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"Master! What are you doing? Have you forgotten your code master? Please, That's wrong, dead wrong... now I understand why you couldn't ride your cloud."
— "The Nimbus Cloud of Roshi"


Turtle (ウミガメ Umigame, lit. "Sea Turtle") is Master Roshi's friend and long-time companion. The good-natured, lovable turtle lives in Kame House with the elderly hermit.

Appearance[]

Turtle has a brown shell with a pale body, with spots on the flippers and head, making him resemble an oversized (perhaps due to his great age) Loggerhead sea turtle

Personality[]

His personality is strict and virtuous, exactly the opposite of Master Roshi's, and so he often acts as Roshi's chaperone.[1] As well as being kind-hearted, he also has a sense of gratitude as he brought Master Roshi to Goku and Bulma with intention in rewarding them (specifically and mainly Goku) as a thank you for returning him to the sea.

In Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot during the game's first Sub Story, Turtle is shown to resort to stealing Master Roshi's Dirty Magazine and burying it to force Master Roshi to control his sinful desires. However, Master Roshi enlists Goku to find Turtle and get the magazine back. Goku finds out Turtle is behind Kame House from Bulma and asks him about the magazine. Turtle reveals he hid it and doesn't plan on telling Goku where it is as he is doing it for Master Roshi's own good. However, he slips up by saying it is in the ground where it should be revealing to Goku that he buried it. Goku searches around outside Kame House and finds it buried near a palm tree on the side of Kame House and digs up the Key Item Girly Book which he returns to a grateful Master Roshi who notes he was right to take Goku on as his student and says that he's counting on him the next time Turtle tries to hide it again indicating it is likely he's pulled similar stunts in the past in the hope it will force Master Roshi to live a more virtuously.

Biography[]

Background[]

He used to be just an ordinary loggerhead turtle but became able to speak after living over many centuries with Master Roshi.

Dragon Ball[]

Emperor Pilaf Saga[]

GokuAndTurtleDB

Turtle mistaken for a rock

After a year of being lost while picking mushrooms (in the Funimation dub this was changed to him getting in a race with a hare as a reference to the classic fable "The Tortoise and the Hare" presumably in reference to Goku's habit of mistakenly calling Turtle a Tortoise), Turtle ended up in Skull Valley one morning where he met Goku and was almost mistaken for a rock. After Bulma gave him some sea water, Goku decided to take Turtle 100 miles on his back to return him to the sea. On the way he was going to be eaten by a Bear Thief, but Goku defeated him very easily and continued on their way. When he got brought back, he went back to Kame House to get his owner, Master Roshi who rewarded Goku with the Flying Nimbus and Bulma with the Three-Star Dragon Ball. Turtle saw Goku again when he came with Chi-Chi to retrieve the Bansho Fan from Roshi, but Turtle reminded Roshi that he accidentally threw it out and Roshi had to go and put the flames out himself.

Tournament Saga[]

While Roshi trained Goku and Krillin, Turtle went on vacation.

Red Ribbon Army Saga[]

When Turtle returned from his vacation, Goku and Bulma were at Kame House awaiting a submarine that Krillin and Launch were currently using. Turtle was reunited with his lost son when Goku was catching fish during his wait.

Turtle&Roshi

Turtle with Master Roshi

Shortly after Goku, Bulma and Krillin left, Captain Dark and his men arrived to try to take over the island. Turtle helps defeat them by making Launch sneeze and turn into her bad form, allowing her to defeat a muscular soldier who was going to shoot her. In the manga, General Blue alludes to Turtle when relaying a report regarding the defeat of Dark's unit at the hands of Roshi and Launch, and also implying Turtle himself was a formidable threat. When Goku, Bulma and Krillin return, Launch's bad form steals the diamond they brought from the Pirate Cave and leaves the island. Soon, General Blue manages to make it on the island and ties everybody up, including Turtle, with magic ropes. Launch's good form comes back and saves the day when she releases Goku, and he gets rid of the bomb. Turtle later joins everybody else when they attempt to help Goku fight off the Red Ribbon Army. When the gang gets to the Red Ribbon Army Headquarters, the army was already defeated by Goku.

Tien Shinhan Saga[]

Turtle attends the 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament with Launch, Puar, Oolong and Bulma.

King Piccolo Saga[]

Turtle is seen with Oolong and Puar as Bulma places Chiaotzu and Master Roshi's corpses in freezing capsules just as she did with Krillin.

Piccolo Jr. Saga[]

Db150-03

Turtle reads Roshi's fantasy book

When Goku and Chi-Chi visit Kame House to find info about the Bansho Fan, Turtle reads for them how on to make it in an old fantasy book written by Master Roshi. When reading, Turtle is seen wearing glasses.

Dragon Ball Z[]

Saiyan Saga[]

Goku,Roshi,KrillinAndGohanOnATurtle

Gohan riding Turtle

Turtle is seen at Kame House with Bulma, Krillin and Master Roshi when Goku arrives with Gohan. Little Gohan is seen riding on him happily, and witnesses Raditz inform Goku of his past and who he really is, and kidnaps Gohan, but is later defeated by Piccolo and Goku teaming up. A year later, he is seen with everybody else watching the fight against the Saiyans on television.

Frieza-Androids Interlude[]

2867

Turtle celebrates his 1,000th birthday

In the anime, Turtle celebrates his 1,000th birthday at Kame House with Roshi, Krillin, Maron, Gohan, Chi-Chi, Ox-King, Bulma, Yamcha, Puar, and Oolong.

Androids Saga[]

TurtleFighter

Turtle takes a fighting stance against a pair attempting to take advantage of Maron

Turtle defends Maron from two males who arrived at Roshi's Island and tried to take advantage of her. Turtle beats both of them up using martial arts. Maron tries to thank him by kissing him, but Turtle hides his head in his shell because he doesn't want to be distrusting to Krillin. However, this upsets Maron, and she leaves the island, much to Turtle's shock.

World Tournament Saga[]

Turtle is seen at Kame House with Master Roshi when Gohan tells Krillin about the 25th World Martial Arts Tournament.

Majin Buu Saga[]

It is likely that Turtle was killed when Kid Buu blew up the Earth but was revived when Dende wished for everyone on Earth to be revived by Porunga. Near the end of the Buu Saga, Turtle appears at Bulma's party.

Dragon Ball Daima[]

Daima Saga[]

Turtle is seen outside of Kame House when Goku came to get the Power Pole from Master Roshi. Turtle then looks at the clothesline and realizes it's the Power Pole.[2]

Dragon Ball Super[]

God of Destruction Beerus Saga[]

Turtle goes to Bulma's birthday which is on a huge cruise liner.

"Future" Trunks Saga[]

Goku seals immortal Turtle Black

Goku practicing Evil Containment Wave on Turtle.

When Master Roshi teaches Goku the Evil Containment Wave, Goku practices the technique on Turtle, and uses it successfully after several tries.

Galactic Patrol Prisoner Saga[]

Turtle is on The Lookout with the others watching the Dragon Team battle Moro.[3] They then gives their ki to Dende so he can give it to Goku.[4] Turtle celebrated with everyone else when Goku defeated Moro and goes to Satan House for a celebration feast.[5]

Dragon Ball GT[]

Shadow Dragon Saga[]

Turtle is one of the few characters that Goku bids farewell to after departing with Shenron.

Super Dragon Ball Heroes[]

Universal Conflict Saga[]

Turtle watches as Master Roshi destroys a shard of the God Meteor.

Film Appearances[]

Curse of the Blood Rubies[]

Turtle makes a brief appearance at Kame House when Goku and his friends arrive to visit Master Roshi.

Mystical Adventure[]

Mystical Adventure - Turtle scared from Launch

Turtle afraid from bad Launch in Mystical Adventure

Turtle accompanies Master Roshi, Goku and Krillin on their visit to Mifan so that they can take part in a Martial Arts Tournament.

The Path to Power[]

Turtle(PtP)

Turtle in The Path to Power

While Oolong is driving, he narrowly avoids running over Turtle while crossing the road. Turtle explains to Goku and Bulma that while he was on a trip to gather mushrooms he got lost a year ago. He asks them if they can help him return to the sea and they do so. He asks them to wait for him as he goes to fetch their reward and returns the next morning with Master Roshi. He is later caught up in the troubles with the Red Ribbon Army until Goku puts an end to them.

Dead Zone[]

Turtle appears briefly at Kame House when Goku heads there to retrieve the Dragon Radar from Bulma.

The World's Strongest[]

When the Bio-Man arrive at Kame House in search of Master Roshi, Turtle is the one to greet them.

Other Dragon Ball Stories[]

The Return of Son Goku and Friends![]

Turtle(Jmp)

Turtle in The Return of Son Goku and Friends!

Two years after Kid Buu's defeat, Turtle is attending Mr. Satan's banquet at his newly made hotel for defeating Buu along Master Roshi and co. On the way to the banquet, Goku gets Turtle's name wrong, saying "Urigome" rather than "Umigame". At the banquet, the celebration is then crashed by a brother duo, Abo and Kado, whom are after Vegeta's brother, Tarble. The brothers are challenged by Goten and Trunks but they fail in defeating them. The brothers, merged as Aka, unleash a technique that destroyed the hotel. Aka is then defeated by Goku with a Kamehameha. After this encounter, they continue their feast.

Kakarot[]

Saiyan Saga Episode 1

In Kakarot, Turtle appears as one of several supporting characters that appear as NPCs. During Saiyan Saga Episode 1, when Goku takes Gohan to Kame House to introduce him to Master Roshi, Krillin, Bulma, and Turtle, Goku greets Turtle but retains his habit of calling him Tortoise causing Turtle to correct him. Turtle is acting oddly and suddenly Master Roshi shouts in anger, causing Turtle to leave abruptly. Master Roshi appears and realizes Turtle fled and tells Goku that Turtle stole his book. This triggers the game's first Sub Story "Master Roshi's Prized Possession".

Sub Story - Master Roshi's Prized Possession

Goku asks what kind of book it is and Master Roshi calls it a "Swimsuit Collection". Goku thinks to himself the perverted old hermit hasn't changed and goes to find Turtle so he can get Master Roshi's book back for him. He asks Bulma who tells him that she saw Turtle go behind Kame House. Goku finds Turtle and asks him about the book. Turtle claims he did it for Master Roshi's own good as he needs to learn self control and refuses to tell Goku where he hid it. However, he slips up when he says it's in the ground where it belongs revealing to Goku that he buried it. Goku searches around outside Kame House and finds where he buried the Girly Book and returns it to Master Roshi who is pleased to have his magazine back. He notes he was right to take Goku on as a student and says he is counting on him to find it again if Turtle tries hiding it again. This ends the first Sub Story.

Post Saiyan Saga Episode 2

After Goku's death while fighting Raditz alongside Piccolo, Turtle appears at Blake Bog. It is implied that he got lost again and ended up at Blake Bog in the Central Plains Area during the period that the Z Warriors were training to confront the Saiyans. However, eventually he apparently manages to find his way back to Kame House without assistance indicating he's gotten better at finding his way back to the sea on his own.

Frieza Saga Episode 1
Sub Story Tough Break for Turtle
Turtle in kakarot games

Turtle inside Kame House during the point where the Sub Story "Tough Break for Turtle" becomes available in Kakarot

During Frieza Saga Episode 1 before Gohan, Krillin, and Bulma leave for Planet Namek, Gohan can find Turtle inside Kame House. Speaking to him will trigger the Sub Story "Tough Break for Turtle".

Gohan notices Turtle looks troubled and asks what's bothering him. Turtle reveals he noticed that Master Roshi's refrigerator is low on food. Gohan offers to help him restock the refrigerator and Turtle tells him what they need. He notes one of the items they need is a special type of Tomato which one can only get from a farm located in Southwest Mountains Area which happens to be down the road from Goku's House on the riverside opposite of Diablo Desert. Gohan goes to collect the Tomato and other ingredients. Once he acquires all of them he returns to Kame House. Turtle is relieved that they have managed to restock the refrigerator. However Master Roshi comes in and asks what they were doing and Gohan tells him about restocking the refrigerator. Master Roshi decides to celebrate Gohan's visit and helpfulness by holding a party. After the party, Gohan and Turtle lament the food they collected is gone and they're back to square one. However Roshi tells them not to worry as he will go grocery shopping to restock the refrigerator. This puts Turtle's mind at ease and he thanks Gohan for his help. Completing this Sub Story rewards the player with Turtle's Soul Emblem and unlocks his Z Encyclopedia entry in the Characters section.

Power[]

Turtle is just a giant turtle. He possesses little martial art skills, ki abilities or anything unnatural traits.

Turtle's power level is 0.001 early in Dragon Ball Z, as revealed when Bulma tests Raditz's scouter in the Vegeta Saga. This is most likely a joke, as in a later filler episode, Turtle easily fends off a pair of young men to protect Maron using Toshio's Turtle Style. On a similar note, he used a move similar to Rapid Movement to stand in front of Maron against the aforementioned two men before beating them up.

Manga Appearances[]

Chapter Appearances
v  e
Emperor Pilaf Saga
1. Bloomers and the Monkey King Absent
2. No Balls! Debut
3. Sea Monkeys! Appears
4. They Call Him...the Turtle Hermit! Appears
5. Oo! Oo! Oolong! Absent
6. So Long, Oolong! Absent
7. Yamcha and Pu'ar Absent
8. One, Two, Yamcha-Cha! Absent
9. Dragon Balls in Danger!! Absent
10. Onward to Fry-Pan... Absent
11. ...And into the Fire! Absent
12. In Search of Kame-Sen'nin Absent
13. Fanning the Flame Appears
14. Kame Kame Kame Kame Kame Chameleon Absent
15. At Sixes and Sevens Absent
16. One Goal, One Enemy Absent
17. Carrot Top Absent
18. Who's Got My Balls?! Absent
19. At Last... the Dragon! Absent
20. Just One Wish!! Absent
21. Full Moon Absent
22. The End of the Tale Absent
23. Separate Ways Absent
v  e
Tournament Saga
24. The High Price of Education Absent
25. A Rival Arrives!! Mentioned
26. Who's That Girl? Absent
27. Nothing to Sneeze At Absent
28. Let the Training Begin! Absent
29. Bad Day at Turtle Rock Absent
30. Milk Run Absent
31. It Only Gets Harder Absent
32. Let the Contest Begin!! Absent
33. Hard Work Pays!! Absent
34. Strongest Under the Heavens! Absent
35. The Battle is Set!! Absent
36. Match No. 1 Absent
37. Match No. 2 Absent
38. Water and Cheesecake! Absent
39. Monster Smash Absent
40. The Tail of Goku Absent
41. Kuririn vs. Jackie Chun Absent
42. The Big Fight Absent
43. The Mysterious Jackie Chun Absent
44. The Name of the Game is Namu Absent
45. Taking the Air Absent
46. The Final Match Absent
47. The Kamehameha Absent
48. One Lucky Monkey Absent
49. The Big Sleep Absent
50. Jackie's Shocking Secret Absent
51. And the Crowd Goes Wild!!! Absent
52. The Climax Approaches! Absent
53. The Final Blow Absent
54. On the Road Again Absent
v  e
General Blue Saga
70. Bulma's Big Mistake! Absent
71. The Turtle is Spotted! Appears
72. The Blue Meanies Appears
73. The Wrong Turtle to Mess With Appears
74. The Pirates' Trap Absent
75. Robot in Waiting! Absent
76. The Treasure! Absent
77. Bright Blue Eyes Absent
78. The Great Escape! Absent
79. Run, Run, Run! Absent
80. The Three Stolen Dragon Balls Appears
81. Chased to Penguin Village! Absent
82. The Broken Dragon Radar Absent
83. The Stolen Dragon Radar Absent
v  e
Commander Red Saga
84. The Karin Sanctuary Absent
85. Taopaipai the Assassin Absent
86. The Devastating Dodon-Pa!!! Absent
87. The Great Climb Absent
88. Sage of the Karin Tower Absent
89. A Drink of Water Absent
90. Son Goku Strikes Back! Absent
91. Battle in the Sanctuary!! Absent
92. Taopaipai at the Brink Absent
93. Goku's Charge Appears
94. Attack from the Sky Appears
95. The Fall of Commander Red Absent
96. The Triumph! Absent
v  e
Fortuneteller Baba Saga
97. The Lost Dragon Ball Appears
98. The All-Seeing Crone Absent
99. The Five Champions Absent
100. Battle of the Bleeders Absent
101. The Devil's Cesspool Absent
102. Goku at the Plate! Absent
103. The Power of Goku Absent
104. The Beam of Evil Absent
105. The Last Champion Absent
106. Strong vs. Strong Absent
107. To Win By a Tail Absent
108. Son Gohan Absent
109. A Second Helping of Pilaf Absent
110. The Pilaf Machine Absent
111. Reenter the Dragon Absent
112. Go, Goku, Go! Absent
v  e
Tien Shinhan Saga
113. Return to the Tournament Appears
114. The Qualifying Rounds Absent
115. King Chappa Appears
116. The Doctored Lottery Appears
117. Yamcha's Kamehameha! Absent
118. The Cruelty of Tenshinhan Absent
119. The Full Moon Grudge Appears
120. Look Out! The Dodon Blast! Absent
121. Kuririn's Master Plan Absent
122. Goku vs. Panpoot Appears
123. Tenshinhan vs. Jackie Chun Absent
124. Young Tenshinhan Absent
125. Goku vs. Kuririn Appears
126. Goku vs. Kuririn, Part 2 Absent
127. Goku vs. Kuririn, Part 3 Appears
128. Goku vs. Tenshinhan Absent
129. The Volleyball Play Appears
130. The Fist of the Sun Appears
131. Tsuru-Sen'nin Absent
132. The Arms Race Absent
133. Desperation Move Appears
134. Up in the Air Appears
v  e
King Piccolo Saga
135. The Death of Kuririn Absent
136. Target: Tenka'ichi Budokai Appears
137. We Need You, Goku! Appears
138. The Weirdo with the Ball Absent
139. Yajirobe's Prey Absent
140. The Martial Artist Hunters Absent
141. Goku vs. Tambourine Absent
142. Piccolo Descends! Absent
143. Goku vs. The Demon King Absent
144. Goku... Loses? Absent
145. The Muten-Rōshi's Decision Absent
146. The Mafū-Ba Absent
147. The Demon King of Old... Restored! Absent
148. Go Ask Karin! Absent
149. World Domination Absent
150. Karin's Quandary Absent
151. The Superest Super Water!!! Absent
152. Piccolo's World Appears
153. Tenshinhan's Resolve Absent
154. Tenshinhan vs. Drum Absent
155. Guess Who's Back? Absent
156. Fury Absent
157. The Immortal Battle Absent
158. Goku's Greatest Crisis! Absent
159. The Blasted Earth Absent
160. Goku's Final Gamble Absent
161. The Fist of Son Goku Absent
v  e
Piccolo Jr. Saga
162. The Niyoi-bo's Secret Appears
163. The Sanctuary of Kami-sama Absent
164. Enter God Absent
165. Shen Long Resurrected! Appears
166. The Reunion Absent
167. New Challengers Absent
168. The 8 Finalists Absent
169. Tenshinhan vs. Taopaipai Absent
170. The Assassin's Struggle Absent
171. Goku Gets Married! Absent
172. Kuririn vs. Demon Junior Absent
173. Kuririn vs. Demon Junior, Part 2 Absent
174. Yamcha vs. Shen Absent
175. Shen Absent
176. Goku vs. Tenshinhan Absent
177. Goku vs. Tenshinhan, Part 2 Absent
178. Tenshinhan's Secret Move! Absent
179. The Two Weak Points Absent
180. Kami-sama vs. the Demon King Absent
181. God's Miscalculation Absent
182. The Fated Showdown! Absent
183. Testing the Waters Absent
184. The Real Fight Absent
185. The Super Kamehameha Absent
186. Panic at the Tenkaichi Budokai! Absent
187. Piccolo's Super Giantification Spell Absent
188. Goku's Fight Absent
189. The Demon King's Final Gamble Absent
190. Piccolo Destroys Everything! Absent
191. The 10 Count Absent
192. The Last Gasp! Absent
193. The Fate of the Strongest Absent
194. The Gift of the Dragon Balls Absent
v  e
Raditz Saga
195. The Mysterious Warrior From Space Absent
196. Kakarrot Appears
197. Tails of Future Not-Quite-Past Absent
198. An Enemy in Common Appears
199. An Unexpected Strength Absent
200. Nothing Up My Sleeve... Absent
201. Piccolo's Farewell to Arms!? Absent
202. A Surprise Appearance Absent
203. Sayonara, Goku Absent
204. The Needs of the Many Absent
205. A Warrior in Hell Absent
206. Gohan and Piccolo Absent
v  e
Vegeta Saga
206. Gohan and Piccolo Absent
207. Son Gohan, the Inconsolable Absent
208. Deeds Done by the Full Moon Absent
209. Goku and Gohan's Training Begins!! Absent
210. Masters and Students Absent
211. The Hardest Time of His Death Absent
212. Closer... Closer... Appears
213. The Day of the Saiyans Appears
214. Let the Games Begin! Absent
215. One Down... Absent
216. Heroes in Terror Absent
217. Hope Runs Out Absent
218. The Last Blast Absent
219. Goku, Hurry! Absent
220. Back From the Other Side Absent
221. The Time Draws Near Absent
222. The Death of a God!! Absent
223. Piccolo's Last Stand Absent
224. The Quiet Wrath of Son Goku Absent
225. Vengeance Absent
226. The Mystery of the Kaio-ken Absent
227. The Last of Nappa Absent
228. Mano a Maniac!! Absent
229. The Decisive Battle at Last! Absent
230. Too Much Power? Appears
231. Battle in the Red Zone!! Absent
232. The Moon Absent
233. The Energy Sphere Absent
234. All That Power... Absent
235. The Last Heartbeat Absent
236. Least Resistance Absent
237. One More... the Sphere! Absent
238. The Hopes of a Planet Absent
239. The Worn-Out Warriors Absent
240. Monkey in the Moon Absent
241. Goku's Request Absent

Appearances in other media[]

Live-action Movie[]

Koreanturtle

Turtle's Live-action appearance

Turtle appears in the 1990 Korean adaption, Dragon Ball: Fight Son Goku, Win Son Goku. He is not played by an actor but instead a puppet with a voice actor.

Video Game Appearances[]

Voice Actors[]

Trivia[]

  • Goku rescuing Turtle and returning him to the sea is clearly a reference to Urashima Tarō's story (Bulma even makes an in-joke about it).
  • In the Japanese version, he is called Umigame; a common joke in early Dragon Ball sagas (and in Dragon Ball: The Return of Son Goku and Friends!) was for Goku to call him Urigome (lit. "blockhead") by mistake.
    • In Kakarot, this running gag is altered to Goku mistakenly calling Turtle a Tortoise. While this fits with Turtle's explanation for getting lost in the Funimation Dub of Dragon Ball (problems during a race with a hare, referencing the famous fable), Kakarot accurately points out he was found by Goku after he got lost searching for mushrooms as in the original version.
  • At roughly 1000 years of age, Turtle is actually older than Master Roshi himself.
    • In the final episode of Dragon Ball GT, Turtle makes a comment that some members of his species can live to be 1000 years old which Krillin dismisses, despite Turtle celebrating his 1000th birthday during Dragon Ball Z ("Krillin's Proposal").
  • In the 10th anniversary special, Dragon Ball: The Path to Power, Turtle believes he is a tortoise instead of a sea turtle, until Bulma points out he has flippers instead of feet.
  • As seen in the episode The Fire-Eater during the Piccolo Jr. Saga, Turtle has poor eyesight and needs reading glasses as seen when he is finding information about the Bansho Fan.

Gallery[]

References[]

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