The manga and anime community is in mourning after hearing the sad news of the death of Akira Toriyamathe legendary author of the iconic series “dragon ball“. His passing has left a profound impact on all those who grew up admiring his work and have been influenced by his creative genius over the years.
From various corners of Japan, prominent manga artists have expressed their feelings of sadness and gratitude towards Toriyama-senseisharing farewell messages through social networks and other media.
- SHUEISHA EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
- «Akira Toriyama, who published numerous works in JUMP magazines, has died. We at Shueisha and the editorial department are deeply saddened by the sudden news of his passing. The mangas he drew, like ‘Dr. Slump’, ‘Dragon Ball’, ‘Sand Land’ and many others have been read and loved around the world, transcending national borders. His fascinating characters and overwhelming design sense have greatly influenced many manga artists and creators. We want to express our gratitude for his great achievements and pray that his soul rest in peace.».
- YUUJI HORII, AUTHOR OF DRAGON QUEST
- «I still can’t believe the sudden news of Toriyama-san’s passing. I’ve known Toriyama since he was writing for Shonen Jump, and at the recommendation of my editor, Torishima, I decided to ask him to draw the art for the games when we released Dragon Quest. In the 37+ years since then, he has designed characters, monsters, and drawn so many fascinating works of art that I can’t even begin to count. The history of Dragon Quest has been marked by Toriyama-san’s character designs. He and the late Sugiyama-san were friends of mine for a long time and worked on Dragon Quest. I can’t believe he’s gone… I do not know what to say anymore. I’m really sorry».
- MASAKAZU KATSURA, AUTHOR OF ZETMAN AND DNA2
- «I feel exhausted and my energy is not up to par. I don’t want to comment on those things. But I’ll write something. If I start writing, there are so many things I want to say that it will probably be very long, but I will try to make it as compact as possible. I don’t have coherent feelings right now, so forgive my ramblings. Even when I think about it, when I visited your house, when you came to stay at my house, when we went out to have fun, it was all nothing but happy memories, and every time I called you, I laughed until I was exhausted. You were a funny man. You were scruffy, handsome, foul-mouthed and humble. In my day job, drawing manga, we would do collaborations and stuff, and that was fun too. But 99% of the time, we never talked about manga. As a mangaka, we were so different in the landscapes we saw and the level of the artists that I was never aware of your greatness. I understand. But I didn’t feel that at all when I was in contact with you. It’s your personality. That’s why, more than a great mangaka, I still think of you only as a friend. Last summer, before I had surgery, you seemed to have heard about it somewhere and sent me an email. Actually, emails are weird, and you were quite worried about my health».
- «We’ve known each other for 40 years, but I don’t think I’ve ever received such a kind email from Toriyama-san. I thought it was going to snow. He usually just jokes or talks nonsense. I don’t have time to worry about others. When I called him, I think it was a little earlier, I said, “He’ll probably pass away before then, so please have a farewell party or something, and I’d like you to organize it, Toriyama-san! Also, please give a speech so I can be a foil!” He promised me, but he couldn’t keep his promise. I don’t know why I didn’t call him after he emailed me, and that’s what I regret so much. I’m just sorry that we can no longer have long phone calls to talk about trivial things. I have all kinds of things to talk about. I would like to talk to you again, even if you have to listen to my usual ramblings about things that don’t interest you. It’s not good that the last time you responded to my email asking you to get back in touch with me, you wrote a casual OK. It’s deeply painful».
- EIICHIRO ODA, AUTHOR OF ONE PIECE
- «It’s too soon. The hole she has left is too big. Sadness invades me when I think that I will never see him again. I have admired him so much since he was a child. I remember the day he called me by my name for the first time, on the way home, and the same day you used the word “friend” to refer to us, me and Kishimoto-san. I also remember the day we celebrated a big party all together. And I also remember the last conversation we had. I was one of those who picked up the baton of the days when reading manga made you look like a fool, and created an era where both adults and children could enjoy reading manga. He showed me his dream that manga could do those things. He showed us the dream that manga could reach the whole world. It was like watching a hero advance. The enthusiasm and excitement of the time of Dragon Ball serialization must have taken root in the childhood of not only the mangaka, but all types of creators from multiple industries. That existence is like a big tree».
- «At this same stage, Toriyama’s works became more and more important to us, the mangaka, as we approached them. He was almost intimidating. But I was happy to see the same distant man again. We loved him as if he were family. With respect and gratitude for the creative world he left behind, we pray that his soul rest in peace. May heaven be the happy world he imagined».
- MASASHI KISHIMOTO, AUTHOR OF NARUTO
- «I honestly don’t know what to write about this sudden event. But for now, I would like to share my thoughts and feelings, which I hoped Toriyama-san would ask me about one day. I grew up with his manga, Dr. Slump, in early elementary school, and with Dragon Ball in upper grades, and it was natural for his manga to be a part of my life. Even when I was having a bad day, the weekly Dragon Ball made me forget about it. As a country boy without much, that was a relief to me. I enjoyed Dragon Ball too much when I was a college student. Suddenly, the series that had been a part of my life for so many years came to an end. I felt a tremendous sense of loss and didn’t know what to expect. But at the same time, it was an opportunity to truly understand the greatness of the master who created Dragon Ball. I want to create a work like yours! I want to be like him. And when I followed in his footsteps to become a mangaka, the feeling of loss disappeared. It was because I enjoyed making manga. By following him, I was able to find a new pleasure. He was always my guide. I admired him. You may be uncomfortable with these words, but I am grateful to you. For me, he was really the God of salvation and the God of manga».
- «The first time I saw him, I was too nervous to say a single word. But after seeing him many times at the Tezuka Prize jury sessions, I was able to talk to him. I’ll never forget the slightly embarrassed smile on his face when Oda-san and I gushed about how fun Dragon Ball was, as if we were kids again competing with each other as Dragon Ball Kids. I just received the news of his death. I feel a tremendous sense of loss, more 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, which I like so much. I don’t even feel like I can write this message to you properly. Everyone was still waiting for his work. If I could make a Dragon Ball wish come true… I’m sorry… It may be selfish of me, but I’m sad, master. Akira Toriyama, thank you for 45 years of many enjoyable jobs. And thanks for your hard work. I’m sure the rest of your family members are still deeply saddened by your loss. Please take care. I pray that Akira Toriyama rest in peace».
- TAKASHI SHIMADA OF THE YUDETAMAGO DUO, AUTHORS OF KINNIKUMAN
- «I heard the news of Akira Toriyama’s passing during the day. He was five years older than us, but Yudetamago was one year older than him in terms of manga career. When I saw ‘Dr. Slump’ for the first time, I was intimidated by the American comic style drawings and sophisticated gags, since we were both gag mangaka. I was also jealous of the first year of his anime series. We argued a lot and we didn’t get along. In the fourth year of serialization, ‘Kinnikuman’ became an anime, and I became increasingly aware of our rivalry and stopped talking to him. However, in the early days, we were good friends, and we played games and exchanged color illustrations at the banquets where the mangaka gathered. Toriyama-san was too young, he was only 68 years old. It’s really sad to hear this… I would like to express my deepest condolences».
- KAZUMATA OGURI, AUTHOR OF HANASAKA TENSHI TENTEN-KUN
- «I started buying the Jump every week starting with the issue of the Dragon Ball serialization and I got hooked on it. When I ran into him at New Year’s parties, he would talk to me kindly and say, “My daughter is a fan of Tenten-kun, so next time please sign the book for me,” which made me feel in heaven. It always seemed to me a goal as distant as the sun. I pray from the bottom of my heart for the repose of Akira Toriyama’s soul».
- KYOSUKE USUTA, AUTHOR OF SEXY COMMANDO GAIDEN: SUGOI YO!! MASARU-SAN
- «He left behind a masterpiece as a manga gag artist with ‘Dr. Slump’, and then went on to create a masterpiece in manga history as an action story mangaka… I don’t think he will see such a genius appear for another 100 years. I had a lot of fun with his works and they had a lot of influence on me. I pray that his soul rests in peace.».
- MASANORI MORITA, AUTHOR OF ROKUDENASHI BLUES AND ROOKIES
- «I had been displaying it for a long time until I framed it for the first time when I built a new workspace 6 years ago, so it has been completely sun-seasoned. I received it at a party when I was awarded an honorable mention for the Tezuka Prize in my second year of high school. The words that accompanied it were the most encouraging of all. Thank you so much! I became a serial writer!».
- TAKEHIKO INOUE, AUTHOR OF SLAM DUNK
- «It’s really difficult to assimilate. Thank you very much, Toriyama-sensei».
Fountain: WSJ_Manga
