On March 8, 2024, multiple media outlets, including Fuji News Network (FNN), reported the passing of the 68-year-old Japanese manga artist, Akira Toriyama, on March 1st due to illness.
With this article, we commemorate the great manga artist who accompanied us through our entire youth.
It was like in second grade, a classmate dragged me to the Xin Hua Bookstore to buy the hottest manga at the time, Dragon Ball.
He said in this manga, Son Goku changed his name to Kakarot, and even died, but then learned the Kaio-ken technique after death. Then he flew from Earth to Namek to fight, where Frieza, the big bad guy, was. The storyline perfectly connected to the Dragon Ball anime airing on TV every day.
But our local children's channel, at that time, had just reached the storyline of the second World Martial Arts Tournament. If you wanted to keep watching, you had to call the rich kids to request it, and sometimes they'd sneak in a few episodes of Detective Conan.
So, under my classmate's persuasion, I coughed up my tutoring fee to buy two volumes. Even though the two volumes didn't connect in storyline, it didn't stop me from re-reading them countless times. That is, until one volume got confiscated by the teacher in class, and the other mysteriously disappeared after that sneaky classmate borrowed it.
That's the initial story of me and Dragon Ball manga. I still remember the first thing I said holding the freshly bought volume:
"The name of this author is really weird, Akira Toriyama."
The influence of Dragon Ball is undeniable. With over 300 million copies of the manga sold worldwide and nearly 90 video games bearing the same name, it remains the undisputed GOAT (Greatest of All Time) in the realm of classic, action-packed manga. Despite the manga's serialization ending 30 years ago, it still maintains an unmatched level of popularity in the ACG (Anime, Comic, and Games) community.
Dragon Ball has spawned countless iconic memes and catchphrases, from "trash-tier fighter" to the sacrifice of Yamcha, the limitless power of Krillin's Solar Flare, and the inspiration behind the enduring spirit of "Black Brother." Not to mention the stylish hairdos of the main characters, which have consumed at least five bottles of hair wax.
Bird Shueisha not only inspired numerous manga artists including Eiichiro Oda and Masashi Kishimoto, but his work Dragon Ball also laid the foundation for iconic series like One Piece and Naruto.
It's safe to say that without Dragon Ball, we might not have had a whole slew of works including One Piece and Naruto.
Today, we mourn the loss of a legend in the world of manga. Akira Toriyama's passing leaves behind a profound void, felt deeply by fans and fellow creators alike. Eiichiro Oda, the mastermind behind "One Piece," penned a heartfelt tribute to honor Toriyama's legacy.
In his tribute, Oda reminisces about the impact Toriyama had on him personally and the entire manga industry. He reflects on Toriyama's groundbreaking work, such as "Dragon Ball," which inspired countless artists and storytellers worldwide. Oda expresses gratitude for Toriyama's influence on his own artistic journey, acknowledging the debt owed to a pioneer whose innovation reshaped the landscape of manga forever.
With profound sadness, Oda bids farewell to a mentor and a source of inspiration. Yet, he finds solace in the enduring legacy that Toriyama leaves behind, a legacy that will continue to inspire generations of manga creators to come. As the manga community mourns the loss of one of its greatest icons, Oda's tribute stands as a testament to the profound impact of Akira Toriyama's work on the world of manga.
Looking back at Dragon Ball, we might as well say, "No Jackie Chan, no Dragon Ball."
Rewind back to the beginning, Akira Toriyama, fresh off the success of his hit manga series Dr. Slump, was not given any rest by Weekly Shonen Jump.
As a condition for concluding a popular manga series, Toriyama had to create a new IP.
Back when Jackie Chan's kung fu movies were all the rage in Asia, Akira Toriyama was deeply drawn to their comedic martial arts scenes.
One of Toriyama's favorite pastimes was watching Jackie Chan's films while simultaneously sketching manga. He'd watch each movie at least fifty times.
This habit caught the attention of Jump editor Kazuhiko Torishima, who proposed:
"Since you're so fond of watching kung fu flicks, why not continue by drawing a martial arts action manga?"
Under the guidance of Bird Island, the bird-lover Akira Toriyama blended elements from the classic Chinese novel "Journey to the West" to create characters like Sun Wukong, Oolong, and Yamcha.
So, he came up with a story akin to Tang Sanzang gathering disciples and searching for the seven Dragon Balls to grant wishes.
But the initial popularity of Dragon Ball was quite low. To address this issue, Toriyama suggested to Torishima to strengthen the character of the protagonist, Son Goku, and establish a theme of constant growth through battles.
Thus, familiar characters like Master Roshi and formidable opponent Krillin were introduced, along with the villainous presence of Tao Pai Pai. The storyline of the World Martial Arts Tournament and the evil Piccolo Daimao gradually unfolded.
From there, Dragon Ball began its journey to dominate the hearts of youths worldwide.
In homage to Jackie Chan films, Dragon Ball not only borrowed some character designs from "Drunken Master," but even in the World Martial Arts Tournament, Master Roshi plays "Master Shenlong," using a Drunken Fist move in a bout against Goku.
Years later, Akira Toriyama holding a Dragon Ball manga volume posed for a photo with Jackie Chan, completing the perfect circle.
The Dragon Ball franchise skyrocketed in popularity later on, becoming a global sensation. JUMP insisted on continuing Akira Toriyama's serialization, leading to the creation of Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT, and even the current fan-made series, Dragon Ball Super.
In contrast, Toriyama's later work, "Blue Dragon," didn't enjoy the same level of recognition.
However, this action-packed anime, centered around the concept of "shadows transforming into giant beasts for battle," is still worth a watch. It exudes Toriyama's signature style in both its storyline and character designs.
When it comes to this titan in the world of manga, there's one more aspect that simply can't be overlooked - his contributions to character design for various classic gaming titles.
Thanks to Akira Toriyama's distinctive art style, one glance at the game cover is all it takes to know who the creator is.
Take for instance the iconic Japanese RPG series, Dragon Quest.
As of now, the Dragon Quest series has released 11 mainline titles, along with spin-offs like Dragon Quest Builders and Monster. Nearly all character and monster designs for almost 20 games have been created by Akira Toriyama, making them the soul of the franchise.
These designs have become integral to Dragon Quest's identity. Currently, the 12th mainline installment is in development, likely marking Toriyama's final contribution of original artwork to the series.
Certainly, there's one JRPG classic that cannot go unmentioned - "Chrono Trigger".
This game, boasting one of the most star-studded lineups in gaming history, set the pinnacle for Japanese RPGs, with character designs crafted by none other than Akira Toriyama.
Regarding Akira Toriyama's artwork, he himself once remarked, "All I can do is draw; I'm completely useless at anything else."
Despite this, Toriyama faced numerous rejections when submitting his work to magazines before making his debut.
Ultimately, what caught the attention of the magazine editors was quite simple: his clean and tidy drafts with minimal revisions, and his fast turnaround time.
In other words, he was efficient and incredibly hardworking.
Akira Toriyama, the creator of Dragon Quest and the colored draft.
Nowadays, with countless works as evidence, nobody doubts Akira Toriyama's artistic skills and technical prowess.
But what leaves the most profound impression on readers is his diligent and responsible work ethic.
Even when suffering from a high fever, unable to grip his pen, he persisted in meeting deadlines, even using his own drawing of little Goku to motivate himself.
This incident dates back to 1987, in the cover page of the 150th issue of the JUMP compilation for Dragon Ball.
Toriyama shared his experience of being sick and left behind a powerful statement: "Even if you can't move, keep drawing."
Throughout these past few decades, Akira Toriyama's pen has never ceased, leaving behind numerous classic works.
Each one, taken individually, is enough to be engraved as a monument in the ACG (Anime, Comics, and Games) realm.
He has changed the course of manga history and rewritten the collective memories of our youth.
Today, the news of Akira Toriyama's passing has dominated the front pages of major websites worldwide.
Once again, people reflect on Toriyama's humble yet extraordinary life.
He was born into poverty, unable to afford books as a child, and ensuring three meals a day was a challenge. Despite this, Toriyama remained optimistic from a young age. He loved drawing, and whenever he felt hungry or lost, he would pick up a pen and start sketching.
It was this person who created one delightful and tear-jerking manga after another.
He also taught us the simple truth that "as long as you're willing to work hard, even the weakest can become strong."
When I was a kid, I used to fantasize countless times about things from the Dragon Ball world becoming real.
Like eating a Senzu Bean, which could keep you full for 10 days without needing any other food and also heal your body.
Or having portable capsules that could instantly shrink houses, cars, and airplanes into tiny sizes.
And there's the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, where one day inside equals a whole year outside.
I also imagined myself as a Super Saiyan, having epic battles with my classmates using Kamehameha and Wolf Fang Fist during recess. And when they couldn't handle it anymore, they'd claim they caught my tail, leaving me powerless, like Superman with kryptonite or a Devil Fruit user submerged in water.
Of course, what I wished for the most was for this world to have seven Dragon Balls that could grant any wish.
If I ever met Shenron, I would definitely tell him my wish: I want to make three wishes.
After years of watching Dragon Ball, I could never quite put my finger on what exactly I loved about this manga.
But today, it seems like I finally get it.
In the world of Dragon Ball, the stark reality of life and death isn't as grim as it seems.
Even when someone is gone, they can be brought back with the Dragon Balls. And if resurrection isn't an option, they don't simply vanish forever; they can continue their journey in Other World, training in places like King Kai's planet or the Sacred World of the Kais.
They might just get that halo above their head and reappear before us once again.
So, there's no need to get overly sentimental.
Perhaps what Akira Toriyama wanted to convey to us is actually embedded in the training philosophy of the Turtle School.
No matter what happens, everyone should remember—
Exercise well, study well, have fun, eat well, rest well.
