A recent Twitter post about “Ranma 1/2” became a trend on Japanese social media, generating a large number of discussions and comments. The message read:

• «In “Ranma 1/2”, At first, Ranma insisted that he remain male even when transformed into a woman, but over time, he began to freely use both his male and female forms.taking pride in her feminine appearance, which seemed strange to me at the time. But now, 30 years later, with the advent of VRChat, we understand. Rumiko Takahashi was right. The soul is adaptable. Ranma was one of the first to experience 'Babiniku'».

“Babiniku” (バ美肉) means “to use a virtual avatar of a beautiful girl”. It is an internet slang term that describes people who adopt virtual female identities on digital platforms such as VRChat. The post had a profound impact on users, who expressed their opinions in the comments:

• «Yes, definitely. A grown man's self-identity can be easily rewritten.».
• «I had heard similar stories in the context of kabuki theater, but until the advent of VRChat, ordinary people didn't have an easy opportunity to experience something like that.».
• «Because of Ranma, I ended up liking gender-swap stories. It's a deeply influential work.».
• «We're dancing in the palm of Rumiko Takahashi's hand... (There are so many things she's done before, haha)».
• «Some of the first to break new ground with him now finally see that the era is catching up with his vision.».
• «It seems that after all the soul follows the body».
• «Master Takahashi is always ahead of his time, and his mangas are not only visionary but also popular in their time, which is amazing.».

This Twitter conversation has reignited interest in “Ranma 1/2” and has led many to reflect on how Rumiko Takahashi's work was ahead of its timeexploring themes of gender identity and soul adaptability that are now more relevant than ever in the digital age.

Source: Hachima Kikou