Arc Information
| Original Run: | 05 April 2009 – 26 July 2009 (17 weeks; spent 1 week on break) |
| Corresponding: | Dragon Ball Kai Episodes 001 – 016 (16 episodes) Dragon Ball Chapters 195 – 241 (47 chapters; approx. 2.9 chapters per episode) |
| Filler Content: | 95% Canon / 5% Filler |
| Rating Shares: | Average: 9.8% Maximum: 11.3% (Episode 001) Minimum: 8.5% (Episode 010) |
Arc Synopsis
Several years after Son Goku defeated Piccolo in the 23rd Tenka’ichi Budōkai, the Saiyan Raditz, who claimed to be Goku’s older brother, appeared before Goku and his son Gohan. Raditz’s astounding power was such that not even Goku and Piccolo could defeat him. Goku sacrificed his life to defeat Raditz. Raditz said that in one year, other powerful Saiyans would arrive.
Realizing the hidden power inside Gohan, Piccolo kidnaps him and begins to train him. In the middle of training, Gohan transforms into an Ōzaru. However, Piccolo manages to eliminate this problem by destroying the moon. At the same time, Goku was earnestly training under Kaiō, who stands above God.
And then, the Saiyans Vegeta and Nappa finally arrived. Piccolo and the others defeat the Saibaiman, but Yamcha doesn’t survive, and the battle with Nappa begins! But the Saiyans’ power was far beyond their imagination. Chiaotzu explodes, and Tenshinhan also uses up all his strength, but despite all this, the Saiyan Nappa does not take any critical damage. Even Piccolo heroically meets his end protecting Gohan. At this absolutely desperate pinch, a large ki drew near. The revived Goku has finally arrived! Goku crushes Nappa with the Kaiō-Ken, and commences a grand battle with the Saiyan prince, Vegeta.
The decisive battle with the fate of the Earth at stake begins. Accepting that it would wreck his body, Goku raises his Kaiō-Ken to x3 and attacks Vegeta. After beginning to steadily take damage, Vegeta transforms into an Ōzaru and attacks Goku. Goku counters this with a Genki-Dama. The Genki-Dama was temporarily smashed, but Gohan bounced it back to get a direct hit on Vegeta! Nevertheless, the undefeated Vegeta ends up being greatly damaged by Ōzaru Gohan, and flees from Earth.
Episode List (001 — 016)
Tatakai no Makuake! Kaette Kita zo Son Gokū
The Curtain Opens on the Battle! Son Goku Returns
“Z” Director: Daisuke Nishio & Osamu Kasai
Teki wa Gokū no Ani!? Saikyō Senshi Saiya-jin no Himitsu
The Enemy is Goku’s Older Brother?! The Secret of the Saiyan, Strongest of Warriors
“Z” Director: Osamu Kasai & Kazuhisa Takenōchi
Inochi wo Kaketa Tatakai! Gokū to Pikkoro Sutemi no Mōkō
A Battle with Their Lives on the Line! Goku and Piccolo’s Fierce Suicidal Attack
“Z” Director: Yoshihiro Ueda & Kazuhisa Takenōchi
Anoyo de Hashire Son Gokū! Hyaku-man Kiro no Hebi no Michi
Son Goku Runs in the Afterlife! The Million Kilometer Serpent Road
“Z” Director: Kazuhisa Takenōchi, Mitsuo Hashimoto, & Minoru Okazaki
Kōya no Sabaibaru! Tsukiyo ga Gohan o Yobisamasu
Wilderness Survival! The Moon Awakens Gohan
“Z” Director: Minoru Okazaki & Yoshihiro Ueda
Tadori Tsuita Shūten! Kaiō-sama no Ochame na Shiren
Finally Arriving at the End! Kaiō-sama’s Playful Test
“Z” Director: Osamu Kasai, Yoshihiro Ueda, Minoru Okazaki, & Kazuhisa Takenōchi
Jū-Bai Jūryoku to Tatakae! Gokū yo Shugyō wa Kakekko da
Battle with 10-Fold Gravity! Goku, Your Training is a Footrace
“Z” Director: Kazuhisa Takenōchi & Mitsuo Hashimoto
Ide yo Shenron! Saiya-jin Tsui ni Chikyū Tōchaku
Come Forth, Shenlong! The Saiyan Finally Arrive on Earth
“Z” Director: Minoru Okazaki
Yamucha Funtō! Osoru Beshi Saibaiman
Yamcha’s Hard Struggle! The Terrifying Saibaimen
“Z” Director: Kazuhisa Takenōchi & Yoshihiro Ueda
Matte ro Chaozu! Tenshinhan Zekkyō no Kikōhō
Wait, Chiaotzu! Tenshinhan’s Screaming Kikōhō
“Z” Director: Osamu Kasai, Tatsuya Orime, & Daisuke Nishio
Maniau ka Son Gokū!? Sentō Saikai Made Sanjikan
Will Son Goku Make It?! The Battle Resumes in 3 Hours
“Z” Director: Kazuhisa Takenōchi, Yoshihiro Ueda, & Mitsuo Hashimoto
Pikkoro ga Nagashita Namida… Son Gokū Ikari no Dai-Hangeki!
The Tears Piccolo Shed… Son Goku’s Furious Counterattack!
“Z” Director: Minoru Okazaki & Yoshihiro Ueda
Kore ga Kaiō-Ken da!! Genkai Batoru no Gokū tai Bejīta
This is the Kaiō-Ken!! A Battle to the Limit: Goku vs Vegeta
“Z” Director: Yoshihiro Ueda & Tatsuya Orime
Gekitotsu Kamehameha! Bejīta Shūnen no Dai-Henshin
Kamehameha Clash! Vegeta’s Tenacious Grand Transformation
“Z” Director: Daisuke Nishio & Yoshihiro Ueda
Zettai Zetsumei no Gokū! Genki-Dama ni Negai o Takuse
Goku in Absolute Peril! Entrust Your Wishes to the Genki-Dama
“Z” Director: Yoshihiro Ueda & Mitsuo Hashimoto
Datō Fujimi no Bejīta! Kiseki o Okose Son Gohan
The Invincible Vegeta Defeated! Son Gohan Summons a Miracle
“Z” Director: Minoru Okazaki & Daisuke Nishio
超笑顔パレード ～爆笑！お台場合宿！！～
Fuji Network’s 26-Hour Day of Television 2009
Super Smiling Faces Parade: Roaring Laughter! Camping in Odaiba!!