In January of 2020, Himemori Luna made her debut as a member of the fourth generation of hololive, a group of virtual YouTubers or "VTubers" managed by hololive production.

Not only is she the princess of Candy Kingdom, but she's also obsessed with Dragon Ball! Sure enough, if you take a look at her daily streams and social media posts, you certainly get a clear sense of the love she has for the series.

We were curious what aspects of Dragon Ball specifically have kept her engaged for so long, so we sat down to talk with her highness about her favorite characters, scenes, how she enjoys watching her favorite Dragon Ball movies, and more! We've left no stone unturned, so read on for the full interview below!

*This interview was conducted remotely.

Contents

・Prince Vegeta Is My Favorite Character!
・Why Goku Is the "Number-One Hero"
・The Joy of Sharing Her Feelings with Viewers

Prince Vegeta Is My Favorite Character!

——Thank you for joining us today.

Luna: I'm so excited to be interviewed about how much I love Dragon Ball! I'll do my best to sound like a mature adult while I'm talking with you.

——I heard you came to love Dragon Ball through its anime adaptation. Can we start by having you talk about that in more detail?

Luna: I watched the Android arc through reruns on TV or something, and I was struck by how cool Trunks was... That was enough to get me interested, so I rented the DVDs and binged right through them!

I still rewatch the anime, but I especially like the movies. I've watched all of them in theaters since Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods.

——What do you think is the most appealing aspect of Dragon Ball?

Luna: The characters are all really unique, so they leave you with a strong impression. Also, the story is easy to follow, and I love the voice actors' performances! The way the main cast perform their roles with such intensity gives me chills whenever I watch fighting scenes and the like.

And I might come across as a bit obsessive by saying this, but I really enjoy delving into all the character's relationships, like Piccolo and Gohan's master/student dynamic or how Goku and Vegeta's rivalry changes, how Vegeta and Bulma become husband and wife, or the father/son relationship between Vegeta and Trunks... Oh dear, I'm talking a lot about Prince Vegeta, aren't I? (laughs)

Dragon Ball is widely known as an awesome fighting manga, but I feel so incredibly moved when I watch the parts that touch on family, friendship, and relationships.

——It might be because the characters are so individualistic like you said that putting them all together naturally creates a lot of drama. Can I ask who your favorite character is at the moment?

Luna: My favorite has to be Prince Vegeta. Everyone knows how evil he was when he debuted in the story, but because I first started watching during the Android arc, I was surprised to learn he used to be such a bad guy when I watched through Dragon Ball Z Kai. It was quite a shock!

But the way he talks, acts, and his overall personality slowly change, all culminating in the scene at the beginning of the Majin Buu arc when he attempts to rid the world of the newly awoken terror. The moment when he tells Trunks, "Take care of Mom..." made me realize how much he had changed.

——Since you started at the Android arc rather than the beginning, the way Vegeta appeared in his debut must have seemed like a completely different character to you. Next, could you tell me what your favorite scene is?

Luna: It's the scene from the movie Dragon Ball Z: Broly – Second Coming, where Gohan, Goten and Trunks are fighting Broly, but he's just too strong, and Gohan and Goten are in real danger.

Goku, who's still dead at that point, suddenly comes in and the three of them fire a Kamehameha. That scene is packed with so much emotion that it leaves me in awe, and I can't help but think, "It has to be Goku. The world needs Goku."

——That Family Kamehameha is definitely a powerful scene. Are there any techniques that you've imitated before?

Luna: I used to think I'd be able to pull off the Buku-jutsu (Levitation Technique) someday. There's a scene where Gohan teaches Videl how to fly, right? Watching that made me feel like I could do it too, but try as I might, I just couldn't fly. It still makes me sad...

——That was a very charming episode! By the way, if you were to become a character in Dragon Ball, how would you want to be a part of that world?

Luna: Ohhh, that's a tough one. I think I'd like to be Karin's apprentice so that I could watch over everyone down on Earth. I don't think I'd want to be a character who gets involved in any of the battles.

——In that case, you could watch as Vegeta or Piccolo are fighting and pray for Goku to make it in time to save the day.

Luna: I'd hate for my presence to change the story or world in any way, so I'd rather watch over things from afar. But you know what, on second thought I don't even want that... I just want to watch Dragon Ball as a fan! (laughs)

Why Goku Is the "Number-One Hero"

——One of your picks during "Haruman!! 2022"* was Dragon Ball, where you stated that Goku was the "number-one hero". Can you tell us more about what you find interesting about Goku?

*A spring manga festival held by Shueisha featuring a collaboration with hololive production members in which 35 members, including Luna, introduced fans to the top three manga they recommended for spring.

Luna: I love how Goku's always so positive and believes that things will work out somehow. Vegeta and the other characters have moments of depression, but even when Goku expresses doubts over whatever predicament they're in, it never feels like there's any reason to worry. He's an amazing fighter, but he's also strong mentally. There are times when I feel sad or worried too, so I find myself drawn to Goku's positive outlook.

——What do you think makes a "hero"?

Luna: Someone who provides a sense of security so that no matter how desperate things seem, as long as that person is there, everyone around them will feel safe. That's what makes someone a hero in my opinion.

Luna: In the movie Dragon Ball Z: Wrath of the Dragon, just as everyone is on the verge of defeat, the climax of the movie has Goku transform into Super Saiyan 3 to take one last stand against Hirudegan. Everyone else has been beaten, and Goku's the one who stands up to fight. It really embodies the film's Japanese title, Gokū ga Yaraneba Dare ga Yaru ("If Goku Won't Do It, Who Will?").

—Thank you very much. Are there any other characters who you think qualify as a hero besides Goku?

Luna: His father, Bardock. I was so moved by how he fought against Frieza and his entire army by himself, determined to change the fate of Planet Vegeta and the Saiyan race. I'm not sure if he fits the mold of a hero I described earlier, but I really like Bardock too.

—There's something profound about both Goku and Bardock, the father he never knew, being the answer to the same question about heroes. One is a hero in plain sight, while the other fought heroically in the shadows.

Luna: You're right... Bardock’s story is tragic. It doesn't have the usual happy ending at all. But that's what I love about it.

The Joy of Sharing Her Feelings with Viewers

——I heard you also went to see Dragon Ball Super: SUPER HERO in theaters. I'd love to hear what you thought of it.

Luna: Goku's been the main character in most of the movies, so knowing that Piccolo and Gohan would be the lead characters made me curious about how the story would unfold as I watched it. The scenes showing Piccolo training Pan like he once trained her dad when he was little were just adorable. I found myself thinking, "Like father, like daughter".

And it was wonderful to see an adult Gohan fighting so intensely after so long. The fight scenes were so cool that I actually went to see it twice. But I think my favorite part of the movie was Gamma 2.

——Oh yes, one of the two new Androids who were introduced in this movie.

Luna: Even though they're Androids, they're so different from Androids 17 and 18. I kept wondering, "Just who are these characters?" as I watched the movie, only to find out they were incredibly kind with a strong sense of justice. I thought Gamma 2 was especially amazing when he sacrificed himself to save everyone.

Piccolo had a lot to do in the movie too! He takes care of so many people, and he just can't turn Gohan or Videl down when they ask for a favor. And seeing him take a stuffed animal he didn't want as a token of appreciation and add it to a huge pile made me laugh. Even in the original manga, Piccolo's character changes as the story progresses, so it was really interesting to see how he had changed even more in the movie.

——Regarding how you've watched all the movies in theaters since Battle of Gods, what do you find appealing about the theater-going experience versus watching at home?

Luna: The fight scenes are so much more intense since the screens at the theater are so big. And I also like to look around the theater to see what kind of people are coming to watch Dragon Ball movies. I like watching them at home too, but watching in a theater makes me happy because I can see how many fellow Dragon Ball fans there are.

I talk about Dragon Ball with viewers when I'm streaming too. It's fun to share our favorite scenes or what parts made us feel moved or emotional. People will tell me how they interpreted a scene and I'll be like, "Oh! I never thought of it like that!" It's a great opportunity to gain a different perspective.

—There are probably many people in your audience who have been watching or reading Dragon Ball ever since it first came out, right?

Luna: Oh yes, there are some real experts out there. A lot of people can quote lines seemingly from memory, which helps me remember them too. There are so many famous lines in Dragon Ball that I quote when it's on TV, like, "Burst and mix!" and "I've always loved fireworks!"

—Those are interesting choices! Dragon Ball is a franchise that people love regardless of gender or age. Can you elaborate on what draws women and girls to it too instead of just boys?

Luna: For me, the fact that Trunks is so cool was certainly a factor in the beginning, but when you watch it more intently and learn about the characters' personalities and their relationships, that's when the true appeal of the show really comes through.

For example, if you only watched the new movie, you would think Piccolo is a kind person who looks after others, but that's completely different from how he used to be. So while I was watching SUPER HERO, I just wanted to leap through the screen and shout, "Piccolo, what's going on with you?!"

All the characters have a wide array of personality traits, so people can see new aspects of the characters by keeping up with the latest works. That's something that I want as many people as possible to know.

Himemori Luna
The princess of Candy Kingdom.
She's affectionate and loves being pampered, but her butler often scolds her for acting too spoiled.
Her moon-shaped accessories are said to be the crest of a country in another world.
YouTube Channel
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Interviewer/Writer: Yuuka Higaki