Grandpa Gohan

AnimeManga

Background

Grandpa Son Gohan (normally called "Grandpa Gohan") is a martial artist and Master Roshi's top pupil. He is the adoptive grandfather of Son Goku.

Grandpa Gohan was accidentally killed by a rampaging Great Ape Goku prior to the start of the Dragon Ball series. His first full appearance is as "The Mysterious Fifth Man," one of Fortuneteller Baba's fighters, where he temporarily reunites with Goku. In anime-exclusive filler, he is depicted as Annin's attendant and the bodyguard of the Furnace of Eight Divisions.

Grandpa Gohan gave Son Goku his Earth name and served as a mentor and parental figure, shaping Goku's kindhearted and heroic nature. His legacy continues through Goku's family, as Goku's son, Gohan, is named in his honor.

ExpandThis dropdown contains the synopsis of Grandpa Gohan’s story. Read at your own risk as you may be spoiled otherwise!

Early History Grandpa Gohan was a martial artist who trained under Master Roshi alongside Ox-King during his youth. He was close friends with Ox-King, and according to Master Roshi, both delivered milk as part of their training, similar to what Goku and Krillin later did under Roshi's tutelage. Grandpa Gohan was regarded as the better pupil, having mastered the Kamehameha, Master Roshi's signature technique. During a sparring session, he even forced Roshi to use the Turtle Style Last Resort. Grandpa Gohan also wielded the Power Pole, a gift from his master. In his later years, Grandpa Gohan lived alone on Mount Paozu, where his old house remained near Goku's in Dragon Ball Z. He became Goku's adoptive grandfather after finding him as a baby near the landing site of his space pod. When Goku first arrived on Earth, his mission as a Saiyan was to destroy the human race and prepare the planet for sale. Initially, Goku was aggressive and uncooperative. In Dragon Ball Z: Bardock - The Father of Goku, Goku is shown laughing when Grandpa Gohan finds him in the wilderness. After falling into a ravine, Goku hit his head, which caused him to lose his memory and become a cheerful, loving boy. Grandpa Gohan passed on his martial arts knowledge to Goku and warned him never to look at a full moon, implying he had already witnessed Goku's transformation into a Great Ape once and managed to survive. Despite following this advice for a time, Goku eventually looked at a full moon one night, transforming into a Great Ape. He rampaged uncontrollably, killing Grandpa Gohan in the process. Because Goku retained no memory of his actions in this form, he believed his grandfather had been killed by a monster and associated his soul with the Four-Star Dragon Ball. In Dragon Ball Z, during Goku's battle against Vegeta as the latter transformed into a Great Ape, Goku realized that he had accidentally killed Grandpa Gohan as a child and expressed his deep regret, apologizing to his grandfather. Jaco the Galactic Patrolman In Mount Paozu, Grandpa Gohan discovers an alien and takes him to his home. Gohan feeds the alien and questions him about his origins. Since the alien does not know his own name, Gohan names him Son Goku, as he came from the sky. Unlike the anime's depiction of these events, in Dragon Ball Minus, Goku is shown to be three years old and wearing Saiyan Battle Armor when he is found, having been sent to Earth by his biological parents, Bardock and Gine. Though Goku appears to be relatively well-behaved in Dragon Ball Minus, it is implied that Grandpa Gohan was able to placate the young Saiyan with food. Gohan's remarks before naming him suggest that they fought one another off-screen, which aligns with Master Roshi's statements about Goku's wild behavior before his head injury. Gohan also notes Goku's lack of manners, as the young Saiyan stands on the table to eat instead of sitting. Fortuneteller Baba Saga In the Fortuneteller Baba Saga, Goku, Yamcha, Puar, Upa, and Krillin face off against five fighters chosen by Fortuneteller Baba to uncover the location of the final Dragon Ball. Goku is the last to fight, and Baba selects a "special" opponent for the final match. This mysterious warrior, wearing a fox mask, is later revealed to be Goku's deceased grandfather, Grandpa Gohan, though only Master Roshi initially recognizes him. Grandpa Gohan and Goku engage in an even match until Gohan grabs Goku's tail, exploiting the weakness he knew from having raised and trained him. Using this advantage, Gohan slams Goku to the ground repeatedly, leaving him defenseless. The others watch in confusion as Gohan relentlessly attacks. After accidentally tearing off Goku's tail, triggering a furious response from his grandson, Grandpa Gohan concedes the fight. He explains that his intent was to teach Goku the importance of training harder and learning to turn his tail into an asset rather than a liability. It is at this moment that Goku realizes the fighter’s true identity. Removing his mask, Grandpa Gohan reveals himself, and Goku immediately embraces him, resulting in an emotional reunion. Grandpa Gohan and Fortuneteller Baba explain that Baba’s magic allows the dead to return to life for one day. Bulma also takes the opportunity to recount her adventures with Goku and their search for the Dragon Balls. Content with his existence in the Other World, Grandpa Gohan decides to remain deceased. Before disappearing, he expresses gratitude to Master Roshi for training Goku and bids a heartfelt farewell to his grandson. It is also shown that Grandpa Gohan shares Master Roshi's penchant for humor, as he remarks, "I've got a lot of friends, and most of them are brunettes." Piccolo Jr. Saga In anime filler, Grandpa Gohan reappears in the final episodes of Dragon Ball. During this arc, Goku and Chi-Chi embark on a mission to put out a fire consuming Fire Mountain, with Ox-King trapped inside while protecting Chi-Chi's wedding dress. As they progress, Goku and Chi-Chi reach the gateway between the living world and the afterlife. After overcoming various illusions, they enter the cave of the Spirit Furnace, where they encounter Grandpa Gohan, whom Goku mistakenly believes to be the legendary furnace keeper, Annin. It turns out that Grandpa Gohan serves as Annin’s bodyguard and is tasked with guarding the lever that controls the Spirit Furnace. Following a brief confrontation with Annin, Goku is granted access to the furnace’s depths, where he successfully seals a leak. After completing his mission, Goku shares a heartfelt farewell with his grandfather, before continuing with Chi-Chi toward their future together. Raditz Saga Grandpa Gohan appears in several flashbacks throughout the Dragon Ball Z series. In one of the earliest flashbacks, Master Roshi recounts the story of how Grandpa Gohan discovered Goku. This flashback hints that Goku's first transformation into a Great Ape occurred soon after he arrived on Earth, when Grandpa Gohan first saw him. This explains the scene in Bardock - The Father of Goku, where Grandpa Gohan is seen picking up Goku amidst flattened trees during the day, contrasting with the initial sighting of Goku's pod at night. It also clarifies why Grandpa Gohan was aware of Goku's Great Ape transformation in the original Dragon Ball series. Vegeta Saga Another flashback shows Goku remembering a time before the events of Dragon Ball, when Grandpa Gohan warned him never to go outside on nights with a full moon. This moment is triggered when Goku witnesses Vegeta transforming into a Great Ape. It’s during this encounter that Goku comes to the realization that he was responsible for Grandpa Gohan's death during his own transformation. Overcome with guilt, Goku apologizes and vows to defeat Vegeta in honor of his grandfather. Peaceful World Saga Goku recalls with fondness the moment Grandpa Gohan discovered him, a scene originally presented in the Bardock special and later enhanced with sepia-toned animation. This is followed by a brief montage of Grandpa Gohan's training, which shaped Goku into a resilient boy, "hardened like steel." Universal Survival Saga While recruiting Android 17 for Team Universe 7, Goku mentions his grandfather, Grandpa Gohan, explaining that his heroic actions are a result of the teachings and influence his grandfather had on him. Granolah the Survivor Saga Grandpa Gohan is referenced by Goku during a conversation with Vegeta, Monaito, and Granolah.

Appearance

• Looks: Grandpa Gohan is a short, stocky old man with a notably aged appearance. His small, dark eyes are framed by bushy white eyebrows and mustache, and his bald head further emphasizes his elderly features.

• Regular Clothes: He dons a traditional Chinese martial arts uniform, consisting of a sleeveless orange jacket over a long-sleeved black shirt. His outfit is topped off with a green hat, completing his martial arts attire.

• Special Clothes: Grandpa Gohan doesn't wear any distinct special clothing apart from his martial arts uniform.

Personality

• Kind and Loving: Grandpa Gohan is a compassionate and caring individual, demonstrating a deep love for Goku. He adopted Goku when he found him abandoned in the woods, raising him with patience and kindness despite Goku's troublesome behavior before his head injury. Grandpa Gohan’s nurturing nature played a pivotal role in shaping Goku’s character and morality.

• Forgiving and Understanding: Even after Goku was indirectly responsible for his death, Grandpa Gohan showed no signs of resentment. Their reunion in the afterlife revealed his happiness at being reunited with Goku, showcasing his forgiving nature and absence of bitterness.

• Respectful and Well-Mannered: According to Goku, Grandpa Gohan was a gentleman with excellent manners, particularly in his respectful treatment of ladies. While his exact relationships are unclear, Grandpa Gohan's charm and civility may have made him well-liked by those around him.

• Playful and Sociable: Grandpa Gohan had a lighthearted side, as seen in his comment during the Fortuneteller Baba Saga about having many friends, most of whom were brunettes. This suggests he may have had a playful or flirtatious personality, possibly sharing a sense of humor similar to that of characters like Master Roshi.

General Information

Name: Son Gohan

Nicknames: Grandpa Gohan

Origin: Dragon Ball

First Appearance: Dragon Ball Emperor Pilaf Saga (Mentioned), Dragon Ball Fortuneteller Baba Saga (Physical appearance)

Company: Shueisha, Toei

Creator: Akira Toriyama

Actor

• Japanese Voice Actor: Osamu Saka (Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball: Advanced Adventure, Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2, Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3, Dragon Ball: Origins, Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Piccolo & Dragon Ball: Origins 2), Kinpei Azusa (Dragon Ball Z: Bardock - The Father of Goku), Shigeru Chiba (Dragon Ball Kai, Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Tenkaichi, & Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot),
• English Voice Actor: Christopher Sabat

Sex: Male

Sexuality: Heterosexual

Pronouns: He/Him

Age: Unknown (The specific time period in which Grandpa Gohan died is unknown)

Birth Year: Age 658

Time Period: Between Age 738-Age 749 (For beginning of Dragon Ball), Age 750 (For Red Ribbon Army Saga)

Timeline: Main Timeline

Homeworld: Earth (When alive), Other World (While deceased)

Residence: Mount Paozu (When alive), Other World (While deceased)

Story Role: Supporting Protagonist

Legacy: Local Legacy (Grandpa is a well-known martial artist by his friend Ox King along with Master Roshi)

Influence: Event Influence (Grandpa Gohan is the one that found and nutured Son Goku, along with teaching him his initial martial arts skills, with him essentially being responsible for Son Goku eventually becoming the savior of the universe)

Language: Common Language

Classification: Son Goku's adopted Grandpa, Martial Artist

Species: Human

State of Being: Regular

Physiology: Humanoid Physiology

In-Universe Creator: Unknown

Occupation: None, Fighter for Baba's team (Temporarily)

Affiliations: Son Goku (His grandson), Master Roshi (His teacher), Ox King (Fellow friend and other student of Master Roshi)

Enemies: Oozaru Goku

Height: 158 cm

Weight: 51 kg

Status: Deceased (Grandpa Gohan deid from Son Goku looking at the full moon and becoming an Oozaru, being trampled on)

Date of Death: Before the beginning of Dragon Ball

Alignment: Neutral Good (Grandpa Gohan was a student of Master Roshi, where the Turtle Hermit Style has one live well, eat well, and uses martial arts to stop evil-doers)

Protection Level: Street Protector

Codex Statistics

Key: Before Fortuneteller Baba Saga | Fortuneteller Baba Saga

Key Information

• Before Fortuneteller Baba Saga: This key covers during the time before his death from Oozaru Goku.
• Fortuneteller Baba Saga: This key covers when he fought against Goku during the Fortuneteller Baba Saga.

Grade: B (Granpda Gohan was Master Roshi's number one student)

Tier: Low 8-C | High 8-C

Cardinality: Finite

Dimensionality: 3-D

Power Source: Ki (All beings in Dragon Ball have ki, the very life force energy of all characters, ki allows a fighter to extend beyond their bodies limits, allowing them to even block attacks that would otherwise kill them from raising their guard, higher level users can lower their own durability to allow people far below them to fatally wound them)

Attack Potency: Small Building level (Potency) (Granpda Gohan was Master Roshi's number one student, which should make him relative to 21st Budokai Saga Son Goku and ultimately won, who defeated General Blue, who survived his plane crashing into a mountain at full speed) | Large Building level (Potency) (Fought and matched Red Ribbon Army Saga Son Goku after his fight with Tao Pai Pai, which was after his training with Korin, where it was noted by Korin his power increased "manyfold", making him at least two times stronger than before {7.44 Tons of TNT})

Durability: Small Building level, Higher with Guard Up (Ki allows a fighter to extend beyond their bodies limits, allowing them to even block attacks that would otherwise kill them from raising their guard) | Large Building level, Higher with Guard Up

Striking Strength: Small Building Class (Potency) | Large Building Class (Potency)

Lifting Strength: Unknown: True Class | Unknown: True Class

Travel Speed: Superhuman (Granpda Gohan was Master Roshi's number one student, where Master Roshi expected his students to be able to easily reach the ability to travel 100 meters in 5.6 seconds) | Superhuman

Attack Speed: Supersonic (Should be superior to beginning of Dragon Ball Son Goku, who appeared faster than a trained bandit could see, traveled 120 km in a short timeframe. Tagged a pterodactyl, which can reach up to 67 miles per hour, 29.95 meters per second), Higher Attack Speed (The kamehameha can reach the moon in a short timeframe) | Supersonic

Reaction Speed: Supersonic | Supersonic (Can fight comparable to Red Ribbon Army Saga Son Goku, who can avoid bullets from close range, on a consistent basis)

Stamina: Superhuman (Went to train under Master Roshi and learn the turtle hermit style, a style training one to break the wall of humanity mastering the art in both body and mind. This style requires one to train in knowledge, work on one's stamina work on their muscles and speed dodge attacks even while tied to a rope in a short range all the while wearing 20-kilo shells. The Turtle Hermit Style are incorporated within this, allowing for students that trained under this style to be capable of fighting against other martial artists without needing to be taught any real fighting along with taking no damage from attacks due to the style training their durability)

Range: Standard Melee, Interstellar with Ki Attacks (Ki attacks can reach out of the planet and to other planets. All ki attacks should be comparable to Goku's Kamehameha, which reached all the way to the sun)

Intelligence: Unknown Intelligence

Knowledge: Master level (Granpda Gohan was Master Roshi's number one student)

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Powers and Techniques

Standard Ki AbilitiesUnique Abilities

Chi Manipulation & Ki Manipulation (All beings in Dragon Ball have ki, the very life force energy of all characters, ki allows a fighter to extend beyond their bodies limits, allowing them to even block attacks that would otherwise kill them from raising their guard, higher level users can lower their own durability to allow people far below them to fatally wound them), Aura (Projection; A users ki aura can exert itself as a weapon to attack. Explosive; Ki users through powering up can form an entire aura around themself, radiating their immense power, where depending on their immense strength, can cause them to explode their aura outwards to remove excess ki from themself. Mood Reflection; Goku and Piccolo Jr. with their auras and their stern concentration on each other reflected in their electric auras, even shooting electricity at each other), Emotional Empowerment (It's noted that ki users can receive energy through one cheering them on. Ki users can be greatly increased by their emotions and beliefs, Son Goku explains that Son Gohan needs to remember the time he fought Cell and bring out all of the power he has, this way he can lose to no one where it's shown during the Cell beam clash that he was holding back greatly out of fear of destroying the earth but from being cheered on and using all of his power within him, he was able to overpower Cell), Attack Reflection (All Ki users are able to reflect attacks just by being stronger than their opponent. Examples include, Nappa deflecting a masenko from Son Gohan, Son Gohan being able to bounce back the spirit bomb, Son Goku deflecting a crusher ball from Jeice, Frieza deflecting a Final Burst Cannon from Vegeta, Son Goku reflecting multiple death beams back to back from Frieza, and Future Trunks being able to completely repel an energy blast with his hand from a Frieza Soldier just by being much stronger than them), Homing Attack (Ki users can create attacks that will home in and chase a target forever), Penetration Damage (Bladed Penetration; Ki users can conjure up a circle of chi that is sharp and can cut through enemies far more powerful then themselves, along with this they can conjure ki as a means to stab through an opponent), Weapon Creation (Ki users can create energy weapons out of their attacks), Power Absorption & Energy Transferal (Ki users can transfer their ki to others and absorb the ki given to them from others), Attack Nullification (Ki Energy Based; Those with ki can nullify attacks of lesser ki with their ki alone. They can also catch and nullify ki attacks around their level through focusing enough), Power Nullification (Ki Energy Based; Through having greater ki, one can nullify the powers done through ki attacks, such as Frieza being able to nullify a hakai ball, which fully destroys a target, though he is unable to resist a hakai ball from Toppo due to him being stronger, this ability however only works on ki, attacks unrelated, characters cannot resist through being stronger, such as how Vegeta, Krillin, & Son Gohan are unable to resist Guldo's psychic powers, along with even the likes of Son Goku), Forcefield Creation (Ki users such as Cell can generate forcefields around themselves. These forcefields can be expanded, and used to protect others and defend against attacks far higher then the user), Super Armor (Through releasing one's ki, they enter a state known as "Hyper Mode", in this state they do not flinch from weak melee attacks), Self-Destruction (Ki users in Dragon Ball are able to release all of the energy within them to cause a massive self-destruction of energy that normally kills the user and turns them into dust though one can control it to surviving but having no stamina or energy left), Binding (Energy Binding; Ki Users can use their ki to bind targets to objects, making them unable to escape even if they're of equal power, however, those stronger than the ki user can easily break out of it), Dreaming Existence (Characters in Shin Budokai have shown to create physical bodies in alternate timelines through dreaming), Non-Standard Interaction (Intangible Interaction; Those with ki can block intangible attacks when they focus and notices them. Space-Time Interaction (3+1-D); Characters can blast space-time distortions to close them), Healing (Healing Singular Targets, Advanced Healing; Ki can be used to heal beings, allowing them to survive even with half their torso, it can also heal from near death), Resurrection (Resurrection of the Deceased (Limited); Ki users can resurrect ones heart from death if their ki beams hit their heart, restarting it. Resurrection from Exhaustion; Can heal downed allies to give them ki back, reviving them), Intimidation & Spirit Manipulation (Ki is the manifestation of one’s lifeforce, along with the aura giving one the feeling of being crushed, exerting fear into the target, sometimes making them incapable of moving as their body is instinctively stuck due to the sheer difference in power), Link Manipulation & Mind Manipulation (Characters can link their ki together and train within each other’s mind enacting in image training), Vibration Manipulation (Seismic Vibration Manipulation; Ki users can transfer their ki into an object and cause it to vibrate and shake greatly. Powerful ki users can cause the very ground itself to shake when they power up), Electricity Manipulation (Powerful Ki users can generate electricity around their aura that can outright electrocute their opponents, Goku and Piccolo Jr. showcased being able to utilize their aura as pure electricity during their clash), Weather Manipulation (Powerful Ki users can generate entire storms through merely powering up alone, Nappa used this in order to conjure the electricity from the storm. Goku showcases this when he first turns super saiyan, causing a massive lightning storm in the background), Energy Manipulation (Ki is the latent power in one's body, this latent power allows them to form and create energy from controlling their ki, which can be used to shoot out energy blast), Explosion Manipulation (Ki attacks can create massive explosions, or control the ki to set off a huge explosion under the enemy, or in front of them), Heat Manipulation (Ki user's ki attacks produce heat allowing them to cook and grill animals and raw meat, along with leaving behind steam after the attacks hit an area, showing its latent heat. Ki users electricity aura can burn objects that touch it), Light Manipulation (Ki can be used as a flash of light, Degisu seeing ki attacks be fired notes that the characters are "firing light from their hands").

Limited Resistance to Durability Negation (Ki users can focus their energy to localize an object to a specific spot to stop them from attempting to destroy their organs/insides), Resistance to Poison Manipulation (Can resist poisons through Forcefield Creation)

Superhuman Physical Characteristics, Martial Arts (Striking Arts; Went to train under Master Roshi and learn the turtle hermit style, a style training one to break the wall of humanity mastering the art in both body and mind. This style requires one to train in knowledge, work on one's stamina work on their muscles and speed dodge attacks even while tied to a rope in a short range all the while wearing 20-kilo shells. The Turtle Hermit Style are incorporated within this, allowing for students that trained under this style to be capable of fighting against other martial artists without needing to be taught any real fighting along with taking no damage from attacks due to the style training their durability), Energy Projection (Grandpa Gohan is capable of using the kamehameha technique in combat)

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Equipment

Nothing notable.

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Notable Techniques

• Kamehameha: A legendary and iconic energy wave technique in the Dragon Ball series. The user channels their energy into both hands, forming a concentrated blast of whitish-blue energy. The wave is released with great force, capable of devastating opponents and environments alike. Often seen as a symbol of mastery in martial arts, it was first invented by Master Roshi and later perfected by Goku. It is one of the most powerful and well-known attacks in the series, requiring immense focus and energy control to execute effectively.
• Rock, Scissors 'N' Paper: A martial arts technique invented by Grandpa Gohan, based on the concept of rock-paper-scissors.
• Turtle School Tranquility: Grandpa Gohan's Ultimate Blast in Budokai Tenkaichi 2 and 3. He kicks the opponent into the air, flies toward them, and kicks them back down, then performs the Rock, Scissors 'N' Paper technique during their fall.
• Turtle School Four Virtues: A rush attack where Grandpa Gohan kicks the opponent into the air, then jumps behind and punches their feet to make them fall, finishing with a hook kick.
• Thunder Shock Surprise: A powerful attack invented by Master Roshi, which Grandpa Gohan either learned from Roshi or via Mimicry. Grandpa Gohan uses this technique in Dragon Ball: Origins.
• Explosive Wave: A weak burst of energy created for protection, knocking anyone who comes into contact with it away with minor damage. Used in Dragon Ball: Origins.
• Afterimage Technique: Grandpa Gohan moves quickly, leaving an image behind, often to dodge attacks and counter. He uses this technique in Dragon Ball: Origins, while in the Budokai Tenkaichi series, he uses the Afterimage Strike.
• Sleep: A Blast 1 technique used by Grandpa Gohan in the Budokai Tenkaichi series.

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Other

Standard Tactics: Grandpa Gohan utilizes turtle hermit style techniques along with the kamehameha wave.

Weaknesses

• Standard Ki Weaknesses: Due to the nature of ki draining stamina and energy, Dragon Ball characters ki usage requires them to usually use their higher levels of energy in short bursts, using a large amount of ki overtime can greatly weaken them to the point that characters far lower then them can actually harm them with attacks. Taking large amounts of damage can greatly deplete a ki users attacks, making it where attacks that would otherwise kill massively weakened characters, only pushes them back. Ki users that are able to ki sense cannot do it when their guard is dropped, such as when Vegeta was able to sneak attack Son Goku during the end of their fight in the Buu Saga. Despite some ki users being able to reach blasts that can destroy planets through charged attacks or techniques, they have not shown to be able to tank such blasts themself, with attacks that have destroyed several planets in the series always killing the character. Even characters such as Majin Buu's body cannot withstand the energy of a planet exploding.
• Turtle Hermit Style Weaknesses: As the style does not incorporate any real fighting techniques, it has a heavy reliance on durability, stamina, muscles and speed, along with agility, thus anyone with superior statistics then them can easily overpower this style, along with this any character capable of using attacks that bypass defense altogether such as pressure point strikes can easily overcome a turtle hermit style user, even if they use extra forms and techniques to heighten their defenses. Thus anyone with techniques that ignore statistics or are simply higher in statistics than a Turtle Hermit Style user can easily overcome this.

Trivia

• Grandpa Gohan's voice is heard in the BLT dub of "The Secret of the Dragon Balls" saying his last words, and is the only time he is heard due to that dub being canceled long before the episode he debuts in.
• Grandpa Gohan apparently had an appetite similar to Goku's. In "Dress in Flames", Ox-King comments Goku shares his grandfather's fierce appetite, though it would later be revealed that Saiyans have similar appetites. However, it is not uncommon for highly trained Earthling martial artists to demonstrate superhuman appetite for food, as Yamcha and Krillin have occasionally been shown to eat in a manner similar to Goku, usually for humorous effect.
• The mask Grandpa Gohan wears was originally seen worn by Nejishiki in Dr. Slump.
• Goku has grown up thinking that Gohan's spirit rests within the Four-Star Dragon ball. He thinks this because it was his most prized possession before he died.
• Goku's son Son Gohan is named after his Grandpa Gohan only because the baby went without a name for a while, until the name "Gohan" came into conversation, and the baby laughed because he liked the name, so then Chi-Chi, Goku, and Ox-King decided to name him that.
  • In the Japanese version, Gohan's name is chosen after Goku is unable to think up a name and states that he is hungry, and Chi-Chi yells they ate breakfast (asagohan (朝ご飯)) not long ago.
  • Likewise, his name converted into Chinese pinyin can be effectively read as "Grandpa Sun Wufan" (孫悟飯爺爺), with Gohan being a pun on the word gohan (御飯), meaning "cooked rice" or for meals in general, while the Chinese version is also a pun on wǔfàn (午飯), meaning "lunch". Sūn Wùfàn (孫悟飯) in both Chinese and Japanese also translates to "Grandson Awakened to Rice/Perceiving Rice", as per the eventual naming scheme given to Goku based on the original Monkey King.
• In "Vegeta... Saiyan Style!", a mistranslation by Funimation's writers leads Goku to apparently realize that Vegeta killed Grandpa Gohan. This is most likely because Goku realizes Grandpa Gohan was killed by a Great Ape, but the Dragon Ball anime had not yet been dubbed into English, which led Funimation to the incorrect conclusion that Goku was referring specifically to Vegeta and not the generic Great Ape. This is corrected in the uncut redub, which was produced after the English dub of Dragon Ball.
• In Budokai Tenkaichi 3, when Goku fights Grandpa Gohan as a Super Saiyan (any type), Goku says "Grandpa, look I'm a Super Saiyan." then Grandpa Gohan says "Oh, that's very good."
• In Dragon Ball Super, it is revealed by Goku, to Android 17 that the reason he refuses to let innocent people and animals die is because that is what his grandfather taught him, indicating that Goku's main heroic qualities are due to the influence of his Grandpa Gohan, who helped mold Goku into the warrior he ultimately became.
  • However, it should be noted that the Granolah the Survivor Saga implies Goku inherited his gentle-hearted nature from his loving parents, which is somewhat supported by the pre-head injury Kakarot's behavior in Jaco the Galactic Patrolman.
• Although he doesn't appear in Dragon Ball Super, his fight with Goku during the Fortuneteller Baba Saga is referenced in "The Evil Emperor Returns! A Reception from Mysterious Assassins?", as Goku re-enacts their fight at Baba's place while waiting for Frieza to be revived.
• In Dragon Ball: Budokai Tenkaichi 3, when he loses a match, Grandpa Gohan will yell "Help, I've fallen and can't get up!" referring to the catchphrase for Life Alert.

Battle Records

0 - 1 - 0

VictoriesLossesInconclusive

None.

• Grandpa Gohan - Fight
  • Conditions: None.
  • Location: Fortuneteller Baba's Palace

None.