'Dragon Ball' Creator Akira Toriyama Dies At 68
Akira Toriyama was 68 years old.
By Yap Wan Xiang — 08 Mar 2024, 01:54 PM
Legendary Japanese manga artist Akira Toriyama died from an acute subdural hematoma on 1 March, his publisher Shueisha announced today, 8 March
He was 68 years old.
"It's our deep regret that [Toriyama] still had several works in the middle of creation with great enthusiasm. Also, he would have many more things to achieve.
"However, he has left many manga titles and works of art to this world. Thanks to the support of so many people around the world, he has been able to continue his creative activities for over 45 years.
We hope that Toriyama's unique world of creation continues to be loved by everyone for a long time to come," read a statement posted by Dragon Ball's official X account this morning.
His funeral was held in the presence of his family and close relatives. Toriyama's family does not wish to receive flowers, condolences gifts, visits, and offerings at this time. Future plans for commemorative gatherings have not been decided.
The statement also mentioned the family's desire for privacy and requested that the media refrain from conducting interviews with them.
Toriyama's illustrious career spanned over 45 years, during which he worked as a manga artist, writer, and character designer for games since 1978
While Dragon Ball stands as Toriyama's most renowned creation, the acclaimed manga artist was also recognised for a diverse range of projects, such as Sand Land, Dragon Quest, and Chrono Trigger.
According to Fandom, Toriyama has over 50 manga titles credited to his name, along with five movies.
The Dragon Ball manga series made its debut in 1984. It follows the adventures of Son Goku, a young boy on a mission to gather mystical dragon balls to protect Earth from extraterrestrial threats.
