‘I do this for you.’ - Akira Toriyama and the 40th Anniversary of Dragon Ball
By Ben Bryant, 3rd Year History
Thumbnail: Dragon Ball mural in dedication to Akira Toriyama. Credit: Mayimbú
Before the swashbuckling adventures of One Piece, the ninjas of Naruto and the soulful battles of Bleach, there was a man named Akira Toriyama. Born in Kiyosu, in Japan’s Aichi Prefecture, Toriyama grew up with a great interest in manga, television and creative design. After leaving high school and working as a poster designer in an advertising agency for three years, he would go on to submit a variety of works to magazines like Weekly Shōnen Jump, before arriving at his first success.
In 1980, Akira Toriyama became a household name with the publication of Dr. Slump (1980-1984), a story that follows the adventures of a small, yet mighty robot named Arale, her creator and the inhabitants of Penguin Village. After some more minor successes with manga like Pola & Roid and The Adventure of Tongpoo, 1984 would mark the beginning of Toriyama’s now international fame.
On 20 November 1984, Dragon Ball began serialising in Weekly Shōnen Jump. Running until 1995, an astonishing 519 chapters collected into 42 volumes were produced, selling between 250 and 300 million copies worldwide. Since then, five separate anime adaptations and various films, video games and merchandise have been created.
Dragon Ball’s popularity continues to be felt, with the most recent adaptations to the franchise being the currently-airing anime Dragon Ball Daima (2024) and the video game Dragon Ball: Sparking ZERO! (2024). A spin-off manga has also been in serialisation since 2015, titled Dragon Ball Super and authored by Toyotarou, following a basic story outline created by Akira Toriyama.
Akira Toriyama’s avatar, Robotoriyama
Outside of Dragon Ball, Toriyama’s influence is palpable across many industries. In 1995, he worked as the character designer for the critically acclaimed video game Chrono Trigger. In 2005, a batch of nine electric cars designed by Toriyama were produced and sold by CQ Motors. In 2019, Toriyama was decorated as a Chevalier of the French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres for his contributions to international arts.
On 1 March 2024, Akira Toriyama passed away from an acute subdural hematoma, aged only 68. On 8 March 2024, his death was publicly announced, leading to an outpouring of grief and support from his fans. Tributes were paid by global leaders like French President Emmanuel Macron and by fellow artists like Eiichiro Oda, Masashi Kishimoto and Tite Kubo, the writers of One Piece, Naruto and Bleach respectively. The Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshimasa Hayashi, even went as far as to say that Toriyama and his work was key in ‘demonstrating Japan’s soft power’ internationally.
Dragon Ball’s protagonist, Son Goku (Crunchyroll; via Radio Times)
Dragon Ball’s story, of Son Goku and his growth into a galactically renowned fighter, mentor and father, has resonated with people around the world. Goku personifies personal growth. His progression from a small child training in martial arts, to a champion who can challenge the very gods, provides a mirror for many struggling with self-doubt and change on their journey into adulthood and beyond.
The final page of Dragon Ball Super, Chapter 103, A Legacy Toward The Future (Shōnen Jump)
Toriyama’s final contribution to the manga world before his death was the penultimate panel of the most recent chapter of Dragon Ball Super, Chapter 103, A Legacy Toward The Future (above). Its final pages show a wordless exchange between Goku, his son Gohan and his friend Piccolo, as Goku picks his granddaughter up from school. As they fly into the distance together, racing each other into the clouds, Piccolo glances back at the reader, raising his hand to say goodbye. Readers worldwide, including myself, now hold this dearly as Toriyama’s final farewell. For everything he did for us, for manga and for the world, he will always be a hero.
For Akira Toriyama (1955-2024). Thank you.
Edited by Scarlett Bantin