saotome genma

Genma Saotome is Ranma Saotome's father and the sensei of the Saotome Dojo, which teaches Musabetsu Kakutō Ryū karate, commonly known in the West as "Anything Goes Martial Arts." During a decade-long training journey with Ranma to improve their martial arts skills, Genma insisted on visiting Jusenkyo in China, believing it to be a suitable training ground. However, due to his ignorance of the Chinese language, he failed to realize that the springs were cursed and avoided for this reason. This mistake became apparent when Ranma accidentally knocked him into one of the cursed springs during a training session. Genma fell into Shonmaoniichuan (also known as Xióngmāoníquán), the Spring of Drowned Panda. As a result, whenever he is splashed with cold water, he transforms into a giant panda. Hot water can reverse this transformation, returning him to human form. Despite being cursed, Genma brought Ranma back to Japan to fulfill a marriage engagement with his old friend and fellow martial artist, Soun Tendo. The agreement stipulated that Ranma would marry one of Soun's daughters to carry on the Anything Goes School of Martial Arts. Genma and Soun decided that Soun's youngest daughter, Akane, would marry Ranma, following a decision made by her older sisters. Genma now lives at the Tendo Dojo with Ranma, hoping that Ranma and Akane will eventually get married and fulfill the families' agreement. He spends most of his time playing Go or Shogi with Soun, although he briefly worked at Dr. Tofu's clinic. Unlike some other cursed characters like Ryoga, Mousse, and Shampoo, Genma automatically regains his clothing when he returns to human form, despite being too large to keep them while in panda form. The only other character with a similar trait is Pantyhose Taro. In some of the earliest stories, Genma's gi top and glasses would remain on him even when he transformed into a panda. (Source: Wikipedia)