Akira Toriyama, the author of “Dragon Ball” – a manga series deeply embedded in the hearts of the 80s and 90s generations, has passed away at the age of 68, according to a post on Dragon Ball’s official Twitter account.
According to the post, Toriyama passed away on March 1 due to chronic subdural hematoma (a condition where blood clots form under the outermost layer of the brain within 72 hours of trauma. The post further stated that a small funeral had been held with Toriyama’s immediate family, and fans were advised to refrain from visiting, making offerings, and sending flowers or condolence gifts.
Unfortunately, it seems Toriyama was involved in many projects at the time of his passing, including the manga “Dragon Ball Super” and the upcoming “Dragon Ball: DAIMA” anime.
On the other hand, “Dragon Ball”, which was created by the creative mind of Akira Toriyama, is considered a major franchise that has endured since the 1980s.
“Dragon Ball” showed exponential growth during its days, starting as a serialized manga in Japanese magazine Weekly Shonen Jump in Japan before spreading internationally through manga and beloved anime adaptations worldwide.
The original “Dragon Ball” manga follows the adventures of a young boy named Son Goku as he searches for the mystical Dragon Balls, which grant wishes to whoever collects them. Later on, the story branched into the highly popular “Dragon Ball Z”, following Goku into adulthood and featuring intense battles and Goku’s relentless pursuit to become the strongest.
The series has also been adapted into several popular video games and continues to release new animated series and films, including the recent hit “Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero”.