The Golden Pair is the iconical duo of Figure Skating of the Kolhotz High School composed by Azusa Shiratori (白鳥 あずさ, Shiratori Azusa) and Mikado Sanzenin (三千院 帝, Sanzenin Mikado). Both appears as antagonists in the manga and anime series Ranma ½.
Azusa Shiratori was voiced by Naoko Matsui in the 1989 original series, Aoi Yūki in the 2024 remake in Japanese and Cathy Weseluck in English.
Mikado Sanzenin was voiced by Kazuhiko Inoue in the 1989 original series, Mamoru Miyano in the 2024 remake in Japanese, and Ian James Corlett in English.
Biography[]
Azusa is is well known for her obsession for collecting things that she regards as being cute and then giving them names, usually with a French origin. Mikado is a handsome, charismatic, yet lecherous sixteen year old boy and a master of Martial Arts Figure Skating. Mikado is without a doubt the brains of the pair. His weakness is the fact he is a playboy unparalleled. He admits to Ranma Saotome that he lives to charm women and seduce them into allowing him to give them a kiss, moving on to new targets once he succeeded. Despite this, or perhaps even because of it, he has a large, female fan club, in part due to his attractive appearance.
One day Azusa found P-chan, who's lost on the ice, then she knocks P-chan unconscious and gives him the name of "Charlotte". Later on, Azusa goes to a nearby restaurant with her newly acquired "Charlotte", where Akane happens to be visiting as well to explain about the disappearance op P-chan to Ranma. An argument between Azusa and Akane soon ensues over the ownership of P-chan/Charlotte, until Mikado steps in by taking P-chan out of Azusa's grasp. Once Mikado has explained Azusa's habits she begins to attack him with objects ever increasing in size, until Mikado angrily demands she stops. Azusa declares a challenge to Akane, with the winner getting to keep "Charlotte". Then one of Akane's friends recognise Azusa and Mikado as the "Golden Pair of Kolhotz High School", with their title revealed that pair then formally introduce themselves. Mikado Sanzenin approaches Akane and gently takes hold of her face, declaring he must apologize for this whole mess and bending down in preparation to kiss her, which is when Ranma strikes, flicking a slize of spiral fishcake from his ramen to land on Mikado's face. Irritatedly picking it off of his face, Mikado approaches Ranma, compliments him on his refreshing way to issue a challenge, and declares that it will take place in one week at the Kolhotz High skating rink.
The next day, Azusa injects by knocking Akane to the floor; which sends Ranma flying across the skating rink. Then Mikado tries to kiss Ranma, but Azusa kicks him with the toe of her skating shoe and reminds him it's time for them to practice the "Assault of a Hundred Foes". The pair easily defeat all of the foes in nine seconds flat, which is a new record for the pair. Suddenly P-chan appears and so both Akane and Azusa skate quickly towards him, with Azusa getting P-chan at the very last moment before Akane.
The day of the fight arrives and Azusa and Mikado make a flawless entrance, much to the delight of their respective fans. Then the two pairs begin their fight. Each side appears equally matched at first, with each of them giving and blocking attacks from the other. However, after Ranma manages to hit Mikado, Azusa begins to punch the point of impact until Mikado screams in pain, demanding she stops. Knowing the skill Akane and Ranma posses now, Mikado and Azusa try increasingly dirtier tactics to split up the two of them. The Golden Pair then use this opportunity to perform their ultimate technique, the "Good-Bye Whirl", to finally split up the pair. However, Ranma refuses to let go of Akane and it is ultimately Azusa who becomes dizzy, so releases both of them. After Ranma has shockingly recovered from his collision with the edge of the rink caused by the Good-Bye Whirl, Azusa notices that her Charlotte has mysteriously disappeared. When Mikado is ready to return to the fight, Azusa stops him and demands he finds her Charlotte first, but Mikado has no interest in Charlotte so just shouts at Azusa for her actions. When Ryoga substitudes Akane, Azusa notices that the collar Ryoga is wearing is the same as her Charlotte's and esquires to Ryoga if he is her Charlotte or not. Then, Azusa and Mikado use Ryoga and Ranma's disputes with each other to their advantage, by setting up another Good-Bye Whirl. Unlike the last time, Ryoga gladly agrees to let go of Ranma, but is ultimately slammed into the floor by Azusa when Mikado leaves the base of the whirl so he can catch Ranma. After Ranma and Ryoga fights in several ice flows caused by the last one, Mikado is recovered from the rink and Azusa goes up to see him. When she gets to Mikado, Azusa notices the duck on his blanket and declares it to be her "Martina". Mikado grabs it back as it's keeping him warm, but is then set upon by Azusa armed with a folding chair. This knocks Mikado out cold, meaning Kolhotz High School forfeit the match, making the Furinkan High School team the winners. Azusa doesn't care, however, as she has her Martina now. In the anime, instead, Azusa runs outside the skating rink and begins calling for Charlotte, but doesn't get a reply. Slightly depressed, Azusa stares at the sign pointing into the skating rink, before turning around and seeing Genma sat in front of a fountain eating some Rice Balls. Azusa instantly falls for her "Oscar" and takes him home, where she dresses him with a period French attire and adds him to her collection of objects.
In an anime-only plot, Azusa takes Tatewaki Kuno and Sasuke Sarugakure and calls them Marianne and Sophia. Azusa goes to their home and she plays with them, taking Kodachi's dolls. At the next day, Azusa took that Ranma and Akane wants to take Kuno and challenges them to another skate match. Kuno and Sasuke builds the stadium in one night and then Azusa fights along Kuno. While Azusa and Akane were equal in level, Ranma and Kuno were easily knocked out. Then Azusa grabs the statue were Kuno was originally, causing the stadium to crumble. Azusa is last seeing taking the objects that felt out from the stadium, including the series' camera.
Powers and Abilities[]
The Golden Pair is able to use their Figured Skating experience to her advantage when practicing Martial Arts Figure Skating, Mikado. The abilities and techniques the two share has allowed them to break up any Figure Skating couple who they have faced. In the anime, Azusa is also shown to able to turn her Figure Skating skills to Rollerblading as well.
Trivia[]
- Azusa's second Japanese voice actress, Aoi Yūki, also voiced Ten in Urusei Yatsura (2022).
- Azusa's English voice actress, Cathy Weseluck, also voiced Shampoo on the same series, Ranma ½.
- Mikado's first Japanese voice actor, Kazuhiko Inoue, also voiced Ryūkotsusei in Inuyasha.
- Mikado's second Japanese voice actor, Mamoru Miyano, also voiced Shūtarō Mendō in Urusei Yatsura (2022).
- Mikado's English voice actor, Ian James Corlett, also voiced Tofu Ono in Episodes 2-81 of Ranma ½ and Miroku in Episodes 13-48 of Yashahime: Princess-Half Demon.
External Links[]
- Azusa Shiratori on the Ranma ½ Wiki
- Mikado Sanzenin on the Ranma ½ Wiki
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