Kami (Dragon Ball)
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"You are too kind, Mister Popo. But I must act for the good of the Earth. This is about the continuing struggle for power between the forces of good and evil... and the danger that looms over us now poses a greater threat than anything we have faced in the past."
— Kami in "Closing In"
Kami (かみ, Kami; FUNimation "Kami"; Literally meaning "God") is the Kami of Planet Earth.
Contents
Personality
It is not known what Kami's personality was like originally, but after purging himself of his evil counterpart he becomes a normal peaceful Namekian for the most part. Though he could count as a fighter-class Namekian, he gives up martial arts almost completely after becoming Kami of Earth (Though he later fights Piccolo as Shen and Garlic Jr. as himself). According to Karin, Kami does not like visitors and will send any rocket ship trying to reach him back (implying it has happened at least once). His need for seclusion may stem from growing up by himself in the remote Yunzabit Heights. He has also been seen talking to himself. This was not while he was around Mister Popo, as he usually confided in him. Despite having a legitimate care for the Earth, he began to think all Humans were selfish and distrustful as he watched humanity grow and rebuild after the King Piccolo wars, until he meets Goku, which renews his faith in humanity (Despite Kami knowing Goku is not from Earth, though it may have been Goku's love for his friends that changed Kami's mind).
Biography
Pre-Dragon Ball
Throughout a majority of the story, the character known as Kami on Planet Earth was a wise Namekian who no longer even remembered his real name. It was revealed, however, that his father's name was Katas. As the Nameless Namekian, he had hatched on Planet Namek in 242 Age and as a child was launched by Katas into outer space in a Namekian Spaceship that required at least a basic knowledge of Namekian – their ancient language – to pilot. Kami was also the Namekian who had created the Dragon Balls.
At some point in his adult life, he arrived at Kami's Lookout, the home of the Kami of Planet Earth at the time, and became his apprentice in hopes that the aging Kami would choose him to be his successor when he died. Although he was loyal to the aging Kami and even successfully outclassed the Demon Garlic, who had competed against him, he was ultimately denied by the old Kami because of the evil that dwelled within him – although Nameless Namekian was mostly good.
He finally became Kami after he separated the evil from within him in order to attain the position. The evil from within him formed into an evil counterpart who called himself Piccolo Daimao. Although two separate beings, they still shared a lifeline with each other (were one to die, the other would die as well). Kami watched over Planet Earth from the Heavenly Realm during the initial rampage of Piccolo Daimao and his [[Mutant Namkeian|mutant sons. Eventually, in a series of long, complicated circumstances, they were defeated by the forces of Mutaito. He later created the Dragon Balls to give the people of Planet Earth hope and encourage acts of bravery after Piccolo Daimao's reign, though he later regretted it until he met the pure-hearted Son Goku.
Dragon Ball
Some 300 years later, at the conclusion of the 22nd Tenkaihci Tournament, Pilaf freed Piccolo Daimao. Soon after, a Human named Kuririn was murdered by Piccolo Daimao's newest son, Tambourine. It was later revealed that Piccolo Daimao sought to kill all existing martial artists to prevent any challengers from learning the Mafuba that had trapped him 300 hundred years earlier. Piccolo Daimao also sought after the Dragon Balls to restore his youth before taking over the world over again. After Cymbal and Tambourine were mysteriously killed, Piccolo Daimao encountered the young Goku. Goku was seemingly killed in the ensuing fight.
Piccolo Daimao eventually summoned [[Shen Long] and, after he had killed both Turtle Hermit and Chaozu, had his wish granted. Soon after, however, Piccolo killed Shen Long to prevent anyone else from using the Eternal Dragon against him. Piccolo Daimao next invaded the king of the world's castle and took the king hostage. The next day, while about to leave for the doomed Metro West, Piccolo Daimao was again confronted by Goku, who then narrowly defeated him by punching him clean through his midsection.
With all his sons dead and himself mortally wounded, King Piccolo spits out one last egg containing his son and reincarnation Piccolo intended to exact revenge on Goku and thus also sparing Kami's life in the process, he then exploded. Shortly thereafter, Goku arrived at Kami's mysterious Lookout and met his loyal servant, Mister Popo. Kami agreed to meet with Goku without the long rigorous training required to beat Popo. Upon seeing Kami, however, Goku mistook him for King Piccolo and charged at him. Kami merely flicked him away. After he explained his origins, Kami, as a reward to Goku for defeating Piccolo Daimao, revived Shen Long so that all the innocents killed by Piccolo Daimao and his sons can be removed from limbo and brought back to life, but then informs Goku he must train under him for three years in order to defeat Piccolo, who would be seeking to challenge him at the 23rd Tenkaichi Tournament.
During this period, Kami restored the Moon, which had been destroyed by Master Roshi six years earlier and permanently removes Goku's tail. Eight years later, Piccolo would destroy the Moon again. It was also during this period that Goku received the weighted undershirt, wristbands, and boots that he wore for the rest of the series and the majority of Dragon Ball Z.
Three years later, Goku arrived at the tournament, but Kami entered as well inside the body of Shen after he realized that Piccolo was even stronger than his father now. Towards the end of the tournament Kami attempts to trap Piccolo with the Evil Containment Wave but Piccolo Jr. reverses it and Kami finds himself trapped within a small bottle. Later Goku frees Kami and eventually defeats Piccolo, but showed him mercy because Kami would die as well were he to kill him. Still full of guilt, Kami offered Goku his position, but Goku declined and kept his promise to marry Chichi. He then flew off on the Kinto Und with her.
Dragon Ball Z
Five years later, Kami continues to watch over the Earth, and it appears Goku and Piccolo clashing once again is inevitable, but one day a mysterious alien named Raditz lands on earth in search of his brother Goku. Raditz' power and aspirations are even worse than Piccolo's in that Raditz is far stronger and could also destroy the Earth, rather than make it his kingdom like Piccolo aspired to. Eventually with Piccolo's help and an intervention from his son Gohan, Goku defeats Raditz, but dies himself as a result. After learning two more Saiyans are on their way to Earth Kami is able to get Goku training with King Kai himself, a powerful being that is located at the end of Snake Way. During the initial struggle with Vegeta and Nappa, Piccolo is killed when he sacrifices himself to save Gohan, and Kami dies soon after. Goku eventually arrives and narrowly saves the Earth from Vegeta, but in the end, lets him live. Kami remains dead until the Frieza Saga.
Kami's role diminished greatly after the heroes return to Earth from Namek from what it had been prior to their journey, and by the Androids Saga, he was no longer needed for training or wisdom. Because of this, and out of concern for a then unknown threat, he agrees to fuse with the reincarnated and redeemed Piccolo in the Imperfect Cell Saga to return to being the original nameless Namekian. The new Piccolo would go on to fight Cell, but never manages to kill him through various complicated events. Because he is a Namekian, he also has the ability to create Dragon Balls, but this is not a skill that most Kami would have.
After Kami fuses with Piccolo, the post of Kami on Earth is left vacant for a time until Son Goku goes to New Namek and recruits Dende to serve as the planet's new Kami.
Despite being essentially a god, the person who acts as Kami is not necessarily supremely powerful. Kami was the strongest fighter in the series during and after King Piccolo's final rampage that was ended by Goku, but by the start of the Garlic Jr. Saga, virtually all of the main Z Fighters and their enemies are more powerful than Kami and his role becomes more of a support one (possibly because of his advanced age), and Piccolo even remarks once, "the only reason you even exist now is for the Dragon Balls".
Despite his disappearance, Kami is still remembered and mentioned at times; when Dende asks how the two halves of Majin Buu could be both separate and the same person, Piccolo states, "Remember. Kami and I were separate, but still one," and the Lookout is still referred to as Kami's Lookout.
Films
Kami appeared in Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone.
Video games
Kami appeared in Dragon Ball Z: The Legacy of Goku and Dragon Ball Z: The Legacy of Goku II.
Techniques
- Bukujutsu: Kami can fly by simply controlling his energy and pushing out Ki from underneath as he is seen doing in Shen's body at the Tenkaichi Tournament.
- Evil Containment Wave (Magic Seal Attack): Kami attempts this technique to seal Piccolo at the 23rd Tenkaichi Tournament, but ends up getting sealed himself by Piccolo's Evil Containment Wave.
- Explosive Wave: Kami uses it against Garlic Jr. in Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone.
- Eye Lasers (Beam Eye): A thin laser-like beam shot from both eyes.
- Finger Beam: Kami can shoot an energy blast from his index finger.
- Ki Blast: Kami can shoot a visible blast of energy from his palm.
- Magic Materialism (Bushitsu Shyutsu Gen Majyutsu): Kami uses this to restore Goku's clothes that were wrecked by Piccolo at the 23rd Tenkaichi Tournament.
- Kai Kai: Kami can instantly appear at Great King Yama's front desk in the Next World without requiring the use of an energy signature to home in on.
- Regeneration (Regrowth): A Namekian trait that allows Kami to regenerate as long as the nucleus in his head, survives (Note: Kami is never shown using Regeneration).
- Self-Destruction: Kami can convert his life force into energy to create a powerful explosion that can range for miles. He tries to use this against Garlic Jr., but is never able to because Goku intervened, in Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone.
- Shock Wave: An invisible Ki Blast of a sudden wind attack that can be launched theoretically from any part of the body. Kami uses this against Piccolo while possessing Shen.
- Telepathy: The ability to channel one's thoughts to another being.
- Tōmi no Jutsu – Tōmi no Jutsu (遠見 の 術, Tōmi no Jutsu; Literally meaning "Far Vision of Arts")
- Zanzo-ken: Kami uses this against Piccolo while possessing Shen.
- Kami is able to overshadow or otherwise control Shen so as to disguise himself at the 23rd Tenkaichi Tournament.
Power
In an issue of V Jump, his battle power is placed at 220, which is weaker than King Piccolo, who is at 260 (when his youth is restored). However, in Dragon Ball, Kami was stated to be more powerful than Mr. Popo, who easily defeated Goku. This means that Mr. Popo and Kami consider other measures than energy output when referring to power.
Voice actors
- Japanese dub: Takeshi Aono, Bin Shimada (Dragonball Kai, Episode 66)
- Ocean Group dub: Michael Dobson and Dale Wilson
- FUNimation dub: Christopher R. Sabat
- Portuguese dub: António Semedo
- Brazilian dub: Fábio Tomazine
- Hungarian dub: Antal Konrád
Trivia
- When Kami meets Goku, he is clearly stronger than Goku. However, later on, Guru states Kami and King Piccolo were divided evenly. If Kami and King Piccolo's strengths were equal, then that would have rendered Kami with essentially the same power level King Piccolo had prior to his youth being restored, and since Goku had just beaten King Piccolo in his prime, Kami should not stand a chance against Goku.
- It is believed by some that Kami is somehow connected with the Ultra Divine Water, due to his symbol actually appearing on the pot containing the water before Kami himself appears. However, it is likely all Kami wear the symbol (as evident by the fact his sucessor, Dende was also sometimes portrayed wearing it).
- Kami and Roshi have several similarities; both end up teaching Goku, Krillin, and Yamcha, and they both give their students clothing (Master Roshi gave his students the turtle outfit; Kami gave weighted clothes) and they both participated in the World Martial Arts Tournament while disguised (Kami as Hero and Master Roshi as Jackie Chun). Both characters also learned the Evil Containment Wave from seeing it performed on King Piccolo by Master Roshi's Master Mutaito.
- The name Kami or Kami-sama, meaning a god or God in Japanese, probably refer to his position rather than his original name. This is evident in the first portion of the series, where everyone is surprised at the mention of the name "Kami", even though they had never heard of him before. Though King Piccolo and his sons were originally considered Mazokus, Kami and the original Nameless Namek would not have been considered Mazokus. Therefore, the origin of Kami's true species remained a mystery until the fight with Vegeta and Nappa.
- When Goku suggests training under Yama instead of North Kaio, Kami comments on how North Kaio is stronger. Yama responds by saying that he is thinking of sending Kami to Hell when he dies, which ironically is where his permanent fusee Piccolo ends up.
- In "Until We Meet Again...", Goku promises Kami's permanent fusee, Piccolo, that he will take him out of Hell someday.
References
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