Japanese manga artist Akira Toriyama, best known for creating the Dragon Ball series, has died at the age of 68 after suffering a sudden brain hemorrhage, his studio Bird Studio announced in a statement shared on social media.
The statement expressed deep sorrow, noting that Toriyama passed away on March 1 following an acute subdural hematoma. It added that he was working on several projects with great enthusiasm at the time of his death and had many more goals he hoped to achieve.
The team behind Toriyama highlighted the unfinished works he left behind for posterity and expressed gratitude for the support he received from fans around the world. They remarked that his unique creative universe would continue to be cherished for many years to come, underscoring the global impact of his art and storytelling.
Bird Studio also shared that the artist’s funeral was held privately among family and close friends, and they asked the public to refrain from sending flowers or condolences, respecting his request for quiet. No public memorial plans have been decided yet, and the studio said it would provide updates when appropriate.
Nacido el 5 de abril de 1955 en la ciudad de Nagoya, Toriyama was worldwide known for works such as Dragon Ball and Dr. Slump. He also contributed to the design of characters for major video game titles including Dragon Quest, Chrono Trigger, and Blue Dragon, among others.
The publisher responsible for the magazine Shonen Jump, which published many of Toriyama’s works, issued a message of condolence expressing their profound sadness. The note highlighted the enduring popularity of classics like Dragon Ball, Dr. Slump, and Sand Land, noting that Toriyama’s distinctive style influenced countless manga artists and creators around the world.
Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece and a collaborator on Cross Epoch, joined the chorus of tributes. Oda described Toriyama’s death as a great loss, saying Toriyama showed that manga can make incredible things possible and invited readers into universes that felt like they belonged to real heroes traveling ahead of their time.