Is Rou Kaioshin the Dai Kaioshin now?

[DBZGTKOSDH]

I recall him to be called Dai Kaioshin at some points. Am I correct?

[TheGmGoken]

Don't remember him being called that. I only remember him being called Elder Kai or Old Kai

[Kamiccolo9]

I don't think he's ever referred to as such, but he does seem to take up that role. So, in name, I don't think he is the Dai Kaioshin, but in practice, he might as well be.

[Pantalones]

Well, he's definitely the oldest, most knowledgeable, and most experienced Kaioshin currently in existence (...though he doesn't exactly have much competition there), and since the previous Dai Kaioshin was apparently not as powerful as the South Kaioshin (assuming the "South was the strongest" statement included the Dai Kaioshin) there doesn't seem to be a requirement of being the strongest of the group... so it would make sense for him to get promoted up to Dai Kaioshin. I don't think it's ever said for sure whether he's officially taken up that title or not, though. I do remember seeing him referred to as "Rou Dai Kaioshin" before, I think, but I'm not familiar enough with Japanese DBZ to know if that's actually what he's called in-series or how that term would be interpreted (is he the Dai Kaioshin from 15 generations back? is he the Dai Kaioshin now due to seniority? or is he just referred to as a "dai/great" Kaioshin just out of respect for his age, not his actual title at all?)

By the way... is the whole "4 Kaioshins, 1 Dai Kaioshin" structure even used anymore, seeing how Buu killed/absorbed all but one of them 5,000,000 years back and the dead/absorbed members of the group still haven't had replacements move into their positions after that many years? You'd think at least one new golden Shin-jin fruit would've shown up in five million years. Are there a couple "Kaioshins in training" running around somewhere that East Kaioshin just didn't bring with him because Buu was more important at the moment, or what?

[Herms]

Goku and Kibito call him "Dai-Kaioshin" in the chapter where he gives his life to Goku. Notably, this is the first time the term "Dai-Kaioshin" is ever used in the series (East Kaioshin had previously said there used to be 5 Kaioshins before Boo turned up, but didn't specify their titles). But he's never called "Dai-Kaioshin" again, in the series or any guidebooks, so this should probably be taken as a fluke. My guess is Toriyama stopped using "Dai-Kaioshin" for the old guy when he decided he was going to use it for the fat guy instead.

Apart from that anomaly the old Kaioshin doesn't quite have a set title in the series proper, but in secondary sources and even the tankoubon character intro pages he is universally referred to as...well, "Elder Kaioshin" (Rou-Kaioushin in Japanese). Some English-speaking fans get things messed up and call him "Rou Dai-Kaioshin", but he is never, ever called this in Japanese. It's sorta like referring to the main character as "Son Kakarot Goku".

According to the anime guidebook DBZ Son Goku Densetsu, the Elder Kaioshin is the East Kaioshin of 15 generations ago. I don't think him being the East Kaioshin back then is ever specified in the manga itself, but maybe it is in the anime?

I guess for all we know they do decide to make him the new Dai-Kaioshin since the post's empty, but this is never specified anywhere. If he was though, you'd think East Kaioshin would be calling him "Dai-Kaioshin" all the time, rather than just Goku and Kibito calling him that once and never again.

[TheGmGoken]

but maybe it is in the anime?

I think in the Korean or English dub they said he was The East. Not sure about the original audio though,

[Strife1]

It would make sense for Rou Kaioshin to be the East Kaioshin from generations ago. He seems to know about the Dragonballs. Since planet Namek was(Not sure if New Namek is as well) located in the East Quadrant, it'd make sense for him to be a former East Kaioshin.