TOP 10 Kanji in Dragon Ball

In the Dragon Ball saga , Akira Toriyama uses symbols quite often, notably by drawing specific Kanjis (漢字) on the outfits of different characters. This is a visual trend that was introduced from the first story arc and will persist until the end of the series. If Toriyama stops introducing new Kanji towards the end of the series, they will never stop playing an exclusive role specific to the animated series. ⭐

Certainly, their role is not very important once the Namek arc is over, but Dragon Ball Super nevertheless helped to bring Kanji up to date. Not all kanji are particularly important, but the most well-known ones already have a lot of meaning. So what are the different kanji that appear in the Dragonball saga? What are their meanings? Which heroes do they correspond to? Find out now below! 💥

10. YAMCHA KANJI (楽)

Yamcha 's original outfit is by far his most signature look. It is also the only martial arts master uniform Yamcha wears in the entire series. He donned the Turtle School uniform for the 22nd Tenkaichi Budokai and almost never took it off until his retirement during the Cell arc. Yamcha's Kanji are also the first to be introduced to fans. 📙

While the Kanji for Yamcha really only means "comfort" and "ease", traits that only really apply to early depictions of Yamcha, it's interesting that Toriyama would introduce such an important visual motif for this character. This Kanji is pronounced "Tanoshi".楽

9. KANJI OF TONINJINKA (兎)

When it comes to kanji design challenges, Toninjinka 's is one of the most simplistic in the Dragon Ball franchise. Pronounced "Usagi", the Kanji for Toninjinka (aka Monster Carrot in English) simply means "rabbit". It makes sense, after all. Toninjinka is the leader of the Rabbit Mafia. He only appears very briefly in the first arc, then is quickly forgotten when Goku sends him to the moon. 🌙

As the first villain in the series to highlight kanji, ( since Yamcha wasn't quite a villain), Toninjinka doesn't really stand out as an important character, but he's someone interesting. not to be forgotten .

8. PILAF KANJI (炒饭)

The Kanji for Emperor Pilaf quite aptly means "Cantonese rice" or "fried rice", but it's actually quite unique in the context of the series. Where most symbols relate to Japanese kanji, Pilaf wears Chinese kanji on his main outfit. You could say it was to contrast with Goku's Japanese Kanji, but he didn't wear that outfit in this first arc. 🥋

In reality, it's most likely due to the heavy Chinese aesthetic at play in the first story arc. Toriyama was still trying (to some extent) to inject Journey to the West 's presence into the series. Giving Pilaf Chinese kanji was therefore logical and will help to reinforce this very special atmosphere. At least it also contrasts the kanji for Yamcha and Monster Carrot!炒饭

If you are a fan of Pilaf, you can find his appearances in the new saga thanks to our TOP 10 Worst Episodes in Dragon Ball Super .

7. KANJI KAME (亀)

By far the most iconic Kanji in Dragon Ball, Master Roshi's Kanji Kamé is present from the 21st Tenkaichi Budokai until the end of the Cell arc. In the anime, the Kanji Kamé even appears once again in the Boo arc. This is also not to say that Goku more or less retains his Turtle School Gi throughout the anime series. 📺

The Kanji for Awesome Turtle simply means "turtle", which only makes sense. After all, Kame Sennin is the master of the Turtle School of Martial Arts so it fits him well. Goku personally wears this Kanji on his outfit until he lands on Planet Namek. This is a fairly long period for a single symbol, which marks its anchoring in the saga.亀

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6. KANJI OF TAO PAI PAI (殺)

Tao Pai Pai is an interesting character design in that it's not his Kanji that immediately comes to mind. It’s more like the huge “Kill You!” on the back of his pink uniform which will ultimately define who Tao Pai Pai is as a character. However, the kanji for Tao Pai Pai still means "Satsu", which translates to "to kill". ⚔

Tao Pai Pai retains this Kanji when he returns as a robot for the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai and again during the filler preceding the Cell Games. It's really a double whammy in Toriyama's character design, which really plays on the humor by clearly illustrating the work of Tao Pai Pai who is none other than an assassin.殺

5. KANJI OF TSURU SENNIN (鶴)

Master Roshi's rival, Tao Pai Pai's brother, and martial arts master of Ten Shin Han & Chiaozu, Tsuru Sennin, represents everything that is contrary to the Turtle school of martial arts. Where Awesome Turtle taught Goku and Krillin the importance of living through martial arts, Tsuru Sennin simply teaches his students how to kill. 🔪

Its Kanji, "Tsuru", meaning "crane", is in direct contrast to Master Roshi's Kanji Kamé. These animal choices are not random, however. The turtle and the crane play an important visual role in Chinese and Japanese art, often being associated with each other, although not typically as these bitter rivals are.鶴

4. KANJI BY PICCOLO DAIMAO (魔)

The Piccolo that fans know and love will only briefly bear this Kanji, as the villainous Piccolo Daimao will immediately give birth to Piccolo after his death. While Daimao wore his Kanji "Ma" meaning demon/evil spirit quite often, it was actually Gohan who ended up wearing this Kanji most often. 🧒

Piccolo will sadly mark Son Gohan with this demonic kanji by evoking to Goku's son his own version of the turtle school uniform. The demon kanji also symbolizes the fact that Gohan has officially become Piccolo's student. Although he drops the kanji before the arrival of the Saiyans, he will resume Piccolo's colors until the end of the Cell Games.魔

3. KANJI OF KAMI-SAMA (神)

Kami-sama's Kanji is one of the most interesting kanji pieces in the series, not because of its meaning (it simply means "God" and Kami's name in Japanese is already literally "God") but because of its meaning. cause of Dende . It is therefore not really Kami-sama who will make this Kanji interesting, but his replacement. 🙌

Dende only wears the Kami kanji in three very specific cases: Dragon Ball Z: Cooler's Revenge (which was actually Dende's first appearance as God in the franchise, even defeating Toriyama in the manga) in just one chapter from the manga before Toriyama redesigned it for the Boo arc; and finally in an episode of the anime adapting this famous encounter.神

2. KANJI GO (悟)

The Kanji Go , famous thanks to Goku, is also one of the most emblematic kanji in the Japanese saga. In the original series, Goku will only wear this kanji for half of a story arc. From the moment he lands on Namek to the moment his shirt tears during the fight against Frieza, Goku displays this famous kanji for the first time. A few films have also shown Son Goku wearing this kanji, notably in Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods and the new Dragon Ball Super series, but Gohan also wore it in Dragon Ball GT. 🚩

It also makes some sense, as Goku's personal Kanji simply means "Go", which allows both Gohan and Goten to use it comfortably, although neither has worn the cloth Kanji in the series. canonical. It is this kanji that truly represents Goku as a person, a martial artist, and a Saiyan raised in Earth culture.悟

1. KANJI OF GOHAN OF THE FUTURE (飯)

Future Gohan's Kanji which is pronounced "Han" the last Kanji that Toriyama designed for the manga (but not the last one he would have designed for the anime), which gives it a bit of weight. In a world where he is the only real chance to defend himself against artificial humans, Son Gohan represents himself in this way. 🦾

This is part of the reason it will fail. Gohan is not Goku, you certainly know that. Gohan doesn't know how to train. He also doesn't really know how to fight. He seems to believe that the Super Saiyan form is the pinnacle of power, stunting himself in the future with Trunks as his only real hope. It's a pretty dark note to end on, but that's the art of Akira Toriyama !飯