Akira Toriyama, a legendary manga artist responsible for bringing countless iconic characters to life, including the Dragon Ball series and its sequels, sadly died on March 1.
The creator of the best-selling Dragon Ball series, its sequels, Dragon Quest and the upcoming Sand Land, Akira Toriyama, has died. His studio, Bird Studio, has confirmed the sad news over on X (formerly Twitter) in a statement that confirmed the cause of death was a subdural hematoma on March 1 but did not confirm where. While touching many fans with his works, Toriyama only created manga for one purpose, and that was for entertainment.
Fans have taken to the post on social media to provide support, responding to the message with thanks for all of the work Toriyama has accomplished over the years. The AmongUsGame account replied to the post with “A legend. Thank you Akira Toriyama for entertaining and inspiring so many of us. Rest in peace.”
Masako Nozawa, the Japanese voice actor who plays Goku, said, “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 you?’ I cherish that moment. It makes me think: ‘I will stay by Goku’s side until my strength runs out completely’. Sensei, please watch over us from the heavens. We hope you depart in peace,” Screentime reports. Eiichiro Oda, the creator of ONE PIECE, has also expressed remorse for Toriyama’s passing, saying, “The hole is too big. The thought of never seeing you again fills me with sadness. I’ve admired you so much since I was a child.”
Akira Toriyama has influenced many works over his storied career aside from inspiring countless others. His work can be seen in the Dragon Ball series, the critically acclaimed RPG Chrono Trigger from 1995, and the JRPG series Dragon Quest, and he will be sorely missed.
