Kami (Dragon Ball)

Kami (Japanese for "god") is the name given to the individual fictional protectors of planets in the Dragon Ball universe although they are more like overseers. In the mythology of the series, the Kamis have an indirect reporting relationship to one of the Kaiôs. (In the case of the Kami of Earth, this is to North Kaiô, however there are three other low-level Kaiôs in our galaxy.) They have many of the powers associated with gods including the ability to see and sense events around the world, to travel to and guide souls to the afterlife, and to be a general protector of the people. They also are long lived, though not immortal. Unlike more traditional gods, the role of Kami is an office which can be vacated and subsequently refilled by a mortal.

Kami on Earth

Throughout most of the series, the character known as 'Kami' on earth is a Namekian who no longer even remembers his real name, knowing only his father's: Katatsu. He became Kami after separating the evil out of himself, forming the self-proclaimed "Demon King" Piccolo. He watches over the Earth from a sanctuary lookout high above Karin-to (Karin Tower). When he wants to come down to the people, he appears to do so by temporarily taking control of someone's body. Because he is a Namekian, he also has the ability to create dragon balls, but this is not a skill that most Kamis have.

After Kami re-fuses with Piccolo in the Cell Saga, the post of Kami on Earth is left vacant for some time. Son Goku goes to New Namek and brings back Dende to serve as the planet's new Kami. This demonstrates the amount of influence Goku has by that latter point in the series -- that he is able to pick and install, without question, a new god in the heavenly bureaucracy.

Despite being essentially a god, the person who acts as Kami is not necessarily supremely powerful. By the start of Dragon Ball Z, virtually all of the main Z Fighters and their enemies are more powerful than Kami and his role becomes more of a support one.

On Earth, the office of Kami is watched over by Mr. Popo, an immortal djinn.

Kami on Namek

There is no Kami-sama on Planet Namek for that is a term from Earth. Many fans believe (with evidence both for and to the contrary) that the "God" of Namek is the Great Elder (Guru). Like Kami of Earth, he watches over his people and created the dragon balls for them.

The original Great Elder of Namek is never named. However, after his death in the Freeza Saga, the Namek elder Muri is given the position and control of the dragon balls. (In fact, as soon as he is given the position, the dragon balls recharge immediately instead of waiting one Namekian year.)

Kami on Planet Vegeta

The following applies only to the Dragon Ball Z anime and was not part of the original manga.

In the anime series, shortly after Goku arrived for training by the North Kaiô, it is revealed by North Kaiô (someone in a position of authority to know) that Planet Vegeta (homeworld of the Saiyans) was destroyed by its own version of Kami. According to North Kaiô, Planet Vegeta's Kami destroyed the planet via a meteor storm after realizing how evil the Saiyan race was.

Shortly afterwards, it is revealed that Freeza was to blame for Planet Vegeta's destruction. As it would be too great a stretch to believe that Freeza was Vegeta's Kami, some fans have attempted to justify this massive continuity error by suggesting that North Kaiô was outright lying to Goku in an attempt to keep him safe from Freeza. Facts confirming this come later in the anime series, when North Kaiô reveals that he knows about the existence of Freeza and begs Goku not to fight him because of his immense power. One must remember as well that a "God" or Kami-sama of a planet doesn't have to be Namekian.