I've tried to look around but can't find what I need: 1. Does she have a name in Canon? If so is it given in Gatch I, II, or F? 2. Does it ever say in any of the series exactly what her illness was or just that she was frail and mostly bedridden? A big thanks to anyone who can help me out with this. Ame

Ken's mother's name is Sayuri Washio...not sure exactly what illness she suffered from, though... I thought I had a better picture of her somewhere...but here is one I found...she appears to be a redhead...

Thanks Springie! I've seen Sayuri but wasn't sure if that was Canon or Fanon, but the name definitely seems to fit.

Springie where is the pic from? What episode I mean

That's either from episode 51- Cataroller or 52- Red Impulse's Secret...I can't remember which...but it is shown when Ken is sleeping on the couch in RI's cabin, and RI is remembering when Ken is a boy... Oh, and Amethyst- I can't remember if the name Sayuri is mentioned in Gatch I- but I think that it is...by Dr. Nambu- someone correct me if I'm wrong...

It's episode 51. And thanks again, for the name information. It might be in one of the Gatch I episodes that I haven't seen yet. I've seen all of the BotP's but only about 3/4 of Gatch I, none of II, F, or ER.

Hi all! In the series, it is never said what Ken's mother's name was. Likewise, exactly what illness claimed her life is also not stated. The only images we have of her are as follows: From Episode #51: From Episode #52: From Episode #53: The name Sayuri comes from Volume 2 of the OAVs, and is seen on her tombstone. We do not see any images of what she looks like. Many fans have chosen to use this name for her TV series counterpart, but to do so is strictly a fan-made convenience. James

Thanks James! Considering they kept most (but not all) of the names for the OAVs (from what I've heard and seen, I'm just now watching them), it does make sense to adopt it into fanon.

James to the rescue!! Thank you, James!! I couldn't remember if her name was actually mentioned! And I had no idea that the name Sayuri wasn't official, except for the OAV! And you had the picture I was looking for ( of course)...this is some great info!

Originally posted by Springie Ken's mother's name is Sayuri Washio...not sure exactly what illness she suffered from, though... I thought I had a better picture of her somewhere...but here is one I found...she appears to be a redhead...

Springie, was that just in the OVA's??? I can't remember them actually saying a name for her during Gatchaman. If they did what ep was that??? Ahhh I should have read James response before automatically posting!!!

James, I am always amazed by the ready knowledge at your fingertips... although by now I guess I shouldn't be. Thanks for all of the pictures and information. I had heard of Ken's mother being Sayuri,but had never known where the name came from. I appreciate that bit of knowldge4.

Since I didn't know where 'Sayuri' came from, I came up with my own name for my fanfics. I wanted to explain Ken's blue eyes and Caucasian appearance, so I made her a Caucasian from Ameris, and Kentaro part-Japanese. Eileen Washio, employed by the ISO as an aircraft engineer. The perpetually-frail mother is such a flipping stereotype that I also ignored it. She does die of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Cancer is used so often that it's becoming another stereotype. There are plenty of long-term medical conditions that could make a person seem frail and/or helpless, particularly to a child. This would be especially true if the condition got worse over time. So far, no-one has complained.

And there's no reason to compl;ain, becfause your fics are excellent reading, UW!

Interesting points UW. It gives me something to consider in my AU. I may need to make a little change.

I better get that high-speed internet connection. I'm running out of time at night. (No computer required for my day job, so I don't have one at work.) Gotta read your Gatch fics. I noticed that the OAV dates for Sayuri are close to my time-period for 'Gatchaman.' The Turtle King pops up in the 2040s, in mine.

Reading the tombstone, I see that Ken's mom has the same birthday as me. Glad to see someone from Gatch does, even if she's dead before the series. Plus with that we can better understand the time frame as to when the battle started.

Originally posted by UnpublishedWriter I better get that high-speed internet connection. I'm running out of time at night. (No computer required for my day job, so I don't have one at work.) Gotta read your Gatch fics.

Just in case this comment was being sent to me, I wanted to let you know my AU is really based on BOTP rather than on Gatch. Although my characters seem to have closer characteristics (the edginess and darkness) of the Gatch team.

Originally posted by UnpublishedWriter The perpetually-frail mother is such a flipping stereotype that I also ignored it. She does die of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Cancer is used so often that it's becoming another stereotype. There are plenty of long-term medical conditions that could make a person seem frail and/or helpless, particularly to a child. This would be especially true if the condition got worse over time.

The one time it came up (briefly, from young Ken's POV) in a fic of mine, I did a cop-out and never specified exactly what illness she had at all. Kudos to you for coming up with a more original diagnosis! The other area, it seems, where canon is vague concerning Ken's mother is figuring out when Ken started living at Dr. Nambu's house instead of with his mother. Before she died and before Joe was there? Not until after she'd died? It can easily be interpreted either way.

I believe when Dr. Nambu is revealing Red Impulse's identity asKentaro Washio to the SNT, Nambu mentions that Kentaro left for Hontwal, leaving his four year old son in Nambu's care. But of course, what is 'Nambu's care'? Again, it could be interpreted many ways, but it seems to imply that Ken might have been living with Nambu after that time. Perhaps Sayuri too.

Good old 1970s, when people could still assume a wife didn't have a job. Just a few decades later, nobody makes that assumption, and Dr. Nambu could care for Ken without them moving in with him. BTW, Eileen kept Kentaro circling the tower for quite a while. Kentaro Air Flight #1 didn't reach the hangar until the wedding night! Based on the pictures, I think Ken inherited his mother's hair.

I took it in the way that he financially looked after them. Being a male figure in Ken life. After Sayuri died, Dr Namby became his guardian and moved in with him, like a godfather kinda thing.

Originally posted by UnpublishedWriter Based on the pictures, I think Ken inherited his mother's hair.

Now that I looked again, yup, they have the same hair color. And probably the eyes too, since Kentaro had black narrow eyes unlike his soon huge blue ones. The round face seem to come from daddy, though.

I think Ken inherited almost everything from Sayuri, with the possible exception of his flight skills. Ken and Kentaro look nothing alike. Kentaro is even significantly taller than Ken! FWIW, I always think that in his white suit, Kentaro looks like a Columbian drug lord. Imagine Ricardo Montalban doing the voiceover. "Ken, come see my rich, Columbian coffee beans. I want you to fly them in your plane... No! Don't look inside the bags!"

You really hate RI, TJ! But, yes, he does give me that impression too!

OMG, TJ! I am laughing so hard!

Originally posted by gatchamarie You really hate RI, TJ! But, yes, he does give me that impression too!

Yes, I really hate RI. In case my many fics using him as a villain haven't caused you to guess that already...

Originally posted by Springie OMG, TJ! I am laughing so hard!

At least I don't have Nambu shouting, 'Khan!' or You killed my son...' (Sorry... geeky Star Trek refernce regarding Ricardo Montalban...)

Originally posted by Transmute Jun I think Ken inherited almost everything from Sayuri, with the possible exception of his flight skills. Ken and Kentaro look nothing alike. Kentaro is even significantly taller than Ken! FWIW, I always think that in his white suit, Kentaro looks like a Columbian drug lord. Imagine Ricardo Montalban doing the voiceover. "Ken, come see my rich, Columbian coffee beans. I want you to fly them in your plane... No! Don't look inside the bags!"

ROTFL! Thats what instantly pops into my mind too when I see that ep! In my Gatch/BOTP AU I've actually made him(Cronus) a good guy and some solid reasons for not being able to go back as he was before... never thought I'd do that since I'm not an RI fan.

This will sound strange but I think I am more sympathetic towards Cronus than I am RI...weird I know

Originally posted by Transmute Jun FWIW, I always think that in his white suit, Kentaro looks like a Columbian drug lord. Imagine Ricardo Montalban doing the voiceover. "Ken, come see my rich, Columbian coffee beans. I want you to fly them in your plane... No! Don't look inside the bags!"

Very true! Now you've got me imagining Gatchaman ep. 44 rewritten to be a "Fantasy Island" episode, with RI as Mr. Roarke. There would have to be a shot of Masaki at the RI Team's island, seeing the incoming God Phoenix and calling out "The plane! The plane!" though.

Originally posted by Transmute Jun I think Ken inherited almost everything from Sayuri, with the possible exception of his flight skills. Ken and Kentaro look nothing alike. Kentaro is even significantly taller than Ken! FWIW, I always think that in his white suit, Kentaro looks like a Columbian drug lord. Imagine Ricardo Montalban doing the voiceover. "Ken, come see my rich, Columbian coffee beans. I want you to fly them in your plane... No! Don't look inside the bags!"

When I first saw RI in ep 12, I made no connexion between the two of them. But after eps 51 and 52 I came to see him in a whole new light! He wasn't exactly the dotting father but he cared for Ken! Just imagine if he would have let the Eagle to fly the missle towards Van Allen's belt!

Originally posted by lborgia88

Originally posted by Transmute Jun FWIW, I always think that in his white suit, Kentaro looks like a Columbian drug lord. Imagine Ricardo Montalban doing the voiceover. "Ken, come see my rich, Columbian coffee beans. I want you to fly them in your plane... No! Don't look inside the bags!"

Very true! Now you've got me imagining Gatchaman ep. 44 rewritten to be a "Fantasy Island" episode, with RI as Mr. Roarke. There would have to be a shot of Masaki at the RI Team's island, seeing the incoming God Phoenix and calling out "The plane! The plane!" though.

Thanks you two, now the episode can never be watched with an innocent mind again. I will hear the whole Look boss, the plane. when I watch it.

Originally posted by Firebird This will sound strange but I think I am more sympathetic towards Cronus than I am RI...weird I know

Not weird at all. Cronus doesn't beat up his son and act all obnoxious and self-righteous in the way RI does.