Born in Nagoya (central Japan) in 1955, Akira Toriyama was best known for the manga “Dragon Ball”, created in 1984 and loosely inspired by a 16th century Chinese novel, recounting the life and adventures of the arts prodigy. martial arts Son Goku since his childhood.
Mangaka Akira Toriyama, creator of another world-famous series, “Dragon Ball” and “Dr Slump”, died at the age of 68 from a subdural hematoma, his publishing house announced this Friday and his studio.
Akira Toriyama has sadly passed away on March 1st due to Acute Subdural Hematoma.
May his soul rests in peace... pic.twitter.com/uZzMWtoTKp
— Hype (@DbsHype) March 8, 2024
“We are sincerely saddened to inform you that manga creator Akira Toriyama died on March 1 from an acute subdural hematoma.
He was 68 years old,” Bird Studio, an entity founded by the mangaka, said in a statement published on X.
“260 million copies worldwide”
“We at Shueisha and the editorial department are deeply saddened by the sudden news of his passing,” read a statement from the publisher.
“We would like to pay tribute to his great achievements, express our gratitude and offer him our sincere condolences.”
The manga has sold at least 260 million copies worldwide according to the specialized site Mangazenkan, and has spawned numerous adaptations for television, cinema or video games, and known numerous sequels such as “Dragon Ball Z » or more recently “Dragon Ball Super”.
Eiichiro Oda, creator of the manga “One Piece”, regretted in a press release the “too early” death of Akira Toriyama, which leaves “a great void”.
“To think that I will never see him again... I am overwhelmed with sadness,” he added Oda.