Mario Gennai
The title of this article is official, but it comes from a Japanese source.
If an acceptable English name is found, then the article should be moved to the new title.
| Mario Gennai | |
|---|---|
| |
| Species | Human |
| First appearance | Super Mario Kodansha manga ("Time traveling with Bowser. We have finally arrived in Edo period Japan!") (1992) |
| Latest appearance | Super Mario Kodansha manga ("Mario faces off against the evil president Bowser in the future in a final showdown!") (1992) |
Mario Gennai is Dr. Mario Nakamatsu's ancestor from the Edo period, as such, he is an inventor who strikes a resemblance to Mario, but wears traditional Japanese clothing and sports a chonmage hairstyle. He is based on Hiraga Gennai, a polymath, ronin, and inventor of the Edo period, most famously recognized for bringing Western technologies to Japan, such as the electrostatic generator. He appears in the "Time Traveler" storyline of Super Mario Kodansha manga as an ally in chapter 3.
After being imprisoned by Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, Mario meets a sick Mario Gennai and his daughter in his cell. While Mario heals him with a Super Mushroom, Mario Gennai explains he was imprisoned for opposing the shogun's rigid animal-protection laws. Soon after, Bowser corrupts the shogun, and he is able to make a few changes to the edicts to protect only the turtles, thereby automatically pardoning anyone who broke the previous edicts and liberating Mario Gennai and his daughter, while Mario sneaks out with them. Like before, Mario Gennai is still against it, but with Bowser imposing even more rigid punishments, he is unable to say or do anything.
When Luigi and Princess Peach arrive in Edo-period Japan with their Time Machine, squashing Mito Kōmon in the process, Peach goes to hug Mario, but accidentally hugs Mario Gennai instead, causing him to get flustered and her to get hit by his jealous daughter. Using Mito Kōmon's seal and disguise, Mario, followed by Luigi and Mario Gennai, disguised as Suke-san and Kaku-san, use the hero's seal to stop the shogun, but Bowser uses the 20-bai Spray on himself, growing in size. To fight back, Mario pulls out Dr. Nakamatsu's Jinkō Plasma Hasseiki, but discovers it requires an electric power source to activate it. Mario Gennai pulls out an invention of his, a tandem-like electrical generator, and the Jinkō Plasma Hasseiki to it. Next, Mario, Luigi, and Mario Gennai pedal to activate it, and stop Bowser with a plasma zap.
Mario Gennai is last seen in chapter 4, when Mario takes a quick detour to the Edo period to quickly douse the Time Machine with the 20-bai Spray to enlarge it and take the various Marios throughout history.
As a recurring gag, Mario Gennai is always amazed by the futuristic inventions Mario and his friends brought with them, yet he also shows the same amazement at everyday objects (like the mushroom and seal), much to his daughter's frustration.
Gallery[edit]
Mario Gennai and Mario discover of Bowser's turtle edict
Peach mistakes Mario Gennai for Mario
Mario Gennai disguised as Kaku-san
Mario Gennai admires his descendant's invention
Mario Gennai commenting on the Time Machine
Mario Gennai brief cameo in chapter 4
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Note(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | Mario Gennai | From「 | [1] |
Trivia[edit]
- While Mito Kōmon and Tokugawa Tsunayoshi lived in the same timeframe, Mario Gennai's historical counterpart was born twenty years after Tsunayoshi's death.
References[edit]
- ^ Motoyama, Kazuki (1 Sep. 1992). Deluxe BomBom. Japan: Kodansha (Japanese). ISBN T1016531090389. Page 240.
