Why are people saying this? We see numerous instances where Goku gets very upset when his friends get hurt or killed, we see Goku TWICE SACRIFICE HIS OWN LIFE TO SAVE HIS SON, Goku in his own words said he loved Chichi when Vegeta explained that Saiyans have a thing for feisty gals in Dragonball Super. Stop taking an interview out of context and viewing it through Western Culture lenses.
Toriyama simply meant Goku sees his family differently than Vegeta. Vegeta views his family as extensions of himself, a very Japanese way of thinking. Goku on the other hand DOESN’T have the Japanese mindset when it comes to his family. He sees them as individuals. Gohan and Goten and Chichi’s accomplishments are there’s and Goku doesn’t see their accomplishments as his just again as their own. Vegeta on the other hand is different. His family is an extension of him. The Buu Saga even shows this from a simple throw away line that was a joke but perfectly illustrated what I’m talking about.
*Goten goes Super Saiyan in his fight with Trunks*
Vegeta: That’s no fair Kakarot!
Goku: Hey don’t look at me, he did it.
Vegeta sees Goten as an extension of Goku hence his annoyance, Goku meanwhile does not view his son in that regard, hence why he’s confused why Vegeta is so annoyed.
Also why is this website says “friendships are just as important as familial and romantic love👏👏👏” but the second Toriyama says Goku is different from the Japanese sense in terms of how he sees his family and refers to them as companions….that’s taken as suddenly his family is far less important to him????
Look at how Goku reacted when Krillin died in both the King Piccolo and Namek saga. Look at how Goku was protective of his friends and got very annoyed when someone hurt them. Look at how Goku got even more upset when he discovered King Piccolo killed his Master Roshi. Look at how Goku reacted when he came to the battle in the Saiyan Saga only to find out nearly all his comrades have been killed. Look at how as a child even though he barely met Upa, he felt personal responsibility to help the boy because his father was killed and Goku did everything in his power to help the boy.
Remember how his only family-Grandpa Gohan-died when he was very VERY young. I think it’s obvious Goku became quite attached to his friends who helped give him a new life. One where it was filled with adventure and fun and most importantly-company and companionship-something he didn’t realize he was without FOR some time until Bulma came along. I think it’s safe to say, that for Goku, his friends became his family that filled the void in his life that was once occupied by his adoptive grandfather.
So if Goku obviously cares this much about his friends, his companions-mind you…if he views them almost like his family…then is it that much of a stretch to say Goku sees his family like his companions? People who became extremely important to him and became his new family?
Goku is not a neglectful father or husband PLEASE STOP projecting your western interpretations on a Japanese fictional character who the Japanese culture strongly disagree with that interpretation. As they are so baffled why the western fans think Goku is a neglectful father when they all (and the manga and anime even acknowledged this too) think Goku downright SPOILED Gohan.
Goku isn’t your traditional hero. He’s no goodie goodie. He’s no messiah archetype. He’s no Superman/Clark Kent. He’s an unconventional type of hero, BUT HE IS A HERO! He does love his friends and family and sacrificed a lot for them, even DYING TWICE! And Vegeta was a crappy person in general AND father/husband UNTIL the end of the Buu Saga, even Vegeta acknowledges this fact he was so awful until that moment he decided to stop being a tool and finally do something for someone other than himself. Vegeta even mirrors a line when he sacrificed himself against Buu-that Goku used before he sacrificed his life against Cell. Both Goku and Vegeta asked their firstborn (Gohan/Trunks) to take care of their mother for them-and let their sons know how proud they are of them. The parallel was clearly intentional. It was to show us the audience Vegeta had truly developed into one of the good guys finally by having him do an action and even say a line very similar to our main character who previously sacrificed his life.
Edit: Also if Goku has no concept of love and only sees his family as less than important then please explain this reaction to being reunited with his deceased Grandfather.
https://youtu.be/xJHTIJeQ6TQ
That Goku had no concept of love and obviously thought so little of Gohan Sr. that he hunted down the four star ball to keep in reminder of him-gave it to his son-and named said son after his deceased grandfather. Oh wait that’s an example of proving Goku is quite clearly capable of love. Whoops.
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