In the anime of Dragon Ball Z, Son-Goku is the first Saiyan to transform into a Super Saiyan. However, many years before his time, there was already a Saiyan who transformed into a blonde. The mangaka Akira Toriyama revealed in an interview who this Saiyan is and why he is so important for today’s Saiyan levels.
Who is this Saiyan? As Toriyama revealed in a Saiyan special Q&A, the very first Super Saiyan was named Yamoshi. He lived long before the time when Planet Vegeta was home to the Saiyans.
The ancient Saiyans were largely evil and could generate an evil aura around them, from which they drew their fighting power. In contrast, Yamoshi had a good heart and started a rebellion with five other comrades. When he was cornered by the evil Saiyans, the unimaginable happened:
He became a Super Saiyan for the first time, but his transformation and his terrifying fighting style shocked the other Saiyans.
Akira Toriyama, via kazenshuu.com
Thus, he became the first blonde, for which there is a good reason for the color. Unfortunately, the group did not get far as they were outnumbered. Despite the newly gained powers, Yamoshi became exhausted and was ultimately defeated.
Why was he the first Super Saiyan? According to Toriyama, Saiyans can only become Super Saiyans if they have enough S-cells in their bodies. The number is higher the kinder the Saiyan is. Since Yamoshi was one of the few good Saiyans, he was able to reach this level first.
Meanwhile, the ancient Saiyans are extinct. That is probably why they will not reappear in Dragon Ball Daima:
Son-Goku reaches his full potential through Yamoshi
What does Son-Goku have to do with this? Toriyama went on to explain that Yamoshi’s spirit wandered in search of six kind-hearted Saiyans. He wanted to find the Super Saiyan God. This resulted in the very ceremony by which Saiyans can become Super Saiyan Gods.
Son-Goku also underwent this ceremony and thus owes Yamoshi one of his strongest forms. Through the Super Saiyan God, Son-Goku can transform into Super Saiyan Blue, where his hair turns blue.
Son-Goku gathered Vegeta, Son-Gohan, Videl, Son-Goten, and Trunks. They all had to transfer their ki to Son-Goku for him to become a Super Saiyan God. Although Videl is not a Saiyan, at that time she was pregnant with Pan, who is partly a Saiyan due to the genes of Son-Gohan. That is the only reason the ritual could take place.
Yamoshi is also the reason why Beerus, the God of Destruction, is looking for the Super Saiyan God. In a dream, he saw the spirit of Yamoshi and also set out on a search.
After the Super Saiyan come the second and third forms. However, Vegeta is never seen as SSJ3 in the anime: Vegeta is never seen as Super Saiyan 3 in Dragon Ball Z – There is an official reason
