Ask John: What Does Tenchi Muyo Mean?

Question:
If Tenchi’s last name is Masaki, why were all the OAVs called Tenchi Muyo? What the heck is Muyo?

Answer:
I suspect that the name “Masaki” came from the creator of Tenchi Muyo, Masaki Kajishima. The name “Tenchi Muyo” is actually a joke that most American’s aren’t familiar with. “Tenchi Muyo” can be translated as “no need for Heaven and Earth.” Ten is “Heaven,” chi is “Earth,” and “Muyo” is the Japanese word for “unnecessary” or “not needed.” Pioneer, I imagine to avoid any possible controversy, has never accurately translated “Tenchi Muyo” in its Western adaptations. Pioneer has always half-translated the title as the odd “No Need For Tenchi.” One can then assume that this is a reference to “no need for Tenchi Masaki,” which makes no sense seeing as the six girls do seem to need Tenchi Masaki very much. The implication of the title makes sense when you consider that, with one young man living with six adoring, attractive young women, he has “no need for Heaven or Earth.” Alternately, the words “tenchi muyo” can also be translated as “This End Up,” another fitting pun considering the comical nature of the series.