What's with Kamesennin's nose bleeds?

[Insertclevername]

Is there some kind of cultural reason as to why Muten Roshi starts spewing blood from his nose every time he gets a glimpse at nudity? I'm surprised I haven't asked this sooner because I thought this was actually normal as a kid. But, seriously, it's really bizarre.

[PhoenixEX]

Well when men get "excited" an increase of blood flows to a certain part of their body...but instead of showing that they just have the blood spew out of their nose.

[VegettoEX]

Standard Japanese trope. You'll also see lots of sneezing when another character is talking about someone who's not there (a good example being Goku sneezing while flying his way toward Kaio's for the first time); our equivalent would be the phrase "ears are ringing" when someone's talking about you.

[Blade]

It's a Japanese cultural thing that is implemented into a lot of anime and manga. Nosebleeds are associated with arousment or sexual excitement in Japanese folk belief.

[TheOverlyMadHatter]

Hm, this is kind of an uneducated hypothesis, but my guess is that it is meant to demonstrate the blood rushing due to arousal... It would just be inappropriate for it be shown in the form of a hard-on, so we get nose bleeds instead. I don't know, can't see how else that could make any sense. It's actually common in (modern-day?) anime.

[Marco Polo]

It's pretty common in manga and anime, like the snot bubble when someone is sleeping.

[SaiyaJedi]

Is there some kind of cultural reason as to why Muten Roshi starts spewing blood from his nose every time he gets a glimpse at nudity? I'm surprised I haven't asked this sooner because I thought this was actually normal as a kid. But, seriously, it's really bizarre.

It's a visual shorthand for sexual excitement. It's used with both men and women, though more common with men, as it serves as a convenient euphemism for an erection.

[mAcChaos]

There is also the large sweat drop to show embarassment.

[Bagginses]

A friend of mine once suggested that this happens because Muten Roshi is old, therefore when he has such nosebleeds, it is actually a stroke, thus showing Toriyama's ''genius'' when coming up with things like this.

I told him that he was probably incorrect, though.

[RocktheDragon]

There is also the large sweat drop to show embarassment.

This is great, we should just fill this thread with Japanese anime tropes throughout the DB and DBZ animated series. They really remind me that I'm watching a product from outside my country of origin and I do enjoy most of the tropes since most were created for comedic effect.

[garnetjester]

Then we should include the belly rumbling whenever Goku is hungry, as this is a staple in many other animes as well.

[mAcChaos]

There is also the large sweat drop to show embarassment.

This is great, we should just fill this thread with Japanese anime tropes throughout the DB and DBZ animated series. They really remind me that I'm watching a product from outside my country of origin and I do enjoy most of the tropes since most were created for comedic effect.

There's also that weird thing they do to taunt people, where they pull down one eyelid and stick their tongue out.

[TheBlackPaladin]

For those who are interested, Anime News Network wrote a brief article ("Anime Physics") about the use of nosebleeds in anime.

[samuraix123]

Standard Japanese trope. You'll also see lots of sneezing when another character is talking about someone who's not there (a good example being Goku sneezing while flying his way toward Kaio's for the first time); our equivalent would be the phrase "ears are ringing" when someone's talking about you.

Haha Dude I've heard that before haha

[Pantalones]

Standard Japanese trope. You'll also see lots of sneezing when another character is talking about someone who's not there (a good example being Goku sneezing while flying his way toward Kaio's for the first time); our equivalent would be the phrase "ears are ringing" when someone's talking about you.

I always thought it was supposed to be ears itching when someone was talking about you. That's what I've heard people say before, anyway.

And of course, when I was told that as a little kid I went on to expand it out into goofy versions for the other senses, like "your nose itches when someone's smelling you." XD

[Super Sonic]

Is there some kind of cultural reason as to why Muten Roshi starts spewing blood from his nose every time he gets a glimpse at nudity? I'm surprised I haven't asked this sooner because I thought this was actually normal as a kid. But, seriously, it's really bizarre.

It's a visual shorthand for sexual excitement. It's used with both men and women, though more common with men, as it serves as a convenient euphemism for an erection.

Other shows have ladies having nosebleeds? Only one I've seen was on Sekirei, but didn't know others had women nosebleeding.

[Bussani]

Other shows have ladies having nosebleeds? Only one I've seen was on Sekirei, but didn't know others had women nosebleeding.

Quite a few, despite it being much more common with male characters. Minako/Sailor V/Sailor Venus has had a couple in both Sailor Moon and the Sailor V manga, for example. Although this example was certainly less explosive than most of Kame'sennin's...

[Landcross]

Then we should include the belly rumbling whenever Goku is hungry, as this is a staple in many other animes as well.

That's a western trope too, however. I think that one's pretty universal.

[DBZ Mick]

And is falling on their heads like a facepalm or something?

[Godo]

Showing the pinky finger indicates that you/another person is in a relationship/lovers ect.
Intertwining pinky fingers means that you are making a promise.

Those are the specific things I have noticed.

And is falling on their heads like a facepalm or something?

That's how I have interpreted it, like a Japanese version of "d'oh!".