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Paikuhan is first introduced in [[Dragon Ball Z Episode 195|episode 195]] of the ''Dragon Ball Z'' television series, as scripted by [[Aya Matsui]], which debuted '''28 July 1993''' on [[Fuji TV]]. Paikuhan went on to appear in a supporting role in 1995's [[Dragon Ball Z Movie 12|twelfth ''Dragon Ball Z'' film]], and following the nostalgia boom in the aughts with various video game releases, began making regular appearances as a playable character, particularly in fighting games.
Paikuhan is first introduced in [[Dragon Ball Z Episode 195|episode 195]] of the ''Dragon Ball Z'' television series, as scripted by [[Aya Matsui]], which debuted '''28 July 1993''' on [[Fuji TV]]. Paikuhan went on to appear in a supporting role in 1995's [[Dragon Ball Z Movie 12|twelfth ''Dragon Ball Z'' film]], and following the nostalgia boom in the aughts with various video game releases, began making regular appearances as a playable character, particularly in fighting games.


==Biography==
=Biography=
TBD
TBD


==Name==
=Name=
Characters from the [[Afterlife Tournament]] have names that are largely sourced from east/southeast Asian food, or are an on-the-nose description of their appearance.
Characters from the [[Afterlife Tournament]] have names that are largely sourced from east/southeast Asian food, or are an on-the-nose description of their appearance.


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"Pikehan" as a spelling was regularly used in English fansubs, while FUNimation themselves adopted a name change of "Pikkon" for the character.
"Pikehan" as a spelling was regularly used in English fansubs, while FUNimation themselves adopted a name change of "Pikkon" for the character.


==Production==
=Production=
Character designs, rough sketches, Toriyama notes
Due to the production schedule inherent in producing a weekly anime series based on a weekly comic, the writers of ''[[Dragon Ball Z]]'' interjected anime-only material both as a means of extending the runtime and to flesh out the ''Dragon Ball'' universe. Paikuhan and the entire [[Afterlife Tournament]] arc was written to depict [[Son Goku]]'s experience in the afterlife prior to the time-skip and the arrival of [[Boo]].
 
In April 2023, collector and fan '''hagero''' shared photographs of a variety of character design sheets on Reddit<ref name="hageroredditpost">{{Cite web|URL=https://www.reddit.com/r/AnimationCels/comments/12do30c/dbz_sketches_and_animation_guides/|Website=Reddit|Title="DBZ Sketches and Animation Guides "|Date=06 April 2023|AccessDate=14 April 2026}}</ref>, all purported to come directly from [[Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru]], obtained as part of a visit to Toei in the late 1990s. As part of this batch, two designs are labeled with Paikuhan's name and "rough" (ラフ ''rafu'' as in "rough draft"). In particular, the first design of a man with a vest and necklace has パイクーハン (1) ラフ scratched out entirely and replaced with what appears to say "unknown martial artist" (無名の武闘家 ''mumei no budōka''); this design was actually used in ''Dragon Ball Z'' episode 195 in a brief cutaway scene shortly after [[Son Goku]] arrives with [[North Kaiō]] to [[Dai Kaiō]]'s planet. The second design of a more traditional-looking human man with glasses and a ponytail still has パイクーハン (2) ラフ listed with text (not crossed out as with the first).
 
<gallery widths="150px">
File:Hagero-character-designs-3.png|thumb|150px|Full first photograph of purported character design sheets from '''hagero'''<ref name="hageroredditpost"></ref>
File:Hagero-paikuhan-design-1-crop.png|thumb|150px|Cropped "Paikuhan (1) Rough"<ref name="hageroredditpost"></ref>
File:Hagero-paikuhan-design-2-crop.png|thumb|150px|Cropped "Paikuhan (2) Rough"<ref name="hageroredditpost"></ref>
File:Paikuhan-purported-early-design-anime-dbz-195.png|thumb|150px|Character from ''Dragon Ball Z'' episode 195<ref>{{Cite episode|Series=Z|Eps=195}}</ref>
</gallery>
 
Alongside his finalized character design, the 2003 guide book ''[[TV Animation Guide: Dragon Ball Z Son Goku Densetsu]]'' notes that Paikuhan was developed as a "Piccolo-type character"<ref>{{Cite guidebook|Title="Akira Toriyama Anime Design Collection"|Book=18|Page=p. 136}}</ref>:
 
{{quotation|He's a Piccolo-type character, and even in the anime's production materials, there are memos left that say "use Piccolo as a reference for the facial expressions."|}}
 
The 1995 guide book — one focused on the twelfth ''Dragon Ball Z'' film in which Paikuhan appears as a supporting character — showcases various facial expressions<ref>{{Cite guidebook|Title="Gathering of Z Characters!"|Book=4|Page=p. 64}}</ref>


=Notable Skills=
=Notable Skills=
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=Notable Appearances=
=Notable Appearances=
* [[Dragon Ball Z Episode 196]] to [[Dragon Ball Z Episode 199]] (1993): Paikuhan appears throughout the entirety of the [[Afterlife Tournament]]
The following is a chronological, non-comprehensive list of some of Paikuhan's most notable appearances throughout the franchise, including those in various television series, films, video games, and more.
* [[Dragon Ball Z Movie 12]] (1995): Paikuhan returns as a side character during this film, the events for which partially take place in the afterlife
 
* [[Dragon Ball Z: Buu's Fury]] (2004): Paikuhan is a rare notable case of appearing in this western-produced video game for the Nintendo Game Boy Advance ahead of any major appearances in a Japanese-developed game, albeit as an opponent rather than as a selectable character.
* '''[[Dragon Ball Z Episode 196]] to [[Dragon Ball Z Episode 199]] (1993)''': Paikuhan appears throughout the entirety of the [[Afterlife Tournament]].
* [[Dragon Ball Z: Shin Budokai]] (2006): Paikuhan makes his debut as a playable character in this fighting game for the Sony PlayStation Portable
* '''[[Dragon Ball Z Movie 12]] (1995)''': Paikuhan returns as a supporting character during this film, the events for which partially take place in the afterlife.
* [[Super Dragon Ball Heroes Promotional Anime]] (TBD): TBD
* '''[[Dragon Ball Z Episode 278]] to [[Dragon Ball Z Episode 279]] (1995)''': Paikuhan makes a brief appearance in filler material dealing with [[Majin Boo]] as he teleports around the universe in search of [[Son Goku]] and [[Vegeta]].
* [[Dragon Ball XENOVERSE 2]] (TBD): TBD
* '''[[Dragon Ball Z: Buu's Fury]] (2004)''': Paikuhan is a rare notable case of a character appearing in this western-produced video game for the Nintendo Game Boy Advance ahead of any major appearances in a Japanese-developed game, albeit as an opponent rather than as a selectable character.
* '''[[Dragon Ball Z: Shin Budokai]] (2006)''': Paikuhan makes his debut as a playable character in this fighting game for the Sony PlayStation Portable.
* '''[[Super Dragon Ball Heroes Promotional Anime]] (TBD)''': TBD
* '''[[Dragon Ball XENOVERSE 2]] (TBD)''': TBD


=External Links=
=External Links=

Revision as of 16:25, 14 April 2026

Paikuhan
パイクーハン (Paikūhan)
Paikuhan
English Name(s) Pikkon
Name Pun Pork ribs + rice
Anime Debut Dragon Ball Z Episode 195
Japanese VA Hikaru Midorikawa
Canadian VA Brian Drummond[1]
Funimation VA Kyle Hebert
Personal Data
Classification Alien
Occupation Martial Artist
v · d · e


Paikuhan is a fictional character in the Dragon Ball universe, introduced as one of the many fighters in the Afterlife Tournament that Son Goku encounters in Age 767, hailing from the West Galaxy.

Paikuhan is first introduced in episode 195 of the Dragon Ball Z television series, as scripted by Aya Matsui, which debuted 28 July 1993 on Fuji TV. Paikuhan went on to appear in a supporting role in 1995's twelfth Dragon Ball Z film, and following the nostalgia boom in the aughts with various video game releases, began making regular appearances as a playable character, particularly in fighting games.

Biography

TBD

Name

Characters from the Afterlife Tournament have names that are largely sourced from east/southeast Asian food, or are an on-the-nose description of their appearance.

Paikuhan's name is written in katakana as パイクーハン (Paikūhan), a name spelling that is adjusted from 排骨 (paikū) meaning "pork ribs" and 飯 (han) meaning "rice"; in other words, his name is effectively an adaptation of "pork ribs with a side of rice."

"Pikehan" as a spelling was regularly used in English fansubs, while FUNimation themselves adopted a name change of "Pikkon" for the character.

Production

Due to the production schedule inherent in producing a weekly anime series based on a weekly comic, the writers of Dragon Ball Z interjected anime-only material both as a means of extending the runtime and to flesh out the Dragon Ball universe. Paikuhan and the entire Afterlife Tournament arc was written to depict Son Goku's experience in the afterlife prior to the time-skip and the arrival of Boo.

In April 2023, collector and fan hagero shared photographs of a variety of character design sheets on Reddit[2], all purported to come directly from Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru, obtained as part of a visit to Toei in the late 1990s. As part of this batch, two designs are labeled with Paikuhan's name and "rough" (ラフ rafu as in "rough draft"). In particular, the first design of a man with a vest and necklace has パイクーハン (1) ラフ scratched out entirely and replaced with what appears to say "unknown martial artist" (無名の武闘家 mumei no budōka); this design was actually used in Dragon Ball Z episode 195 in a brief cutaway scene shortly after Son Goku arrives with North Kaiō to Dai Kaiō's planet. The second design of a more traditional-looking human man with glasses and a ponytail still has パイクーハン (2) ラフ listed with text (not crossed out as with the first).

  • Full first photograph of purported character design sheets from hagero[2]
    Full first photograph of purported character design sheets from hagero[2]
  • Cropped "Paikuhan (1) Rough"[2]
    Cropped "Paikuhan (1) Rough"[2]
  • Cropped "Paikuhan (2) Rough"[2]
    Cropped "Paikuhan (2) Rough"[2]
  • Character from Dragon Ball Z episode 195[3]
    Character from Dragon Ball Z episode 195[3]

Alongside his finalized character design, the 2003 guide book TV Animation Guide: Dragon Ball Z Son Goku Densetsu notes that Paikuhan was developed as a "Piccolo-type character"[4]:

He's a Piccolo-type character, and even in the anime's production materials, there are memos left that say "use Piccolo as a reference for the facial expressions."


The 1995 guide book — one focused on the twelfth Dragon Ball Z film in which Paikuhan appears as a supporting character — showcases various facial expressions[5]

Notable Skills

Hyper Tornado

TBD

Thunder Flash

TBD

Performance

Japanese

Paikuhan is played in all appearances by Hikaru Midorikawa, a veteran voice actor who previously played Artificial Human No. 16. Midorikawa took over several of Hirotaka Suzuoki's roles after his passing, starting in 2009 for the Dragon Ball franchise as Tenshinhan in the "refreshed" Dragon Ball Kai television series, and onward into Tenshinhan's video game performances and other cameo appearances.

English

TBD

Notable Appearances

The following is a chronological, non-comprehensive list of some of Paikuhan's most notable appearances throughout the franchise, including those in various television series, films, video games, and more.

External Links

Notes

References

  1. ↑ [citation needed]
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "DBZ Sketches and Animation Guides " (06 April 2023). Reddit. Retrieved: 14 April 2026.
  3. ↑ "A Great Inspiration!! I'm Ready! The Awesome Guy from the Afterlife". Dragon Ball Z. Episode 195. Japan: Fuji TV, 28 July 1993.
  4. ↑ "Akira Toriyama Anime Design Collection". TV Anime Guide: Dragon Ball Z Son Goku Densetsu. Japan: Shueisha, 03 October 2003. ISBN 4-08-873546-3. (p. 136)
  5. ↑ "Gathering of Z Characters!". Jump Anime Library 1: Dragon Ball Z Movie 12. Japan: Shueisha, 03 June 1995. (p. 64)


v · d · e
Goku's Family
Goku's Friends
Bulma · Turtle Hermit · Oolong · Yamcha · Pu'er · Kuririn · Lunch · Tenshinhan · Chiaotzu · Yajirobe · Piccolo · North Kaiō · Vegeta · Future Trunks · Trunks · Bra · No. 18 · No. 17 · Shin · Kibito · Beerus · Whis · Broli
Goku's Enemies
Fusions
Divine Figures
Other(s)
Dragon Ball Super
Dragon Ball Daima
Dr. Slump
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