Kami (Dragon Ball)
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| Kami | |
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| Japanese | 神 |
| Romaji | Kami |
| Anime Name | Kami |
| Manga Name | Kami-Sama |
| Alternate Name(s) | Kami-Sama Kami-San God Piccolo (good half) |
| First Appearance | Issue #135 |
| Appears in |   |
| Race | Namek |
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| DB Character Listing - Category | |
Kami (Japanese for "God") is the name given to the individual fictional protectors of planets in the Dragon Ball universe although they are more like overseers. In the mythology of the series, the Kamis have an indirect reporting relationship to one of the Kaiôs. (In the case of the Kami of Earth, this is to North Kaiô, however there are three other low-level Kaiôs in our galaxy.) They have many of the powers associated with gods including the ability to see and sense events around the world, to travel to and guide souls to the afterlife, and to be a general protector of the people. They also are long-lived, though not immortal. Unlike more traditional gods, the role of Kami is an office which can be vacated and subsequently refilled by a mortal.
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[edit] Kami on Earth
Throughout most of the series, the character known as 'Kami' on earth is a wise Namekian who no longer even remembers his real name, knowing only his father's: Katatsu. He became Kami after separating the evil out of himself, forming the self-proclaimed "Demon King Piccolo". He watches over the Earth from a sanctuary lookout high above Karin-to (Karin Tower). When he wants to come down to the people, he appears to do so by temporarily taking control of someone's body. Because he is a Namekian, he also has the ability to create dragon balls, but this is not a skill that most Kamis have. Unusally he and Piccolo knows the namekian language even when his memories were lost.
After Kami re-fuses with Piccolo in the Cell Saga, the post of Kami on Earth is left vacant for some time. Son Goku goes to New Namek and brings back Dende to serve as the planet's new Kami. This demonstrates the amount of influence Goku has by that latter point in the series -- that he is able to pick and install, without question, a new God in the heavenly bureaucracy.
Despite being essentially a God, the person who acts as Kami is not necessarily supremely powerful. By the start of Dragon Ball Z, virtually all of the main Z Fighters and their enemies are more powerful than Kami and his role becomes more of a support one.
On Earth, the office of Kami is watched over by Mr. Popo, an immortal djinn.
[edit] Kami on Namek
There is no Kami-sama on the Planet Namek for that is a term from Earth. Many fans believe (with evidence both for and to the contrary) that the "God" of Namek is the Great Elder (Guru). Like Kami of Earth, he watches over his people and created the dragon balls for them.
The original Great Elder of Namek is never named. However, after his death in the Freeza Saga, the Namek elder Moori is given the position and control of the dragon balls. (In fact, as soon as he is given the position, the dragon balls recharge immediately instead of waiting one Namekian year.)
[edit] Kami on Planet Vegeta
The following applies only to the Dragon Ball Z anime and was not part of the original manga.
In the anime series, shortly after Goku arrived for training by the North Kaiô, it is revealed by North Kaiô (someone in a position of authority to know) that Planet Vegeta (homeworld of the Saiyans) was destroyed by its own version of Kami. According to North Kaiô, Planet Vegeta's Kami destroyed the planet via a meteor storm after realizing how evil the Saiyan race was.
Shortly afterwards, it is revealed that Freeza was to blame for Planet Vegeta's destruction. As it would be too great a stretch to believe that Freeza was Vegeta's Kami, some fans have attempted to justify this massive continuity error by suggesting that North Kaiô was outright lying to Goku in an attempt to keep him safe from Freeza. Facts confirming this come later in the anime series, when North Kaiô reveals that he knows about the existence of Freeza and begs Goku not to fight him because of his immense power. One must remember as well that a "God" or Kami-sama of a planet doesn't have to be Namekian.
[edit] Special Abilities
Bushitsu Shyutsu Gen Majyutsu
- A magical ability used to create objects from seemingly thin air. Kami used this to restore Son Goku's clothes that were wrecked by Piccolo in the 23rd Tenkaichi Budōkai.
- Kai Kai
- Unlike the Shunkan Idô, Kami-sama can instantly appear at Enma-sama's front desk in the afterlife without requiring the use of an energy signature to home in on. Kami is unseen when he first uses this technique to teleport himself and Son Goku to Enma Daiō to explain the situation of the Saiyans' arrival to Earth. He is actually seen using it this time to quickly retrieve Goku from the afterlife after he sensed that Goku had returned from his training from King Kai safely and was approaching the front desk.
- Mafuba
- Kami used this move to seal Majunior, in the 23rd Tenkaichi Budōkai. However, Majunir reflected the move and Kami was sealed in one jar. Majunior take the jar and eat it.
Kousengan ("Beam Eye")
- A thin laser-like beam is shot from both eyes. Kami used this against Garlic Jr. in an attempt to stop him from taking over the lookout. (Anime Only)
