Sansho

From The Character Database

SanshoDBZ

Sansho (サンショ Sansho) is one of Garlic Jr.'s original trio of henchmen in Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone

Names Sansho (サンショ Sansho)
Gender Male
Race Makayan
Occupation Henchman
Origin Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone|ドラゴンボール|Doragon Bōru Zetto|lit. Dragon Ball Z}}, also known as Dragon Ball Z: The Movie, Dragon Ball Z: Return My Gohan!!|ドラゴンボールZ オラの悟飯をかえせッ!!|Doragon Bōru Zetto Ora no Gohan o Kaese!! (July 15, 1989)
Alignment Evil
Age Unknown
Created By Takao Koyama, Daisuke Nishio
Height Varies
Weight Varies

Appearance[edit | edit source]

Sansho has a towering and muscular build, long red-purple sideburns, and a head with a unique shape that resembles a pickle. His distinct features emphasize his role as the group's brute strength.

Personality[edit | edit source]

Sansho is the strong and silent type, typically letting his actions speak louder than words. However, his limited intelligence is evident, as demonstrated when he parroted Goku's demand to "Return my Gohan!" even after his comrades, Nicky and Ginger, realized the mistake. Despite his physical strength, Sansho's confidence crumbles when faced with a superior opponent, as shown by his panic and cowardice when Piccolo easily outmatches him. In desperation, he even calls Piccolo a "monster."

Biography[edit | edit source]

Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone[edit | edit source]

Sansho first appears alongside Ginger and Nicky, ambushing Piccolo during his training. The trio later invades Goku's House, kidnapping Gohan to obtain the Dragon Ball on his hat. Sansho and Ginger subsequently retrieve the remaining Dragon Balls for Garlic Jr., allowing him to summon Shenron and gain immortality.

When Goku arrives at Garlic Castle to rescue Gohan, Sansho and his comrades transform into their powered-up Super states to confront him. Sansho becomes separated from the others and tries to take on Krillin but is intercepted by Piccolo. Overconfident, Sansho declares he can defeat Piccolo on his own but is swiftly overpowered. Piccolo punches him through several pillars and finishes him off with a devastating Ki Blast.

Fusion Reborn[edit | edit source]

Sansho makes a brief cameo in Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn during the chaos caused by Janemba, when the residents of Hell escape to Earth.

Powers and Statistics[edit | edit source]

Tier: At least 5-B, at most 5-A with Gigantification

Powers and Abilities: Skilled Martial Artist, Superhuman Physical Characteristics, Ki Manipulation (Advanced Level), Acrobatics, Ki Sensing, Flight, Transformation, Afterimages

Attack Potency: At least Planet level+ (Should be comparable to Ginger), at most Brown Dwarf level+ with Gigantification (Together with Nicky and Ginger, he defeated Beginning of Z Piccolo in a surprise attack and barely kept up with Goku)

Speed: At least Relativistic, at most Relativistic+ with Gigantification (Can barely keep up with a casual Goku)

Lifting Strength: Unknown

Striking Strength: At least Planet level+, at most Brown Dwarf level+ with Gigantification

Durability: At least Planet level+, at most Brown Dwarf level+ with Gigantification

Stamina: Superhuman

Range: Standard Melee Range, Planetary with ki blasts

Standard Equipment: None notable

Intelligence: Unknown

Weaknesses: None notable

Attacks and Techniques[edit | edit source]

Flight – The ability to fly using ki manipulation.

Kiai – A technique where Ginger releases an invisible shockwave of ki from his palm to attack or push back opponents.

Energy Wave – The most basic form of Ki Blast. Used in Dragon Ball Z: Kyōshū! Saiyan.

Unaju Fire – A fully-powered red energy wave shot from the palm. Named in Dragon Ball Heroes.

Unnamed Spinning Technique – A collaborative maneuver where Ginger, Nicky, and Sansho spin rapidly around their opponent, creating a vortex. They simultaneously attack while flying and finish by slamming the opponent into the ground.

Gigantification: By calling out his signature phrase, Sansho can transform into a larger and more muscular state, commonly referred to as his "Super" form. He utilizes this enhanced form during his battle with Goku to increase his power and durability.

Though this transformation closely resembles the one used by Garlic Jr., Spice, and Vinegar, there is some inconsistency in its classification. Daizenshuu 7 does not explicitly list Nicky among the users of this transformation, whereas Daizenshuu 6 identifies it as the same as Garlic Jr.'s form, suggesting a possible oversight or variation in interpretation between the guides.

Trivia[edit | edit source]

  • "Sansho" is the Japanese name for Sichuan pepper, further aligning with the theme of seasoning-based names for Garlic Jr.'s henchmen.
  • In the Japanese version, Sansho's battle cry is "Unaju" (eel rice). In the Ocean Group dubs, his battle cry is "Pepperoni," while in the Funimation dub, it was changed to "Cheese!" In the AB Groupe dub, he says "Ready, loser?" and in the Speedy dub, it's "Yunago."
  • Sansho is the only member of Garlic Jr.'s trio from Dead Zone who does not share his name with a town featured in the Imperfect Cell Saga.
  • He is also the only one of the trio killed by Piccolo, with Ginger and Nicky being killed by Goku.
  • In the AB Groupe dub of Dead Zone, Sansho went through three different voice actors.
  • In the original Funimation dub of Dead Zone, Sansho's voice was pitched down, but the remastered version uses the original pitch.