Editors Reveal Why Gohan Lost His Role as Dragon Ball Z’s Lead

During the Japanese podcast KosoKoso, former Dragon Ball editors shared insights into Akira Toriyama’s creative decisions, including why Gohan lost his leading role in the series.

According to Kazuhiko Torishima, Yu Kondo, and Fuyuto Takeda, Toriyama didn’t abandon Gohan’s high school storyline because fans lost interest, but because he himself got bored with it.

Editors Reveal Why Gohan Lost His Role as Dragon Ball Z’s Lead

After the intense “Cell Saga,” Toriyama wanted to shift Dragon Ball Z’s tone back to a lighter, more comedic style, similar to the original Dragon Ball series and his previous works like Dr. Slump. He initially saw Gohan’s high school life as a way to explore this direction, but he soon realized that it wasn’t compelling enough for him to continue.

Additionally, the high school setting required drawing more detailed, crowded backgrounds, making the weekly workload more exhausting. As the editors noted, Toriyama often dropped ideas that became too tedious or uninteresting for him to maintain his enjoyment of the work.

For years, fans assumed that Gohan was sidelined due to his declining popularity after the “Great Saiyaman Saga” and his diminished role in the “Majin Buu Saga.” However, the editors’ insights suggest that Toriyama’s decision was more personal than commercial.

He also acknowledged that, despite being a strong warrior, Gohan lacked the same fighting spirit as his father, Goku, making him a less fitting protagonist for the franchise.

Even years later, Gohan’s role remains a topic of debate. Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero attempted to restore his importance by making him the focal character, but Dragon Ball Daima wrote him out without hesitation. This highlights how Gohan continues to be a controversial figure within the Dragon Ball universe.