AKIRA TORIYAMA, CREATOR OF DRAGON BALL, REMEMBERED BY ALL
The legendary mangaka leaves behind a legacy built not only on titles like Dragon Ball, Sand Land, and Dr. Slump, but also on a lifetime of friendliness, hard work, and mentorship.
Image: Akira Toriyama/Instagram
Acclaimed mangaka Akira Toriyama passed away March 1st, 2024 of an acute subdermal hematoma at the age of 68.
Toriyama began his career at the age of 23, with a submission for the Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine’s monthly Newcomer Award. While he was disqualified from consideration, (his submission was a parody of Star Wars, and the magazine required original work) he attracted the attention of Kazuhiko Torishima, who would go on to become his editor. With the encouragement of Torishima, Akira Toriyama turned in his debut work, Wonder Island, and began a career that would span forty-six years, and change the landscape of the medium in the process.
Akira Toriyama would make his love for Star Wars a frequent reference. | Image: Akira Toriyama’s Dr. Slump/SHUEISHA
Toriyama would go on to create the Dragon Ball franchise – one of the most successful manga series ever created – and inspire a wave of writers and artists inside and outside of the world of manga.
All of us here at the Nakama Podcast have our own connection to Toriyama’s work, but nothing speaks volumes to his influence on generations more than the outpouring of love, grief, and well-wishes from those whose lives he touched:
Yuji Horii (Dragon Quest creator) on Akira Toriyama's death: https://t.co/JO47czK8qI pic.twitter.com/00Qso9uHPZ
— Gematsu (@gematsu) March 8, 2024
Creators of 'ONE PIECE', Eiichiro Oda, and 'NARUTO', Masashi Kishimoto both release responses upon learning of Akira Toriyama's passing:
— ScreenTime (@screentime) March 8, 2024
Oda,
"It is too early.
The hole is too big. Sadness washes over me when I think that I will never see him again. I have admired him so much… pic.twitter.com/nCpCa8ndJG
Responses from both manga-ka: pic.twitter.com/dB6v7iN4Ph
— ScreenTime (@screentime) March 8, 2024
鳥山先生…マジかよ、そんな、まだお若いのに…
— ノ村優介 Yusuke Nomura (@nomnii) March 8, 2024
ご冥福をお祈りいたします。
Nomura | BLUE LOCK: Toriyama-sensei… are you serious? You’re still so young… We pray for the souls.
今思えば、おばあちゃんの家にあった昔のジャンプを読み漁って
— ノ村優介 Yusuke Nomura (@nomnii) March 8, 2024
小学校でドラゴンボールの模写をしてた時に友達に褒められて嬉しかった経験が、漫画家としての今に繋がってるのかもしれない
Nomura: Now that I think about it, the joy I had when my friends complimented me when I was copying Dragon Ball in elementary school after reading through the old Jump books I had at my grandma’s house may have led me to where I am today as a manga artist.
鳥山先生からしか受け取れないものが沢山ありました。謹んでご冥福をお祈り致します。
— 村田雄介 (@NEBU_KURO) March 8, 2024
Murata | One Punch Man: There were many things that I could only receive from Mr. Toriyama. I humbly pray for your soul to rest in peace.
不思議と全然亡くなった気がしない。それくらい、生前から自分にとって天穹の星のような存在だったのかも。
— 村田雄介 (@NEBU_KURO) March 8, 2024
Masako Nozawa-san has released a statement on tragic passing of Akira Toriyama:
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) March 8, 2024
“I don't want to believe it. My head is empty because I don't want to think about it. Even so, every time I see Goku, I remember what Toriyama Sensei said to me, ‘You will take care of Goku, won't… pic.twitter.com/z5VQeQlCdy
鳥山先生がいなかったらきっと僕は漫画家を目指すこともなかった。
— 遠藤達哉 (@_tatsuyaendo_) March 8, 2024
今でも「読者の立場」というものを考える時、必ず「ドラゴンボールを毎週わくわく楽しみにしている子供の頃の自分」を思い出す。
たくさんの素敵な作品をありがとうございました。
鳥山先生のご冥福を心よりお祈りいたします。
Endo | Spy x Family: If it weren’t for Toriyama-sensei, I probably wouldn’t have aimed to become a manga artist. Even now, when I think of “the reader’s position,” I always think of myself as a child, excitedly looking forward to Dragon Ball every week. Thank you very much for all your wonderful works. We sincerely pray for the repose of the soul of Toriyama Sensei.
Jackie Chan reacts to Toriyama's passing on Weibo.
— SUPER クロニクルス (@SupaChronicles) March 8, 2024
"Akira Toriyama-sensei, thank you for creating so many classics, they will always be with the world, farewell 🙏" pic.twitter.com/sxEHBalTZJ
Akira Toriyama’s absence will be appreciable, but the work he produced will continue to inspire for generations.
Toriyama’s Sand Land manga which received a CGI film adaptation in August of 2023, is also being adapted into an anime series set to premiere on Disney+ and Hulu on March 20th of this year, and the video game adaptation from Bandai Namco releases in Japan on April 25th, and worldwide on the 26th.
Toriyama also created new designs for the upcoming Dragon Ball: Daima, which premieres in the Fall of 2024.
About the Author
Cruz Esparza
Cruz Esparza is an anime nerd, as well as Producer and host of the Nakama Podcast. He spends his time drawing as well as collecting figures and comics, and playing video games. He operates as an artist under the name doublecrxss, and you can find him on twitter @doublecrxss
‘Sakamoto Days’ Premieres on Netflix in January
Sakamoto Days Premieres on Netflix in January Legendary assassin Taro Sakamoto will claw his way out of retirement in two parts this coming year. Just
#DRCL midnight children
#DRCL midnight children The American Manga Awards’ “Best New Manga” Winner | Review Shin’ichi Sakamoto’s take on Bram Stoker’s classic Gothic horror is brutal and