Nippon Ijin Taisho 2007

Taku128 · Post by **Taku128** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 2:27 am

I was browsing my subscriptions today on youtube and found a video titled Dragon Ball Original Anime Nippon Ijin Taisho 2007. The video is a tournament with four contestants that takes place at the Tenkaichi Budokai, and the commentors are Goku and some other guy. The animation looks like a cross between One Piece and Dragon Ball Z, or atleast in my opinion it does. I'm not sure what exactly it was for, as the description is vague. Also, halfway through the video Goku promotes the new Dragon Ball DVDs, which I found hillarious.

Steven Perry · Post by **Steven Perry** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 2:44 am

Those guys just broke every conceivable rule in the book...

I think it's a tribute to Japan's greatest legends:

Saito Musashibo Benkei

Himiko

Amakusa Shiro

Shotoku Taishi

Eclipse · Post by **Eclipse** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 3:04 am

Interesting. Is it just me or were they using Dragon Ball BGM? (Or very similar BGM?).
Strange video that's for sure. Still, what was it for?

SonGokuGT · Post by **SonGokuGT** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 3:08 am

I am most certainly intrigued... I can't wait until more information on this surfaces... Awesome video and thanks for the link!

Taku128 · Post by **Taku128** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 3:45 am

Eclipse wrote:Strange video that's for sure. Still, what was it for?

The video's description says Nippon Ijin Taisho translates to "Japan Great Men Awards", so I guess its for some kind of award that's awarded to great men.

Jerseymilk · Post by **Jerseymilk** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 4:00 am

That was very entertaining. XD I especially liked how Prince Shotoku was using Goku's "shunkan idou" and how even after getting killed, he came back as a spirit and defeated Benkei.

Conan the SSJ · Post by **Conan the SSJ** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 6:42 am

Even though I generally prefer to wait for something in Japanese to be subbed before I watch it, I couldn't resist this, it was just awesome for so many reasons! It was funny, intriguing, and just plain classic; Goku pimping those DB DVDs alone is reason enough. It was so great to see Masako Nazowa reprise her role for this special, given her age and the fact the video games have been recycling her dialogue recordings of her characters from older releases, it was such a treat getting new stuff of her as Goku. I just loved this whole thing, the fanboy in me honestly made me tear up just seeing Goku smile and do commentary on the Kinto'Un.

Jerseymilk wrote:Her post

Ya' know, that female character in the first battle really resembled you IMO, Jers. It'd kick ass if you cosplayed as her for a one-time day at a convention. ^_^

JAKEMAN · Post by **JAKEMAN** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 7:06 am

That was really good, I want to see more hehe

Post by **SaiyaJedi** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 11:53 am

Watching the video now. Posting up some thoughts as I go.

-It appears this is a tournament for the mightiest "great person" throughout all of Japan's history.

-Ringside announcer is Masaharu Miyake, an announcer for Fuji TV. Goku provides guest commentary.

-First Match: Benkei vs. Himiko. Benkei was a warrior-monk who, through a series of matches, collected the swords of 999 opponents, before being defeated by Minamoto no Yoshitsune, who took him on as a retainer. He fought on the side of the Minamoto Clan in the Genpei War against the Taira Clan, as recounted in the Heike Monogatari. Himiko's origins are shrouded in obscurity - the first reference to her is in a Chinese text about the people of Wo (Wa, or Yamataikoku, or Yamato-no-Kuni), in which she figures as the Priestess-Queen of a group of fragmented clans. Some believe her to be the human basis for legends of Amaterasu, while others point to her as evidence that early Japanese society was possibly matrilineal. Nobody really knows for sure.

-Second Match: Prince Shotoku vs. Amakusa Shiro. Prince Shotoku was the Japanese ruler largely credited with the introduction of Buddhism and Chinese-style political and legal organization to Japan. He is credited in this match with being able to follow the separate conversations of 12 people talking at once, as well as the ability to hover tens of meters above the ground (both abilities likely culled from the Kojiki and/or Nihon Shoki). Amakusa Shiro was a leader of the Shimabara Rebellion, a failed uprising of mostly-Christian peasants against the Tokugawa Shogunate. His ability to understand languages he had never seen or heard before, as well as walking on water, are both pretty stereotypical abilities attributed to Christian converts by their proponents, and I wouldn't be surprised if the Jesuit monks promoting Christianity in Japan told people that he could do exactly those things.

-Heh, nice plug for the Dragon Ball individual DVDs in the middle, there.

-Third Match: Benkei vs. Prince Shotoku Benkei was said to be proficient with the Naginata, while his "hip drop" is a reference to the legend that a rock he sat on bears the impression of his hindquarters. The end of the fight is a reference to the story that Benkei died standing up. By the same token, Prince Shotoku was said to have been able to move so fast that no one could see him. He also is said to have had the ability to separate his spirit from his body and fly around. (Seriously, people actually believed this stuff at one time.)

Huh. That was shorter than I expected.

Tanooki Kuribo · Post by **Tanooki Kuribo** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 12:18 pm

Wow, I love the character designs. Goku looks awesome.

Sun_Wukong · Post by **Sun_Wukong** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 12:26 pm

Its amazing how Masako Nozawa is still doing Goku after over 20 years. Even Mickey Mouse has changed Voice Actors.

Snail · Post by **Snail** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 3:36 pm

This was absolutely great. Great find.

Chuquita · Post by **Chuquita** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 6:05 pm

I saw this a couple hours ago while wandering YouTube; I really enjoyed it.

But I'm happy to see any newly-animated dbz, even if its a short history-lesson like this.
I love the idea of Goku as a Tenkaichi Budoukai announcer/commentator; like how so many other athletes end up as announcers for the sport they used to play.

gohanku · Post by **gohanku** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 12:20 am

Nice. Did Akira Toriyama do the characters design? Seems like his style of drawing...

Sebastian (SB) · Post by **Sebastian (SB)** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 12:32 am

That was nice. Very nice.

fps_anth · Post by **fps_anth** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 1:00 am

Nice video! Thanks for the analysis Julain.

KaiserNeko · Post by **KaiserNeko** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 1:36 am

Dude, if there is another DragonBall Z movie, the animation needs to be in this style. This is PERFECT for DragonBall, Son Goku looked AWESOME.

sangofe · Post by **sangofe** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 5:28 am

KaiserNeko wrote:Dude, if there is another DragonBall Z movie, the animation needs to be in this style. This is PERFECT for DragonBall, Son Goku looked AWESOME.

Can't say I agree.
I very much prefer him DBZ style.

Jerseymilk · Post by **Jerseymilk** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 9:35 am

sangofe wrote:
KaiserNeko wrote:Dude, if there is another DragonBall Z movie, the animation needs to be in this style. This is PERFECT for DragonBall, Son Goku looked AWESOME.
Can't say I agree.
I very much prefer him DBZ style.

But......it *is* in DBZ style......

DaemonCorps · Post by **DaemonCorps** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 12:29 pm

Interesting. It seems like something School House Rock would do today to make history more interesting. And yeah, Julian's explanations sure helped out. I wouldn't have gotten any of those references otherwise.

sidenote: Yay! Not only is Goku in it, but so is Mr. Announcerguy!

Kanzenshuu

Nippon Ijin Taisho 2007

Nippon Ijin Taisho 2007

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