Mori Ranmaru

## Image Gallery

**Mori Ranmaru** (森 (もり)  蘭丸 (らんまる) , *Mori Ranmaru*) is Oda Nobunaga's attendant and the announcer for the Tenkaichi tournament.

## Appearance

Mori is an otokonoko, appearing and dressing in an extremely feminine manner (much like an onnagata). He dresses much like a geisha complete with dark lipstick, painted fingernails and a large extravagant hairstyle. Mori is also notably well-endowed.

## Personality

He is a very flamboyant and expressive individual, fitting of his role as announcer of the Tenkaichi tournament. Much like his leader, Mori visibly enjoys excitingly violent prospects and gets notably aroused by the display of legendary weapons, legendary fighting figures and the anticipation of thrilling fights. Despite this, Mori is surprisingly easy to catch off guard and unsettle: when Honda Tadakatsu "greeted" Miyamoto Musashi with an attack, Ranmaru misses the exchange due to closing his eyes and falling on his bum; later, he ends up peeing himself after nearly getting crushed by a huge die.

Mori also holds a strangely deep reverence towards Nobunaga; after Honda Tadakatsu's touching final moments (at the hands of Oda's gunmen), Ranmaru expresses that he too wants to die for Nobunaga one day. To that end, Mori gets visibly vexed whenever others do things that he considers disrespectful to Oda Nobunaga, even if the act is relatively inconsequential and/or Nobunaga himself shows no care anyway.

## Plot

Mori Ranmaru was first seen introducing the arrival of the Shogun Oda Nobunaga to the assembled lords of unified Japan. After Nobunaga explained that he would hold a tournament to decide who would take his position as Shogun of unified Japan, Shibata Katsuie made note of the potential repercussions but was silenced by a metal fan thrown into his head by one of Nobunaga's warriors. Mori then spoke that Nobunaga's words were divine law and questioning them would lead to divine retribution, before asking if anyone had anything else to say.

102 days later, at Osaka castle, Mori officially opened the beginning of the Tenkaichi tournament! With the tournament brackets revealed, he began the introductions for the first two competitors: Honda Tadakatsu (with Mori getting visibly aroused after seeing Honda's Tonbokiri) and Miyamoto Musashi! After missing Honda's forceful "greeting" to Musashi, Mori commenced the first fight! Ranmaru marvelled at the unexpected developments during the fight, culminating with Musashi's victory after wounding Honda with a fatal slash. With Tokugawa Ieyasu rushing over to the dying Honda's side, Mori watched on as Oda summoned his gunmen to kill Tokugawa for interfering in the match and then as Honda sacrificed himself to protect Tokugawa. Touched by Honda's sacrifice, Ranmaru wondered what kind of "fireworks" he'd see next.

Mori soon began announcing the second fight (while off-handedly noting arousal), first introducing Toda Seigen—who riled up the audience by displaying the decapitated head of one of Oda Nobunaga's retainers. Mori admired the level of skill demonstrated by the decapitation of the retainer's head and looked forward to the fight. He then introduced Fuma Kotaro, being impressed after seeing the Fuma Shuriken. Just as Ranmaru was about to commence the second fight, Nobunaga loudly complained about his growing boredom called out one of his retainers, who carried a very large die. With the die being launched high into the air, a scared Mori jumped out of the way of the falling die and peed himself in fear of almost being crushed to death.
With the second fight being moved to the Forest of Bloody Battle (and Fuma Kotaro giving him an indirect jibe about peeing himself), Mori commenced the second fight! Ranmaru watched the fight between the two, joining the audience in their shocked reactions over how the fight progressed; he eventually announced the 6th Fuma Kotaro as the winner.

In the evening, in the banquet hall, Mori commended the day's matches and added that the Shogun had sent him to honour them all while they enjoyed the banquet. Thinking to himself that it would've been a sight seeing all the strongest 14 competitors in the same room, he frustratedly observed that eight of them were absent. Ranmaru's attention was then drawn to Hozoin Inshun, who caused a visibly irked response in the attendant when he saw the young monk complaining about the food; his ire quickly turned to excitement at the prospect of the young monk scrapping with Hayashizaki Jinsuke, but Togo Shigekata's interruption of the two diffused the situation.
Sat down, Mori complained of his boredom at the civil tone of the banquet. Walking by, Yagyu spoke of his love for the proceedings, as usual. Mori playfully affirmed that it was the way Yagyu liked it and the swordsman replied that some people just live for the path of the sword, and they still had tomorrow. As Yagyu then walked away, Mori pondered the swordsman's famed heritage and upbringing, brooding that Yagyu was rumoured to be one of the top choices to win the Tenkaichi, but noting that his opponent was difficult to deal with for someone who has mastered the sword. Ranmaru then wondered how the two would kill each other the next day...
Later that night, Ranmaru held a lottery between Oda Nobutada and Mohri Terumoto to decide the location of the third match (under Oda Nobunaga's orders). Nobutada drew the Shibata-shaped stick whilst Terumoto drew the Ranmaru-shaped stick; as Nobutada realised who his stick resembled, Terumoto commented on the cuteness of his stick. Flattered, Ranmaru informed Terumoto it was the jackpot draw (Nobutada asked Ranmaru why *he* was the jackpot, to which Ranmaru replied that "cute is justice"). At that, Ranmaru told Terumoto that it was his decision to choose where the location for the third match would be...

On the second day of the Tenkaichi, Mori announced the third match on board Oda Nobunaga's boat of Sweet Winds (having spent the entire making sure it would depart on time). Dancing flamboyantly with Hino while announcing, Ranmaru first emphatically introduced Yagyu Munenori. Eagerly anticipating the upcoming fight, he then began to introduce William Adams but was interrupting by the Englishman kicking the doors down with his entrance. Visibly irked by the destruction of his master's boat, Mori was left questioning when William spoke to him in English and then proceeded to introduce himself in Japanese. After the two traded words, Mori got the fight underway! He then enthusiastically observed the engaging fight between the two, showing great admiration when Yagyu began massacring William with his prodigious technique. With Yagyu completing his merciless slaughter of William, Ranmaru proclaimed the samurai the victor of the third match (after mentioning that he needed to get Yagyu's autograph this time) and contently agreed the fight was a joy to watch.

Having returned to Ozaka castle, Mori announced that the fourth match would be held in the Twin Dragon's Cage! Exuberant at the prospect of seeing the Sword Saint, Mori then rapturously introduced Kamiizumi Isenokami! ...until Mori's buzz deflated when he realised that the perversely dreaming Kamiizumi was asleep. However, Marume Kurando reassured Mori that Kamiizumi was indeed strong and someone truly strong should be brought out if he wanted to see the Sword Saint fight awake. Seemingly convinced, Mori then vigorously introduced Hino Choko!
With the two stepping into the cage, a highly anticipating Mori was partway through getting the fight underway when Hino launched straight into the fight regardless! Mori then watched the fight rage on in sheer awe and admiration. After Choko's mask was removed by Kamiizumi, Ranmaru was one of the few to recognise that the *old* Choko had returned. When the fight resumed, Ranmaru was left frightened in anguish when he almost gets crushed by the cage that Choko sent hurtling away.

## Powers & Abilities

Despite being a non-combatant, Mori Ranmaru has shown he is quite knowledgeable in regards to violent endeavours and is surprisingly insightful into the mindsets of the fighters. He is able to recognise the skill required to decapitate someone so cleanly, after Toda Seigen beheaded one of Oda Nobunaga's retainers and showed a precise knowledge of Yagyu Munenori's Unending Cycle technique, as well as correctly gauging that Yagyu imagined himself duelling and killing the four fighters that fought before him in the Tenkaichi.

## Notes & Trivia

* This character is based on the real life Mori Ranmaru.
* He personally refers to Yagyu Munenori as "**Munerin**" (むねりん).

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 *Tenkaichi* manga: Chapter 2 (page 12).
2. ↑ *Tenkaichi* manga: Chapter 7 (page 36).
3. ↑ *Tenkaichi* manga: Chapter 7 (page 23).
4. ↑ *Tenkaichi* manga: Chapter 2 (pages 24-25).
5. ↑ *Tenkaichi* manga: Chapter 8 (page 8).
6. ↑ *Tenkaichi* manga: Chapter 6 (page 39).
7. ↑ *Tenkaichi* manga: Chapter 13 (page 10), Mori getting annoyed by Hozoin Inshun's dislike of the wasabi he was served.
8. ↑ *Tenkaichi* manga: Chapter 14 (pages 18-19), Mori visibly irate after William Adams kicked the doors down with his entrance.
9. ↑ *Tenkaichi* manga: Chapter 7 (page 33).
10. ↑ *Tenkaichi* manga: Chapter 16 (pages 30-32).
11. ↑ *Tenkaichi* manga: Chapter 16 (pages 32-37).
12. ↑ *Tenkaichi* manga: Chapter 13 (page 21).