The Sanzo party has met a lot of colorful characters on their travels! It's been about 15 years since I've read the original Saiyuki manga, but even then, I couldn't fit every memorable character here
On April 24th, I offered red roses to Kami-sama for a little belated St George's day (it is cultural for me being part Italian). 🌹
Now, 3 weeks later, there's a lovely little red rose "bouquet" growing in front of the shrine.
In everything you offer to Kami-sama in gratitude, Kami-sama will give back as well. 🙏🏻It is Aiyo kakeyo (interdependence)🌹
Goshinmai(御神米 "Sacred Kami Rice", "Divine Rice") is an envelope of rice paper with a dozen of consecrated uncooked rice. Tenchi Kane No Kami prayers are performed over the rice. It is then washed with consecrated water and dried under the sun before being left to rest under the moonlight. The next morning, the rice is sprinkled with sacred blessed sake and placed in a small triangular white rice paper envelope.
Rice is a symbol of life and Goshinmai symbolizes the blessings of Tenchi (天地, Universe). Rice is grown because everything in nature works in harmony with each other, including humans. It represents the virtue of Tenchi Kane No Kami and the wish that these blessings are never forgotten.
Goshinmai can be forward by visiting a church and making a donation at the Toritsugi Mediation Desk, but it is also given to believers who ask for a blessing with a sincere heart. Goshinmai is believed to help with illness, recovery from injury, childbirth or difficulties in life.
One who receives Goshinmai can eat it either raw or cooked. The rice can be kept in a special pouch on one's altar, in one's purse, or on the windshield of one's car. All of this reminds us of Kami-sama's blessings and that He is constant presence with us.
The main thing is to take care of Goshinmai and cherish it, remembering Kami-sama's daily blessings.
Rev. Olivia's Bernkastel(@livingwithkami) Goshinmai, photo by @konkokyo
MY EXPLANATION OF PICCOLO'S NEW POWER IN SUPER HERO
There are no official statements yet. I'm just giving my own explanation based off of DB lore, Japanese mythology, & what was said/implied in the film.
So, let's see if I can get it correct (or at least close) before we get an official explanation.
Piccolo asked Shenron to release his potential & Shenron did so in a similar way to how Grand Elder Guru unlocked Krillin & Gohan's latent potential, but likely a better version due to Shenron's capabilities being more advanced than Elder Guru.
(This is more similar to how Elder Kai unlocked Gohan's power beyond his latent abilities, but not quite the same method.)
Piccolo is then briefly shown in his ultimate/awakened form. He has yellowish-green skin and a buffer appearance than he normally does. Shenron also says he gave Piccolo a "bonus" or "something extra." We soon found out that it's his Potential Unleashed form that is capable of awakening into his "Orange Piccolo" form with a symbol that represents Namekian pride on the back of his gi.
[BRIEF EXPLANATION]
Shenron awakened the potential of both halves of the Nameless Namekian; the Kami-sama half & the Demon King half since they are 2 beings now sharing 1 vessel.
(Nail was implied to have already had his potential unlocked by the Namekian Grand Elder. Which is why he was the strongest Namekian warrior until Piccolo arrived.)
Shenron speaks to Piccolo in a cheerful & respectful manner. Shenron even refers to Piccolo as "Piccolo-sama." This is most likely due to Kami & Piccolo's union back into the Nameless Namekian, so Shenron combines the titles "Kami-sama" & "Piccolo Daimao" to "Piccolo-sama."
AWAKENED PICCOLO✨
The awakened Kami-sama half.
Pronounced cheekbones like Kami.
Awakened Piccolo's yellowish color is due to the color yellow being associated with awakenings and godly power. It's possible that the form is also meant to be a nod to Kami-sama's godly position (god of Earth) as well as a nod to how the Nameless Namekian looked when he expunged his evil side to become Kami (yellow light from the aura making young Kami's skin have a yellowish tone).
ORANGE PICCOLO👹
The awakened Piccolo Daimao half.
Pronounced cheekbones like King Piccolo.
Orange Piccolo's "evil" appearance seems to be a nod to oni (demons/ogres). The antennas stick upwards like oni horns & orange is one color that oni can be. This demon-like look seems to be a clever callback to Demon King Piccolo. (He even rises from the depths of a deep chasm with a fiery aura as if he was an oni rising from a burning hell.)
Orange Piccolo is a stronger, taller, & bulkier form than Awakened Piccolo just like how the Demon King half of the Nameless Namekian was stronger, taller, & bulkier than the Kami (god) half.
Orange Piccolo using the Giant Form is obviously an homage to when Ma-Junior (Piccolo) used the Giant Form during the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai. An ability that Kami never used due to it being a demon clansmen technique. (If I remember correctly, only in games is it used as a Namekian ability. We've never seen other Namekians use the ability, so I believe it was a demon clansmen technique. But, I could be wrong.)
EXTRA TIDBITS
Awakened Piccolo may have been designed to have a yellowish-green color & a yellow aura in order to resemble the glowing light that emanates from the Dragon Balls & the dragon god, Shenron. And it could possibly be to make Piccolo resemble a Super Saiyan since he is a "Super Namekian."
Orange Piccolo may have been designed with 2 tones of orange to resemble the 2 tones of orange that the Dragon Balls have.
Oni carry large kanabō (iron rod) that they use for weapons. Orange Piccolo (who resembles an oni) slams a bridge's iron suspension cable on Cell Max. Most likely as a reference to the oni of Japanese folklore.
The Japanese word 鬼神 pronounced "Kishin" translates to "Wrathful Diety" or "Demon God." Kishin is also comprised of 2 words that mean "oni & god" or "demon & god." And Piccolo is comprised of the Demon King & Kami (god), so I wonder if Piccolo's new "Orange Piccolo" form may end up being renamed "Kishin Piccolo" or both forms are some sort of "Kishin Power." That would be pretty cool & fitting. But, I like the simplicity of Orange Piccolo too.
The circular symbol on Orange Piccolo's back is officially said to be a symbol that represents the pride of the Namekian race. This could also be meant to be the Nameless Namekian's own unique symbol; thus the pride of the Namekians. Perhaps it's also meant to be a subtle nod to how Kami had "god" on him & King Piccolo had "demon" on him. But, Piccolo is neither god nor demon. He is a Namekian.
• ("Kishin" can mean "Wrathful Diety" & "homesickness" depending on which word you use. So, this could also be a play on words to express that Piccolo is feeling some homesickness for Namek, ergo, the symbol of Namekian pride on his back.)
• ("Ki" in another context can also mean "tree." The symbol of Namekian pride begins with an Ajisa tree sprouting on Piccolo's back, then becoming a brightly glowing tree. This could be another play on words with Kishin or simply a coincidence & I'm looking too deep. Sometimes Toriyama is simple, but other times he's complex.)
REMEMBER, this is just speculation of mine from the brief info we currently have. There is no official confirmation yet on the inspiration behind Piccolo's forms or why he has two of them. But, I have ordered the novel for the movie and I will check to see if there is any revealed info in it once the novel arrives.
(Also, I called it "Awakened Piccolo" instead of "Ultimate Piccolo" or "Potential Unleashed Piccolo" or "Potential Capacity Liberation Piccolo" just because I felt like it. And it is not inaccurate because Piccolo's power is awakened. I'm unsure what the English dub will end up calling it tho. Gotta wait & see.)
[GOHAN'S SIMILAR POWER]
There are a few official statements, but I'm just giving my own explanation based off of DB lore, how Gohan's potential unleashed form was e
The Potential Unleashed forms appear to release power that's hidden within a person to push them beyond their limits. As well as awakening their "inner-beast." Or in Piccolo's case, his "inner-demon."
UNLEASHED POTENTIAL: Ultimate Piccolo & Ultimate Gohan.
