An interview from Akira Toriyama explains how he set Goku apart with one of the series’ first major arcs by keeping his hero from winning it all.

Dragon Ball became one of anime and manga’s most popular franchises of all time, despite getting off to a somewhat rocky start in terms of building popularity. One of the manga’s first big arcs, the Tenkaichi Budokai tournament, helped to turn this popularity around, but even knowing that this arc had driven attention to the series, creator Akira Toriyama still made a controversial decision: he had Goku lose the tournament.

Also known as the “World Martial Arts Tournament,” the Tenkaichi Budokai essentially saved Dragon Ball. The arc began when Toriyama was told by his editor that the series’ popularity was flagging. It brought back Master Roshi as a major character, introduced Krillin, and established a tournament tradition that would become a series mainstay.

This all helped to draw eyes back to Dragon Ball and turn it into the smash hit it would come to be known as. With Goku entering the tournament, many fans looked forward to seeing the young fighter emerge victorious, but Toriyama had other plans.

Toriyama’s Choice Not to Let Goku Win Helped the Series

In the first Tenkaichi Budokai of the series, Goku made it to the final round, pitted against Master Roshi in disguise as Jackie Chun. It seemed like a classic set-up, with Goku up against his new Master, ready to prove how far he’d come. However, Goku ended up losing the match, and Jackie Chun was crowned the winner of the tournament. No doubt fans were shocked by this turn of events, but they were looking forward to Goku’s comeback in the following tournament. However, Goku didn’t win the next one, either, instead being defeated by Tien Shinhan. It took Goku a surprising three attempts to come out on top.

According to a 1995 interview translated by Kanzenshuu, Toriyama had initially wanted Goku to win, but after hearing how many people around him expected that outcome, he decided to pull a “perverse” twist and have Goku lose the tournament. This may actually have been a good move, as fans who stuck around to see Goku succeed may well have tuned out and lost interest in the series if he had accomplished his goal so easily. After all, for young Goku, making it to the final round was an incredible achievement, and losing left him more room to grow.

Losing The Tenkaichi Set Up Goku On His Path Of Constant Improvement

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This also allowed the tournament to remain relevant to the series; if Goku won it on his first try, it wouldn’t be too exciting to see him do the same thing again, even if it was against new opponents. The Tenkaichi Budokai became a series staple, playing a role well into Dragon Ball Z, where it factored in as late as the Buu Saga. Goku losing the tournament subverted fan expectations in the best way, and gave Goku the motivation to continue training and growing, turning him into the character fans know and love today.

Dragon Ball might never have been the success it became had Goku won his first big tournament, so Toriyama’s impish desire to surprise fans may have been a critically important move.