Son Gohan (孫 悟飯), better known as simply Gohan, is a fictional character and secondary protagonist from the Dragon Ball manga series created by Akira Toriyama. Gohan is introduced as the first son of the main protagonist Goku and Chi-Chi in chapter #196 Kakarrot (カカロット Kakarotto) first published in Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine on October 24, 1988. Gohan is the first Saiyan/Human hybrid in the series.
Gohan's name comes from the Japanese word "gohan" (ご飯, lit. "cooked rice" or "meal of any sort"), is a continuation of the naming scheme of foods by Toriyama. Rice, being a grain, is not normally considered to be a vegetable, even though it is a common food. However, as the word "vegetable" is a culinary term, and not a botanical term, the name can also continue the naming scheme for Saiyan characters, which derives names from puns on vegetables (Saiya being an anagram of the word yasai, meaning "vegetable").
In conceptualizing for Gohan's character, Toriyama originally included glasses or a jacket to his apparel, and commonly, his hair is spiked up as seen in the final design. With the ending of the Cell arc, Gohan was meant to replace his father as the main protagonist, however, Toriyama later decided against it.
Abilities
As a child, Gohan is depicted with an immense amount of hidden potential, which at first only revealed itself when he experienced fierce rage or distress. The vastness of this potential is shown consistently throughout the series as he ages and learns to master his powers from constant training and battles, such as when he becomes the first Saiyan in the series to become a Super Saiyan 2, the direct successor to the Super Saiyan transformation, during his battle against Cell. Gohan's potential is then fully unlocked by Old Kaiō-shin, which sees his power level rise to new heights, capable of easily overwhelming the seemingly invincible Majin Boo.
Gohan can also freely manipulate his ki to fly using Bukū-jutsu (舞空術, "Air Dance Technique"), or concentrate it into beams of ki blasts, such as the Kamehameha or the Masenko (魔閃 Masenkō, lit. "Demon Flash"). Gohan also possesses superhuman strength, as well as superhuman speed and reflexes, as seen during his training with his younger brother Goten. Gohan can also use his ki in a defensive manner, such as generating protective energy shields.
Gohan's name comes from the Japanese word "gohan" (ご飯, lit. "cooked rice" or "meal of any sort"), is a continuation of the naming scheme of foods by Toriyama. Rice, being a grain, is not normally considered to be a vegetable, even though it is a common food. However, as the word "vegetable" is a culinary term, and not a botanical term, the name can also continue the naming scheme for Saiyan characters, which derives names from puns on vegetables (Saiya being an anagram of the word yasai, meaning "vegetable").
In conceptualizing for Gohan's character, Toriyama originally included glasses or a jacket to his apparel, and commonly, his hair is spiked up as seen in the final design. With the ending of the Cell arc, Gohan was meant to replace his father as the main protagonist, however, Toriyama later decided against it.
Abilities
As a child, Gohan is depicted with an immense amount of hidden potential, which at first only revealed itself when he experienced fierce rage or distress. The vastness of this potential is shown consistently throughout the series as he ages and learns to master his powers from constant training and battles, such as when he becomes the first Saiyan in the series to become a Super Saiyan 2, the direct successor to the Super Saiyan transformation, during his battle against Cell. Gohan's potential is then fully unlocked by Old Kaiō-shin, which sees his power level rise to new heights, capable of easily overwhelming the seemingly invincible Majin Boo.
Gohan can also freely manipulate his ki to fly using Bukū-jutsu (舞空術, "Air Dance Technique"), or concentrate it into beams of ki blasts, such as the Kamehameha or the Masenko (魔閃 Masenkō, lit. "Demon Flash"). Gohan also possesses superhuman strength, as well as superhuman speed and reflexes, as seen during his training with his younger brother Goten. Gohan can also use his ki in a defensive manner, such as generating protective energy shields.