Dragon Ball is one of the greatest anime series of all time, and we are saddened to hear of the passing of creator, Akira Toriyama, who created Son Goku and countless other characters of the popular shonen series. In addition to Dragon Ball, he also created Chrono Trigger and Dragon Quest, as well as Sand Land, among others. The impact of Toriyama on the anime industry and the world of pop culture is immeasurable, and his legacy will continue to live on through his creations for years to come.
Born in 1955 in Nagoya (Aichi) Japan, Akira Toriyama is the creator of Dragon Ball. Dragon Ball was introduced to the world for the first time in 1984 and quickly became one of the most popular anime series of all time, following the adventures of the titular character and his friends. Dragon Ball has remained a popular anime franchise ever since, with Toriyama continuing to write and drawing the manga series alongside the most recent film adaptation of the franchise, Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero. The letter regarding Akira Toriyama’s passing was shared on the Official Dragon Ball website and reads as follows:
“Dear Friends and Partners,
We are deeply saddened to inform you that manga creator Akira Toriyama passed away on March 1st due to acute subdural hematoma. He was in age of 68.
It’s our deep regret that he still had several works in the middle of creation with great enthusiasm. Also, he would have many more things to achieve. However, he had 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 Akira Toriyama’s unique world of creation continues to be loved by everyone for a long time to come.
We inform you of this sad news, with gratefulness for your kindness during his lifetime.
Funeral service was held with his family and very few relatives. Following his wishes for tranquility, we respectfully inform you that we would not accept flowers, condolences gifts, visiting, offerings and others. Also, we ask you to refrain from conduction interviews with his family. Future plans for a commemorative gathering is not decided, we will let you know when it’s confirmed. We deeply thank you for your understanding and support as always.”
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Akira Toriyama during this difficult time. Thank you Mr. Toriyama for the years of wonderful stories, amazing and enjoyable characters and all of the media that came from the universes you created.
