OVA
Description
Nobuyuki Masaki is the father of Tenchi Masaki, the protagonist of Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki. He works as an architect in the city, a job that frequently keeps him away from the family home, much to his disappointment. In terms of background, Nobuyuki is a widower who lost his wife Kiyone and subsequently raised Tenchi on his own. Due to his Juraian heritage and training at the Galaxy Academy, he has an extended lifespan, appearing to be around forty-three years old while actually being over one hundred years old, possibly born in the 1800s according to unofficial timelines. He is a distant descendant of Yosho, also known as Katsuhito, Tenchi's grandfather.
Personality-wise, Nobuyuki is shown to be less responsible and more immature than his son, with a penchant for collecting shoujo manga and a habit of behaving as a peeping tom, as evidenced by his encouragement of Tenchi to peek at women in a hot spring. Despite these flaws, he genuinely cares for Tenchi and worked hard to provide for him after becoming a single parent. His motivations largely revolve around his work and his personal interests, though he does seek a new beginning for himself by reconnecting with an old family friend, Rea Masaki.
His role in the story is that of a supporting character. He serves as the primary financial provider for Tenchi and the assortment of alien women who come to live on Earth. The narrative often places him at a distance from the main action, as he lives in the city while Tenchi and the others reside at the Masaki family shrine. His key relationships include his son, Tenchi, with whom he shares a bond that is tested when the truth about Kiyone's death is revealed to be fictitious, leading to a temporary rift that is eventually repaired through conversation and mutual understanding. He also has a significant relationship with Rea Masaki, an old friend of the family, whom he marries after a period of engagement. His relationship with his late wife Kiyone is complicated by the fact that the story of her death was a fabrication, a decision made by Nobuyuki and others that caused conflict with Tenchi.
In terms of development, Nobuyuki grows from a somewhat absentee and frivolous parent into a man who confronts the difficult truths of his past for the sake of his son. His decision to marry Rea represents a step toward building a new life and family. His notable abilities are not directly demonstrated through combat or supernatural feats, but rather through his profession as an architect and his extended longevity, which is a result of his Juraian lineage and the physical enhancements gained from training at the Galaxy Academy. This longevity is a subtle but defining trait, indicating that he is far older than he appears.
Personality-wise, Nobuyuki is shown to be less responsible and more immature than his son, with a penchant for collecting shoujo manga and a habit of behaving as a peeping tom, as evidenced by his encouragement of Tenchi to peek at women in a hot spring. Despite these flaws, he genuinely cares for Tenchi and worked hard to provide for him after becoming a single parent. His motivations largely revolve around his work and his personal interests, though he does seek a new beginning for himself by reconnecting with an old family friend, Rea Masaki.
His role in the story is that of a supporting character. He serves as the primary financial provider for Tenchi and the assortment of alien women who come to live on Earth. The narrative often places him at a distance from the main action, as he lives in the city while Tenchi and the others reside at the Masaki family shrine. His key relationships include his son, Tenchi, with whom he shares a bond that is tested when the truth about Kiyone's death is revealed to be fictitious, leading to a temporary rift that is eventually repaired through conversation and mutual understanding. He also has a significant relationship with Rea Masaki, an old friend of the family, whom he marries after a period of engagement. His relationship with his late wife Kiyone is complicated by the fact that the story of her death was a fabrication, a decision made by Nobuyuki and others that caused conflict with Tenchi.
In terms of development, Nobuyuki grows from a somewhat absentee and frivolous parent into a man who confronts the difficult truths of his past for the sake of his son. His decision to marry Rea represents a step toward building a new life and family. His notable abilities are not directly demonstrated through combat or supernatural feats, but rather through his profession as an architect and his extended longevity, which is a result of his Juraian lineage and the physical enhancements gained from training at the Galaxy Academy. This longevity is a subtle but defining trait, indicating that he is far older than he appears.