Washu Hakubi

Washu is the top scientific genius in the universe. She was a professor at the Imperial Space Academy, but was entrapped in the reverse world of the Soja by Kagato 5,000 years earlier. She was freed from her prison by the causality-bending abilities of Mihoshi. She has an inter-dimensional door at the Masaki household she set up after Kagato's death leading to any of her laboratories on six different planets. Washu is currently interested in researching Tenchi to learn how he can manipulate the power of his Lighthawk Wings. She is responsible for creating both Ryoko and Ryo-ohki.

Washu's past is the most complex out of all the characters seen on Tenchi Muyo. She is another one of the the universal beings known as the Choushin alongside Tsunami and Tokimi. Wanting to figure out the whereabouts of a being with greater power than the Choushin, Washu chose to seal her memories and powers as a Choushin in three gems to take on a human form so she could understand the mysteries of the universe. Such gems are capable of generating as much power as Tsunami and sustaining the youth of Yosho.

As a human, Washu pursued a career in being a biologist and entered the Imperial Space Academy as a student nearly 20,000 years ago. In those years, Washu met a young man named Mikamo Kuramitsu at the academy as the two consumated their relationship with Washu giving birth to a baby boy named Mikumo. However because of Mikamo's status in the Galaxy Police, he and Mikumo were forced to part from Washu. This development devastated Washu enough where she took on the form of a 12-year old girl so she wouldn't have to deal with such pressures ever again. She eventually graduates from the academy and becomes its chairman, beating Dr. Clay in a campaign for the position.

About 5,000 years ago, Washu started to question the power of the three gems that she had. To examine their power, Washu created Ryoko to manipulate the powers of the gems as well as Ryo-ohkie. She was assisted by one of her students in the project, Kagato. Kagato got corrupt when he heard of Jurai's power and decided to kidnap Washu. He forced her to build his space ship, the Sojia, and then trapped her in the reverse world of it. Kagato would then use Ryoko and Ryo-ohkie under his evil influence to attempt claiming the ultimate Jurai power of Tsunami.   With Kagato dead, Washu continues her research and having her fun around the Masaki household, making occasional interventions in Ryoko and Ayeka's arguments for Tenchi's affection for her personal amusement. Because of her appearance as a 12-year old girl, Washu prefers to be addressed as Washu-chan, much to the annoyance of Ayeka.

Washu has the exact same powers as Ryoko, though she prefers to use her intellect in most circumstances to get out of tight situations. She is capable of generating energy blasts and a sword, as well as teleportation. Washu has the power to shift her physical age from her 12-year old form to a mature, adult form and has a telepathic link to Ryoko. A frequent trick she uses is to leave a stuffed doll of herself in her place whenever she is about to be captured. Washu can also release the power of her gems to return to her Choushin form if the situation calls for it. Capable of existing in multiple dimensions, Washu's Choushin form threatens the stability of the universe if she were to engage in combat.