The recent passing of Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama has sparked emotional outpours from friends, peers, and colleagues across industries. Read on to learn about their reactions to the sudden and tragic passing of Toriyama.
Toriyama’s Sparks Outpour from Colleagues and Friends
The Game Industry Sends Their Farewells
Final Fantasy Creator Hironobu Sakaguchi
Toriyama's colleagues, peers, and contemporaries in the gaming industry all expressed their gratitude and grief over the demise of Toriyama. Final Fantasy Creator Hironobu Sakaguchi posted on Twitter (X) following the news of the Dragon Ball creator's passing, saying, "I believe that Toriyama-san taught me what 'professionalism' and 'work' are. I respected him from the bottom of my heart. I pray for his soulful rest in peace."
Smash Bros. Creator Masahiro Sakurai
Masahiro Sakurai, the creator of Super Smash Bros., reposted the announcement from the Official Twitter (X) of Dragon Ball (@DB_official_jp). "This is the biggest shock of the year...! May he rest in peace," Sakurai remarked in response to the news.
Tekken Creator Katsuhiro Harada
Katsuhiro Harada, the creator of Tekken, took to Twitter (X) to pay his respects, saying, "Rest in peace, Akira Toriyama sensei."
Dragon Quest Creator Yuji Hori
Renowned Dragon Quest creator Yuji Hori, known for his close collaboration with Toriyama, has shared a heartfelt statement accompanied on social media. With a caption simply reading "Mr. Toriyama…" Hori's statement, translated by Gematsu, expresses profound disbelief at the news of Toriyama's passing. Having known Toriyama since their days at Shonen Jump and collaborated with him for 37 years since the inception of Dragon Quest,
Hori considers him not just "a companion," along with the late DQ composer Sugiyama. Reflecting on their shared journey, Hori expresses disbelief at the loss, statin "I don’t know what more to say. This is truly, truly, unfortunate."
PlayStation and Xbox expressed similar sentiments, extending their gratitude to Toriyama and his works.
The Manga and Anime Industry Send Their Regards
Shonen Jump’s Obituary and Authors’ Messages
The official website of Shonen Jump has shared an obituary for the late Akira Toriyama, whose numerous works graced the pages of the esteemed Jump Magazine. The entire Shueisha editorial department mourns the loss of the visionary creator behind iconic titles such as Dr. Slump, Dragon Ball, and SAND LAND, all of which captivated audiences worldwide and left an indelible mark on the manga industry. Toriyama's influence has been profound, shaping the trajectory of manga and inspiring countless creators across the globe.
Shounen Jump has gathered a number of reactions and statements from colleagues, friends, and contemporaries of Akira Toriyama, among them Masakazu Katsura creator of Tiger & Bunny, who expressed feeling "weak" and devoid of "energy" upon hearing the news. Having known Toriyama for four decades, Katsura lamented not reaching out to him after receiving an email, regretting the missed opportunity for lighthearted conversations over the phone.
Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece, fondly recalled his admiration for Akira Toriyama dating back to his childhood. Oda reminisced about the day Toriyama referred to him by his first name, a moment that left him and Masashi Kishimoto, the creator of Naruto, elated. Toriyama's acknowledgment of their friendship served as a source of joy, as it symbolized the realization of a dream and highlighted the profound impact of his manga on the industry.
Masashi Kishimoto, the creator of Naruto, shared similar reflections to Oda's sentiments. He expressed how he grew up immersed in Toriyama's manga and credited it with lifting his spirits even on somber days. Kishimoto attributed his inspiration to become a manga artist to Dragon Ball and regarded Toriyama as a beacon of salvation and a deity in the manga realm. He conveyed a profound sense of loss upon learning of Toriyama's passing and expressed gratitude for the impact Toriyama's work had over the past 45 years.
Toyotarou, handpicked by Toriyama to assist in creating Dragon Ball Super, shared on Twitter (X) his heartfelt message: "I drew manga because I wanted to be praised by Toriyama-sensei. It was everything to me."
Yusuke Murata, the artist behind the One Punch Man manga, shared his condolences on Twitter (X), expressing, There were many things that I could only receive from Mr. Toriyama. I humbly pray for your soul to rest in peace.
Dragon Ball Cast Reacts to Toriyama’s Passing
Members of the Japanese cast of Dragon Ball have released statements in response to Toriyama's passing. When approached for comment by the news outlet Mainichi Shimbun, Masako Nozawa, the Japanese voice actress of Goku, expressed, "I'm not in a state to comment."
In a subsequent post shared by @DbsHype on Twitter, Nozawa finally broke her silence on the news, expressing profound disbelief and a reluctance to come to terms with it. "I don't want to believe it. My head is empty because I don't want to think about it," Reflecting on her cherished memories, she recalled a poignant exchange with Toriyama Sensei: "You will take care of Goku, won't you? I cherish that moment. It makes me think: 'I will stay by Goku's side until my strength runs out completely." Concluding her heartfelt message, she implored Toriyama to "watch over us from above. May you find peace in your departure."
Ryo Horikawa, the voice actor for Vegeta, took to Twitter (X) to express his disbelief at the news of Toriyama's passing. Translated by @SupaChronicles, Horikawa remarked that the story had just embarked on a new journey and lamented the suddenness of the event. Horikawa extended his gratitude to Toriyama for creating such a wonderful work and concluded with a message wishing him to "please rest well."
Toshio Furukawa, the voice actor for Piccolo, revealed that he learned of the news from his manager. His initial reaction was to ponder how Toriyama's passing must have affected others, particularly Mako-san. Furukawa then conveyed his sincerest condolences to Toriyama's family.
Western Comics Industry Pays Tribute to Toriyama
Members of the comics industry, including Archie Comics, took to Twitter (X) to express their condolences and celebrate the life of Toriyama. DC artists like Rob Liefield, Dan Mora, and Jorge Jimenez also shared their condolences on the passing of Toriyama, acknowledging his significant influence on their art and the comics industry as a whole.
Numerous notable figures, including Jackie Chan, Yusuke Murata (the manga artist behind "One Punch Man"), Toriyama's first editor Kazuhiko Torishima, ESPN Host Stephen A Smith, and even China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, have extended their condolences over the passing of Akira Toriyama.
Source:
Shounen Jump Obituary
