The creator of the Dragon Ball manga, Akira Toriyama, has passed away at the age of 68. He was one of the biggest legends in the industry, and the official statement confirms he passed away last week on March 1 due to acute subdural hematoma. You can read the statement in full below.
Numerous manga artists left messages in the wake of the news.
From Yuji Horii, Dragon Quest Game Designer:
It’s truly, suddenly heartbreaking news about Toriyama-san. I’m still filled with disbelief.
I’ve known Toriyama-san since my days as a writer for Shonen Jump. At the suggestion of my editor Torishima-san, we decided to ask him to do the illustrations for Dragon Quest when we were starting it. Over the past 37 years since then, he has drawn countless charming characters, character designs, and monster designs. The history of Dragon Quest was intertwined with Toriyama-san’s character designs. Toriyama-san and the late Sugiyama-sensei were longtime comrades in creating Dragon Quest. I can’t believe he’s gone… I can’t find the right words to express how I feel. It’s truly, truly regrettable
– Yuji Horii
From Masakazu Katsura, the creator of Zetman:
I feel drained of strength and can’t muster the willpower. I don’t want to make this comment, but I’ll write something. It might end up being a mess of thoughts, but I’ll try to keep it as concise as possible. My feelings are in disarray, so please forgive the chaotic nature of my words.
Looking back, whenever I visited your place, whenever you stayed over at my house, whenever we went out together, all I have are fond memories. Every phone call was filled with laughter to the point of exhaustion. You were such an amusing person. Cheeky, cute, sharp-tongued, yet humble.
In our professional capacity, we collaborated on various projects, which was also enjoyable. But we hardly ever talked about manga, maybe never. Your view as a manga artist, the level of your craftsmanship, it never made me feel your greatness. I understand it now. But when I was with you, I never felt it. It’s your personality. That’s why I can’t think of you as anything other than a friend even now.
Last summer, before my surgery, you heard about it somewhere and sent me an email. It was so unusual, genuinely worried about my health in the email. We’ve known each other for 40 years, but it felt like the first time you’ve been so kind. I thought it might snow. You usually joke around or talk about trivial things. Seriously, why bother worrying about others? That’s not like you at all.
I regret deeply why I didn’t call you after receiving that email. Not being able to have long, pointless conversations anymore is immensely disappointing. There are so many things I want to talk about. There are many stories. Even if you’re not interested, you could have listened absent-mindedly as usual. I want to talk to you again. The last email response from you was a light “OK” to my request for further contact. That’s the last straw. It’s truly painful.
– Masakazu Katsura
From Eiichiro Oda, the creator of ONE PIECE:
It’s too soon. The void left behind is too large.
The sadness overwhelms me when I realize I’ll never meet you again. From my childhood, I’ve admired you. I remember the day I was first called by name. On the way home after the day you used the word “friends” for us, I remember the joyous moment with Kishimoto-san. I remember our last conversation.
Taking the baton from an era where reading manga was considered foolish, you helped create an era where both adults and children enjoy manga. You showed us that manga can do this, that it can take us to other worlds. It felt like watching a hero charging forward.
Not just for manga artists, but for all the creators who were children during the serialization of Dragon Ball, the excitement and inspiration remains rooted. Your presence is like a giant tree.
For manga artists of our generation who stood on the same stage, Toriyama’s works became an even greater presence the closer we got. Almost scary. But meeting the laid-back you always made me happy. We love Toriyama-sensei to the core.
With respect and gratitude for Akira Toriyama-sensei’s rich creative world, I sincerely pray for his peaceful rest.
May heaven be the delightful world you envisioned, Sensei.
– Eiichiro Oda
From Masashi Kishimoto, the creator of Naruto:
I honestly don’t know what to write in such a sudden situation. But I want to convey what I’ve always wanted to ask Toriyama-sensei, my thoughts.
From early elementary school with Dr. Slump to later years with Dragon Ball, Sensei’s manga has always been with me, becoming a part of my life. Even when things were tough, Dragon Ball every week made me forget about it. It was salvation for a rural boy like me. Because Dragon Ball was just too much fun! It was during my university days when suddenly, Dragon Ball, which had been a part of my life for so long, ended. I felt an overwhelming sense of loss and didn’t know what to look forward to anymore. But at the same time, it was an opportunity to truly understand Sensei’s greatness, the one who created Dragon Ball.
I want to create works like Sensei! I want to be like Sensei! Pursuing manga artist, I gradually overcame that sense of loss. Because making manga was fun. Sensei was always my guiding star. I admired him. Sensei might find it bothersome, but I’m grateful anyway. He was truly a god of salvation and manga to me.
The first time I met him, I was so nervous I couldn’t speak. But after meeting him several times at the Tezuka Awards judging committee, I got used to talking to him. As Dragon Ball children, Oda-san and I talked excitedly about how fun Dragon Ball was, almost competing, and I’ll never forget the slightly embarrassed smile Sensei gave us.
I’ve just received news of Sensei’s passing. I’m overwhelmed with a sense of loss even greater than when Dragon Ball ended… I still don’t know how to deal with this hole in my heart. I can’t even read Dragon Ball, my beloved manga, now. I don’t feel like I can write this message to Sensei properly. People around the world were still looking forward to Sensei’s works. If there’s one wish from Dragon Ball that could come true… I’m sorry… It may be selfish, but I’m sad, Sensei.
Thank you, Akira Toriyama-sensei, for your many enjoyable works over 45 years. And thank you very much for your hard work.
To the remaining family, you must still be deeply saddened. Please take care of yourselves. I pray for the peaceful rest of Akira Toriyama-sensei.
– Masashi Kishimoto
From Nozawa Masako, Goku’s Japanese voice actress:
My mind is so empty right now, with the feelings that I hate to believe it and think of it.
Even in the state of mind, I can keep my emotions under control by thinking that I will stay by Goku until the very end of my life, thanks to remembering what Toriyama-sensei has told me every time we met: Please take good care of Goku.
Sensei, please watch over us from the sky. May he depart in peace.
– Nozawa Masako
Akira Toriyama started the Dragon Ball manga in 1984. It was serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump from 1984 to 1989. The Dragon Ball Z sequel started in 1989 and ended in 1995. The sequel to Z, Dragon Ball Super started serialization in 2015 and is still ongoing.
The franchise received numerous anime adaptations, with the latest ones being Dragon Ball Super and Super Dragon Ball Heroes. With the latter one being separate from the main continuity, fans have been excited for the story to continue. The Dragon Ball Super TV anime ran from 2015 to 2018 with a total of 131 episodes. Crunchyroll streams the anime, for which they describe the story:
With Majin Buu defeated, Goku has taken a completely new role as…a radish farmer?! With Earth at peace, our heroes have settled into normal lives. But they can’t get too comfortable. Far away, the powerful God of Destruction, Beerus, awakens to a prophecy revealing his demise at the hands of an even more formidable being. When his search for the Saiyan God brings him to Earth, can Goku and his friends take on their strongest foe yet?
The latest movie Dragon Ball Super: SUPER HERO arrived to theaters in August 2022, and it had a strong opening weekend in North America. In Japan, it earned around 670 million Japanese Yen (~4.93 million USD) during the two-day weekend opening, and 1.9 billion Japanese Yen (~14 million USD) in the first four weeks. A new series titled Dragon Ball: Daima was announced in October 2023.
Source: Official X
©BIRD STUDIO/SHUEISHA/Dragon Ball Super Production Committee