Rei Sakuma (Shampoo): I found out later, but Shampoo was really loved. I'm glad I didn't know that back then. I would have gotten too big for my boots (laughs). Toshihiko Seki (Mousse): That's nice... It's rare to hear someone say, "I loved Mousse" (laughs).

It's been a great few weeks for all new Rumiko Takahashi releases, between chapters of MAO, two artbooks in English, new episodes of Ranma 1/2 and a celebration of sensei's birthday. But lets take the time to admire some 1985 pin up art.

Ranma 1/2 Episode 14 - Struggling with the fallout over his kiss with Akane, Ranma is stunned to find Shampoo has returned to Japan with a Jusenkyo curse of her own. Then her great-grandmother Cologne arrives followed by Shampoo's suitor from China, Mousse furinkan.com/ranma/anime/...

Mappa has revealed that the fans have chosen the theme of "Earphone Sharing," as the image they most wanted to see used in upcoming product releases for Ranma 1/2 merchandise. The final image can be seen below, with merchandise to follow in the coming weeks.

A very happy birthday to Rumiko Takahashi! Born on October 10, 1957 in Niigata, she is entering into her 47th year as a mangaka! Happy birthday, sensei!

Rumiko Takahashi has revealed new illustrations of Lum and Ten for Kashimaya's 170th anniversary collaboration.

The new cover reveal for MAO vol.26 which will be out November 18, 2025.

Rumiko Takahashi's comment, Shonen Sunday 2025 Volume 45.

In MAO ch 293, Renji & Mao race to rescue Mei. Renji soon begins to realize that Hakubi will do nothing to protect his allies if he believes they have betrayed him as Mao and Nanoka lend their aid. www.furinkan.com/mao/manga/30...

If you can't make it to S.F for the Art of Manga exhibit, good news, the catalogue is available showcasing all of the displayed work from R. Takahashi, F. Akatsuka, T. Chiba, H.Araki, E. Oda, G. Tagame, J.Taniguchi, K. Yamashita, M.Yamazaki & F. Yoshinaga. Sample art to follow:

"(Male) Ranma appears last out of all the main characters in the first episode. So when I saw the other performances I thought, "They're just like they were back then. Their voices haven't changed." So the bar for me got higher, and I was really nervous about saying my lines."

Ranma 1/2 Episode 13 - Hikaru Gosunkugi arrives and sets out to find Ranma's weak spot- he is deathly afraid of cats due to Genma attempting to train him in a debunked martial arts technique known as "Cat Fist". furinkan.com/ranma/anime/... #ranma #らんま

14 years after playing Akane in the live action drama, Yui Aragaki sits down with Rumiko Takahashi to discuss her love of the series. "Ranma 1/2 might have been the trigger that made me enjoy drawing and reading even more, and made me feel like I really loved something."

The English language edition of Rumiko Takahashi's latest art collection, "COLORS 1978-2024" is now available from VIZ Media. The hardcover book features color artwork from all of Takahashi-sensei's series.

Rumiko Takahashi's comment, Shonen Sunday 2025 Volume 44.

In MAO chapter 292 "The Curse of the Bronze Statues", Mao, Nanoka and Otoya investigate a curse turning people into bronze, but Renji and Mei have raised ahead to find the source only to fall into a deadly trap. www.furinkan.com/mao/manga/30... #高橋留美子 #rumikotakahashi #mao #マオ

New sculpts based on the new anime, Ranma 1/2 returns to SH Figuarts with female and male Ranma getting released in March 2026 and Shampoo in May.

Who's looking forward to Happosai in the new season of Ranma 1/2?

"In the previous adaptation [of Ranma 1/2], I was in my 20s. Because I was immature and childish, I was able to express the purity of Ranma, a high school student. In this incarnation, it was difficult to portray this purity. Thinking about my age makes me feel confused."

With 2023's Urusei Yatsura and this week's final volume of Fist of the North Star, two of @viz.com 's earliest unfinished licenses have seen their endings published after decades. Hope springs eternal for fans of Area 88, Pineapple Army, Golgo 13, Gintama and Zatch Bell.

Rumiko Takahashi's "support illustration" for fellow Shonen Sunday series "Dealing with the Mikadono Sisters is a Breeze".

Happy birthday to Kikuko Inoue, the eternal 17 year old and everyone's big sister. From Kasumi and Belldandy to The Boss and Lady Dimitrescu, her talent knows no bounds.

Rumiko Takahashi's comment, Shonen Sunday 2025 Volume 43.

In MAO chapter 291 "Doubt & Peace", Hakubi and Yurako escape leaving Mao to wonder about Daigo's behavior. He reunites with Nanoka for the first time since the two admitted they had feelings for one another making for an awkward reunion. www.furinkan.com/mao/manga/30...

The soundtrack of Ranma 1/2 has been announced for a December 24, 2025 release date with music by Kaoru Wada. It will be 44 tracks including TV size versions of the opening and ending themes by ano and Riria.

"When I draw a female character, she has to have long hair. If she has long hair, the boys around her react to the length of her hair and jump around. In the summer, drawing hair that's stuck to their forehead with sweat is the best scene ever!!" -Rumiko Takahashi

Yuta and Mana from Mermaid Forest. Art by Masaki Sato, 2003.

In working on numerous translations over the past few months, we stumbled across a two part interview with Hideyuki Motohashi, character designer and chief animation director for the first three Inuyasha movies. Motohashi-san would go on to direct

A look at some of the vinyl releases from the Urusei Yatsura days. Pajama Jama Da! (Kanako Narikiyo), Chance on Love (Cindy), Born to Be Free (Steffanie), Dancing Star (Izumi Kobayashi).

Happy birthday to a favorite to Rumic fans everywhere, Akira Kamiya! From Mendo to Mitaka, Kinnikuman to Kenshiro, Kogoro Mori, Ryo Saeba an Roy Fokker, Kamiya-san is a legend!

Ranma 1/2 Season 2's key visual has been released.

Rumiko Takahashi's comment, Shonen Sunday 2025 Volume 42.

In MAO chapter 290 "Steel Beast", Hakubi and Daigo battle it out, with the soldier unveiling a new, powerful beast summoned from Soma's scroll. The pair seem determined to battle to the death as Mao arrives to watch the outcome. www.furinkan.com/mao/manga/30...

Our project of cataloging orphaned artwork and translating articles from the history of Rumic World continues! See links below for six more articles on the anime of Urusei Yatsura, Inuyasha, Ranma 1/2 OVAs, and Kyokai no RINNE from Animage and Animedia.

Not only is Rumiko Takahashi a superb creator in her own right, but she's a tastemaker extraordinaire. You can read her thoughts on the anime of Dear Brother, including her favorite character Mariko Shinobu at the link below.

Rumiko Takahashi's comment, Shonen Sunday 2025 Volume 41.

In MAO chapter 289, Yurako worries that Mao will blame her for Nanoka getting injured, however Hakubi agrees to keep his promise to bring her Daigo's head. Daigo checks in with Mao, hoping that he is not blamed for Nanoka's life-threatening injuries. www.furinkan.com/mao/manga/30...

A very happy birthday to Saeko Shimazu! She has been a mainstay of Rumiko Takahashi anime, appearing in many of her biggest series. From Shinobu Miyake to Sayoko Kuroki to Kodachi Kuno and Princess Abi! Happy birthday!

Rumiko Takahashi appearing in Japanese fashion magazine "Non-no" in 1986.

Some of the dolls/plush/soft goods from Rumic World over the decades. The Happosai doll is still findable, the Naraku is very rare and the Mao is a tiny finger puppet, one of the first pieces of merchandise for the series a few years back.

Yesterday's chapter was so big we forgot to wish our future Mao himself Yuki Kaji a happy birthday. That chapter itself could be the best birthday present he got.

Rumiko Takahashi's comment, Shonen Sunday 2025 Volume 40.

On our YouTube channel this month we're unboxing the Nendoroid version of human Inuyasha who comes with Shippo and taking a look at their various accessories. youtu.be/HdS9PDVDOSU

In MAO ch 288 while strolling beneath the cherry trees Mao admits that he is worried about Nanoka being endangered by being close to him, but they both decide to be honest with one another about their true feelings and clarify how much they care. www.furinkan.com/mao/manga/29...

"During the Pacific War, my father was scheduled to go out on a submarine and wrote a death poem. It so happened that his superior officer also liked haiku and liked him, so he said, 'You don't have to go on board.'"

MAO is doing great! The sales for volume 25's first week of release doubled that of volume 24 in May, showing buzz for the upcoming anime is very strong! Once it debuts we'll likely see even more growth.

It's true, we love Urusei Yatsura.

Along with the new character designs for Cologne, Happosai and Hikaru Gosunkugi there are also comments from each of the actors playing the roles, each of which worked on the original series in some capacity.

Excited for @kodamatales.bsky.social upcoming release of Baki the Grappler? Here's Rumiko Takahashi's take on the martial artist.

Rumiko Takahashi's comment, Shonen Sunday 2025 Volume 39.