Webmaster’s Notes : These illustrations were scanned by Lord Truhan from Dragon Ball Z Kai Artbook : The Golden Warrior (2010) “金色の戦士 ドラゴンボール アニメイラスト集” as well from a couple DBZ calendars.

Please do not repost/ reproduce without permission and buy this book when you get the opportunity, it’s worth every cents

The goal of this small article is to enlighten the occidental viewers, so they can spot and understand the references made to those holidays in Japanese anime. To make it easier to peruse, we sorted them out by months.

JANUARY

New Year (Shogatsu):

The Japanese celebrate Shogatsu for the first three days or the first week of January. It’s probably the most important holiday for the Japanese. Schools and businesses close for one to two weeks, and many people who live away from their families return home to spend this time with their families. Many people wear traditional Japanese-style garments, kimono, and go for the first temple or shrine visit of the New Year and pray for health and happiness in the coming.

In Japan, years are traditionally seen as completely separate from each other, and the new year as a fresh start. This means that in December all the duties should be completed and the new year prepared. In addition, bonenkai parties (“year forgetting parties”) are held in order to forget the worries and troubles of the old year. House entrances and cars are decorated with special decorations made of pine, bamboo and plum tree.

On New Year’s eve, toshikoshi soba (buckwheat noodles) that symbolize long life are eaten. January 1 is a very auspicious day and traditionally believed to be representative for the whole year that has just commenced. Therefore, the day should be full of joy and free of stress and anger. The house and clothes should be clean and no work should be done.

It is also tradition to visit a shrine or temple on January 1. In the New Year’s night big bells are rung 108 times in temples and shrines throughout the country driving away the 108 evil thoughts in Buddhism. Special food, osechi ryori, is eaten during the three days of Shogatsu. For breakfast, otoso (sweetened rice wine) is drunken and ozoni (soup with mochi) is eaten.

Coming-of-Age Day (seiji no hi):

The Coming of Age festival is celebrated on the second Monday of January (it used to be celebrated always on January 15 until the year 1999). Its Japanese name is Seijin no hi. All young people who turn twenty years old in that year are celebrated on Seijin no hi. Twenty is the age considered as the beginning of adulthood. It is also the minimum legal age for voting, drinking, and smoking. Celebrations are held nationwide in every town with most of the people turning 20 participating in formal dresses. Seijin no hi is a national holiday.

FEBRUARY

Setsubun:

Setsubun occurs around February 3 or 4 and celebrates the beginning of spring. In the old lunar Japanese calendar, each season had its own day (called Setsubun) to mark the change of the season. The first day of spring (rissyun) was considered to be the start of the New Year, so the Setsubun at the end of winter was the last day of the year, and had special customs. Today it is the only Setsubun still celebrated.

On the evening of Setsubun, generally, an oni-uchi (devil-extermination) and mame-maki (bean-scattering) ceremony is held. In the evening, throw soybeans inside and outside of the house saying “Oni wa soto. Huku wa uchi! (Out with the devil! In with good fortune!)” in order to drive out any bad spirits. Also, people throw soybeans at another person wearing a devil mask as a kind of fun.

National Foundation Day (Kenkoku Kinenbi):

According to the earliest Japanese history books, on 11th February 660 Before Christ, the first Japanese emperor was crowned. It was declared in 1966 and first celebrated in 1967.

Saint Valentine’s Day:

In Japan, St. Valentine’s Day, February 14, is primarily a day for women to let men know their feelings for them. In addition, there is another day, called “White Day,” (March 14th) for men to express their feelings to women, or to thank and to return gifts to women from whom they received Valentine’s day gifts.

MARCH

Doll’s Festival (Hinamatsuri):

Hinamatsuri is a seasonal festival (called sekku) celebrated on March 3. Also it is considered as a day for girls, most families with girls celebrate it for praying their health and happiness. Probably, the origin of Hinamatsuri is the Nagashi-bina (floating paper dolls down a river). Originally, the paper dolls were made to represent each person and all the ill-fortunes that might visit that person in the coming year were wished onto the doll. Then the doll was sent away on the river, taking the bad luck with it.

White Day:

White Day, March 14, as opposed to Valentine’s Day, is a completely Japanese event. While women give gifts to men on Valentine’s Day in Japan, on White Day, men should return the favour and give gifts to women from whom they received gifts or chocolate, or to women in whom they are romantically interested.

For White Day, cookies, candies or white chocolates are common instead of regular chocolates. There is a superstition among some young people that if someone gives you cookies, that means “I love you” candies mean “I like you” and white chocolate means “Let’s be friends.”

Spring Equinox Day (shunbun no hi):

Around the twenty-third of March (On the day of the Vernal Equinox) graves are visited during this week (ohigan). The day itself is a national holiday since 1948.

APRIL

Flower Viewing (Hanami):

Flower Viewing is an event mostly to go out to hills and fields and enjoy eating and drinking in order to see cherry blossoms. The blooming season is spread over several weeks because Japan is quite long from South to North. Generally, however, people enjoy flower viewing from the latter part of March through the first part of April.

Flower Viewing is still popular events today. However it is mostly known as only banquets which people enjoy eating and drinking under the cherry blossoms in the evening. Some young employees have to be keeping places to see cherry blossoms on sheets of plastic from early morning till night for their companies’ banquets. And some people have boisterous parties until late at night.

In Movie Eight “Brolly”, you can see in the beginning (just before the spaceship landed) that Trunks, Gohan, Master Roshi, Krillin, and Bulma were celebrating Hanami.

THE GOLDEN WEEK (APRIL/MAY)

The Golden Week is a collection of several national holidays within seven days. Together with good placed weekends, the Golden Week becomes one of the longest holidays of the year. Many companies give additional days free to make the Golden Week a continuous holiday, while others do not.

Green Day (Midori no hi):

April 29 used to be the birthday of Emperor Showa who died in the year 1989. After his death, the day was changed into a national holiday for environment and nature since the emperor was very concerned about the environment and loved nature.

Constitution Day (Kenpo kinenbi):

On 3rd May 1947, the new post-war constitution was put into effect. The day remembers the most important changes of the constitution such as the prohibition of leading war, human rights and the sovereignty of the people.

“Between Day” (Kokumin no kyujitsu):

The 4th May has recently been created national holiday to make the Golden Week a continuous holiday.

Children’s Day (Kodomo no hi):

This holiday is also called the boy’s festival (Tango no Sekku) and is celebrated on March 5. Families with boys celebrate this day to wish their sons a good future. Carp streamers are hung outside and samurai dolls put inside the house. They symbolize strength, power and success in life. Traditionally, special sweets are eaten : rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves and mochi wrapped in oak leaves. The oak and bamboo, again symbolize strength and a successful life.

MAY

Mother’s Day (Haha no hi):

Mother’s Day in Japan is almost the same as that in the United States. The second Sunday in May is a day to respect and thank mothers. This event originated from the customs in England and Greece. In 1914 President Willson of the United States declared it in the States, then it was introduced to Japan after the World War II. On the day of Mother’s Day, it is most common in Japan to give red carnation to mothers. Also people often send other gifts as well as flower, such as handkerchiefs, scarves, handbags, wallets.

JUNE

Father’s Day:

The third Sunday in June Japanese are celebrating Father’s day.

JULY

Star Festival (tanabata):

July 7 is the Weaver Star Festival (Tanabata). The Tanabata Festivals held in Sendai (Miyagi Prefecture) and Hiratsuka (Kanagawa Prefecture) are two of the most famous festivals in Japan. Several days before July 7, people write their wishes or poems on strips of poetry paper in various colors, and hang them on leafy bamboo; then on the night of the 7th, they are put out in the garden. These are attractive enough to be called summer Christmas trees.

Ocean Day (umi no hi):

July 20 is the Ocean Day. It’s a newly introduced national holiday.

AUGUST

The Buddhist festival of the dead (O-bon):

This is a Buddhist event, O-bon, occurring from the 13th to 15th of August to hold a memorial service to the spirits of ancestors. Because the spirits of the dead are said to return at this time, this is a festival for welcoming them home, making offerings to them and holding memorial services. In this season, in spite of huge crowds, many people want to return back to hometowns like New Year season.

Many people celebrate this event. Because in Japan ancestors are objects of profound veneration and are believed to have a supernatural power over the living. However, it depends on their religions. Fires are lit at the entrances to homes so the spirits of ancestors do not lose their way, and, in addition to lanterns being lit inside homes, the Buddhist family alters are tidied up and vegetables and fruit are set out as offerings. And when O-bon is over, the spirits are sent on their way by fires to speed their seeing off at entrances of homes.

SEPTEMBER

Respect for the Aged Day (keiro no hi):

Respect for the elderly and longevity is celebrated on this September 15. This is a national holiday.

Autumn Equinox Day (shubun no hi):

Graves are visited during the week (ohigan) before September 23 (Equinox Day). The day itself is a national holiday.

OCTOBER

Health Sports Day (Taiiku-no-hi):

October 10 is Health Sports Day (Taiiku-no-hi.) Its purpose is to familiarize with sports and nurture physical and mental health. Sports flourish in autumn because the weather is good, but, especially on or around Taiiku-no-hi numerous school and regional athletic meets and sports tourneys, Undou-kai, are held.

This day was made national holiday in 1966 to commemorate the opening of the Tokyo Olympics on October 10, 1964.

NOVEMBER

Culture Day (bunka no hi):

November 3 is dedicated to the promotion of culture and the love for freedom and peace. On the culture day, schools and the government award certain persons for their special, cultural activities.

Labour Day (kinro kansha no hi):

While on November 23, Americans are celebrating Thanksgiving; Japaneses are honouring labour. This is a national holiday.

DECEMBER

Emperor’s Birthday (tenno no tanjobi):

The birthday of the current emperor is always a national holiday. If the emperor changes, the national holiday changes to the birthday date of the new emperor. Actually it’s December 23.

Christmas:

Christmas is not a national holiday, but it is celebrated by an increasing number of Japanese.

Oomisoka (New Year’s Eve):

The last day of the year is called Oomisoka in Japanese. To welcome the New Year with good feelings, people clean up their house. Preparations for the New Year are to be made by Oomisoka.

The age topic gets even more complicated when Mirai Trunks is concerned since it involves an alternate timeline with a different chronology from the regular Dragon Ball universe.

Therefore I calculated Gohan, Mirai Gohan, Trunks and Mirai Trunks ages at various key points of the Dragon Ball chronology. The calculus are accurate and based on exact dates given in the very official “Dragon Ball’s dictionary” which has been approved by Akira Toriyama himself. And after telling you how old they are, I’ll share with you a detailed chronology of the Dragon Ball key events.

A) The Characters ages :

Before starting I’d like to correct a mistaken yet popular belief : Dragon Ball Z IS NOT Dragon Ball’s sequel but a marketing idea of the anime producer. The truth is they split the manga Dragon Ball in two anime. The anime Dragon Ball covers tome 1 to 15 while the anime Dragon Ball Z covers the remaining tomes (i.e Tome 16 to 42).

1) Mirai Gohan and Mirai Trunks :

• When Goku dies in 764, Mirai Gohan is 7 years old and Mirai Trunks isn’t born yet.
• When Mirai Trunks was born in 766, Mirai Gohan is 9 years old, so there’s a 9 years gap between them.
• The androids appears in 767 killing everyone, Mirai Gohan is 10 years old and Mirai Trunks is 1 years old.
• Mirai Gohan dies in 780 he was 23 years old and Mirai Trunks was 14 years old.
• Mirai Trunks takes the time machine in 784 he’s 18 years old.
• Mirai Trunks returns to his timeline and defeats the androids in 785 he’s 20 years old (since he spent two years in the Room of Spirit and Time).
• Mirai Trunks defeats Cell in 788 , he’s 23 years old.

2) Gohan and Mirai Trunks :

• Gohan was born on May 757. One year after Goku’s wedding.
• 12th October 761, Radditz kidnaps Gohan. Gohan is 4 years old.
• 3rd November 762, Vegeta and Nappa land on Earth. Gohan is 5 years old.
• August 764 Mirai Trunks kills Freeza. Mirai Trunks is 18 and Gohan is 7 years old.
• 766 Birth of Trunks. Gohan is 9 years old.
• 12th May 767 Androids 19 & 20 appears and Mirai Trunks returns. Gohan is 10 years old and Mirai Trunks is still 18 years old.
• 16th May 767 Mirai Trunks and Vegeta exit from the Hyperbolic Room. Gohan is still 10 years old but Mirai Trunks is now 19 years old.
• 17th May 767 Gohan and Goku exit from the Hyperbolic Room. Mirai Trunks is still 19 years old but Gohan is now 11 years old.
• 20th May 767 Mirai Trunks exits again from the Hyperbolic Room. Gohan is still 11 years old but Mirai Trunks is now 20 years old.
• 28th March 774 Gohan goes to Orange Star’s Highschool, he’s now 18 years old.
• Birth of Pan in 779, Gohan is 23 years old.
• End of DBZ in 784. Gohan is 28 years old.

3) Gohan and Trunks :

• 766 Birth of Trunks. Gohan is 9 years old.
• 28th March 774 Gohan goes to Orange Star’s Highschool. Gohan is 18 years old and Trunks is 8 years old.
• 8th May 774 Goten and Trunks enters the Hyperbolic Room. Gohan is 18 years old and Trunks is now 9 years old.
• Birth of Pan in 779, Gohan is 23 years old and Trunks is 14 years old
• End of DBZ in 784. Gohan is 28 years old and Trunks is 19 years old.

B) Detailed Chronology :

Considering we have two different chronology (One for the main timeline and one for the Mirai timeline), I’ll use three different colors.

• Black is for the chronology which is common to both timelines
• Green is for the main timeline where the Z warriors survived.
• Violet is for the Mirai Timeline where Mirai Trunks is the sole surviving warrior.
  

-4237 : Garlick Junior’s ancester left planet Makyo and landed on Earth.

-238 : A Saiyajin’s legend talk about the coming Super Saiyajins defined as blood thirsty and great destroyers.

250 : Uranai Baba (Master Roshi’s elder sister) starts her foretelling business

430 : Birth of Master Roshi.

448 : 18 years old Roshi is trained by Mutaïto.

459 : Birth of Tao Paï Paï (Tenshinhan’s master).

461 : Garlick’s father defies Kami and is defeated. The old Kami retires in favour of a Namek one. The new Kami separates himself of his evil side which leads to Piccolo Daimao’s birth (it’s Piccolo’s dad).

550 : The Saiyajins land on Planet Plant and colonize it under the name of Planet Vegitisei.

650 : 7th may First World Art Martial Tournament : Winner Master Roshi.

658 : Birth of Son Gohan (Goku’s adoptive grandfather).

715 : Birth of Pilaf (First Goku’s arch nemesis).

731 : Alliance Treaty between Planet Vegitisei and Freeza. Wedding of Vegeta No Ouji (Vegeta’s father).

732 : Birth of Prince Vegeta.

733 : Birth of Bulma, Yamucha, and Tenshinhan. 8 May : Crowning of a new Earth king.

736 : Birth of Krillin.

737 : Birth of Kakkaroto (Goku). Freeza kills Vegeta’s father and Bardock (Goku’s father) and breaks the saiyajin’s rebellion by destroying planet Vegitisei. Birth of Chichi.

738 : One year old Goku falls from a cliff and got serious head injury, resulting in loss memory and reject of his saiyajin’s instincts.

740 : Birth of Oolong. Krillin becomes monk at the Oorin’s temple.

747 : Yamucha meets Puar.

749 :

• Bulma goes to highschool, and finds a dragon ball in Capsule Corp’s attic.
• 1st September Bulma meets Goku.
• 2nd September They meet Master Roshi.
• 5th September Goku defeats Oolong.
• 6th September Goku meets Yamucha and defeats him. They’re all kidnapped by Pilaf who’s stealing their dragon balls. Oolong manages to wish for panties before Pilaf could say his wish. It’s the full moon and Goku turns Oozaru. Yamucha cuts Goku’s tail.
• 10th September Goku and Krillin start training under Master Roshi’s guidance.

750 :

• End of the training with Master Roshi.
• 6th May Beginning of the 27th art martial tournament : Winner Master Roshi under the name of Jackie Choun (Toriyama is a great fan of Jackie Chan by the way). Beginning of the fight against the Red Ribbon Army.
• 8th May Goku meets android 8 (who’s looking like Frankenstein’s creature) and help to free him from his creator.
• 9th May Goku is defeated by Tao Paï Paï.
• 10th May Goku climbs on Karine’s tower and trains during three day with master Karine.
• 12th May Goku defeats Tao Paï Paï and destroys the remaining of the Red Ribbon army.

753 :

• Goku meets Tenshihan and Tchiaotzu.
• 5th May Beginning of the 28th tournament.
• 8th may Tenshihan wins the tournament. Pilaf frees Piccolo Daimao.
• 9th May Krillin and Master Roshi are killed by Piccolo Daimao. Piccolo Daimao gets the eternal youth from Shenron before killing him.
• 11th May Goku defeats Piccolo Daimao who’s laying an egg before dying. In this egg is his heir (who’s having all his powers and eternal youth) Piccolo Majunia.
• 12th May Goku accepts to train with Kami and Mr. Poppo for 3 years in exchange of the ressurection of Shenron.

756 :

• May 29th tournament. Goku defeats Piccolo and finally wins the tournament for the first time. During the tournament Goku get engaged with Chichi.
• 8th May Goku’s wedding (talk about a short engagement period)

757 : May Birth of Gohan (sorry people Goku didn’t marry Chichi because she was pregnant…)

761 :

• Unknown date, Goku fights against Garlick Junior because they kidnapped Gohan. Gohan traps Garlick Jr in the Dead Zone
• 12th October Radditz (Goku’s brother) attacks the earth. First death of Goku. Gohan is trained by Piccolo.

762 :

• Mars Yamucha, Krillin, Tenshinhan, Tchiaozu and Yajirobe start training with Kami.
• 29th April Goku finally reaches North’s Kaio’s planet.
• 2nd November Goku is ressurected.
• 3rd November Vegeta and Nappa land on Earth. Yamucha, Tchiaozu and Tenshinhan are killed. Piccolo dies while trying to protect Gohan from Nappa deadly Ki blast. Goku is defeated by Vegeta but Yajirobe cuts his tails. Goku transmits the genki dama’s energy to Krillin who uses it against Vegeta. Gohan turns Oozaru , and Vegeta uses his remaining forces to cut Gohan’s tails. Goku begs Krillin to let Vegeta escape.
• 4th November Krillin, Goku and Gohan are at the Western Capital’s hospital.
• 9th November Bulma finishes the reparations of Kami’s spaceship and leaves Earth for Namek with Gohan and Krillin.
• 18th December they land on Namek at the same time than Vegeta.
• 24th December Goku lands on Namek, Piccolo is ressurected by Porunga (the namek’s dragon), Krillin and Vegeta are killed by Freeza, Goku turns Super Saiyajin and kills Freeza. Destruction of Planet Namek.

763 :

• 3rd May Resurrection of Krillin and Yamucha by Porunga.
• 9th September Tenshihan and Tchiaozu are resurrected and the Namekians left Earth to found New Namek.
• October Planet Makyo is coming near Earth, increasing Garlick Junior’s powers and allowing him to escape the Dead Zone. Garlick Jr is once again trapped by Gohan.
• Unknown date, arrival of Cell in egg form inside of the Time Machine.

764 :

• August Goku comes back to Earth.
• Mirai Trunks kills Freeza and King Cold (Freeza’s daddy) and give a medicine to cure Goku’s heart disease (that Goku inherited from his mother). Beginning of a three years training period for all the Z senshis.
• Goku kills Freeza.
  

766 : Birth of Trunks. Goku dies shortly after from heart disease.

767 :

• 7th May 30th tournament : Winner Mr. Satan.
• 12th May Appearance of androids 19 & 20. Goku is ill during the fight. Vegeta kills android 19. Android 20 (dr. Gero himself) frees androids 17 & 18. Android 17 kills Dr. Gero before freeing android 16. Android 18 defeats Vegeta. Piccolo merges with Kami to beat the androids.
• 12th May Appearance of androids 17 & 18. In a couple of weeks they kill Vegeta, Tenshinhan, Tchiaozu, Yamucha, Piccolo and Krillin. Mirai Gohan is the sole survivor.
• 15th May Goku is healed by Mirai Trunks’s medicine, Mirai Trunks and Vegeta enter the Room of Spirit and Time.
• 16th May Cell finishes his mutation, Goku and Gohan enter the Room of Spirit and time.
• 17th May Piccolo enters the Room of Spirit and time.
• 18th May Vegeta enters the Room of Spirit and time.
• 19th May Mirai Trunks enters the Room of Spirit and time.
• 26th May Goku dies for the second time. Gohan reaches Super Saiyajin 2 and kills Cell.
• 27th May Goku’s funeral, Mirai Trunks left for the future.
• Around December Birth of Goten.

770 : Wedding of Krillin and android 18.

771 : Birth of Marron (Krillin’s daughter).

773 : Kibbito and Kaioshin land on earth to search Buu.

774 :

• 28 Mars. Gohan goes to Orange Star’s Highschool.
• 7th April Gohan becomes Satan City’s protector under the name and ridiculous disguise of Great Saiyaman.
• 8th April Videl figures out that Gohan is the great saiyaman.
• 9th April Gohan teaches Videl how to fly.
• 20th April Videl finally manages to fly properly.
• 7th May Goku resurrects for one day (all dead people can resurrect once for only one day with Uranai Baba’s help) to participate to the 31st tournament. Apparition of Buu. Vegeta sacrifices himself to defeat Buu but fails. Goku reaches Super Saiyajin 3 and teaches Goten and Trunks the fusion dance. Gohan frees the kaïo’s doyen from the Zeta sword in exchange the kaïo’s doyen frees all the hidden powers of Gohan allowing him to surpass SSJ3 without even turning SSJ (it’s called Mystic form).
• 8th May Buu absorbs Piccolo, Gotenks and Gohan. Vegeta is forced to fusion with Goku to form Vegito (Gogeta japanese version). Goku finally defeats Buu with a giant genki dama and comes back living with his family.

779 : Birth of Pan (Gohan and Videl’s daughter)

780 :

• Birth of Bra (Vegeta and Bulma’s daughter)
• Death of Mirai Gohan killed by Androids 17 & 18.
  

784 :

• 32th tournament, Goku meets Uub (Buu’s human reincarnation) and decides to train him, leaving his family behind and therefore ending the Dragon Ball manga.
• The time machine is completed and loaded. Mirai Trunks travels back to year 764 to change the past.
  

785 : Mirai Trunks comes back from his time travel. Being now powerful enough he kills Androids 17 & 18, bringing back peace in this timeline.

788: Cell tries to kill Mirai Trunks to steal his time machine. But Mirai Trunks is too powerful for him and aware of his plans. Cell dies, there’s no threats left in Mirai Trunks timeline.

Dragon Ball Great Travel or Dragon Ball Grand Tour (both are allowed) starts ten years after the end of Dragon Ball Z which would set it around year 794 (Gohan being 38 years old and Trunks being 29 years old). This isn’t covered by the current chronology simply because it’s not Toriyama who wrote it. Iff he had, SSJ4 Goku wouldn’t look like the result of a fusion between Goku and the Pink Panther nor would he had allowed Vegeta’s awful new haircut…. And if it wasn’t enough Toriyama said he’ll never draw a manga about DBGT.

I hope you found this article and chronology helpful.

Illustration 1 : Gohan’s Sword

This is a Roman gladius, short sword classification, most favored by the Phalanx style legionnaire approximately 2 thousand + years ago at the Height of Caesar’s campaign to rule the planet

Illustration 2 : Mirai Trunks’s Sword

This is hand and half bastard classification, European style weapon. It’s the lighter and shorter of the Bastard class, and is a Sub-division of full sized bastard class swords. Though Trunks weapon isn’t the typical wire and leather wrapped handle that is classical to the Agincourt sized weapons, as it is normally found in modern times, nor twisted wire only wrapped which is also found in museums, the name of the other two major campaign challengers for the title are the same size, and their names are escaping me at the moment. So consider the Agincourt to be a generic terms of sorts.

Illustration 3 : Gohan’s Zeta Sword

This is a full length bastard class sword, so is a bit longer and thicker of Tang, And Temper line as is clearly seen if you look at the thickness of the weapon versus the Hilt and Guard sections of the weapon.. The Guard is one that is traditionally used on full sized bastard
class, not the lighter hand and half.

Notes for those who have no idea what a sword is made up of :

#1 Pommel- the cap thing on top that keeps the Hilt, guard and blade aligned correctly.. Often screwed onto the long Tang of the Blade after the guard and then Hilt were placed upon the tang section of the weapon’s blade.

#2 Guard (as in protect hands) is the thing just on top of the sharp pointy part you stick, slice, or dice things with.

#3. Tang: this is the point where the blade itself ends in a long, thin, boxy kind of block from the main metal forged into the weapon.. there are rectangular or foil styled square tangs.. the longer the tang was the heavier and thicker the sword generally was.. Rectangular blocks were the main style for Broadswords and full bastard class. The thinner rectangle form for Hand and Half class Bastards to the heavier styled Scimitar and other large bladed short swords (favored in the Arab nations mostly, or by pirates in Hollywood’s eyes. ~> Snickering)

Thin Foil tangs were very boxy squares, but long, endings to a much lighter sword, like the modern fencing style Rapier, or Foil practice weapons…. or like a legionnaire’s short sword of Roman empire days..

#4. The Hilt is the handle portion you actually grab onto. The short hilts will only allow a single hand to be used to handle the weapon, but larger sized weapons have longer hilts..

The really big monsters, like the 11 pounds plus, 6 foot long or longer, Claymores aka Broad Sword class…. were a leather wrap only hilt due to the frequent need to replace the leather so the hilt’s leather wouldn’t get too rotten causing a person to lose their weapon in a fight.. (if not legs and toes in the process along with their head as the opponent sliced and diced the newly unarmed opponent up.)

Hand and Half or Bastard class main were either leather wrap, or leather and wire wrapped.. The Agincourt calass was the first Wire only wrapped hilt.. (Nobility made Agincourts the rage due to the ability for them to go through lots of Gauntlets… ( Gloves with chain mail sewn between the layers of heavy padded leather normally) since they could afford the wear and tear the braided, thin wire only hilts caused on the hands that wielded them…

Tang only hilts were the shortest lightest swords of the classical through renaissance era, and they were usually capped with a pommel that was of a gem cup variety, as this type pommel was usually referred too.. Normally, these were leather only styles of hilt preparation as they had very thin, foil like tangs instead of thick, rectangle blocks for tangs that larger swords would have to have in order to put a guard or hilt onto the weapon to protect the hands of the fighter, and to insure a descent grip purchase. The guard ring would be the only thing really needed, but the pommel in this case, though only a decoration, still acted as a guide… crew down pommels fit the ends.. While heavier gage pommels were normally a hammer on and then stick a hot iron pin through the holes hand drilled into the tang, and very tip of hilt for a fold over job…

A Saiyan could be considered a cross between man and ape, or the so-called “Missing Link.” They have all the intelligence, and most of the traits of a human, but with a monkey-like tail, which protrudes from right below the small of the back, as well as the more feral and primitive behaviors of the apes. Saiyans are generally well built, as a race as a whole, because of their harsh environment. Their bone structure is far denser than a human’s because of the greater gravity of their homeworld, which is ten times the normal gravity of Earth. Due to the heavy gravity and brutal living conditions, Saiyans have an increased metabolic rate which requires them to consume great amounts of energy for sustenance. Their high metabolism fuels their Saiyan physiology and endows them with a unique healing power. It also gives them the ability to manipulate ki at an increased level with respect to other races, and undergo their various transformations. This also explains why Saiyans have voracious appetites.

Saiyan physiology can best be described as “That which does not kill me can only make me stronger.” This seems to act as a form of reactive evolution. If a Saiyan survives a near-fatal injury or goes through either an intense battle or training, they will gain an increase in their power level, greater than what they had prior to the experience, after recuperation. A shining example of this is when Vegeta gained additional strength after recovering from near fatal injuries obtained in battle against Zarbon. As a Saiyan’s body heals, it adapts, evolving if you will, in an attempt to neutralize previous threats, such as physical weaknesses foes who were on equal footing or stronger than them were able to exploit. However, healing by any means, such as a Saiyan’s natural rate or through technological or mystical assistance, does not affect this ability in them. The rate of recovery does NOT seem to hinder this ability. In fact, as long as they are able recuperate, by any means necessary, their bodies will always gain a substantial enhancement and increase in strength, both on a physical and metaphysical level. Also, the more fatal the wound is, the more substantial the increase in power is after being healed. It can be summarized that because of this, Saiyans have quite the healing factor, enabling them to heal from just about any injury, including near fatal ones, at a far faster and more efficient rate than a human would without artificial means (Senzu Beans, rejuvenation tanks, or allies (Dende and Kibito) with healing powers).

The original Saiyans lived in caves and in barren wastelands, and thus needed a physical body to fit the terrain. Male Saiyans are generally stronger than the females, because of their naturally more dense muscles. Saiyans also have the ability to greatly increase their own power from their anger, frustration, rage, and even grief. Some Saiyans merely get power spikes, while others get a steady increased power level. Contrary to popular belief, Saiyans do not have a low female population, merely, females rarely attained the fighting skills necessary to be in the military force, which were most often seen by other races.

Saiyans are very similar to Humans in appearance, except for their monkey-like tails. Also, for most genetic traits, except for hair and eye color, Saiyans have the dominating gene. They are commonly seen to have black hair, usually spiky. A pure blooded Saiyan’s hair will never change length or style once it has fully grown, making far more similar to fur than hair. This is not the case with Saiyan hybrids (a couple examples of this are Gohan’s, Goten’s and Trunks’ changing hairstyles throughout the story). Saiyan children get their hair and eye color from their mother, no matter what humanoid species she may be. The hair style, on the other hand, is shared between the father and the second born son (Bardock, Goku, and Goten, as examples). Apparently, the Saiyan gene to have nearly unchangeable hair styles is a recessive trait, yet, every full blooded Saiyan has it.

All Saiyans are born with a tail, and some have them removed, almost always while young. The tail houses glands which, upon having the brain send a chemical message to it, telling it that there is full moonlight, the tail will start collecting the energy (Brute Rays) from the moonlight, and use that energy to produce hormones that cause the Saiyan to increase in size to 50-75 feet tall, and become totally covered in fur, except for their face, and essentially, become a gigantic cross between a gorilla and a monkey. This form is known as Oozaru. The natural power of the Saiyan is increased by ten. In this form, the only energy attacks that can be done are beams shot from the mouth. There have been reports of very rare Saiyans who have been able to control their actions while in Oozaru form. As no one has seen it and lived, this remains a myth. If inexperienced in the form of Oozaru, a Saiyan will rage wildly, and uncontrollably, destroying much in it’s path, but through practice, one can learn to regain consciousness in that form, and fight accordingly. If the tail is removed, the Saiyan reverts to normal, because the glands are lost.

Saiyans can control their tails with the ease of controlling an arm or leg. Most Saiyans tend to wrap their tails around their waists, possibly to make it harder for an enemy to grab it, but also perhaps to prevent any loss of balance if the tail is ever removed. There are rumors, however, that say a Saiyan without a tail gains more power than one with a tail.

A few Saiyan have the ability to become what is known as a “Super Saiyan” which, in actuality is a Saiyan who becomes completely energized by a golden life force. Since hair is made of dead cells, the golden energy shines through easily, turning it to gold. The hair itself, having a greater electromagnetic pull on each strand, collects easier, and most often in the upward direction.

If the Saiyan has a tail, the fur of the tail will become gold in color as well. But to become a Super Saiyan, you mustn’t have a tail. The eyes, for reasons as of yet unknown, become a solid emerald green. But probably because black is seen as the darkest green, and the light of the energy makes the eyes seem green in color. This is just one theory. If a female Saiyan were to transform into a Super Saiyan, her hair will become silver and her eyes will turn a sapphire blue. Again, since females rarely attained the fighting skills necessary to be in the military force, this is pure speculation.

Upon reaching a higher level of Super Saiyan, towards the maximum stage, other changes occur. If a Saiyan goes Super Saiyan while in Oozaru state, he or she will have golden fur, and a large amount of power, usually greater than a Super Saiyan Level three. In this form, it is possible to use ki attacks that are not mouth-based, but the beams from the mouth are still possible. It is possible for a Saiyan to go Golden Oozaru without ever going Super Saiyan, because of the nature of the Saiyan’s ability to get tremendous power from rage, this rage is sometimes only reached in the crazed Oozaru state. From this state, you can transform directly into Super Saiyan Level Four, under the correct conditions, whether or not the moonlight is still there.

Upon reaching “Ultimate Super Saiyan” stage, the hair collects into more triangular strips, due to an increase in energy, and the muscles increase in mass due to an increase in adrenaline and other hormones. This form is very slow because of the increased muscle mass.

From this stage, it is a relatively small change to “Super Saiyan Level Two” which is simply more power, yet, the muscles do not bulge. Instead, the muscles retract slightly, allowing for greater speed and agility. The muscles are denser, creating a higher defensive ability.

“Super Saiyan Level Three” is a much more primitive state. The eyebrows are essentially burned into nothingness from such a high increase in power, and the brow becomes more pronounced. The facial structure, including the jaw, becomes more primitive, and the body becomes charged with high energy electrons and similar energy. Such a fast, and high powered rise in energy promotes hair growth, because the hair is used as a storing place for some of the energy, which is well distributed in the long, thick, golden hair. This level is hard to maintain for long, because of it’s high energy requirements.

“Super Saiyan Level 4″ is actually a sub-level. It can be attained only when one goes through the Golden Oozaru stage, and all previous super Saiyan levels.

In this stage, the hair reverts back to the normal color, and general style, but there is an increase in hair mass. Most often, two locks will hang down, one over each shoulder. The body, save the hands, feet, pectorals, abdomen, neck, and face, as well as certain other parts, will be covered in a fur, which seems to be a different color based on purity of the race, and bloodline. None of the hair on the body is golden, because all of the energy can be contained inside the body itself, which greatly increases muscle mass and bulk. The eyes of the Saiyan also become a different color, which will be part of the pigments used in the emerald green of a normal Super Saiyan. The eyelids become darker, and reddish, in order to help keep the light, usually created by themselves, from damaging their eyesight. In order to go Super Saiyan Level Four, you must have a tail, for that is where the gland that produces most of the physical changes is located.

There is a legend that speaks of ‘The Highest level of Super Saiyan,’ called the Golden Saiyan for reasons not yet known, so, for all practical reasons, this level/mode shall be referred to as the ‘Perfect Super Saiyan’. According to the legend, in this form, the hair becomes much, much longer, like in Super Saiyan Level Three, and becomes golden again. The fur, when the body is at maximum power, also becomes golden. The body becomes almost completely charged with energy, so much so that it would almost definitely tear the being apart. It is possible that the life power that this kind of Saiyan has could draw some power from all the Saiyans past and present. No one is sure whether the eyebrow changes that occur in Super Saiyan Level Three happen, anyone who managed to get a good look at a Perfect Super Saiyan has never lived to tell about it. It is also not known if any Saiyan has survived the transformation into a Perfect Super Saiyan, with my also have contributed to it’s addition to the Saiyan folklore.

Sociology:

The Saiyans shared Planet Plant with a race with high technology, the Tuffles. The two species were very similar, genetically, but the Tuffles lacked a tail. The Saiyans were a force to be reckoned with, but the technologically advanced Tuffles managed to keep the Saiyans pushed back to their caves and such structures.

As a result, the Saiyans did not advance from a tribal state for a long time. The Tuffles used the Saiyans, who they considered to be ‘relatively intelligent animals,’ as a labor force. The Saiyans were split into two groups: the warriors and the workers. The warriors were used as ‘cannon-fodder’ and for experiments conducted by the Tuffles to test the side effects of certain chemicals, much like how scientists today perform experiments on rodents to test new medicine.

The workers built structures, provided any manual labor needed, and some even served under the chieftain, and did any task they were told to do. Eventually, the Saiyans decided to pull their full force at once, and used the full moon to attack using their Oozaru forms, managing to wipe out most of the Tuffles and their cities. From the spoils of the war, the Saiyans quickly be came developed in high technology and such, though they had few scientists. Eventually, the Saiyans advanced off-world, and made contracts as a hired military force, which later was hired by Frieza to become planet barons.

The Saiyan’s chieftain system evolved into a monarchy. The King, and every firstborn son would be named Vegeta. The original King Vegeta was the strongest of the Saiyans, and made it a point not to marry for wealth, love, or power, but to marry the strongest woman he could find, so his son would surely be stronger than the both of them, and thus the strongest, and could keep the throne.

The Saiyans were also separated into clans, and each clan had clan colors, badges, symbols, etc.

Saiyans also considered certain females as sacred, these being the priestesses, who then translated the will of the gods to the people. Because of the priesthood being female only, this could account for why females weren’t seen in the military force as often as the males.

Upon the destruction of Planet Plant, renamed Vegeta, at the hands of Frieza, and the murder of the king by the same being, the Saiyans were mostly killed off. However, a few survived and roamed the cosmos. No full blooded female Saiyans were believed to have survived.

Technology:

The Saiyans barely have technology of their own, except for ki-related inventions. Most of the Saiyan technology, including their infamous power level scouters were stolen from the Tuffles. The armor of the Saiyan, on the other hand, were created by themselves, with elasticity for obvious reasons. Upon gaining control of the Saiyans, Frieza integrated the scouters and armor into his own military force. The spacepods that the Saiyans use are actually from a neighboring planet’s race, which landed on Planet Vegeta and quickly created a trade of technology for services with the Saiyans. It is believed that the Saiyans destroyed the race after fully integrating their technology.

Social Interaction:

Saiyans are very territorial, but also want their territory to be used by other Saiyans, so that they would have power over them. This is how the clans developed. Saiyans are very much like wolves because their clans are like packs, they stick together, but as a group, keep other wolves away. The Saiyans also have an interesting style of interacting with the opposite gender. The women are not prized on their looks, or child-bearing ability, like with early Earthlings, instead, they are judged by their strength and power level.
When a Saiyans decides to mate, it’s for life, though there are extenuating circumstances because some Saiyan go through physical, or mental changes. Saiyans are genetically bisexual, so some Saiyans have a ‘team’ of mates. There are never more than six members on a team.

Also, a male Saiyan will leave his scent on a female that he is courting by rubbing his tail, which have special glands in them, on the female. If the female then rejects the male, the hormone will simply fade away within a day or less. If she does not reject him, her hormones will be activated, and will duplicate the scent that the male’s hormones create. This is a calling card of sorts. Any Saiyan male will be able to smell if a female has been taken or is pregnant. Most species cannot smell the subtle hormones though. A similar, yet solely feminine scent is created when a female is bearing a child.

Saiyans tend to get rough with their mates, sometimes sparring with each other, and nearly killing them, so as to test their strength, this is usually a sign that the male is ready to mate for life, and sometimes it will be instigated by the female, who will mark her chosen mate with an intricate design of bite scars on the neck. Though some males will also mark their females this way.

Most of the half Saiyans, if not all, lose most of these mating techniques because their human genes overpower their Saiyan genes. It is also rumored, that far back in primitive times, the ancient race of Saiyans, who had fur, would change the color of fur whenever they court. This color would vary depending on the power of the Saiyan who is courting. However, since Saiyans did not keep a written history, it is hard to determine fact from fiction.