Ask John: Why Does Ryoko Have A Tail?

Question:
This is a simple question I hope you can answer. Why does Ryoko in Tenchi Muyo have a tail?

Answer:
I wish I could help you with this, but I don’t know. I’ve always wondered that myself, as she only seems to have a tail in a handful of scenes. It may have something to do with the creators trying to make Ryoko seem cat-like, as she always seems to be stealthy, always seems to the purring and cuddling up to Tenchi, and appears in a cat costume on the Japanese LD cover to the Tenchi Muyo Sound File music video collection.

Addendum: numerous readers have contacted me regarding this answer, to provide a correction and clarification. While I believe that the suggestion of cat-like qualities through a tail is appropriate for Ryoko, the Guardians of Order Tenchi Muyo RPG sourcebook states that Ryoko’s tail ” is a belt with a tail attached that reacts to her emotions.” The Ryoko Forever Fan Club further reinforces this fact with reference stills from the Tenchi Muyo animation and import illustration books.

“Okaminokami” also wrote in to provide the following information:
The Tenchi Encyclopedia included with the Tenchi Muyo OAV box set states that the tale is from Tenchi’s cat, Chibi, in the first episode. Apparently, Ryoko gave the cat some of her energy to live a little longer. When the cat died, Ryoko took the energy back and gained those traits. That is also where the bell Ryoko has when she first meets Tenchi on school’s roof comes from.