Japanese creator behind wildly popular Dragon Ball series has died aged 68

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According to a statement released by his production studio on Friday, Akira Toriyama, the Japanese manga creator who was responsible for the creation of the immensely successful and influential Dragon Ball series, passed away last week due to a diagnosis of a brain illness.

In the fantasy martial arts brand that Toriyama created, Son Goku is a youngster from outer space who possesses superhuman strength and a monkey tail. He sets out on a journey to find the seven dragon balls. Toriyama was the genius behind developing the franchise.

Since its introduction in the 1980s, the Dragon Ball universe has continued to be one of the most successful global hits produced by Japan. It has managed to win over the affections of many manga-loving adolescents and adults from all over the world.

At the age of 68, the creator of Dragon Ball, which is widely considered to be one of the most important and best-selling Japanese comics in history, passed away. His studio said on Friday that Akira Toriyama had suffered from an acute subdural hematoma, which is a form of bleeding that occurs close to the brain. Dragon Ball is a comic series that has been adapted into a cartoon and a film, and it has garnered a tremendous amount of popularity all over the world.

In recognition of Mr. Toriyama’s ability to create characters that have been ingrained in their memories of childhood, fans have paid respect to him.

It was in 1984 that the Dragon Ball comic series made its debut. It tells the story of a young kid named Son Goku, who embarks on a mission to gather mystical dragon balls to protect Earth from the menace of alien humanoids known as Saiyans.

At the time of his passing, Mr. Toriyama had work that he had not yet finished. According to a statement that was published on the Dragon Ball website, he passed away on March 1st, and the only people who attended his funeral were his family and a small number of friends.

In the future, he would have a great deal more to accomplish. On the other hand, he has left behind a great deal of manga titles and works of art for this planet, according to his studio.
“We hope that Akira Toriyama’s unique world of creation continues to be loved by everyone for a long time to come,” the press release stated.

On social media, fans expressed their condolences to the family. “I am grateful to you for making a manga that is a representation of my adolescence. In a post on X, which received an immediate response of 500 likes, it was written, “Rest in peace; thank you for your hard work.”

Another user of Japanese X said, “It’s too soon; it’s too sad,” in her message. “His legacy will endure for all of eternity.” I would like to express my gratitude to you for creating Akira, the most iconic anime character of all time,” stated another person.

Mr. Toriyama, who was born in Nagoya, Japan, in 1955, made his debut in the world of comic books beginning in the early 1980s with the publication of Dr. Slump. This book tells the narrative of a young female robot named Arale and the scientist who created her.

However, the most well-known of his works was Dragon Ball. As they grew into adulthood, many viewers found that the journey that Son Goku took from being a child who fumbled his martial arts training to being a high-flying hero who can shoot bolts of electricity from his hands reflected their own struggles against self-doubt.

The characters in Dragon Ball have inspired fan fiction writers and cosplayers who arrange their hair in a manner like the characters’ pointed and spiky locks.

Additionally, Dragon Ball action figures are a standard in toy stores all over the world, from Japan to China and Southeast Asia. The cartoon adaptation has been dubbed in several different languages.

The Japanese newspaper Asahi conducted an interview with Mr. Toriyama in 2013, during which he stated that he had “no idea” how Dragon Ball attained such widespread popularity all over the world.

“Given how it helped someone like me who has twisted, difficult personalities do a decent job and get accepted by society,” he said, describing the series as a miracle. “It helped me do good work and get accepted by society.”