Saban-Era DBZ Biblical Refrences

[Bussani]

That doesn't mean there are any less biblical references all over anime... take a look at Evangelion, for instance. It might be the hugest example, but an example none-the-less. Often creators find religion as interesting story spice, even if they do not believe.

Yes, that is true. What I meant was that using a name like "Satan" isn't going to upset many people in Japan.

[TripleRach]

Not trying to stir off topic or anything. But does akira toriyama even Believe in any kind of an after life?(I mean after all there is a hell in Dragonball universe and I guess kinda of a heaven? I'm not trying to imply just because he put it in there, then that must mean he believes) I mean *Wow* I just started thinking about the 666 being on the side's of that car that Gohan and videl ride in

I don't know what religion Toriyama follows, but most people in Japan are Buddhist and/or Shintoist. Enma has the exact same name as Yama in Japanese, the Buddhist judge of the dead, and I believe the Dragon Ball afterlife shares some other similarities with the Buddhist afterlife. But I think most of that is common knowledge in Japan.

I don't think his personal beliefs are really worth speculating too much, though. As has been mentioned, he doesn't necessarily have to believe in something to write about it.

[Pokewhiz7]

I don't know, but I have a feeling Toriyama is not a God-fearing man, otherwise he probably wouldn't have named two characters after Satan, plus the 666 on the car as you mentioned.

Like Rocketman said, Japan isn't a Christian country. Christianity accounts for less than 1% of the population, so such references wouldn't mean anything special to most people there.

Neither would the English words radish, carrot, vegetable, bloomers, trunks, briefs, cell, etc.

[SylentEcho]

Neither would the English words radish, carrot, vegetable, bloomers, trunks, briefs, cell, etc.

Many English words including some of those are actually used in Japan.

[Shiyonasan]

I'm pretty much in the same boat as samuraix123 here. I am a born-again Christian as well, but I rarely, if ever, think about comparisons between Christianity and Dragon Ball Z unless it's blatantly pointed out, such as Mr. Satan's name and the 666 on Gohan's car.

To be honest, I just don't think God/Jesus and Goku are comparable. As Innagadadavida pointed out, Goku is far from being sinless. In Dragon World he may be "pure of heart", but what Dragon World's "pure of heart" is is definitely not our "pure of heart". If anything, Goku is more innocent than pure of heart. I could make more points here, but I think most of the other users in this thread have already made valid statements that I agree with and don't need to type here.

Even though it's not Saban or DBZ, I guess I could also point out the Christian reference in Dragon Ball during the Upa and Dracula Man fight in the Uranai Baba arc. Although really, the crucifix is often shown in Dracula movies despite those movies being secular. Plus, it's all in humor, so it's not anything really serious.

Majin Buu cured a boy's blindness, which was a miracle, and Jesus works miracles. I think he might have even cured someone's blindness in the Bible, IIRC.

Yeah. Jesus heals a blind man. Coincidentally, he was also a person who was blind from birth, which if I remember correctly was the case with the boy in the Majin Buu arc.

[Perfect]

Actually there are two examples that just popped into my head. Dabra is pretty much a visual incarnation of what people stereo-typically believe Satan to look like. I also recall someone drawing a biblical reference with God, Piccolo Daimao and Goku, but I don't have any idea on what it was (Or if it was even accurate).

Edit:

Oh this is a huuuuge one. When uh Goku and friends are at Baba's to get their fortune, I think it's Puar and Uppa that make a cross while they're fighting to defeat their opponent. And the words Jesus Christ fly all over the screen (Last part is anime only).

[jjgp1112]

This is slightly off topic, but did anybody else notice Jeice doing something resembling a Catholic prayer in episode 71 right before Ginyu-Goku slaps Krillin?

[Bussani]

I don't know, but I have a feeling Toriyama is not a God-fearing man, otherwise he probably wouldn't have named two characters after Satan, plus the 666 on the car as you mentioned.

Like Rocketman said, Japan isn't a Christian country. Christianity accounts for less than 1% of the population, so such references wouldn't mean anything special to most people there.

Neither would the English words radish, carrot, vegetable, bloomers, trunks, briefs, cell, etc.

Well, a lot of people in Japan know what random English words mean, even if they can't read a full English sentence. But I meant more like...even if they knew who Satan is, the name doesn't carry the same meaning for someone who isn't Christian. It's just a name.

[dario03]

This is slightly off topic, but did anybody else notice Jeice doing something resembling a Catholic prayer in episode 71 right before Ginyu-Goku slaps Krillin?

I was wondering about that yesterday, I couldn't remember when it happened but I could swear he does the cross hand motion thing.

[KiddoCabbusses]

Youtube upload of that scene for reference.

Jeice's hand movements do appear like the Sign of the Cross, but it doesn't appear Jeice does the motion properly - it looks like he starts from his right and then goes up and down, rather than starting from up, and is never shown finishing with his left.

[Bussani]

Youtube upload of that scene for reference.

Jeice's hand movements do appear like the Sign of the Cross, but it doesn't appear Jeice does the motion properly - it looks like he starts from his right and then goes up and down, rather than starting from up, and is never shown finishing with his left.

That's an interesting one. It could be that it's something like the sort of hand gestures used in Buddhist and Taoist practices, but I don't know enough about them to say for sure, nor do I know if there's any special significance to it here.

[The Iron Fjord]

I could've sworn that I saw a crucifix at one time.

[kei17]

Youtube upload of that scene for reference.

Jeice's hand movements do appear like the Sign of the Cross, but it doesn't appear Jeice does the motion properly - it looks like he starts from his right and then goes up and down, rather than starting from up, and is never shown finishing with his left.

That's an interesting one. It could be that it's something like the sort of hand gestures used in Buddhist and Taoist practices, but I don't know enough about them to say for sure, nor do I know if there's any special significance to it here.

I guess that's some kind of sarcastic gesture means "Uh-oh, may he rest in peace!". Some Japanese believe that all Christians make a sign of the cross whenever they pray.

[samuraix123]

In the movie Fusion Reborn as soon as the dead start coming to earth, you see Romeo and Juliet(But the girl is called Juliana I can't remember what she called Romeo I think she calls him Michael? But anyway it's still Romeo and Juliet) a cross drops to the ground

[monster]

Was there a particularly religious script writer on staff or being the 90's were those being made to appease the fundie crowed when they were at their height? Something else entirely?

You're probably overthinking this, the writers were probably just trying to get across meaning in a way that would be easy for the audience to understand.

I don't think the story of David and Goliath is something considered particularly religious these days and if the writers really did have a religious agenda I think they would have been much less subtle about it.

[Levlik]

I could've sworn that I saw a crucifix at one time.

[samuraix123]

Oh my God! I only showed a little picture of a necklace But that thing is just in your face! POW!

[testing223]

Christianity in Japan is like old Greek/Roman religions here in the USA.

Interesting source for mythological monsters and references, but not remotely taken seriously.

[Piccolo Daimao]

I doubt it was in Toriyama's mind to draw connections between Boo curing the little boy's blindness and Jesus, and I don't draw connections to it either. And even if that were the case, doesn't it look weird comparing a magical demon who causes death and destruction to the founder of Christianity?

And I thought the Dabra thing was obvious. Although red skin, horns, fangs, tail and strange powers are common features of the stereotypical Devil design in not just Christianity, but other religions as well (correct me if I'm wrong).

[MCDaveG]

Christianity in Japan is like old Greek/Roman religions here in the USA.

Interesting source for mythological monsters and references, but not remotely taken seriously.

Definitely, you can't consider any references like this to have deeper meaning, it's only the image.
Also, there is budhism in Japan, but not that much as everyone in the west believes there will be.
Primary they are shintoist, as the lifestyle and habits are heavily influenced by shintó sharing fragments from budhism.

In my country there is 26% of catholics, that isn't that small number, but still there are not any christianity taboos or censorhips in this kind of way and no one is questioning religious things in TV.