Why hasn't classic series (original, Z, and GT) is not available on Blu-ray in Japan?

[super michael]

Speaking of censorship, is there any other anime (shounen anime in particular) aside Dragon Ball that has this issue?
Just because there are content that is not appropriate for audience in modern day, does not excuse that content needs to be edited; it's a film revisionist, that can potentially give dangerous precedence to future classic anime releases.
At the very least, there should be a big disclaimer or warning on package (or on commercial) that certain materials are getting censored, so that consumers can be aware what they are getting; it's courtesy 101.

Shows like Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh have always had censored home releases in English-speaking territories (notwithstanding the short-lived uncut Yu-Gi-Oh dub). I don't know any examples of the Japanese home releases being censored, it would set a very bad precedent though, by informing other territories this is OK for a medium that is intended to be the definitive version.

In Pokemon they edited something as simple as rice ball (Onigiri) to a donut, anyone with eyes can see that isn't a donut. They even edited it out Fire Blast Japanese letter in the smoke to nothing.
Yu-Gi-Oh they cut people using guns, so instead they are threatening by pointing their finger instead.
Beyblade V-Force they changed the scene from a character dying to a character is in a coma, this is when someone use Cyber Dranzer.
One Piece they edit Sanji cigarette into a lollipop.

There was a lot of censorship back in the days, when it came to getting a English dub version. So it is no surprise there was a lot of censorship in Dragon Ball.

[PowerPhantom245]

Speaking of censorship, is there any other anime (shounen anime in particular) aside Dragon Ball that has this issue?
Just because there are content that is not appropriate for audience in modern day, does not excuse that content needs to be edited; it's a film revisionist, that can potentially give dangerous precedence to future classic anime releases.
At the very least, there should be a big disclaimer or warning on package (or on commercial) that certain materials are getting censored, so that consumers can be aware what they are getting; it's courtesy 101.

Shows like Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh have always had censored home releases in English-speaking territories (notwithstanding the short-lived uncut Yu-Gi-Oh dub). I don't know any examples of the Japanese home releases being censored, it would set a very bad precedent though, by informing other territories this is OK for a medium that is intended to be the definitive version.

In Pokemon they edited something as simple as rice ball (Onigiri) to a donut, anyone with eyes can see that isn't a donut. They even edited it out Fire Blast Japanese letter in the smoke to nothing.
Yu-Gi-Oh they cut people using guns, so instead they are threatening by pointing their finger instead.
Beyblade V-Force they changed the scene from a character dying to a character is in a coma, this is when someone use Cyber Dranzer.
One Piece they edit Sanji cigarette into a lollipop.

There was a lot of censorship back in the days, when it came to getting a English dub version. So it is no surprise there was a lot of censorship in Dragon Ball.

Those censorship are for INTERNATIONAL release outside of Japan.
All those shows are UNCUT in Japanese release.
I was referring to the censorship within Japanese release; I don't recall Ranma 1/2 Blu-ray/DVD release in Japan had major censorship regards to nudity and humors; which is far more severe than Dragon Ball.
If censorship is one of the reasons why it hasn't gotten Blu-ray set, then I think it's ridiculous for Toei.

[Cure Dragon 255]

Shows like Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh have always had censored home releases in English-speaking territories (notwithstanding the short-lived uncut Yu-Gi-Oh dub). I don't know any examples of the Japanese home releases being censored, it would set a very bad precedent though, by informing other territories this is OK for a medium that is intended to be the definitive version.

In Pokemon they edited something as simple as rice ball (Onigiri) to a donut, anyone with eyes can see that isn't a donut. They even edited it out Fire Blast Japanese letter in the smoke to nothing.
Yu-Gi-Oh they cut people using guns, so instead they are threatening by pointing their finger instead.
Beyblade V-Force they changed the scene from a character dying to a character is in a coma, this is when someone use Cyber Dranzer.
One Piece they edit Sanji cigarette into a lollipop.

There was a lot of censorship back in the days, when it came to getting a English dub version. So it is no surprise there was a lot of censorship in Dragon Ball.

Those censorship are for INTERNATIONAL release outside of Japan.
All those shows are UNCUT in Japanese release.
I was referring to the censorship within Japanese release; I don't recall Ranma 1/2 Blu-ray/DVD release in Japan had major censorship regards to nudity and humors; which is far more severe than Dragon Ball.
If censorship is one of the reasons why it hasn't gotten Blu-ray set, then I think it's ridiculous for Toei.

Hate to tell you this, but Toei also censors stuff for the Japanese market, They removed middle fingers from Bio Broly and several other changes in a Blu Ray.

And Pokemon makes Jynx purple in Japanese recent re releases which hasnt carried over to the USA because they would rather pretend Jynx never existed.

[Dragon Ball Ireland]

Those censorship are for INTERNATIONAL release outside of Japan.
All those shows are UNCUT in Japanese release.
I was referring to the censorship within Japanese release; I don't recall Ranma 1/2 Blu-ray/DVD release in Japan had major censorship regards to nudity and humors; which is far more severe than Dragon Ball.
If censorship is one of the reasons why it hasn't gotten Blu-ray set, then I think it's ridiculous for Toei.

Sadly did censor the movie Blu-Rays, which were made initially with the Japanese market in mind, notably middle fingers as Cure Dragon 255 noted:



Ironically the versions of these movies that were streamed on Amazon Prime and Netflix in Japan didn't have the censorship and have less DNR with more natural contrast levels, so those are the definitive versions of this remaster. It boggles the mind as kids are not the target audience for these home releases, if anything the streaming versions should be the casual option.

Apparently TOEI offered a refund scheme for fans disappointed by these edits and their misleading message on the boxes, which was something at least, although sadly corrected discs were never issued.

[GhostEmperorX]

Saint Seiya is available on Blu-ray, even though it's Japan only.
https://www.amazon.com/Animation-Saint- ... 146&sr=1-7

Since 2026 is going to be 40th anniversary of anime (1986), maybe that might be a chance for release.

I was aware, but apparently it wasn't even a proper remaster. And (as usual), garbage optical audio that even Chinese dubs are better than.

Far as the 40th anniversary of the '86 anime, it's a foregone conclusion that they won't do anything. Even the first Daima trailer had no significant footage for the original DB series.

[PowerPhantom245]

I was aware, but apparently it wasn't even a proper remaster. And (as usual), garbage optical audio that even Chinese dubs are better than.

Far as the 40th anniversary of the '86 anime, it's a foregone conclusion that they won't do anything. Even the first Daima trailer had no significant footage for the original DB series.

Toei remastering tends to be very hit an miss; sometime they can use too much DNR.
Even in America, some movies gets screwed up with very excessive DNR (Predator UHE) or recent AI 4K upscale (The Abyss, True Lies, and Aliens).
Along with audio, that's more of technical issues, that should be addressed in separate topic.

It's utterly frustrating that Toei has long history of not caring about catalogue title anime not getting proper HD release and occasionally a lackluster remaster; especially, for anime like Dragon Ball.

[Lance Freeman]

It really feels like Toei is happy letting whoever licenses their stuff do the remaster, it's just that sometimes you get a company like Discotek that tries to care a little and sometimes you get a Funimation that really doesn't seem to. Then you also have the Sailor Moon 2014 debacle but that was just a bad situation all around.

[TheGreatness25]

Not even Funimation or Crunchyroll, who would release 800 different sets of DBZ if they could, have made any progress in Dragon Ball and GT Blu-rays. Seems like they'd be spitting one out way before Toei (I'm not even talking about quality here). I don't get it.