TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese manga comic creator Akira Toriyama, famous for his works such as “Dragon Ball” and “Dr. Slump”, passed away due to acute subdural hematoma on March 1, as announced by publisher Shueisha on Friday.
At the age of 68, Toriyama left behind a legacy that includes the iconic “Dragon Ball” series, first serialized in the Weekly Shonen Jump comic magazine in 1984. The franchise went on to inspire movies, video games, and TV shows, reaching audiences in over 80 countries.
Aside from his manga creations, Toriyama was also recognized for his role as a character and monster designer for the widely popular “Dragon Quest” video game series.
A fan expressed deep admiration on the official “Dragon Ball” website, stating, “We will never forget Akira Toriyama for the gift he left on this earth. I can’t imagine a world without Dragon Ball.”
(Reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka. Editing by Gerry Doyle)
