15 Behind-the-Scenes Stories from Dragon Ball! Explaining Settings, Urban Legends, and Production Secrets Even Fans Don't Know

“Dragon Ball” is a beloved national manga that has continued to captivate audiences around the world since its serialization began in 1984.
However, precisely because it is a series with such a long history, there are numerous plot details and behind-the-scenes stories that even many fans are unaware of.

In this article, based on the content of “Things Most People Don’t Know? Behind-the-Scenes Stories About DB!”, we’ve compiled an easy-to-understand summary of Dragon Ball’s surprising details, behind-the-scenes stories, and urban legends discussed among fans.

15 Surprising Behind-the-Scenes Stories and Settings from Dragon Ball

1. The story is set in the “past,” not the “future.”

Although the series features advanced science and technology—such as Hoipoi Capsules and flying cars—which might lead viewers to assume it’s set in the near future, the opening of Episode 1 includes the phrase “Once upon a time,” and the final episode contains the line, “We’ve finally returned to the present.” The story
begins by depicting events that took place in the past, and as the narrative progresses, it moves closer to the present.

2. Senzu beans are an extremely rare commodity—only seven can be harvested each year.

Senzu beans, which come to the rescue whenever the going gets tough, are extremely rare items in the story’s lore—only seven can be harvested in a single year.
Originally cultivated as food for Lady Karin, their value has increased even further due to their frequent use by the Z Warriors.
The fact that there appears to be such a large stockpile in the story suggests that they may have been accumulated over many years.

3. Tianjin Rice has alien ancestry

It was revealed in *Dragon Ball Complete Collection* that Tenshinhan, who has a third eye on his forehead, is a descendant of an alien race known as the “Three-Eyed People.” This backstory also explains why he can increase the number of his arms using the
Four Demon Fist and create clones using the Four-Body Fist.
This is a rare case where additional details were provided in reference materials published after the series ended.

4. Piccolo’s fingers look different in the manga and the anime

In the original manga, Piccolo has four fingers, but in the anime version, this was changed to five fingers (one reason cited is to comply with broadcasting standards). In the
later series *Dragon Ball Super*, he was officially depicted with five fingers.

5. Are There Contradictions in Master Roshi’s Immortality Backstory?

Master Roshi, who has lived for over 300 years, is depicted in the early parts of the story with characteristics and statements suggesting he is immortal; however, he dies during the Piccolo Daimao arc.
Among fans, there are various theories, such as “he isn’t actually immortal,” “he just took an elixir of longevity,” and “he was portrayed as a comedic character.”

6. Piccolo hardly ever defeats any enemies in the original manga.

Although he contributed to the victory over Raditz with the Makankosappo, he surprisingly hasn’t defeated many major enemies in the subsequent manga storyline.
However, he plays a crucial role as Gohan’s mentor, strategist, and support character, and he also played a major part in the recent movie *Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero*, where he continues to enjoy enduring popularity.

7. The international version of Mr. Popo was blue.

In some international versions, Mr. Popo was changed from black to blue out of consideration for racially sensitive content.

8. Krillin and Mr. Satan are the same age

Krillin and Mr. Satan were both born in Age 736 and are the same age; it is said that they were both 31 years old at the time of the Cell Games.

9. Vegeta was actually older than I expected.

When he first appeared, Vegeta was said to be around 30 years old (older than Goku), and Nappa was said to be around 50. Because
Saiyans age slowly, they look younger than their actual age.

10. Why “Dragon Ball” Became a Controversial Topic in Hawaii

It is said that there was some controversy in certain circles because the name of the special move, “Kamehameha Wave,” is pronounced the same way as “King Kamehameha,” the first king of the Kingdom of Hawaii.

11. An Unexpected Theory About Why Yamcha’s Screen Time Decreased

Regarding Yamcha, whose screen time decreased starting with *Z*, a theory has been put forward that “his appearance fees skyrocketed due to the rising popularity of his voice actor, Toru Furuya, which ultimately led to a reduction in his screen time” (*Note: This is not official canon but rather one of the rumors circulating among fans*).

12. The True Meaning of Dragon Ball GT

There’s a famous urban legend that “GT” stands for “I’m sorry, Mr. Toriyama,” but in reality, “Grand Touring” is the official meaning, and the title was chosen to match the series’ theme of space travel.

13. Why Goku Became a Child in GT

Although the story attributes this to a wish made in *Dragon Ball*, it is said that, from a production standpoint, the reason was “to depict growth and adventure once again.” This is because it was easier to develop the story with a younger Goku, who had certain
limitations.

14. Is Broly the real Super Saiyan?

There is a theory that “Broly might be the legendary Super Saiyan.” Reasons cited include his overwhelming
innate combat power, his extraordinary rate of growth, and his unique transformation forms (*This is not official canon*).

15. Many of the moves have only been used once

There are numerous special moves that have appeared only once, such as the Garlic Cannon, Final Flash, Makankosappo, and Volley Punch. It is said that Akira
Toriyama felt that “shouting out the name of a move every time would be unnatural,” and this is considered one of the reasons why these moves are rarely reused.

Summary

“Dragon Ball” is a long-running series that has been beloved for over 40 years, and there are numerous little-known details and behind-the-scenes stories about its production.

The points I’d like to highlight in particular are as follows.

• The world of Dragon Ball began "once upon a time."
• Only seven Senzu Beans can be harvested each year.
• Tenshinhan is a being descended from aliens.
• Piccolo's fingers look different in the manga and the anime.
• Krillin and Mr. Satan are the same age.
• The official name of GT is Grand Touring
• The theory that Broly is the strongest is still widely held today.

You might discover something new when you revisit the series. Try paying attention not only to the
battle scenes but also to the deep world-building and thought-provoking elements, and enjoy the original work and the anime all over again.