Before I begin, I would like to point out that this thread should,
from this point on, be conducted by private e-mail, as it has
absolutely nothing to do with fanfiction. 


That having been said...

<< Okay, does anyone know were I can find a graphic of the

Japanese

 characters that represent the Tendo and Saotome family names?
  >>
         Graphic charcters are called "Kanji"

But are they hirigana or katakana?
Lt. Trakal
Operative of the Galaxy Police SIU

   Eh?  Hiragana and Katakana are alphabets, kanji are symbols that
represent a word.  Anyway, Saotome and Tendo (the names) originate

from

Japan I believe, so they would be Hiragana, to the best of my

knowledge

Katakana is for imported words, and Hiragana is for traditional.

Okay, some clarification on a few points:

Hiragana and Katakana are *syllabic alphabets*. Each set of
characters makes up the entire range of sounds that compose the
Japanese language. 

Hiragana is used for native words, particles, and things that are
difficult to express in any other fashion.

Katakana is used for foreign words, sound effects, official
documents, and as a teaching tool for lower-grade elementary
students.

HOWEVER...

Kanji are used to represent certain words, things, and ideas. An
entire concept can be described in anywhere from one to three
characters, as opposed to the ten to fifteen it might otherwise take
if you wrote solely in hiragana. 

Kanji also have their own distinct meanings, unlike hiragana and
katakana syllables.

Therefore, Kanji are a very essential part of the Japanese written
language, as much as hiragana and katakana.

Names, particularly family names, are almost ALWAYS written with
Kanji.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Levi Strauss reminds you to just say no to crack.
Pull up your jeans.

It's there. Hair. On your derrier. But from where?

If you don't like my attitude, call 1-900-FUCK-OFF.

---
The Eternal Lost Lurker
Murasaki Otaku
EternalLostLurker@worldnet.att.net
http://www.geocities.com/~etlostlurker

Lurker's Phone Answering Message:
"Haro! You leach Noboyuki House of Sushi. 
We gualantee derivery in thirty minute, or you get
NO sushi!" 
-------------------------------------------------------------------