Legendary Manga Artist Akira Toriyama Passes Away at 68

The renowned manga artist Akira Toriyama, best known for creating the globally acclaimed series Dragon Ball and Dr Slump, has sadly passed away at the age of 68 due to an acute subdural hematoma. The news was confirmed by his publishing house and studio on Friday.

Born in Nagoya, Japan, in 1955, Akira Toriyama gained international fame for his work on Dragon Ball, which debuted in 1984 and follows the martial arts prodigy Son Goku from childhood. Inspired by the 16th-century Chinese novel Journey to the West, the manga has sold over 260 million copies worldwide and spawned numerous adaptations in various media formats.

In a statement, Bird Studio, which was founded by Toriyama, expressed deep sorrow over his unexpected demise, while Shueisha, his publishing company, also paid tribute to his immense contributions and extended condolences to his family and fans.

Akira Toriyama was not only the mastermind behind Dragon Ball but also the creator of other popular manga series like Dr Slump, a humorous tale revolving around an android girl with formidable strength. He was honored with special accolades at the Angoulême International Comics Festival and was recognized as a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French Ministry of Culture.

Eiichiro Oda, the creator of the beloved manga One Piece, lamented Toriyama’s untimely passing, emphasizing the void left by his departure and expressing deep sadness at the loss of a revered artist.