Goku: the national hero?

KnightSword7 · Post by **KnightSword7** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 3:07 am

Don't get me wrong, I'm well aware that Goku and DB are very popular in Japan, but has he really reached a "folk hero" like status? I have heard and read that Goku is a true Japanese icon, that he's more famous (in Japan) than Mickey mouse. Is this really true even 10 yrs. after the series' conclusion?

Super Sonic · Post by **Super Sonic** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 3:28 am

I don't know about Goku, but as for biggest hero, I thought that title belonged to Astro Boy or Ultraman.

Maphisto86 · Post by **Maphisto86** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 3:43 am

Or Gojira.... then again the big lizard is more of a "anti-hero" or outright villian.

I know! Guyver! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guyver

Mr.Piccolo · Post by **Mr.Piccolo** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 10:27 am

From what I've heard, Astro Boy would be the closest thing to a "folk hero" in Japan. I've been told that Goku (and DragonBall in general) is commonly known in Japan but isn't in the "top tier" for japanese pop culture today.
EDIT Is it true that Ultraman has the most spinoffs ever or am I confusing this with another series?

BlueSky · Post by **Kaboom** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 10:47 am

KnightSword7 wrote:Don't get me wrong, I'm well aware that Goku and DB are very popular in Japan, but has he really reached a "folk hero" like status? I have heard and read that Goku is a true Japanese icon, that he's more famous (in Japan) than Mickey mouse. Is this really true even 10 yrs. after the series' conclusion?

I'd say... yes?

Believe me, folks "over there" love their long-time anime characters. To the point where there's a statue of Kochikame's lead character (I forget his name... ) in front of the police station his story's based at, to there being a working replica of the Merry Go in Tokyo harbor...

Sun_Wukong · Post by **Sun_Wukong** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 5:43 pm

I always pictured Goku on Spiderman's level here. Not quite as iconic as Superman, but not quite Aquaman's level of suck

Mystic Jack · Post by **Mystic Jack** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 5:50 pm

I agree wholeheartedly with the idea of Goku and co. being a hero, look at what they've done for you.

Mr.Piccolo · Post by **Mr.Piccolo** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 6:19 pm

Sun_Wukong wrote:I always pictured Goku on Spiderman's level here. Not quite as iconic as Superman, but not quite Aquaman's level of suck

Well, wouldn't Goku be Superman's equal anyway. I mean, with all of those debates over Superman and Goku, I would assume that they are on the same level. And yes, Sun Wukong, Aquaman sucks.

BlueSky · Post by **Kaboom** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 10:09 pm

Mr.Piccolo wrote:
Sun_Wukong wrote:I always pictured Goku on Spiderman's level here. Not quite as iconic as Superman, but not quite Aquaman's level of suck
Well, wouldn't Goku be Superman's equal anyway. I mean, with all of those debates over Superman and Goku, I would assume that they are on the same level. And yes, Sun Wukong, Aquaman sucks.

Nah. Goku would pwnzor Superman at SSj1 or higher. Even a lot of Superman fanboys agree with that (and yes, I've done a bit of reasearch on that). But that's another (future thread) topic altogether.

_Jrinu_ · Post by **_Jrinu_** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 10:35 pm

SSj Kaboom wrote:
Mr.Piccolo wrote:
Sun_Wukong wrote:I always pictured Goku on Spiderman's level here. Not quite as iconic as Superman, but not quite Aquaman's level of suck
Well, wouldn't Goku be Superman's equal anyway. I mean, with all of those debates over Superman and Goku, I would assume that they are on the same level. And yes, Sun Wukong, Aquaman sucks.
Nah. Goku would pwnzor Superman at SSj1 or higher. Even a lot of Superman fanboys agree with that (and yes, I've done a bit of reasearch on that). But that's another (future thread) topic altogether.

Do not let this turn into a Superman vs. Goku debate. We are not one of "those" forums.

And why are people so down on Aquaman, he's pretty cool.

Mr.Piccolo · Post by **Mr.Piccolo** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 10:56 pm

_Jrinu_ wrote:
SSj Kaboom wrote:
Mr.Piccolo wrote: Well, wouldn't Goku be Superman's equal anyway. I mean, with all of those debates over Superman and Goku, I would assume that they are on the same level. And yes, Sun Wukong, Aquaman sucks.
Nah. Goku would pwnzor Superman at SSj1 or higher. Even a lot of Superman fanboys agree with that (and yes, I've done a bit of reasearch on that). But that's another (future thread) topic altogether.
Do not let this turn into a Superman vs. Goku debate. We are not one of "those" forums.

And why are people so down on Aquaman, he's pretty cool.

Sorry to say, but I did a survey and a paper and the conclusion was that Aquaman indeed sucks. For the record, the survey and paper wasn't even for school but for personal gain and closure. Someone mentioned in another thread (sorry I can't remember your name) that for the most part, DragonBall is common knowledge in Japan. If that is the case, I suppose he could be seen as a folk hero. Is it possible to see Goku in Pepsi-like ads in Japan to this day?

Note I don't do research on comic book heroes. But its true what was said about Aquaman.

Post by **desirecampbell** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 10:57 pm

SSj Kaboom wrote:
Mr.Piccolo wrote:
Sun_Wukong wrote:I always pictured Goku on Spiderman's level here. Not quite as iconic as Superman, but not quite Aquaman's level of suck
Well, wouldn't Goku be Superman's equal anyway. I mean, with all of those debates over Superman and Goku, I would assume that they are on the same level. And yes, Sun Wukong, Aquaman sucks.
Nah. Goku would pwnzor Superman at SSj1 or higher. Even a lot of Superman fanboys agree with that (and yes, I've done a bit of reasearch on that). But that's another (future thread) topic altogether.

Nooooooooooooooooooooo! Not this again! No. No, no, no. Superman (the current incarnation and pre-Crisis Superman) has absolutly no limitations and does not get hurt - at all. Goku can't beat him because noone can. I've tried, oh how I've tried, to figure out some way for Goku to beat Superman, but he can't.

So, that's it right? We can drop the subject, right?

DaemonCorps · Post by **DaemonCorps** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 11:09 pm

Completely ignoring the OT subjects here, I think Goku is as much of an icon in Japan as Mickey Mouse, since the series has been around for a good amount of time. And let's not forget the ads EX has mentioned with DBZ characters advertising children's eye drops and the super power chair. Also, remember the people's reactions to Goku when he appeared on that Japanese game show in hot new animation form? I'd say that's Japanese icon status.

And just for another US to JP comparison, there's a Dennis the Menace statue in a park around my area that was actually stolen. Don't ask me how or why. And then there's the whole mass marketing icons that are Snoopy and Garfield (they're cool and all, but I think it gets kinda out of hand after a while).

Blitzen · Post by **Blitzen** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 1:36 am

I would imagine Mickey Mouse being a much more popular icon over there, considering they also have Disney Land and that Walt Disney has several more decades than Dragonball does. Goku is a popular thing, but think of it like I dunno, Optimus Prime, or Xmen or what have you (of course, in regards to say, major hollywood or just live action films, aswell as demographics, it's going to be different. Japan has a fairly different scene in regards to these things than America does so a direct comparison isn't always accurate or possible).

Super Sonic · Post by **Super Sonic** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 2:20 am

That's why I said Ultraman or Astroboy.

Anonymous Friend · Post by **Anonymous Friend** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 2:49 am

I thought I heard that the character Totoro was one of the biggest icons in Japan?

kvon · Post by **kvon** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 9:12 am

Anonymous Friend wrote:I thought I heard that the character Totoro was one of the biggest icons in Japan?

Yeah, little kids love Totoro over there! And don't forget about Doraemon! That's a biggie!

Pedro The Hutt · Post by **Pedro The Hutt** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 11:45 am

The biggest japanese icon is Gojira, counting in at 50 meters tall. >.>;; (Or in one particular incarnation a hundred)

Sun_Wukong · Post by **Sun_Wukong** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 1:12 pm

SSj Kaboom wrote:
Nah. Goku would pwnzor Superman at SSj1 or higher. Even a lot of Superman fanboys agree with that (and yes, I've done a bit of reasearch on that). But that's another (future thread) topic altogether.

Dont start this please...

Superman and Goku are in two different universes, they're strength cant be measured equally. We dont know how strong an SSJ is compared to a Kryptonian. The argument cant work.

Maphisto86 · Post by **Maphisto86** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 1:45 pm

Pedro The Hutt wrote:The biggest japanese icon is Gojira, counting in at 50 meters tall. >.>;; (Or in one particular incarnation a hundred)

HAHA! "I CALLED IT!" WOOOOOHOOO!

Anyway I would believe such alumini of Japanese pop culture such as Gojira and Astroboy are tied for the win. Then again I don't live in Japan so don't quote me on this...

P.S. Not to be OT but I thought Gojira was taller than 50 meters? MUCH taller.

Kanzenshuu

Goku: the national hero?

Goku: the national hero?

Re: Goku: the national hero?

Who is online