact that she helps her teams break the rules.
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[edit] Introduction
When Mariko's school played Furinkan High's girls volleyball team, Mariko and her cheerleading companions helped the other team win by throwing their cheerleading materials (batons, pom poms, etc.) at the Furinkan Team, knocking them all out except for Akane, who is saved from being knocked out by Ranma, who happened to be passing by.
Akane cries later on, over losing the game because of Mariko's actions, and Ranma tries to comfort her without much success. Kuno tries to do the same, only to be hit away and into the air by an angry Akane, who had been hugged by Kuno from behind.
[edit] Meeting Kuno
Mariko and her fellow cheerleaders are walking home when the flying Kuno just happens to land right on top of her. Kuno hands her a band-aid, apologizes, and leaves. Mariko, however, after seeing Kuno immediately falls in love with him. Later on when Kuno is chasing Ranma as usual, Mariko notices this and immediately challenges Ranma, who she calls "Kuno's girlfriend", to a match of martial arts cheerleading, which Ranma gladly accepts in order to get even with her for what she did to Akane.
[edit] Story
The match's rules, as set by Mariko are as follows - the one who can prove that they love Kuno more is the one who can win the match. Various tactics were used by both participants, including love letters and pictures thrown by both Mariko and Ranma-chan, as well as declarations of undying love on both sides. Eventually during the match, the outcome of the Mariko/Ranma matchup turns into something which depends on a fight between Kuno and a masked kendoist who turns out to be Akane. The match ends in a draw with both Kuno and Akane knocked out.
[edit] Personality
Mariko is in love with Kuno and will try anything in order to get him. She believes Ranma is currently involved with Kuno and is looking to steal him away from her. A very versatile fighter with her cheerleading tools, she is willing to work hard to achieve her goals and will stop at nothing to succeed in them. While apparently a dumb, superficial girl on the outside, Mariko is actually quite cunning, capable of planning devious strategies to achieve her goals.
Mariko views Kuno in a similar manner to how Kuno sees Akane and the 'Pigtailed Girl'—the perfect man for her, even though he sees otherwise. Her blind love for Kuno indicates that she might be the female equivalent of him, evidenced in part by the massive photographs of him she has plastered all over her bedroom. The source of these pictures is unknown, although it would be reasonable to assume that she obtained them from Nabiki.
She often speaks in rhymes or spelling words, probably a habit born of cheerleading all the time. Mariko also gives her special techniques weird love-related names like: Love Confession Pom-Pom Fireworks, Love Boomerang or Innocent Girl Love Letter Blast.
[edit] Special Techniques
See also Mariko's techniques.
Her fighting style is very similar to Kodachi's in that she uses cheerleading tools in much the same way that Kodachi uses gymnastic tools in her martial arts competitions. The principle behind her art isn't unlike Kodachi's principles either, insofar as she helps her side win through crippling opponents.
As it turns out, Martial Arts Cheerleading doesn't only involve interfering to help your team win, but also involves building your team up to the point where they feel invincible. Mariko is quite good at this, but Ranma has trouble confessing his "love" for Kuno.
Mariko managed to give Ranma a harder challenge than Ukyo and, particularly, Shampoo were able to do. Then again so did Kodachi when Ranma was similarly restricted to restrained, unfamiliar battle-rules, but that was much earlier in the series, before Ranma's power-up at Cologne's hands.
[edit] Other appearances
Mariko made a cameo in The Tendo Family Christmas Scramble OAV.
She is also in the video game Super Hard Battle where she once again looked for love with disastrous results.
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