The famous creator of manga comics Akira Toriyama has died in Japan at the age of 68, as announced by the studio he worked for. Toriyama died on March 1, but it was this Friday when his death was announced, due to a subdural hematoma. Active until the last days, he obtained his greatest global recognition for the series of Dragon Ballwhich with the name in Spain of Dragon Ball It became a true mass phenomenon in our country in the 1990s, playing a fundamental role in the expansion of Japanese audiovisual culture. It was thanks to the genius of Toriyama that manga and anime began their true golden age worldwide.
The death notice was released by Bird Studio, the production studio that Akira Toriyama created, and Capsule Corporation Tokyo, the company dedicated to managing the artist's work, and which takes its name from the fictitious company that played an important role in the Dragon Ball saga.
«The mangaka Akira Toriyama died on March 1, 2024 due to an acute subdural hematoma. He was 68 years old. It's a shame because he had a lot of work to do and there were still things he wanted to achieve. However, the deceased left many jobs as an artist,” reads the statement released through social networks.
The funeral has already been held, before the announcement of his death, and has included “only close relatives.” “Due to the wishes of the individual who desires peace and tranquility, we will decline any messages of condolences or offerings. “We kindly ask you to refrain from conducting interviews with the family,” she said.
The company has thanked the people who have enabled Toriyama to carry out his creative activities for more than 45 years. “We sincerely hope that the unique world of Akira Toriyama's works will continue to be loved by everyone for a long time,” he said.
Before creating Dragon Ball (1984-1995), his most famous work with 360 million sales worldwide, he achieved recognition by creating the manga Dr Slump (1980-1984), when he was unknown to the general public, for which he sold more than 35 million copies in Japan. After success, it was adapted into an anime series.
The Dragon Ball phenomenon was truly spectacular in Spain in the first half of the 90s. It has remained alive since then, but in the memory of any Spaniard who is already around 40 years old, the revolution that the arrival of that saga represented is still alive. , first through television and then in newsstands. A great review of that phenomenon can be found in the recently published book entitled Dragon appearsby Javier Iglesias, the result of a long and deep investigation, which serves as a legacy to understand the most inspired Toriyama.