Goddess ages

[Timotheus]

There's an old saying, always check your assumptions.
In fact, you should always check your assumptions at the door when you come in.

And that's what I've been doing. The next two articles to be put up are me going back and rethinking and checking what I wrote before. Hopefully someone will find this interesting.


The Relative Ages of the Goddesses.

As with most aspects of time within Oh!/Ah! My Goddess, the ages of the goddesses are subject to change depending on what source you're following. The manga has its own convoluted time line that involves double years and changes in the apparent ages of the goddesses in the flash backs. The OAVs have the most information about the goddesses ages, but is very different from the manga. The movie seems to fit in with the OAVs generally, but there are a few differences (Bell keeps getting her First Class license at earlier ages). And the new TV anime seems to be following its own timeline (but closer to the OAV's than the manga's). Since the OAVs have the most references I'll use them for the main discussion and just note the differences where needed. I'm also going to pretty much ignore the TV anime as I have next to no references for it. Yet. First, for general background information, I'll make a few observations about Japanese school and college schedules since that's the primary method we have for dating things.

Apparently, the Japanese school year starts in April and run for two terms (semesters) with three major breaks, Spring, Summer, and Winter. The two semesters are refered to as Spring and Fall, with two of the three major breaks seperating them. For the university I checked, the sequence is: Spring semester starts April 1 and runs to July 27, followed by summer vacation from July 28 to Sept. 25, then Fall semester starts on Sept. 26 and runs to Feb. 5, with a winter break from Dec. 20 to Jan. 3. Finally, there's spring vacation from Feb. 6 to Mar. 31, then the sequence starts again. While the actual dates may vary, this should help understand the OMG time line.

Japanese School Schedule and Student Ages

Age Grade

Kindergarten
5-6

Elementary School
6-7 1st grade
7-8 2nd grade
8-9 3rd grade
9-10 4th grade
10-11 5th grade
11-12 6th grade

Jr. High School
12-13 7th grade
13-14 8th grade
14-15 9th grade

High School
15-16 10th grade Motorcycle license age
16-17 11th grade
17-18 12th grade

College/University
18-19 1st year Automobile license age
19-20 2nd year
21-22 3rd year
22-23 4th year

23-24 5th year
24-25 6th year

One fixed point in a sea of uncertainty..........

Belldandy appears to have joined Keiichi in either Oct./Nov. of his second semester, first year of college in the manga, Feb./Mar. during the spring vacation break just before he starts his second year in the OAV, and in January at the end of his first year in the TV anime. In all these cases, Megumi, who is one year younger than Keiichi, is starting her first year at Nekomi Tech at the same time as Keiichi's second year, in April right after the spring vacation, so this locks in one point common to all three. All future dates will be referenced against this April first start of Keiichi's second year.

Keiichi and Bell seem to be about the same age, no more than a year apart. They both appear to be around first grade (6-7 years old) when they meet the first time in the OAV, and Bell appears about the same age when she first meets Celestine in the movie and when she meets Velsper in the manga. (It's my guess she was turned over to her mentor shortly after her little escapade on earth.) I feel it's a safe guess that all three events occured while Bell was between 6 and 8 years old

If Keiichi followed the normal age pattern for school advancement, he would have entered Nekomi when he was 18-19 years old and both he and Bell would have been 19-20 by the time of the first OAV episode, not the 21 which is usually given when any age at all is given for Bell in the profiles. (Bell's birthday was shown as being Jan. 1 and Keiichi's is unknown but it could be just before Bell's.)

Urd and Skuld are 12 years 4 months apart in age according to the OAVs and Skuld was probably at the equivalent of first year middle school (12-13) when she first appears. (The usual age given for her in the profiles is 12.) So if Skuld is 12, then Urd is 24-25 when she first appears, which seems reasonable.

However, in Skuld's case we have a major time difference between her arrival in the anime and manga to deal with. In the OAVs she arrives in October, 8 months after Bell's arrival and 2 months after Urd's. In the manga, Skuld arrives in March at the end of Keiichi's third year, 29 months after Bell arrived in October, 24 months after the April 1st start of K-1's second year, and 19 months after Urd appears in August of his second year. More simply, there's a 17 month, year and a half difference between when she arrived in the manga and OAV. This makes comparing her ages prior to her arrival in the story rather interesting. (Goddess only knows what the TV anime is going to do to this.)

Which leads us to.... the infamous Skuld compromise. It makes no one happy but it simplifies things greatly. If we say Skuld was definitely in the 12 to 13 range when she arrives in the manga and that she was in the 11 to 12 range when she appears in the OAV, we can just say she was about 12 when she arrived, making it that she was either 11 and turned 12 or was 12 and turned 13 sometime in that 17 month period. So Skuld is just 12, no range, when she appears, whenever that is.

Next, the anomaly problem. Keiichi's fourth year at Nekomi Tech seemed to last forever. Almost as if it were two years instead of one. Which isn't surprising because it was. For whatever reason, the story goes through two years of season cycles (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring) but only counts it as one year on the school timeline. Thus in story time two years have passed, but as far as Keiichi's school career (the fixed timeline) it's only one. For purposes of this discussion, I'm saying it's just one year in the life of the charactors, but this is another reason people have trouble fitting the story together.

Goddess Age Comparison and Approximate Events List

Urd's age - born
Urd's age - 1
Urd's age - 2
Urd's age - 3 - Urd sent to the heavens by Hild

Urd's age - 4
Bell's age - born

Urd's age - 5 - second class license, starter level
Bell's age - 1

Urd's age - 6
Bell's age - 2

Urd's age - 7
Bell's age - 3

Urd's age - 8
Bell's age - 4

Urd's age - 9
Bell's age - 5 - second class license, starter level

Urd's age - 10
Bell's age - 6 - Bell-chan meets - Celestin (movie), Keiichi-chan (OAV), Velsper (manga)

Urd's age - 11 - Urd borrows Slepnir
Bell's age - 7

Urd's age - 12
Bell's age - 8
Skuld's age - born

Urd's age - 13
Bell's age - 9
Skuld's age - 1

Urd's age - 14 - Urd gets angel
Bell's age - 10
Skuld's age - 2

Urd's age - 15 - Urd declined for test
Bell's age - 11
Skuld's age - 3

Urd's age - 16
Bell's age - 12
Skuld's age - 4

Urd's age - 17
Bell's age - 13
Skuld's age - 5 - second class license, starter level

Urd's age - 18
Bell's age - 14 - Bell gets angel
Skuld's age - 6

Urd's age - 19
Bell's age - 15 - Bell gets 1st class license
Skuld's age - 7

Urd's age - 20 - Legal adult in Japan
Bell's age - 16 - Celestin's revolt
Skuld's age - 8

Urd's age - 21
Bell's age - 17
Skuld's age - 9

Urd's age - 22
Bell's age - 18
Skuld's age - 10

Urd's age - 23
Bell's age - 19 - Bell meets K-1 (manga)
Skuld's age - 11

Urd's age - 24 - Urd arrives (manga, OAV)
Bell's age - 20 - Bell meets K-1, OAV, legal adult in Japan
Skuld's age - 12 - Skuld arrives (OAV)

Urd's age - 25
Bell's age - 21
Skuld's age - 13 - Skuld arrives (manga)

Urd's age - 26 - Urd recovers World of Elegance
Bell's age - 22 - Peorth challange, Holy Bell
Skuld's age - 14 - Skuld gets powers, meets Sentaro, eats Noble Scarlet

Urd's age - 27 -
Bell's age - 23 - return of Velsper, license renewal
Skuld's age - 15 - Noble Scarlet returns

Urd's age - 28 - possible movie events
Bell's age - 24 - ditto
Skuld's age - 18 - ditto

Current Goddess Ages.............................................

Thus (finally) we get Skuld - 12, Bell/Keiichi - 19-20, and Urd - 24-25 at the start of the OAVs. In the manga, Skuld would've had to be 9-10 when Bell's contract was made in Oct. in order for her to be 12 when she finally arrives. (For what it's worth, I think Mara is about the same age as Urd. Just from the hints they've dropped at various times in the story.)

Sticking to the OAV timeline, that would make Bell 8-9 years old when Skuld was born (a year or so after her visit to earth) and Urd 12-13, the onset of goddess puberty and the time Urd was most stressed out in her goddess training period (she got her angel within two years of this age, I think.)

And finally, at this point in the manga, Urd is 27-28, Belldandy and Keiichi 23-24, and Skuld 15-16.
(I'm pushing the ranges to the plus side because of the fourth school year being two years story time. Normally they'd be 26-27, 22-23, and 14-15)

Added Value List..............................................
Japanese Holidays - From Japan-Guide.com

January 1-3 - New Year (shogatsu):
This is the most important national holiday in Japan.

Second monday of January - Coming of Age (seijin no hi):
The coming of age of 20 year old men and women is celebrated.

February 3 - Beginning of spring (setsubun):
Setsubun is not a national holiday.

February 11 - National Foundation Day (kenkoku kinenbi):
According to the earliest Japanese history books, on this day in the year 660 BC the first Japanese emperor was crowned.

February 14 - Valentine's Day:
In Japan, women give chocolates to men on Valentine's Day. It is not a national holiday.

March 3 - Doll's Festival (hina matsuri):
Also called girl's festival.

March 14 - White Day:
The opposite of Valentine's Day: Men give cakes or chocolates to women. It is not a national holiday.

March 21 - Spring Eqinox Day (shunbun no hi):
Graves are visited during the week (ohigan) of the Equinox Day. The day itself is a national holiday.

April 29 - Greenery Day (midori no hi):
The birthday of former Emperor Showa, who loved plants and nature. From 2007, this national holiday will be renamed Showa Day, while Greenery Day will be moved to May 4.

May 3 - Constitution Day (kenpo kinenbi):
National holiday remembering the new constitution that was put into effect after the war.

May 4 - "Between Day" (kokumin no kyujitsu):
According to Japanese law, a day which falls between two national holidays is also declared a national holiday. From 2007, Greenery Day, currently celebrated on April 29, will be moved to May 4.

May 5 - Children's Day (kodomo no hi):
Also called boy's festival.

July/August 7 - Star Festival (tanabata):
Tanabata is not a national holiday.

Third monday of July - Ocean Day (umi no hi):
A recently introduced national holiday to celebrate the ocean. The day marks the return of Emperor Meiji from a boat trip to Hokkaido in 1876.

July/August 13-15 - Obon:
Obon is a festival to commemorate the deceased ancestors.

Third monday of September - Respect for the Aged Day (keiro no hi):
Respect for the elderly and longlivity is celebrated on this national holiday.

September 23 - Autum Equinox Day (shubun no hi):
Graves are visited during the week (ohigan) of the Equinox Day. The day itself is a national holiday.

Second monday of October - Health and Sports Day (taiiku no hi):
On that day 1964, the Olympic games of Tokyo were opened.

November 3 - Culture Day (bunka no hi):
A day for promotion of culture and the love for freedom and peace. On the culture day, schools and the government award certain persons for their special, cultural activities.

November 15 - Seven-Five-Three (shichigosan):
A festival for children, it is not a national holiday.

November 23 - Labour Thanksgiving Day (kinro kansha no hi):
A national holiday for honoring labour.

December 23 - Emperor's Birthday (tenno no tanjobi):
The birthday of the current emperor is always a national holiday. If the emperor changes, the national holiday changes to the birthday date of the new emperor.

December 24-25 -Christmas:
Christmas is not a national holiday, but it is celebrated by an increasing number of Japanese.

[Aragon]

Where did you get the info?

[Timotheus]

Well, a partial list of sources are...

The manga
My Timelines
Other O/AMG sites
Various Japanese Information Sites
i.e. School Web sites, Tourist sites, Living In Japan sites,
Language Dictionaries
Manga Background sites
Old Forums
Other Manga
My Daughter's Friend From Japan

And Of Course,
The Ever Popular,
Wild Speculation

[Aragon]

Awsome!

[Timotheus]

I've been busy updating my goddesses childhood articles to reflect the new information in the latest Kodansha chapters (without Dark Horse spoilers) and what will soon be available in English. With any luck I hope to put them up sometime after TPB 21 comes out. However, in typical lack of a horse shoe fashion this led to a review of the sisters relative ages and that led to a review of the goddess license system.

Disclaimer.....

This is the result of my researching whatever I could find on the subject and combining it into one package.
But it's only as acurate as its sources and I can't really vouch for most of them. Also some of them had contradictory information and I had to resolve it myself. (There was no uniformity as to what to call anything, class, category, level, grade, range,etc. And the English spelling of the Japanese words was all over the map. I really feel sorry for full time translators) If you see anything you know is wrong, please let me know so I can change it.

While taking into account the idea that Mr. Fujishima and his friends (Mr. Gohda for one) have been slowly changing things to fit their stories better, there were still a few problems with understanding the system I felt needed to be resolved. Primarily, why does Skuld have a second class license when she's only twelve, how come the goddesses are shown working magic when they're as young as 6 or 7, and finally why is Belldandy's First Class license, second catagory the exact opposite of what we should expect. Here's some ideas as to why this is, but first, more about Japanese driver's licenses than you ever wanted to know.

..........................................................................................
Continuing The Goddess vrs Automobile License Discussion.
..........................................................................................

It's fairly common knowledge that Mr. Fujishima based his goddess/demon license system on the Japanese driver's license system. What's proven to be surprising to me is how hard it's been to get hard data on what that system is, particularly what the different license levels mean and relate to each other. There's plenty of information on how foreigners can get licenses and what the tests are like, but not much on the actual licenses. The best sources I've run across were a couple of motorcycle club sites with information about motorcycling in Japan and the English language sites of a Japanese license training facility and a police district's public information site. (It was also intersting to read about how the public shouldn't let leftist agitaters upset them.) Based on the above, this is how I think the Japanese driver's licensing system works.

There are two sets of regulations governing driver's licenses in Japan, the Motor Vehicle Law (SHARYOUHOU, which probably governs licensing and registration issues) and the Road Traffic Law (DOUROKOUTSUU, which seems to govern vehicle operations). They're pretty complimentary, the biggest discrepancey reported is that the Motor Vehicle Law lists three catagories of motor bikes and the Road Traffic Law lists four.

These laws provide for two grades of driver's licenses; private (non-professional or first class) and commercial (professional or second class). These are then further seperated into catagories according to engine size and vehicle type.

Two of these are - Keiyon-sha (undersized or small) and applies to mini-cars with motorcycle type engines under 660cc, and Futsu-sha (second class, but not to be confused with a 2nd class driver's license) which applies to standard or special ordinary and large vehicles with motorcycle type engines of 660cc or greater.

(The phrase Gurin-sha means first class, but I haven't found any reference to it used as a driver's license.)

Motor-vehicle definitions and examples

Large-sized motor vehicle,
1 Truck (> 2000cc)
2 Small to medium Bus
3 Heavy Passenger Car (> 2000cc)
8 Special Large Vehicle ( > 660cc)
These include fire-trucks, ambulances, police cars and cement/garbage/fuel trucks, and all vehicles with significant modifications from stock, such as a radio or TV truck, a hearse, or a truck modified to carry a refrigeration unit. They require a yearly safety inspection instead of bi-yearly.
8 Extra Large Vehicle (Heavy Truck) ie - transport (semi-trailer), dump, cement mixers, fuel tankers and large fire engines
9 Tractor / Fork Lift
0 Construction Equipment

Ordinary motor vehicle,
4 Lorry, Van, Station Wagon (660 to 2000cc)
5&7 Passenger Car (660 to 2000cc)
6 Light truck / van / lorry

Large-sized special motor vehicle,
Futsu-sha (second class, but not to be confused with a 2nd class driver's license) which applies to standard or special ordinary and large vehicles with motorcycle type engines of 660cc or greater.
7 3-wheeled passenger car (360 to 2000cc)

Small-sized special motor vehicle,
Keiyon-sha (keijidosha)(undersized or small) and applies to three or four-wheeled vehicles (such as mini-cars) with motorcycle type engines under 660cc,
8 Special Light vehicle, small-sized special vehicle (kogata tokushu jidosha)
6 3-wheeled truck (> 360cc)
7 3-wheeled passenger car (360 to 2000cc)


Large-sized two-wheel vehicle
motorcycle with engine over 400cc

Ordinary two-wheel vehicle
Motorcycle with engine between 50 and 400cc

Moped
see "Scooter and Gentsuki" engine under 50cc

grade 1 Motorcycles < 50cc
grade 2 Motorcycles > 50cc and < 125cc
grade 3 Motorcycles > 125cc and < 400cc
Class 2 Two-wheeled vehicles > 125cc and < 250cc (nirinno keijidosha)
Class 3 Two wheeled vehicles > 250cc (nirinno kogatajidosha)
grade 4 Motorcycles > 400cc

..........................................................................................
There are two basic license classes, First and Second, and a Temporary class for learners.

A 1st class driver's license is required to operate a vehicle for personal use and is easier to get than a 2nd class one. The different types of 1st class driver's licenses and descriptions of the sort of vehicles which holders of each type of license are allowed to drive are as follows;

(Note, there is actually only one style of license, it is marked for first or second class and has check boxes on the back where all the applicable catagories are marked off. There's an example of this in Mahoromatic when Maho shows her driver's license. The joke is that everything possible has been checked off.)

Large-sized four wheel license
Can drive - Large-sized motor vehicle, ordinary motor vehicle, small-sized special motor vehicle, moped

Ordinary four wheel license
Can drive - Ordinary motor vehicle, small-sized special motor vehicle, moped

Large-sized special license
Can drive - Large-sized special motor vehicle, small-sized special motor vehicle, moped

Large-sized two-wheel license
Can drive - Large-sized & ordinary two-wheel vehicle, small-sized special motor vehicle, moped

Ordinary two-wheel license
Can drive - Ordinary two-wheel vehicle, small-sized special motor vehicle, moped

Small-sized special license
Can drive - Small-sized special motor vehicle, moped

Moped license
Can drive - Moped

(apparently everyone can drive a moped)


A 2nd-class driver's license is required to drive a passenger-transport vehicle, such as a bus or a taxi.
(a commercial license) The different types of 2nd-class driver's licenses are as follows;

Large-sized 2nd-class license
Can drive - Omnibus, sightseeing bus, etc.
3 Heavy Passenger Car (> 2000cc)
2 City / Tour Bus

Large-sized special 2nd-class license
Can drive - Specialized passenger transportation business vehicles such as for transporting skiers to the mountains

Ordinary 2nd-class license (There are no small sized or special taxi licenses.)
Can drive - Taxi, hire, etc.
5-7 Passenger Car (660 to 2000cc)


A temporary driver's license is issued to people who need to practice driving an ordinary motor vehicle while preparing to take the examination for an ordinary 1st-class driver's license, and to people with a lower catagory 1st-class license who need to practice driving a large or ordinary-size motor vehicle in preparation for taking the 1st or 2nd-class driver's license examination for that vehicle.

When driving under such a license, they must be accompanied by a person who has held for at least three years a 1st-class license enabling him or her to legally operate the vehicle in question, or a person who has a 2nd-class license, or an instructor at a designated driving school. This person must be present in the front passenger seat next to the driver.

(The tests for cars and motorcycles at each license and catagory level are seperate procedures, with the car test requiring longer classroom training and testing time, but passing the car test covers all but the road test requirements for the motorcycle license. Passing the motorcycle tests will still require additional classroom training and testing for the car license, but it will be much less than if you haven't passed the equivalent motorcycle requirements.)

Once issued, a license is good for 3 years and expires on your birthday in the third year. After the first 3 year period, people with "excellent" records can get licenses good for 5 years for as long their record remains that way. Otherwise, it's every 3 years.

..........................................................................................
Motorcycle licenses appear to be all first class, with their catagory related to their engine size. While they were included in the first class license table above, here's a better break down as to how the work.

There are four classes of motorized two-wheeled vehicles in Japan, with different licensing requirements, rules, and such. The classes are determined by engine size. (The Motor Vehicle Law breaks them down into three classes, while the Road Traffic Law breaks them down into four. The difference is that the MVL combines the first two RTL classes (1 & 2) into one class.)

("Scooter and Gentsuki": Most scooters are 50cc, so "scooter" and "gentsuki" are often used synonymously. However, they're not exactly the same. Some vehicles which ARE scooters can have engines as large as 750cc, while some motorcycles have only 50cc engines. The Japanese word "gentsuki" is short for what originally literally meant "bicycle with engine attached" (i.e. "moped"), and now technically means any motorized two-wheeled vehicle. However, now it's generally used to mean that class of vehicle with engines smaller than 50cc (and again, most "50cc" vehicles are really 49cc, so they're gentsuki as well).)

Age restrictions.
Basically, 18 is the minimum age for any driver's license in Japan.
But 16 year olds can get the first three types of moterbike licenses if their school lets them. That means that high schoolers can get licenses for the following motorbikes classes......

Gentsuki or scooter with engine displacement below 50cc (class 1)
Kogata or small engine displacement below 125cc (class 2)
Chugata or mid engine displacement below 400cc (class 3)

After they've reached the age of 18, they can apply for the largest size motorbike class.....

Ogata or big engine displacement with more than 400cc (class 4)


Class 1 motorcycle license (Moped);
Easiest license to get, paper-only test.
Its included with all other Japanese first class vehicle licenses (but not international endorsement of a foreign license).

Engine size: Up to 50cc
Motor Vehicle Law: DAI ISSHU GENDOUKITUKI JIDOUSHA
(DAI ISSHU GENTSUKI) Class 1 Engine-Attached Bicycle
Road Traffic Law: GENDOUKITUKI JIDOUSHA
(GENTSUKI) Engine-Attached Bicycle
Common names: Scooter, gentsuki
Speed Limit: 30 km/h (but routinely ignored)
Passengers: Never allowed
Travel restrictions: Must stay to the left 1m of street (but often ignored).
Not allowed on highways or expressways.

Class 2 motorcycle license (small class);
Can be included with a small car special first class licenses

Engine size: Over 50cc up to 125cc
Motor Vehicle Law: DAI ISSHU GENDOUKITUKI JIDOUSHA (gendokitsuki jitensha)(DAI NISHU GENTSUKI)
Class 2 Engine-Attached Bicycle
Road Traffic Law: (KOGATA JIDOU NIRINSHA) Small-Size Auto-Mobile Two-Wheeled Vehicle.
Common names: Small class, KOGATA
Speed Limit: 50 km/h or less, as posted
Passengers: May have a passenger
Travel restrictions: Not allowed on expressways or high speeds.

Class 3 motorcycle license (mid class);
Can be included with a small car special first class licenses

Engine size: Over 125cc up to 400cc
Motor Vehicle Law: (JIDOU NIRINSHA)
Road Traffic Law: (CHUUGATA JIDOU NIRINSHA)
Mid-Size Auto-Mobile Two-Wheeled Vehicle.
Common names: Mid-class, CHUUGATA
Speed restrictions: 80 km/h on expressways, 50 km/h or less, as posted
Passengers: May have a passenger
Travel restrictions: May go onto expressways (but passengers must be in a side-car.)

Class 4 motorcycle license (large class);
Can be included with ordinary and large vehicle first class licenses

Engine size: Over 400cc
Motor Vehicle Law: (JIDOU NIRINSHA)
Road Traffic Law: (OOGATA JIDOU NIRINSHA)
Large-Size Auto-Mobile Two-Wheeled Vehicle.
Common names: Large class, OOGATA
Speed restrictions: 80 km/h on expressways, 60 km/h or less, as posted
Passengers: May have a passenger
Travel restrictions: May go onto expressways (but passengers must be in a side-car.)

[Timotheus]

So what does all this mean for the goddesses (and demons)?

Known Goddess Licenses and explainations

Belldandy: Goddess First Class, 2nd Category, unlimited - Has both power and precision, contracts.
Peorth: Goddess First Class, 2nd Category, unlimited - Has both power and precision, contracts.
Rind: Goddess First Class, Special Duty, limited

Urd: Goddess Second Class, Administrative Category - Power is high but no precision.
Skuld: Goddess Second Class, 1st Category - Even without restriction she doesn't have much power,

2nd Category means permission to conduct business.

..........................................................................................
The problem arises when we attempt to make direct parallels between the goddess licenses and Japanese licenses. Besides the terms "first through whatever" class being used in multiple catagories, it turns out that a first class driver's license is the most common one and a second class license is the special higher category that is defined as being commercial (permission to conduct business). Plus the youngest you can get one is 16, and you have to be 18 to get anything with power. So either Mr. Fujishima was playing mind games with us by purposely reversing things or the initial translations have missed something repeatedly. This isn't that impossible, as translating Japanese is frought with such problems. For example, mailing addresses are given in the reverse order we're used to (country, state, city, street, house number). So maybe we have something similar with their driver's licenses.

First, let's try inverting the license.
In that case Belldandy would be a Second Class Goddess, First Category, unlimited, which makes somewhat more sense as a driver's license parody (second class - the highest class, first category - the most unrestricted category). Plus we still have the special categories for goddesses like Rind

Skuld would then become a First Class Goddess, Second Category, which works out on the license part and probably is okay if we assume second category refers to motorbikes.

Urd however doesn't fit, there is no Administrative Class license, and second category just doesn't sound right for her.

Next, let's assume for the sake of arguement that Mr. Fujishima or the translators just decided to switch classes because they thought First Class sounded classier for Bell than Second Class. That makes the system fall together somewhat better. Belldandy's (and Mara's and Peorth's) First Class, Second Category, Unlimited license translates as a standard commercial permit with no restrictions, although she can't drive a truck or a bus, but can operate a taxi (figuratively speaking). Rind's is also a commercial license, allowing her to deal with mortals, but in the special category which has more specific limits as to what it means but could also allow her to be more powerful than Bell.

Skuld's Second Class, First Category would put her at the moped level, younger age, not much power, but a start that gets her on the street. And Urd's Second Class, Administrative Category would also be a special category license, probably large, the parallel being she can drive any motorcycle or small car, but isn't trusted to handle big cars and vehicles. She is however allowed to do special things most others cannot. Megumi's earth spirit can fit in too, He can only be second class, so it isn't even mentioned in his license. His being third class referes to his position in the motorcycle category scale, powerful but not at the top.

It all sounds good, but there's still a hitch. Belldandy says specifically that it's the term "second catagory" that gives her permission to conduct business (grant wishes). The qualifier "second catagory would be unnecessary if a First Class License already granted it. So that leaves us with the concept that while inspired to a degree by the driver's license system, Mr. Fujishima created his own system that doesn't have to parallel anything. Thus ages, classes, categories and what they mean were all open to interpretation as he needed, and can be changed and extended as he sees fit. (Which makes sense, the Yggdrasil license system and the driver's license system have different purposes and goals. Driver's licenses regulate the operation of a variety of different vehicles for all sorts of unrelated purposes. Yggdrasil licenses regulate the access and use of one central system for purposes that will interact with other users.)

..........................................................................................With that interpretation in mind, here's my current interpretation of the Yggdrasil Licensing System.

As with the Japanse driver's license system, there are two primary classes, reflecting the range and scope of the power being regulated. First Class has the most power and requires the most control (corresponding to Cars and Trucks) and Second Class deals with less (like Motorcycles). Again, as with the Japanese driver's licenses, the higher power category takes more training and testing (cars) while the lower (Second) starts with extremely easy (mopeds) and increases to much higher and complex levels that rival First Class at its lower ranges (large special vehicles). Within each class there are levels and categories (many more in second than first) which further define what the license is for. The primary categories of these are also called first and second, and they parallel the Japanese first (personal) and second (commercial) classes. But there are also other catagories not found in that system (administrative, special, etc.).

As with the motor vehicle licenses, many of these permits are based on the equipment available to the god or goddess being licensed. First Class seems to be restricted to those divine beings who possess forehead markings, which seem to be needed to leave the heavens and enter other worlds (like ours). It still requires rigorous training and testing (it's implied there's a classroom phase, a competency test, and then a final practical exam. Urd had passed the first two but was discouraged from the last.), but you seem to need that forehead mark to get started.

Second Class is more open to everyone. Having so many levels and catagories, its obviously the system everyone starts at the bottom in and works their way up. (Skuld's still down with the mopeds while Urd is way up in the large-sized special motor vehicle catagory. They're both Second Class, first category, but Urd has a LOT more check marks on the back of her card.)

Besides those divine beings with forehead markings who haven't made the grade to First Class, Second Class also includes everyone else who uses Yggdrasil in their functions, gods and goddesses with only cheek markings, earth spirits, lower class demons, etc. They're spread out through many categories and power levels, with some (like earth spirits) being restricted to one seperate range class (like the motorcycle grades) so that's what their license is refered to. As with the Japanese first class license, there is a great deal of overlap between the system's categories and individual licenses can go up and down the scale. There are also a great many special categories that greatly change what a Second Class license allows.

The biggest difference from the driver's license system is the age at which Yggdrasil's licenses are issued. Because they regulate actual access to the system, people must be licensed as soon as they'll need to start using it. For sake of argument, I'm going to say that this would be at about the same age as children start kindergarten (5-6 years). After proving they have simple competency, the young god or goddess would get the lowest level Second Class (probably training category) license and be allowed to do simple things on their own and more complex ones with someone who acts as their teacher/trainer. As they get older, they can get progressively higher training categories as they prove they can handle them. This testing might even be an automatic function with Yggdrasil and not involve external exams.

Finally they reach a level where they can handle all the basics without supervision. At this point they probably do have to take an exam, but then they can get their first full license, Second Class, first category, lowest level (moped, <50cc). My guess would be that this would be at about 5th grade (10-11 years). They can then start progressing through the lower level categories (50cc to 400cc motorcycles). Skuld is at this point but hasn't progressed much further.

At 9th grade level (14-15 years), qualifying divine beings start preparing to be tested for the next level, either First Class or Second Class (automobile levels), or Second Class (upper motorcycle level). This is comparable to the High School tests in Japanese middle schools, it decides what level of training and career preperation you'll recieve afterwards.

This is also about the usual age (14-15) when a goddess can get her angel.

If all goes well, the god or goddess can take their final tests at the 10th grade level (15-16) and recieve their adult grade First or Second Class license. They also decide (or have it decided for them) what career path they will follow and begin their final training. They can still improve their license standing through study and training and probably even change careers, but this would be by their own decision and effort.


As an interesting proof attempt, if Belldandy got her First Class license when she was 15-16, it would have been renewed after 3 and then 5 years. That makes her 8 years older for her second renewal, or 23-24, which is Belldandy's age during the Traveller arc. (This also causes some problems though, because Japanese licenses expire on your birthday and Bell's birthday was supposed to be in January. But it's definitely late spring in the Traveller arc.)

Hope this was interesting. At least we should now know a lot more about Japanese drver's licenses.

[Isaha78Namso]

After reading the TBP21 we have to rethink this. In Chapter 132 Peorth is talking to K-1 about how during the fight with Welsper he was suppose to be turned back to before he was born. How ever when bell jumped in she was only turned into a chilled. K-1 then asks if humans age faster then a goddess. Her answer is that he will always be with bell in sprite after he’s dead.
So I'm betting the info is a little off Timotheus sir.

[Timotheus]

The exact phrase you're refering to I believe is, "It is your destiny to be together for the rest of your life... but not hers."

Meaning they will be together for as long as Keiichi is alive. Belldandy will continue to live long after Keiichi is gone.

The manga isn't clear on this, but the OAV definitely shows Belldandy and Keiichi as growing up at the same time and rate. So its based on this that certain comparisons are made. If Bell and her sisters grew up at a different rate, then Velsper's messing with time wouldn't effect them the same way as Keiichi.

Also, as Peorth seems to be intimidating, once a god or goddess reaches her maturity, he or she ceases to change with time (a form of immortality). Their bodies can be rewound to an earlier state to a certain extent, but they will always exist in some form. Hence the reason Peorth and Belldandy could only be youthened so far by Velsper's spell (it appears to be about 5-6 years old, kindergarten age or the age that a goddesses powers would first start manifesting. Which is also the age they are pair up as doublets apparently.)

I did take the TPB #21 story into account in the age determination. But feel free to calculate your own version.

[Isaha78Namso]

timotheus said:

The exact phrase you're refering to I believe is, "It is your destiny to be together for the rest of your life... but not hers."

Meaning they will be together for as long as Keiichi is alive. Belldandy will continue to live long after Keiichi is gone.

The manga isn't clear on this, but the OAV definitely shows Belldandy and Keiichi as growing up at the same time and rate. So its based on this that certain comparisons are made. If Bell and her sisters grew up at a different rate, then Velsper's messing with time wouldn't effect them the same way as Keiichi.

Also, as Peorth seems to be intimidating, once a god or goddess reaches her maturity, he or she ceases to change with time (a form of immortality). Their bodies can be rewound to an earlier state to a certain extent, but they will always exist in some form. Hence the reason Peorth and Belldandy could only be youthened so far by Velsper's spell (it appears to be about 5-6 years old, kindergarten age or the age that a goddesses powers would first start manifesting. Which is also the age they are pair up as doublets apparently.)

I did take the TPB #21 story into account in the age determination. But feel free to calculate your own version.

I can see two other ways to look at this. The first being that it's Mr. Fujishima's work and he can chop, rearrange and do what the hell he likes with it till hes satisfied.
Also the OVA's where written by Naoko Hasegawa and could be considered a fan story based on the chars created by Mr. Fujishima.

[Timotheus]

You are absolutely correct. More so in the first than the second however.

A quick review off the above two article revealed that I neglected to include my standard disclaimer. For this I must apologise. As a defense all I can offer is that both are updated revisions of earlier works and the disclaimer must have gotten lost in the shuffle.

All of my interpretive articles reflect my opinion and have no more authority than those of other fans. They are the result of my researching and reviewing whatever I can find on a subject and trying to make a logical system out of it. They represent my best efforts at that time, but they're still MY best efforts.

There is only one man in Japan who is the undesputed authority on all things goddess and what he decides is the way things work in his world is the way they work. Even when he contradicts himself.


In my defense on the second point, while it is still quite valid, I had a chance to talk with Mr. Gohda and Mr. Matsubara at AnimeCentral 2003 and asked them about the differences between the manga and anime versions, particularly if the anime had been altered in the way you suggest. They replied that Mr. Fujishima is extremely protective of his story and maintained script approval for both OAVs and the movie (Breathing down our necks was mentioned).

According to them all story changes from the manga version in the OAVs and Movie were either Mr. Fujishima's idea or were approved by him. So the OAVs and Movie can be considered as valid a source of information as the manga. Where the TV anime will fit in is a different story as it already seems to be following a very different path.

As far as the ages and dates are concerned, my placement is based on many factors, one of which was guesswork (as I stated). Many of them can be shifted a year or even two without major disruptions of events.

And, as you seem to be implying, if Mr. Fujishima wishes to revamp his concepts of goddess aging he certainly can. But as of the latest Japanese releases I haven't seen evidence to disprove this timeline or alter it significantly. You, on your part, don't have to accept anything I write and can certainly disagree and challange me on any point.
(I appreciate the mental exercise.)

And that's were I finish this reply.