Does Anyone Else Love The "Shiritori" Scene?

[MagicBox]

For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, there's a filler scene in the Japanese version of Dragon Ball Z episode 20 (or Kai episode 07, if you prefer) in which Piccolo knocks Gohan off a plateau during their training. Gohan frantically tries to climb back up, only to slip and wind up at the very bottom of the mountain once again. A frustrated, but still determined Gohan stands up, looks to the sky, and starts shouting at Piccolo.

Squirrel! ["risu"] Watermelon! ["suika"] Sea gull! ["kamome"] Killifish! ["medaka"] Monster! ["kaijuu"] Cow! ["ushi"] Polar bear! ["shirokuma"] Ball! ["mari"] Apple! ["ringo"] Gorilla! ["gorira"] Lion! ["raion"]

You say the next one!

This is a Japanese word game called Shiritori. Whoever's playing the game has to say a word that begins with the last kana of the previous word. For example, in the above quote, "watermelon" ("suika") ends with "ka," so Gohan uses "sea gull" ("kamome," which begins with "ka") as his next word. You lose the game if you use a word that ends with "n" ("ん"), since no Japanese word begins with that kana. Basically, Gohan's trying to play a game with Piccolo.

I hardly ever hear this scene mentioned, but it's one of my all-time favorite Piccolo/Gohan moments. It's just a tad hard for me to explain why.

I just think the whole thing is adorable. I love seeing four-year-old Gohan let out his frustration in such a childlike way. I love that he uses "lion" as his last word (which ends with "n"), losing his own game and making it impossible for Piccolo to "say the next one." Most of all, I love Piccolo's response. He doesn't tell Gohan to shut up like he normally would, nor does he continue attacking him. He just sits there and listens. To me, this is the first moment in the series when you can see that Piccolo's truly changed. Gohan has melted his heart without either of them even realizing it. We're no longer looking at the son of Piccolo Daimao; the "demon king" we knew is long gone. No background music plays during this scene, which I really like. The silence really makes it work.

For reference, the FUNi dubs change this (for obvious reasons) and give Gohan a speech about how he's not going to give up training. I get why they took the Japanese game out, but I wish they had tried to think of an American game that strikes the same tone.

So, what do you guys think? Cute character moment, random nonsense, or maybe a little of both?

[LordCrumb]

I never actually understood what it was all about until now, so thanks

[Freeza Soldier #156]

I, also, never understood the meaning of that scene. Thanks to your explanation, I now have an all new appreciation for it.

[qjz123]

I enjoyed the scene I found out what he was doing from one of Kanzenshuu's old podcasts, I think it was an early manga review of awesomeness podcast where they explained the game. It makes more sense in Japanese than in english.

[DoomieDoomie911]

If only FUNimation could have replaced this with some other kind of word game. I really like this scene, though.

[UltimateHammerBro]

I had never understood the scene. I agree that it's almost untranslatable, but there is a way to keep it, more or less.
The Spanish version of the scene had Gohan insulting Piccolo by calling him names of animals (I remember "lion", "rhino" and "penguin"). While the Japanese game is lost, it shows how Gohan has no idea of how to insult and he tries to do the best he can

[Quebaz]

I had never understood the scene. I agree that it's almost untranslatable, but there is a way to keep it, more or less.
The Spanish version of the scene had Gohan insulting Piccolo by calling him names of animals (I remember "lion", "rhino" and "penguin"). While the Japanese game is lost, it shows how Gohan has no idea of how to insult and he tries to do the best he can

Oh yes, It's in the portuguese dub as well.
"You're mean!, villian!, ugly!, camel!, penguin!, donkey's head!, bear!, orangutans!, rhino!, fool!, It's what you are Piccolo, IT'S YOU!"

[Looneygamemaster]

If the scene did for me what MagicBox suggested, I'd probably really love it.

But it doesn't, because the way it's done, I have no idea why Gohan suddenly does it. He struggles to get up, lets out some tears, stares up determinedly...and shouts out Shiritori words. It's so baffling that I can't focus on anything else. I'd get it if it was supposed to be a joke, but they play it completely straight...

Maybe it's a cultural thing, I dunno. In any case, Kai's dub is an enormous improvement in that I at least get a sense of Gohan toughening up (Z's dub has Gohan call out to Piccolo for help, which wrecks whatever merit that scene may have).

[theoriginalbilis]

I tried to contextualize the scene when I first saw it in Japanese, but that was the weasel's last fart...

[UltimateHammerBro]

If the scene did for me what MagicBox suggested, I'd probably really love it.

But it doesn't, because the way it's done, I have no idea why Gohan suddenly does it. He struggles to get up, lets out some tears, stares up determinedly...and shouts out Shiritori words. It's so baffling that I can't focus on anything else. I'd get it if it was supposed to be a joke, but they play it completely straight...

And think it shows that Gohan is so spoiled that he wants to insult Piccolo, but he just doesn't know how, so he tries to piss him off the best he can.

[TheUltimateVegito]

I literally just watched the episode (in Japanese) with the scene today and was extremely baffled by it.

Thanks for clearing it up.

[FortuneSSJ]

Oh, I didnt know about that. Thanks for the explanation

Oh yes, It's in the portuguese dub as well.
"You're mean!, villian!, ugly!, camel!, penguin!, donkey's head!, bear!, orangutans!, rhino!, fool!, It's what you are Piccolo, IT'S YOU!"

haha thats our dub!!

[Valerius Dover]

This sounds odd. I haven't seen it in Japanese, and while I was aware that the dialog differs from time to time, I never expected something like this. I don't know why, but this game strikes me as familiar. I swear I've played something kind of like this. Yes, in Fairfax County, Virginia.

So, did you say this scene is in Kai (haven't seen that yet either)? And if so, how does the dub of Kai handle it (being supposedly accurate and everything).

[ricecake]

I don't know why, but this game strikes me as familiar. I swear I've played something kind of like this. Yes, in Fairfax County, Virginia.

Sounds like Word chain or the Name Game. Something like it was used in the movie Go. We play it in the car sometimes when we go on road trips.

[ABED]

This sounds odd. I haven't seen it in Japanese, and while I was aware that the dialog differs from time to time, I never expected something like this. I don't know why, but this game strikes me as familiar. I swear I've played something kind of like this. Yes, in Fairfax County, Virginia.

So, did you say this scene is in Kai (haven't seen that yet either)? And if so, how does the dub of Kai handle it (being supposedly accurate and everything).

Hey, I also live in Fairfax County!

I don't think it's in Kai, and Kai is accurate, nothing "supposedly" about it.

[Valerius Dover]

Sounds like Word chain or the Name Game. Something like it was used in the movie Go. We play it in the car sometimes when we go on road trips.

I totally remember playing word chain when I was younger. That's probably the one.

Hey, I also live in Fairfax County!

I don't think it's in Kai, and Kai is accurate, nothing "supposedly" about it.

Whoa, that's cool.
Well, actually I grew up there, but I live in Sweden now. I do still visit there all summer every year though.
Yeah, I knew Kai was pretty accurate, and I wonder what they do in Kai instead of this word game, then? Just curious.

[MagicBox]

I don't think it's in Kai.

So, did you say this scene is in Kai (haven't seen that yet either)? And if so, how does the dub of Kai handle it (being supposedly accurate and everything).

As mentioned in the first post, the scene is actually retained in episode 007 of Kai, despite being filler.

In FUNi's Kai dub, Gohan gives a speech to Piccolo about how he's not going to give up training, no matter what.