The phenomenon of Dragon Ball has captivated generations worldwide, but no country has experienced its impact quite like Peru. Despite the geographical distance from Japan, the series has firmly established itself as a pillar of Peruvian popular culture.
Since its premiere on Peruvian television in the 1990s, Dragon Ball has accompanied multiple generations.
Unlike in Japan, where episodes aired weekly, in Peru, the series was broadcast daily from Monday to Friday, allowing fans to remain constantly immersed in the adventures of Goku and his friends.
"The original Dragon Ball started airing in Japan in 1986, but it didn't start in Peru until 10 years later in 1996. At that time the subsequent series, Dragon Ball Z, had already ended in Japan, so there was over 400 episodes' worth of story to get through (…)," Tenorio said.
"This is just a guess on my part, but they must have figured with all those episodes, they could just run the show daily. Moreover, having a show airing daily on weekdays was quite common in Peru," he added.
This broadcasting format, combined with the intensity of the storyline and the values the series conveys, played a crucial role in its deep connection with the audience.
A Phenomenon that Shaped Generations
The impact of Dragon Ball in Peru went beyond the screen.
Children would pretend to launch a Kamehameha at schoolyards, whereas adults used to get tattoos of iconic characters from the series, highlighting its lasting legacy.
Some parents even named their children after characters from the franchise.
"When this (topic) was covered on the news in Japan, there were 292 children with the name Gohan, 92 named Videl, and 81 named Jiren. Jiren is a relatively new character, but he's proven to be very popular," the diplomat noted.
"When I watched a news report on this several months back, there were about seven children named Goku, actually," he added.
Cultural Ties Between Peru and Japan
The bond between the two countries goes beyond anime.
With a strong Nikkei community and over 150 years of diplomatic relations, Japanese culture has found a significant place in Peru.
An example of this is the similarity in words and customs, such as the popular game Jan Ken Po (Rock, Paper, Scissors), which is widely recognized in various regions of the country.
(END) JMP/RRC/MVB