Bora
Bora (ボラ) is a tall and muscular warrior who lives with his son, Upa, in the Sacred Land of Korin at the base of Korin Tower, where they dwell in a tepee.
| Names | Bora, (ボラ) |
| Gender | Male |
| Race | Human |
| Occupation | Village Cheif |
| Origin | Dragon Ball Chapter 84: "The Karin Sanctuary"'(聖地カリンの親子 Seichi Karin no Oyako lit. "The Father and Son of the Karin Holy Land") July 22, 1986 (Weekly Shōnen Jump, 1986 #34) |
| Alignment | Good |
| Age | Unknown |
| Created By | Akira Toriyama |
| Height | Not Stated |
| Weight | Not Stated |
Appearance[edit | edit source]
Bora is a towering man with a tan complexion and a strong, well-defined physique. His black hair reaches his upper back and is tied in a ponytail. He has a distinctive cross-shaped scar on the right side of his chest. His attire includes brown trousers, shoes, ribbons tied around each arm, and a necklace made of animal tusks, leaving his upper body bare.
Decades later, Bora's appearance remains largely unchanged despite his advanced age. He retains his muscular build, with only slight wrinkles on his face and no visible grey hair, a testament to his enduring vitality.
Personality[edit | edit source]
Bora is a steadfast and honorable man, deeply devoted to his son Upa and the protection of their homeland, the Sacred Land of Korin. He exhibits a strong sense of duty, placing the well-being of his people and their sacred traditions above his own safety. Bora is courageous and resolute, willing to face powerful enemies such as the Red Ribbon Army and Mercenary Tao without hesitation to protect what he holds dear.
Despite his imposing and stoic demeanor, Bora is kind-hearted and compassionate. He shows great respect for those who demonstrate good intentions, such as Goku, whom he willingly aids and rewards with the Four-Star Dragon Ball after recognizing his pure motives. Bora is also wise and perceptive, teaching Upa the importance of safeguarding powerful objects like the Dragon Balls from falling into the wrong hands.
Bora's dedication to his values is unwavering, even in the face of death. His bravery and selflessness inspire those around him, and he remains a symbol of strength and integrity throughout the series.
Biography[edit | edit source]
Dragon Ball[edit | edit source]
Commander Red Saga[edit | edit source]
Bora became a target of the Red Ribbon Army after discovering the Four-Star Dragon Ball, which fell from an erupting volcano while he was shielding his son Upa from falling rocks. Soon after, Captain Yellow and his troops arrived, interrogating Bora about the Dragon Ball. When Bora refused to hand it over, the soldiers attempted to kill him, but Bora easily defeated them, as their bullets had no effect on him. With only Captain Yellow left, the situation escalated when Upa was captured and threatened with being thrown off a plane. Fearing for his son’s life, Bora reluctantly agreed to surrender the Dragon Ball.
Before the exchange could be completed, Goku intervened, defeating Captain Yellow and saving Upa. Grateful for Goku's selfless motives, Bora gladly gave him the Four-Star Dragon Ball.
Their brief peace was shattered when the assassin Mercenary Tao arrived, tasked with killing Goku. Bora intervened to protect his new friend but was tragically killed when Tao hurled him into the air and impaled him with his own spear, leaving Upa devastated.
Goku, determined to avenge Bora, climbed Korin Tower to increase his strength, defeated Mercenary Tao, and went on to dismantle the Red Ribbon Army at its headquarters. Later, after locating the last Dragon Ball by overcoming Fortuneteller Baba’s challenges and thwarting Emperor Pilaf, Goku used the Dragon Balls to summon Shenron and wish Bora back to life.
Revived, Bora emerged from his grave to find Shenron, Goku, and an overjoyed Upa, who immediately embraced him. After learning of his resurrection, Bora expressed heartfelt gratitude to Goku and Shenron for restoring his life.
King Piccolo Saga[edit | edit source]
Bora aids Goku again during the King Piccolo Saga by throwing Yajirobe, who was carrying an injured Goku on his back, up Korin Tower so Goku could receive healing and guidance from Korin after his brutal defeat by King Piccolo.
Mystical Adventure[edit | edit source]
Bora and his son, Upa, are at the Sacred Land of Korin when the Mifan Army invades, forcing residents to search for a Dragon Ball hidden in the area. Already in possession of the ball, Upa questions why they shouldn't hand it over. Bora explains that if the Dragon Ball holds great power, it should not fall into the hands of such men.
The two travel to Mifan and dine at a local restaurant, only to be interrupted by soldiers searching for them. General Tao confronts Bora, but Master Roshi intervenes, defusing the situation. Later, after befriending Goku and his allies, Bora participates in Chiaotzu's Tournament.
In the tournament, Bora defeats Yamcha but is matched against Tao. Despite being overpowered, Bora refuses to reveal the Dragon Ball's location. Enraged, Tao hurls Bora onto a spear held by a statue, killing him.
Bora is eventually revived by Shenron, reuniting with his son, Upa.
Dragon Ball Z and GT[edit | edit source]
Saiyan Saga[edit | edit source]
Bora briefly appears when the Dragon Team arrives at The Lookout to train for the upcoming battle against Vegeta and Nappa. During this time, Launch searches Bora's tepee for supplies to climb Korin Tower in hopes of reuniting with Tien Shinhan. Bora and Upa discover her rummaging and promptly ask her to leave.
Majin Buu Saga[edit | edit source]
Bora is later seen in the Kid Buu Saga alongside Upa and their tribe, contributing their energy to Goku’s Super Spirit Bomb to help defeat Kid Buu. A woman with an infant resembling a young Upa is present, suggesting that either Bora or Upa has started a family.
Baby Saga[edit | edit source]
Bora appears again with Upa and their tribe when they are evacuated by Super Saiyan 4 Goku to New Planet Plant before Earth is destroyed due to the effects of the Black Star Dragon Balls.
Powers and Statistics[edit | edit source]
Tier: At least 9-B
Powers and Abilities: Superhuman Physical Characteristics, Expert Hand-to-Hand Combatant and Skilled Spearman
Attack Potency: At least Wall level (Is considered one of the strongest humans of his time which should make him comparable to likes of Colonel Silver, easily defeated several Red Ribbon Army soldiers)
Speed: Superhuman
Lifting Strength: Class K (Lifted military helicopters)
Striking Strength: At least Wall level
Durability: At least Wall level (Completely unaffected by bullets and trashed Red Ribbon Army's helicopters)
Stamina: Peak Human
Range: Standard Melee Range, Extended Melee Range with spear, but can throw things at Kilometeres (Able to throw both Yajirobe and Goku far above the clouds.)
Standard Equipment: Spear
Intelligence: Above Average (A lot of knowledge surviving in wild, expert in combat and skilled spearman)
Weaknesses: None Notable
Trivia[edit | edit source]
- Bora is the first known character in the series to be resurrected using the Dragon Balls.
- His death is one of the few instances censored not only in the edited version of the episode where it occurs but also in all subsequent edited episodes leading up to his revival.
- In episode 78 of Dragon Ball, titled "The Eternal Dragon Rises," a close-up of a drawing on Korin Tower shows the face of a Native American, which changes into one resembling Bora during a flash of lightning.
- After his resurrection, Bora vowed to repay Goku someday. He fulfills this vow in Dragon Ball Z by convincing his people to contribute their energy to Goku's Spirit Bomb to defeat Kid Buu.
