Akira Toriyama secretly disliked one of ‘Dragon Ball’s’ most iconic traits
The creator of Goku and Vegeta admitted he never liked naming attacks, and only did so at his editor’s insistence.
‘Dragon Ball’ is legendary for its explosive battles, unforgettable characters, and signature energy attacks like Goku’s Kamehameha and Vegeta’s Final Flash. But according to creator Akira Toriyama, one of the franchise’s most beloved features was never part of his original vision.
In a 1995 interview, Toriyama confessed that he didn’t enjoy naming techniques, and found the idea of shouting them during combat unrealistic:
“I actually don’t really like giving names to techniques. In a battle of life and death, there’s no way you can say the name of each technique. You’d be done in while yelling the technique’s name,” he said, laughing.
Why the names stuck anyway
Toriyama’s editor convinced him that naming attacks would help readers follow the action and build emotional impact. That advice shaped the series forever, turning moves like Galick Gun, Special Beam Cannon, and Destructo Disc into cultural touchstones.
Interestingly, the name Kamehameha wasn’t Toriyama’s idea, it came from his wife, who suggested it while he was brainstorming. He later admitted the goofy name fit Master Roshi’s personality perfectly.
A calculated approach to naming
While Toriyama disliked the practice, he still put thought into each technique:
- Vegeta’s Final Flash was named in English to reflect his pride and intensity
- Piccolo’s attacks were chosen for their elegance in kanji
- Many moves were designed to be visually distinct, even if the names felt forced
Despite his reservations, Toriyama’s named techniques became one of ‘Dragon Ball’s’ most enduring trademarks, echoed by fans around the world for generations.
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