Page 72 of Daizenshuu 4 provides a dedicated, detailed entry on one of the most iconic locations in the Saiyan and Frieza Sagas: (often referred to as Snake Way or Hebi no Michi ).
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: Took Goku exactly a day and a half (36 hours). Using basic physics (
"I think that the staff all worked very hard, particularly on the buildings' layouts, the maps, and whatnot. On top of just sloppily drawing things by the seat of my pants, there are many things that not even I had precisely determined. Weren't they a bit fed up with how things didn't come together consistently? I'm very sorry."
While Toriyama drew the Serpent Road as a narrative obstacle to keep Goku out of the fight until the Saiyans arrived, it was the Shueisha guidebook editors who formalized the exact length of 1 million kilometers and organized it into the comprehensive data table found on Page 72. Daizenshuu translations - Kanzenshuu daizenshuu 4 page 72
A gigantic planet where good souls live in peace. It was here that Goku trained in the Other World before the 25th Tenkaichi Budōkai. Also shown is the "Airport to Heaven," a unique detail Toriyama shared with the anime team.
Daizenshuu 4 page 72 is more than just a page in an old guidebook; it is a foundational pillar of Dragon Ball biology. By formalizing the rules of Saiyan hybrids and tail genetics, it answered decades-old questions and gave structure to the chaotic, explosive world of Akira Toriyama. For any fan looking to truly understand the science behind a Super Saiyan's DNA, page 72 remains required reading. If you want to explore further,
It is part of a broader, well-thought-out cosmology that includes Enma's castle, the various levels of Heaven, and the different Kaiō regions, all of which are essential to understanding the scope of the universe Akira Toriyama created. Summary Table: Serpent Road Data (Daizenshuu 4, p.72) Serpent Road (Snake Way) Location Afterlife (Connects Enma Castle to North Kaiō) Length ≈ 1,000,000 Kilometers Danger Falling = Descent to Hell Goku's Time (Out) Goku's Time (Back) ≈ 1.5 Days
Within the modern anime and manga community, data from Daizenshuu 4 serves as factual baseline evidence. Page 72 is frequently cited in mathematical calculations regarding speed tiers: Page 72 of Daizenshuu 4 provides a dedicated,
The concrete "1 million kilometer" figure grounds early Saiyan Saga feats, providing a clear mathematical upper limit before characters reached faster-than-light speeds later in the series.
The book begins with a beautiful fold-out poster featuring a Toriyama illustration and his rough sketches, including an original outline of the Dragon World intended for the anime staff. After a prologue with full-color images of the cosmos, the guide provides an in-depth look at the Dragon Balls' properties, a detailed racial groups section, and a complete re-mapping of the Earth into 12 areas. It is within the "Field" section dedicated to the universe and heavens that we find page 72.
Despite Toriyama’s humble perspective, Daizenshuu 4 remains the primary source for understanding how the living world, the Demon Realm, and the transparent dome of the Afterlife sit perfectly balanced in the broader macrocosm. Page 72 acts as the perfect structural window into that genius, transforming what looked like a simple gag-manga gag into a beautifully realized piece of high-fantasy fiction.
It took Goku 6 months to cross this road going to Planet Kaio, and a day and a half to return. Kanzenshuu Daizenshuu translations - Kanzenshuu On top of just sloppily drawing things by
The total length is officially stated to be approximately 1 million kilometers, a staggering distance that Son Goku was forced to travel.
To understand Page 72, we must first understand the book. Daizenshuu 4 is subtitled (世界指南). Unlike the previous volumes which focused on character dictionaries or story arcs, Volume 4 is dedicated entirely to the geography, physics, technology, and cosmology of the Dragon Ball universe.
The page explicitly states that Humans and Saiyans possess an extraordinarily high rate of genetic compatibility. This is rare for two species originating from completely different planets. The guide implies that this compatibility is not purely accidental but is an inherent trait of the humanoid archetypes overseen by the Supreme Kais (Shinjin). The Impact on Power-Scaling Debates
Rather than recapping the plot, "World Guide" is a deep exploration of the "Dragon World," covering everything from otherworldly realms to Earth's geography, racial groups, technology, and the Dragon Balls themselves. It begins with full-color foldouts, including a poster of the cover art and a reverse side filled with Akira Toriyama's own rough sketches of characters and an outline of the cosmos he created for the anime staff. A brief, self-deprecating introduction from Toriyama warns readers that, as a "ridiculously forgetful" creator who often improvised, some things might not be perfectly consistent, but the staff worked hard to make sense of it all. The book even included a bonus newspaper-style pamphlet called the "Shenlong Times," featuring fan interviews and a short comic by Toriyama about his life after the series. For its ¥1,500 price tag, the 167-page "World Guide" was not just a book but a veritable museum piece for fans.