Who Are the Tsufuru-jin?

   1) Why do we care?

      Well, while the Tsufuru-jin never show up in the Dragonball manga,
they did make an appearance in DBZ TV episode #20.  And, there is a bit
of a write-up on them in the Complete Illustrations books (volume 3,
page 122).  Finally, they become an integral part of Dragon Ball GT,
starting with the appearance of Baby.


   2) What is a Tsufuru?

   Just as "Saiya-jin" is a play on "Yasai" (green vegetables),
"Tsufuru-jin" is a play on "Furutsu" (fruits).  So, we have the Fruit
People fighting the Vegetable People in ancient times.


   3) Who is Curtis Hoffmann and Why Do We Care?

   I have been summarizing Dragonball manga (and now, the DBGT TV
episodes) for the last few years.  Along the way, I put together some
character guides, timelines, and lists of puns in Dragonball.
   As for why we care, I am the one that holds the copyright to this
file.  This file must remain intact.  You have my permission to copy it
as you like, as long as you leave the copyright statement alone.  This
file may NOT be printed in a newsletter or for-profit magazine without
my written approval.  Copyrighted December 15, 1996.


   4) Who is Steven J. Simmons, and Why is He a Good Person?

   I don't claim to know everything about Dragonball, and I often make
mistakes that are caught by people like you.  Other times, there may be
an important piece of information that I missed, and is brought to my
attention by someone that took the effort to translate something for me.
   In this case, when several of us were arguing over who the
Tsufuru-jin were, Steven grabbed a copy of the Complete Illustrations,
volume 3, and translated the below text.  Which he then e-mailed to me
back in September.
   Steven owns the copyright on the below translation, and he may be
contacted at: sls4491@u.cc.utah.edu


   5) Filler

   The Saiya-jin were a vicious race of brutish monkey-humanoids that
   landed on the planet inhabited by the Tsufuru-jin.  The Tsufuru-jin,
   on the other hand, were a more advanced race that had developed a
   very sophisticated technology.

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   Page 122, volume 3, Dragon Ball, TV Animation Part 1

   TOP RIGHT PANEL: HEADER:
   History of the Saiya-jin (as seen in the anime version)

   SUBHEAD:
   The Saiya-jin, strongest warriors in the universe!  Presenting their
   worldview and data as it only appears in the anime.

   PHOTO:
   "Science" (picture of Tsufuru-jin with rifles, and wearing scouters)

   PHOTO-BRITE:
   The Tsufuru-jin battle the Saiya-jin!  We see that the Scouters were
   the product of Tsufuru science.

   HEADER:
   Contact with Freeza!

   BODY:
   The Saiya-jin tricked the Tsufuru-jin, and used their technology.  As
   a result, the advancement of science slumped following the massacre of
   the Tsufuru-jin.  The Saiya-jin joined forces with Freeza, and managed
   to get weapons and such as compensation for their conquests.  (cf. DBZ
   episode 20.)



   MIDDLE RIGHT PANEL: HEADER:
   Discord with the Tsufuru-jin

   BODY:
   Planet Vejiita, with a gravity ten times greater than Earth's, became
   home to the Saiya-jin.  A full moon appears only once every eight
   years. It was during this time that the Saiya-jin turned into Oozaru
   ("big monkeys") and massacred the Tsufuru-jin (cf. DBZ episode 20.)

   PHOTO:
   "Home" (picture of a large Saiya-jin next to a short Tsufuru-jin)

   PHOTO-BRITE:
   The Tsufuru-jin, though small in stature, possessed a superior
   intellectual capacity.



   TOP LEFT PANEL:

   PHOTO:
   "Roots" (picture of three barbaric Saiya-jin in menacing poses)

   PHOTO-BRITE:
   These are the primitive Saiya-jin, ancestors of today's Saiya-jin.
   At the time, they were still a dim people of few numbers, who knew
   only violence.

   HEADER:
   Were the Saiya-jin wanderers?

   BODY:
   Originally, Planet Vejiita was known as Planet Plant, and was
   populated by the Tsufuru-jin.  One day, a drifting spaceship carrying
   a race of people with tails landed on the planet.  These were the
   primitive Saiya-jin, the "roots" of the current race.  However, the
   reason these primitive Saiya-jin were drifting through space is a
   mystery.  The Saiya-jin's true home planet is also unknown.  (cf. The
   Official Visual Guide: "Operation Saiya-jin Extermination", published
   by Bandai.)



   The bottom right panel rationalizes why so many Saiya-jin have the
same features and voice as Gokuu, et. al, but doesn't mention
Tsufuru-jin.



   BOTTOM LEFT PANEL:

   PHOTOS:
   "Social Classes" (picture of King Vejiita and Freeza)

   PHOTO-BRITE:
   Even King Vejiita, who oversaw the extermination of the Tsufuru-jin,
   was uncomfortable with Freeza, but he still followed him.

   (picture of Gokuu in Saiya-jin garb standing with Nappa, Vejiita --
    or those with similar features -- and other Saiya-jin)

   PHOTO-BRITE:
   Gokuu, if he hadn't come to Earth, might also have become a
   fearsome warrior.

   HEADER:
   The name of Vejiita is a symbol of power and authority.

   BODY:
   The family of Vejiita rests at the top of the Saiya-jin line of
   authority.  Below them come the elite warriors of the noble class,
   and at the bottom come the lower-class fighters; this is how the
   social structure is comprised.  The Royal Family, by the way, was not
   formed until after the extermination of the Tsufuru-jin.  The first
   King was Vejiita's father, King Vejiita, and his descendants were to
   ascend to his throne.  (cf. The Official Visual Guide: "Operation
   Saiya-jin Extermination", published by Bandai, others.)



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   You can contact me at choffman@austin.rr.com.