Akira Toriyama , the legendary author of the
iconic “ Dragon Ball ”
series. His passing has left a profound impact on all those who grew up
admiring his work and have been influenced by his creative genius over the
years.
From
various corners of Japan, prominent manga artists have expressed their feelings
of sadness and gratitude towards Toriyama-sensei , sharing farewell messages
through social networks and other media.
- SHUEISHA EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
- « Akira Toriyama, who
published numerous works in JUMP magazines, has died. We at Shueisha and
the editorial department are deeply saddened by the sudden news of his
passing. The mangas he drew, like 'Dr. Slump', 'Dragon Ball', 'Sand Land'
and many others have been read and loved around the world, transcending
national borders. His fascinating characters and overwhelming design sense
have greatly influenced many manga artists and creators. We want to
express our gratitude for his great achievements and pray that his soul rest
in peace .
- YUUJI HORII, AUTHOR OF DRAGON
QUEST
- « I still can't believe
the sudden news of Toriyama-san's death. I've known Toriyama since he was
writing for Shonen Jump, and at the recommendation of my editor,
Torishima, I decided to ask him to draw the art for the games when we
released Dragon Quest. In the 37+ years since then, he has designed
characters, monsters, and drawn so many fascinating works of art that I
can't even begin to count. The history of Dragon Quest has been marked by
Toriyama-san's character designs. He and the late Sugiyama-san were
friends of mine for a long time and worked on Dragon Quest. I can't
believe he's gone... I do not know what to say anymore. I'm really sorry ".
- MASAKAZU KATSURA, Autor de Zetman
and DNA2
- « I feel exhausted and my
energy is not up to par. I don't want to comment on those things. But I
will write something. If I start writing, there are so many things I want
to say that it will probably be very long, but I will try to make it as
compact as possible. I don't have coherent feelings right now, so forgive
my ramblings. Even when I think about it, when I visited your house, when
you came to stay at my house, when we went out to have fun, it was all
nothing but happy memories, and every time I called you, I laughed until I
was exhausted. You were a funny man. You were scruffy, handsome,
foul-mouthed and humble. In my day job, drawing manga, we would do
collaborations and stuff, and that was fun too. But 99% of the time, we
never talked about manga. As a mangaka, we were so different in the
landscapes we saw and the level of the artists that I was never aware of
your greatness. I understand. But I didn't feel that at all when I was in
contact with you. It's your personality. That's why, more than a great
mangaka, I still think of you only as a friend. Last summer, before I had
surgery, you seemed to have heard about it somewhere and sent me an email.
Really, the emails are strange, and you were quite worried about my health .
- « We have known each other
for 40 years, but I don't think I have ever received such a kind email
from Toriyama-san. I thought it was going to snow. He usually just jokes
or talks nonsense. I don't have time to worry about others. When I called
him, I think it was a little earlier, I said, “He'll probably pass away
before then, so please have a farewell party or something, and I'd like
you to organize it, Toriyama-san! Also, please give a speech so I can be a
foil!” He promised me, but he couldn't keep his promise. I don't know why
I didn't call him after he emailed me, and that's what I regret so much.
I'm just sorry that we can no longer have long phone calls to talk about
trivial things. I have all kinds of things to talk about. I would like to
talk to you again, even if you have to listen to my usual ramblings about
things that don't interest you. It's not good that the last time you
responded to my email asking you to get back in touch with me, you wrote a
casual OK. It is deeply painful ».
- EIICHIRO ODA, AUTHOR OF ONE PIECE
- " It's too soon. The
hole she has left is too big. Sadness invades me when I think that I will
never see him again. I have admired him so much since he was a child. I
remember the day he called me by my name for the first time, on the way
home, and the same day you used the word “friend” to refer to us, me and
Kishimoto-san. I also remember the day we celebrated a big party all
together. And I also remember the last conversation we had. I was one of
those who picked up the baton of the days when reading manga made you look
like a fool, and created an era where both adults and children could enjoy
reading manga. He showed me his dream that manga could do those things. He
showed us the dream that manga could reach the whole world. It was like
watching a hero advance. The enthusiasm and excitement of the time of
Dragon Ball serialization must have taken root in the childhood of not
only the mangaka, but all types of creators from multiple industries. That
existence is like a big tree .
- « At this same stage,
Toriyama's works became more and more important to us, the mangaka, as we
approached them. He was almost intimidating. But I was happy to see the
same distant man again. We loved him as if he were family. With respect
and gratitude for the creative world he left behind, we pray that his soul
rest in peace. May heaven be the happy world he imagined .
- Masashi Kishimoto, Autor de Naruto
- « Honestly, I don't know
what to write about this sudden event. But for now, I would like to share
my thoughts and feelings, which I hoped Toriyama-san would ask me about
one day. I grew up with his manga, Dr. Slump, in early elementary school,
and with Dragon Ball in upper grades, and it was natural for his manga to
be a part of my life. Even when I was having a bad day, the weekly Dragon
Ball made me forget about it. As a country boy without much, that was a
relief to me. I enjoyed Dragon Ball too much when I was a college student.
Suddenly, the series that had been a part of my life for so many years
came to an end. I felt a tremendous sense of loss and didn't know what to
expect. But at the same time, it was an opportunity to truly understand
the greatness of the master who created Dragon Ball. I want to create a
work like yours! I want to be like him. And when I followed in his
footsteps to become a mangaka, the feeling of loss disappeared. It was
because I enjoyed making manga. By following him, I was able to find a new
pleasure. He was always my guide. I admired him. You may be uncomfortable
with these words, but I am grateful to you. For me, he was really the God
of salvation and the God of manga .
- « The first time I saw
him, I was too nervous to say a single word. But after seeing him many
times at the Tezuka Prize jury sessions, I was able to talk to him. I'll
never forget the slightly embarrassed smile on his face when Oda-san and I
gushed about how fun Dragon Ball was, as if we were kids again competing
with each other as Dragon Ball Kids. I just received the news of his
death. I feel a tremendous sense of loss, more than when Dragon Ball
ended... I still don't know how to deal with this hole in my heart. I
can't even read Dragon Ball, which I like so much. I don't even feel like
I can write this message to you properly. Everyone was still waiting for
his work. If I could make a Dragon Ball wish come true... I'm sorry... It
may be selfish of me, but I'm sad, master. Akira Toriyama, thank you for
45 years of many enjoyable jobs. And thanks for your hard work. I'm sure
the rest of your family members are still deeply saddened by your loss.
Please take care. I pray that Akira Toriyama rests in peace .
- TAKASHI SHIMADA DEL DOUGE
YUDETAMAGO, AUTOS OF KINNEI
- « I heard the news of
Akira Toriyama's death during the day. He was five years older than us,
but Yudetamago was one year older than him in terms of manga career. When
I saw 'Dr. Slump' for the first time, I was intimidated by the American
comic style drawings and sophisticated gags, since we were both gag
mangaka. I was also jealous of the first year of his anime series. We
argued a lot and we didn't get along. In the fourth year of serialization,
'Kinnikuman' became an anime, and I became increasingly aware of our
rivalry and stopped talking to him. However, in the early days, we were
good friends, and we played games and exchanged color illustrations at the
banquets where the mangaka gathered. Toriyama-san was too young, he was
only 68 years old. It is really sad to hear this… I would like to express
my deepest condolences ».
- KAZUMATA OGURI, HANASAKA TENSHI
TENTEN-KUN
- « I started buying Jump
every week starting with the issue of the Dragon Ball serialization and I
got hooked on it. When I ran into him at New Year's parties, he would talk
to me kindly and say, “My daughter is a fan of Tenten-kun, so next time
please sign the book for me,” which made me feel in heaven. It always
seemed to me a goal as distant as the sun. I pray from the bottom of my
heart for the repose of Akira Toriyama's soul .
- KYOSUKE USUTA, SEXY COMMANDO
GAIDEN AUTOR: SUGOI YO!! MASARU-SAN
- « He left behind a
masterpiece as a manga gag artist with 'Dr. Slump', and then he went on to
create a masterpiece in manga history as an action story mangaka… I don't
think he'll see such a genius for another 100 years. I had a lot of fun
with his works and they had a lot of influence on me. I pray that his soul
rests in peace .
- Masanori Morita, Autor de
Rokudenashi Blues and Rookies
- « I had been displaying it
for a long time until I framed it for the first time when I built a new
workspace 6 years ago, so it has been completely sun-seasoned. I received
it at a party when I was awarded an honorable mention for the Tezuka Prize
in my second year of high school. The words that accompanied it were the
most encouraging of all. Thank you so much! I became a serial writer! ».
- TAKEHIKO INOUE, AUTOR DE SLAM DUNK
- « It's really difficult to
assimilate. Thank you very much, Toriyama-sensei . »
- YUSUKE MURATA, ONE PUNCH MAN AND
EYESHIELD ARTIST
- « Strangely, I don't feel
at all that he has passed away. Maybe that's why he was like a star in the
sky for me, even before he died .
- RIICHIRO INAGAKI, AUTHOR THE DR.
STONE
- " It's too shocking
to think about anything else, but for now I just pray that his soul rests ."
- RYUHEI TAMURA, AUTOR DE BEELZEBUB
- « I was shocked to learn
of Akira Toriyama's death. Like many people associated with manga, he was
definitely a North Star for me. I still can't sort out my feelings... I
pray with all my heart that he rests in peace .
- TOYOTARO, DRAGON BALL SUPER ARTIST
- « I started drawing manga
because I wanted Toriyama-sensei to praise me. He was everything to me .
- KENTAROU YABUKI, AUTOR DE TO
LOVE-RU AND AYAKASHI TRIANGLE
- « This is a long message.
To calm me down. Let me explain my personal thoughts. When I was a child,
I changed schools a lot and tended to be alone. Everything changed when I
was able to make new friends anywhere talking about 'Dragon Ball'. I
learned the joy of drawing manga by copying many of Mr. Toriyama's
illustrations. I got hooked on Dracula and Chrono Trigger. The first time
my drawing appeared in Jump, it was thanks to a postcard from the “Dragon
Ball” readers project. I think that gave me confidence and led me to
submit to manga awards a few years later. I never had the opportunity to
meet him in person, but even if I had, I would have been too afraid to
approach him… That's how much I admired him .
- « I would like to thank
you for the illustrations you drew for the 10th anniversary of “To
LOVE-Ru” and for your kind comments. I will treasure them for the rest of
my life. He created many happy memories for me and everyone's lives. I
really appreciate Toriyama-san's kindness. I pray that one day he can see
you with a ring on your head… May he rest in peace . »
Source: WSJ_Manga
