The Father of 'Dragon Ball,' Toriyama Akira, Passes Away... A Star of Japanese Manga World Fades

Passed away at age 68 on the 1st
Sudden death mourned by Japanese manga community
'Dragon Ball' popular worldwide beyond borders

Akira Toriyama (鳥山明), the Japanese manga artist who gained worldwide fame with works such as 'Dragon Ball' and 'Dr. Slump,' passed away on the 1st at the age of 68. Shueisha, the publisher of the manga magazine 'Weekly Shonen Jump,' announced the sad news on the 8th, stating, "The entire Shueisha editorial team is deeply saddened by this sudden news." The cause of death was reported as acute subdural hematoma. Shueisha expressed their condolences, saying, "The manga drawn by (Akira Toriyama) transcended borders and was loved worldwide. The charming characters and overwhelming design sense created by him greatly influenced countless manga artists."

Japanese manga artist Akira Toriyama, known for creating the hugely popular series "Dragon Ball" and "Dr. Slump," passed away on the 1st due to acute subdural hemorrhage, local media reported on the 8th. He was 68 years old. The photo shows him in 1982.
[Photo by Kyodo News]

Bird Studio, the production company established by the late artist during his lifetime, also posted on X (formerly Twitter) on the same day, stating, "There were many projects he was diligently working on and many things he still wanted to achieve, so this is deeply regrettable." They continued, "However, he left numerous works as a manga artist. Thanks to the support of many people worldwide, he was able to continue his work for over 45 years." They added, "We hope that the unique world of works created by Akira Toriyama will continue to be loved by everyone for a long time." The funeral will be held privately with friends and relatives, and further farewell events will be announced as they are decided.

'Dragon Ball,' Established as a Symbol of Japanese Animation

Visitors are examining Dragon Ball-related plastic models at the 'Gunpla Expo 2018' held at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
[Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@]

Now deceased, Dragon Ball became a global hit, but it went through many twists and turns before serialization began. The late Akira Toriyama considered stopping the serialization of his gag manga 'Dr. Slump,' which had been running since 1980, due to a lack of ideas. However, it was not easy to end a popular series serialized in Japan's leading manga magazine 'Weekly Shonen Jump' without a proper alternative. Publisher Shueisha decided that Toriyama could end Dr. Slump if he could start a new manga three months later.

Thus, inspired by 'Journey to the West,' 'Dragon Ball' began and has since maintained a broad fan base not only among children but also among people in their 30s and 40s. As of 2023, the sales of Dragon Ball tankobon volumes, excluding magazines, reached approximately 300 million copies. Dragon Ball also gained popularity on TV.

The number of downloads for smartphone games based on Dragon Ball is also considerable. Released in 2015, "Dragon Ball Z Dokkan Battle" recorded 200 million downloads by 2017, and "Dragon Ball Legends," distributed from May 24, 2018, achieved 10 million downloads within just one month.
[Photo by Asia Economy DB]

The first TV anime series started in 1986, followed by 'Dragon Ball Z' in 1989, 'Dragon Ball GT' in 1996, 'Dragon Ball Kai (改)' in 2009, and 'Dragon Ball Super (超)' in 2015, with over 797 episodes produced. Theatrical anime films were also consistently made. Starting with 'Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies' released in Japan in December 1986, more than 20 films have been produced, including 'Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero' in 2022.

Live-action films include three works: 'Dragon Ball' made in Korea in 1990, 'Shin Qi Long Zhu (新七龍珠)' produced in Taiwan in 1991, and 'Dragon Ball Evolution' made in Hollywood, USA, in 2009. The number of smartphone game downloads based on Dragon Ball is also significant. 'Dragon Ball Z Dokkan Battle,' released in 2015, recorded 200 million downloads by 2017, and 'Dragon Ball Legends,' distributed from May 24, 2018, achieved 10 million downloads within a month.