Japanese manga artist Akira Toriyama, who created the popular Dragon Ball series, has died due to acute subdural hematoma, his team said on Friday (March 8, 2024).
Akira Toriyama died on March 1. He was 68.
“We are deeply saddened to inform you that Manga creator Akira Toriyama passed away on March 1st due to acute subdural hematoma,” read a statement issued by Dragon Ball franchise on X.
“It’s our deep regret that he still had several works in the middle of creation with great enthusiasm,” the statement said.
Who is Akira Toriyama?
Born on April 5, 1955 in Kiyosu City, Aichi prefecture, Akira Toriyama was a Japanese manga artist and character designer.
He first achieved mainstream recognition for creating the popular manga series Dr. Slump, before going on to create Dragon Ball (his most famous work) and acting as a character designer for several popular video games, such as the Dragon Quest series, Chrono Trigger, and Blue Dragon.
Toriyama is regarded as one of the authors who changed the history of manga, as his works are highly influential and popular, particularly Dragon Ball, which many manga artists cite as a source of inspiration.
Fans mourn
One fan mourned his death and posted on X: “A legend. Thank you Akira Toriyama for entertaining and inspiring so many of us. Rest in peace.”
Another wrote, “Thank You Akira Toriyama.”