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The manga community is currently mourning the death of Akira Toriyama, creator of the famous Japanese franchise Dragon Ball. Toriyama died of acute subdural hematoma on Friday, March 1. He was 68 years old at that time. Shortly after news of his death became public, tributes began pouring in from Dragon Ball fans and fellow manga writers, including One Piece and Naruto writers.
Manga writers pay heartfelt tribute to Dragon Ball’s Akira Toriyama
A number of tributes from Toriyama’s fellow manga writers were shared on the Shonen Jump website. One Piece’s Eiichiro Oda wrote, “Sadness overcomes me when I realize that I will never see you again. I have been praising you since childhood. I remember the day I was called by name for the first time. On the way home after the day you used the word “friend” for us, I remembered the happy moment I had with Kishimoto-san. I remember our last conversation,” according to Anime Corner’s translation.
“Taking inspiration from an era where reading manga was considered foolish, you helped create an era where both adults and children enjoy manga. You showed us that manga can do that, it can take us to another world. It felt like watching a hero move forward,” Oda said in his emotional letter.
Apart from Oda, Masashi Kishimoto, creator of another famous long-running manga, Naruto, also wrote a sweet note for Toriyama. “Honestly, I don’t know what to write in such a sudden situation. But I want to share what I always wanted to ask Toriyama-sensei, my thoughts. Masashi wrote, From early elementary school with Dr. Slump to the later years of Dragon Ball, Sensei’s manga have always been with me, becoming a part of my life.
“I have just received the news of Sensei’s passing. I’m overwhelmed with a feeling of loss even greater than the ending of Dragon Ball… I still don’t know how to deal with this hole in my heart. I can’t even read Dragon Ball, my beloved manga, anymore,” the Naruto creator continued, “Thank you, Akira Toriyama-sensei, for your many entertaining works over 45 years. And thank you so much for your hard work.”
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