The Son House
Places, Things and Institutions
in the Dragon Ball World

Just click the place/thing/name etc. to jump to the info. If there's anything else you'd like to know about, or you know that I got something way wrong, please drop me a line!
Capsule Corporation & Capsule Technology:
The company apparently founded by Dr. Briefs (Bulma's father). They developed what's known as Capsule technology. With this completely inexplicable wonder of science, one can condense the mass of any object (cars, houses, food, clothes...) into a 'Capsule'. The pill-like capsule is far more easily transportable than the gear it contains, which is rumored to be the reason Toriyama-san created them. 'Capsules' (the imploded and contained gear) are sometimes referred to as Hoi-Poi Capsules.
In order to encapsulate a thing, it has to be a Capsule Corporation product equipped with this technology. One hits an 'encapsulate' button and the device/structure/etc. becomes encapsulated. To extract the things inside, one depresses the button on the top of the Capsule and tosses it sufficiently away from one's person.
Although this seems highly dangerous, there have never been any accounts in the DB universe of injuries resulting from misuse of Capsule technology. But it makes me wonder...
Enma's Check-in-Station
This is where all souls who die on Earth go before being sent to hell (hfil), heaven or parts unknown. Lord Enma usually has the final say in the matter, unless you happen to be close personals with God... The character of Enma-daio (King Yemma) is based on the bureaucratic Chinese God system's own Gatekeeper of the Dead, although I DON'T think the Chinese had desks and rubber stampers...
The Great Saiyaman
The Saiyaman has at least two equally goofy costumes and exists to stop crime and make silly poses all over town. Shhhh... The super-hero of Satan City, the Great Saiyaman is really... Son Gohan!
Kame House
On a small island in the Southeastern Sea is Kame House: the little house that Kame Sen'nin Muten Roshi calls home. Goku and Krillin met and trained here together to fight in their first Tenkaichi Budoukai. Raditz met his younger brother Kakarott (Goku) here in DBZ epsiode 2 (1 in America). This house (which in Dragon Ball, is apparenly is portable) has been the sanctuary and home for various characters throughout both Dragon Ball and DBZ.
Kami's Lookout
High above the clouds, balanced perfectly on top of Korin's Tower by Goku's Nyoibou (Power Pole for Americans) is Kami's Lookout. From here, the guardian of Earth looks out over his charge and supposedly protects it. Although, the Z Warriors seem to do most of the heavy lifting. In the palace, there are many wonders, like the Ultra Holy Water, The Room of Spirit and Time (aka the Hyperbolic Time Chamber) and the Black Star Dragon Balls.
Korin Tower
Korin Tower is home to Korin and Yajerobi. These two buddies are crucial to the survival of the Z Warriors in many parts of DB and DBZ. Korin tends to the farming and harvesting of Senzu beans. Yajerobi keeps him company, but he tends to be the deliverer of the beans and even aided in the defeat of Vegeta in the Saiyan Saga.
King Kai's (Kaio-sama's) Planet
Directions to Kaio-sama's planet: 1) Die. 2) Take a left (or is it a right?) at Lord Enma's (King Yemma's) desk and merge onto Snake Way. Take Snake way for roughly 1-60 days depending on your power level (and whether or not you decide to take in some of Ouja Snake's hospitality!) till you reach the end. Then take a flying leap onto the tiny green planet below you and you're there.
Kaio's planet is reminiscent of Le Planet du Petit Prince in that it is small and kind of hangs out in a whitish sky rather than in the black depths of space. There is only 1 house, a couple of trees, 1 road and 1 car, all belonging to Kaio-sama and his pet monkey, Bubbles. The gravity on King Kai's planet is 10 times that of earth's, making it a good place to train.
Kinto'un
Also know as the Nimbus Cloud of Roshi, this magical floating cloud is taken directly from the Chinese Monkey King legend. Many Chinese gods use a cloud (which appears in illustrations looking much like Goku's) as their basic form of transportation.

Mount PaozuThe mountain under which Goku and Chi-chi live with Gohan at the start of DBZ.
Mr. Satan!!!
The hero the world adores, ah yes, Mr. Satan is his name! He is the wrestling champion of the world and holds the Tenkaichi Budoukai after he comes into lots of money. He GOT the money from the grateful inhabitants of the Dragon Ball world. As far as they know, Mr. Satan single handedly defeated both Cell and Majin Buu. This is just fine and dandy with the Z Warriors, who would all rather stay out of the spotlight. His daughter, Videl later Marries Gohan and has their daughter, Pan.
Nyoibou
Also know as the Power Poll (in American dubs), this is the staff that Goku's grandfather Gohan gave him. It can extend to great lengths on command and is very durable. This is also an original tool used by Sun Wu Kung, the Monkey King in Journey to the West. It rests between Korin Tower and Kami's Lookout.
Orange Star High School
This is the school in Satan City which Gohan attends during the Buu saga. Here he meets Videl and becomes the Great Saiyaman.
The Planet Trade
Only Featured in DBZ, the Planet Trade was Freeza's business. He used other powerful alien races to do his dirty work, clearing out planets and making them available to whole civilizations who wanted a new place to call home. The Saiyan race was one of the ones he utilized for this purpose, but Freeza feared their strength and chose to destroy them instead.
The Red-Ribbon Army
Most prominently Featured in Dragon Ball, the Red Ribbon Army was a terrorist/mafia organization which Goku defeated while still just a young boy.
Later in DBZ, Dr. Gero, the RRA's top scientist, comes back for vengeance against Goku. He unleashes the Androids and Cell on the world because of this. (Hence why the Androids have RR logos on their clothes.)
The Room Of Spirit And TimePerhaps the most interesting place on the lookout is the Room of Spirit and Time (aka the Hyperbolic Time Chamber). In this room, a warrior who can put up with its extreme bleakness can train for up to two years and emerge only 2 DAYS from when he entered.
The Saiyan Empire
Not much is known about the Saiyan Empire. Here I have ammased a simple history based on the TV series and the movies.
They apparently lost their homeworld called Saiya-sei when the 1st super Saiyan emerged and trashed it. Then Saiyans all wound up on Planet Plant on which they rose to power over the Tsufurujin many eons ago. They then lost this world which they renamed Vegeta-sei, to Freeza. Prince Vegeta is the last Saiyan from the royal line to survive.
Satan City
The Eastern Capitol renamed for the world's hero: Mr. Satan! This is the city in which Gohan goes to school.
Senzu BeansWhen ingested, Senzu beans can restore the health of a wounded warrior 100%. They grow only in Korin Tower.
The Son House
The Son house is Goku and Chi-chi's home in the beginning of DBZ. The image of the Son House used for this site was taken from the one represented in Movie One (Deadzone). Chi-chi moves after Goku dies so that Gohan can be closer to the Orange Star High School. It is originally located in the foot hills of Mount Paozu.
Tenkaichi Budoukai
Literally translated as "the Greatest Under the Heavens Tournament", this Martial Arts competition is supposedly held every 3-5 years depending on who you talk to. This tournament plays a crucial role in much of the series. It is where Goku and Krillin face Tenshin Han and Ma Jr. (aka Piccolo). It is the contest which Cell bastardizes for his own sick purposes, calling it "Cell Game". It is the scene for the appearance of Babidi who unleashes Majin Buu on the world and it is the place in which both DBZ and DBGT wrap up in their final episodes.
Z (or Zet) Sword
The Z Sword was the sword given to Gohan when he gets the Kaioshin powerup. It's so heavy that no Kaioshin can lift it.