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People from around the world have paid their respects to the legendary manga creator Akira Toriyama, who tragically died on March 1. Following Toriyama’s death, fans around the world have posted their condolences, respects, and tributes on social media. Many are by established creatives, but if you dig a little deeper, you’ll find lesser-known authors, scholars, anime producers, celebrities, people on the fringes of the manga and anime industry, and even world leaders and governments. All the messages are touching and may bring a tear to your eye. Get a tissue ready, ’cause the tears may overflow.
These aren’t all. We are preparing another upcoming article full of other condolences from around the world.
In alphabetical order by first name.
bobobo (adult manga author):
小学生のころドラゴンボールの模写をしまくって絵を描く楽しさを知りました。
ご冥福をお祈りします。— ボボボAp-B 単行本『恥育玩具』発売中 (@bobobo_boi) March 8, 2024
When I was in elementary school, I copied Dragon Ball and learned the joy of drawing.
I hope you will rest in peace.
RIP Toriyama and thank you for inspiring and sharing your art and stories with us. pic.twitter.com/Wd0XFEmBTH
— Brianne (@potatofarmgirl) March 8, 2024
Emmanuel Macron (President of France):
À Akira Toriyama et ses millions de passionnés qui ont grandi avec lui.
鳥山明と何百万もの彼の愛好家へ。 pic.twitter.com/0AAvVxUuj6
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) March 8, 2024
To Akira Toriyama and his millions of fans who grew up with him.
Enrico Croce (Editor at SMAC!):
Akira Toriyama-sensei has passed away. I can’t believe it…
My first manga purchase was this edition of DB vol.14.
Without him and Tetsuo Hara-sensei, my passion for manga and Japan wouldn’t be the same.
Thank you for inspiring so many over the years. pic.twitter.com/bDkyn3nmbP— Enrico🍅SMAC! (@kenrico7) March 8, 2024
The Foreign Ministry of El Salvador released a statement on Saturday, extending sincere condolences to Toriyama’s family, friends, and to the people and government of Japan. Part of the foreign ministry’s message says: “In the face of this irreparable loss, our nation recognizes Toriyama’s invaluable contribution to the world of manga and popular culture. His iconic works have marked several generations of Salvadorans and inspired artists, captivating millions of readers and viewers around the world.
His legacy will live on in the hearts of his fans and in the history of manga.”
El Salvador se une al luto por la partida del reconocido artista Akira Toriyama, creador de Dragon Ball.
Ante esta irreparable pérdida, nuestra nación reconoce la invaluable contribución de Toriyama al mundo del manga y la cultura popular. pic.twitter.com/lWZbXWyirb
— Cancillería de El Salvador 🇸🇻 (@cancilleriasv) March 8, 2024
Fukudada (adult manga author):
僕が漫画でご飯食べてこうと決めた時に具体的に取り込もう(パクると言っても良い)と思ったのが鳥山明、桂正和、Moo.念平(敬称略)でした。鳥山先生からは絵柄だけでなく漫画そのものかもしれない。
— フクダーダ (@ffkkdddd) March 8, 2024
When I decided manga would be my profession, the people whose styles I specifically wanted to incorporate (you could even call it plagiarize) were Akira Toriyama, Masakazu Katsura, and Moo.Nenpei (titles omitted). From Toriyama-sensei, it might not just be his art style, but manga itself.
18号初登場時は衝撃だった。
あんなキャラデザ見たことなかったもの。まだそんな引き出しあんのか!って。— フクダーダ (@ffkkdddd) March 8, 2024
I was shocked when Android 18 first appeared.
I’ve never seen character design like that. I was like, “You still have that in your back pocket?”
鳥山先生がいなければ僕は漫画家になっていませんでした。悲しいです。
— 真島ヒロ (@hiro_mashima) March 8, 2024
Without Toriyama-sensei, I would not have become a manga author. Such a loss.
嘘だろ……なんで…ショックです、全世界の人が、だと思いますが……
小学生の頃、ドラゴンボールの絵に憧れて模写したのが漫画絵を書き始めたキッカケだったので…ご冥福をお祈りいたします— 武田弘光 (@shinjugai) March 8, 2024
It can’t be…why…I’m sure everyone around the world is shocked…
When I was in elementary school, I admired the drawings of Dragon Ball and copied them, which was the reason I started drawing manga…I pray he rests in peace.
長文ですが
心の整理をつけるためにも
個人的な想いを綴らせてください。少年の頃、転校が多く
1人になりがちな僕でしたが
ドラゴンボールの話題をキッカケにすれば
どこでも新しい友だちができました。鳥山先生のイラストをたくさん模写して
マンガを描く楽しさを知りました。… pic.twitter.com/G5oK8Xf0O8— 矢吹健太朗 Info (@yabuki_info) March 8, 2024
This is a long post, but I would like to write down my personal thoughts to help clear my mind.
When I was a boy, I often changed schools and was alone quite a bit. But once I started talking about Dragon Ball, I was able to make new friends everywhere.
I learned the joy of drawing manga by copying many of Toriyama-sensei’s illustrations. I was hooked on both Dragon Quest and Chrono Trigger, too.
The first time a drawing of mine appeared in Jump was on a postcard project for Dragon Ball readers. I think that gave me confidence and led me to submit my work for the Manga Award several years later.
I didn’t have the chance to meet him in person, but even if I had had the chance, I might have been too scared to get close to him…that’s how much I admired him.
The illustrations and kind comments he drew for ToLOVE’s 10th anniversary are treasures that will last a lifetime.
You created many happy memories in my life and in everyone’s life.Thank you very much, Toriyama-sensei.
I hope that someday I will meet you wearing a halo on your head…
I pray that your soul may rest in peace.
6年前仕事場を新築した時初めて額装するまで、ずっと裸で飾ってたので、すっかり陽に焼けてしまった色紙。
高2の時、手塚賞の佳作をもらった時にパーティーでいただきました。
添えていただいた言葉は何よりの励みになりました。
ありがとうございました!
連載作家になれましたよ! pic.twitter.com/LdbQh8sRg1— 森田まさのり (@HITMANmorita) March 8, 2024
The autograph board had been displayed naked until I framed it for the first time when I built a new workplace six years ago, so it was completely bleached by the sun.
When I was a second year high school student, I received this at a party when I received an honorable mention for the Tezuka Prize.
The words he included gave me the most encouragement.
Thank you very much!
I got a series!
Max Andrade (Brazilian comic author):
Vou te amar por toda minha vida ❤️ pic.twitter.com/vGbOttmtM0
— Max Andrade (@puffnopiripaf) March 8, 2024
I will love you all my life ❤️
Merrivius (Finnish comic author):
Sad to hear about Toriyama’s passing. His art was one of the biggest influences to me when I was growing up.
I was also working on a short Dragon Ball Z inspired comic on the side, I need to finish it in his honor.
In the meantime, here’s some Gokus… pic.twitter.com/zP8Efp2H7C— Merrivius (@merrivius) March 8, 2024
Mifune Seijiro (adult manga author):
鳥山明先生は日本の漫画、アニメ、ゲーム、いや世界中にどれだけ影響を与えた方だったか。御冥福をお祈りします。
— 三船誠二郎 (@mifuneseijiro) March 8, 2024
How much of an influence did Akira Toriyama have on Japanese manga, anime, games, and, indeed, the world? I pray for your soul to rest in peace.
常に目の前に鳥山明先生の作品がある、そんな世界を生きてきたように思う
R.I.P. pic.twitter.com/0l9HkB7XVh— 内田美奈子 (@zerra01) March 8, 2024
I feel like I live in a world where Akira Toriyama‘s works are always in front of me.
R.I.P.
Mitsuru Miura (The Kabocha Wine):
間違いなく世界中に「MANGA」を広めた偉大な才人…残念です
漫画家 鳥山明さん死去 68歳 「DRAGON BALL」などで人気 https://t.co/KJ9FQHEy9I
— 三浦みつる (@miura_mitsuru) March 8, 2024
Without a doubt, he is a great talent who spread “MANGA” throughout the world… What a shame.
Manga author Akira Toriyama dies at age 68, known for works such as DRAGON BALL
Nate Ming:
Akira Toriyama drawing motorcycles is one of my favorite things about Dragon Ball pic.twitter.com/7IO4FAOPxW
— Nate Ming: Job Hunter (@NateMing) January 17, 2017
Naoki Urasawa (Monster, 20th Century Boys):
「Dr.スランプ」の新連載が載った少年ジャンプを読んだ時、ああ、この人は漫画を違う次元まで引き上げてくれるだろうなぁ、と思いました。その後それどころではない偉業を成し遂げた、鳥山明さん。
一度お会いしてゆっくりお話をお聞きしたかった。とても残念です。
心からご冥福をお祈りします。— 浦沢直樹_Naoki Urasawa公式情報 (@urasawa_naoki) March 8, 2024
When I read the first chapter of Dr. Slump in Shonen Jump, I thought, “Wow, this person will take manga to a different level.” Akira Toriyama has since achieved an extraordinary feat.
I wanted to meet you once and listen to your story. It is such a shame.
I sincerely pray for your soul to rest in peace.
Roland Kelts (Scholar):
Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball was the first-ever manga series officially licensed and published outside of Japan in 1992. Here’s the crazy story about months of desperate faxes between Planeta’s Monte Samon and Shueisha’s Chigusa Ogino. https://t.co/GBT5s2iJO9
— Roland Kelts (@rolandkelts) March 8, 2024
Salvatore Pascarella (Italian comic author):
1994
7 years old
Junior TV
That day you opened the doors to a great and wonderful adventure.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Sensei.
Sensha Yoshida (Utsurun Desu):
ドラゴンボールももちろん好きだったけど、「ヘタッピマンガ研究所」をデビュー当時に参考書として愛読してたなぁ…
心から感謝しつつ御冥福をお祈りします。— 吉田戦車 (@yojizen) March 8, 2024
Of course I liked Dragon Ball, but I also loved reading Toriyama Akira no Hetappi Manga Kenkyuujho as a reference book when I debuted…
I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart and pray for your soul to rest in peace.
Shōko Nakagawa (Alena in Dragon Quest Heroes, Oracle Fish in Dragon Ball Super):
突然すぎて信じられない
鳥山明先生、数々のアニメを生み出し世界中でファンが生まれ自分もその中の一人でした
ドラゴンボールとドラゴンクエストと成長してきた人生でした… pic.twitter.com/9Zk0P1iBJC— 🍉中川翔子🍉🐈⬛ (@shoko55mmts) March 8, 2024
It’s so sudden I can’t believe it.
Akira Toriyama-sensei created many anime and has fans all over the world, and I was one of them.
I grew up with Dragon Ball and Dragon Quest.
The excitement, characters, and the world created from the lines Akira Toriyama drew is unparalled and I don’t want to believe this world-famous treasure will be lost.
Oracle Fish, Princess Alena, I was given the opportunity to voice them, and I was able to meet [Toriyama] and express my thanks and gratitude to him in person. I can’t hold back my emotions, he’s just too great.
His achievements in creating a revolution in the history of manga and anime throughout the world is a treasure to humanity. I believe as long as the earth exists Akira Toriyama‘s works will be handed down in human history forever as a pioneer who had a great influence on media around the world.
I am truly sorry to hear of his sudden death.
I sincerely pray for his soul to rest in peace.
Taichi Shimizu (former bodybuilder):
鳥山明先生、ドラゴンボールが私の人生でした。
有難う御座いました。
心よりご冥福をお祈りいたします。Mr. Akira Toriyama, Dragon Ball was my life.
Thank you very much.
I pray that he rests in peace. pic.twitter.com/ohqGyAD5yW— 清水 泰地@Taichi Shimizu (@taichi_shimizu_) March 8, 2024
なかなか受け止めきれない。
鳥山先生、ありがとうございました。
— 井上雄彦 Inoue Takehiko (@inouetake) March 8, 2024
I just can’t accept it.
Thank you, Toriyama-sensei.
鳥山先生がいなかったらきっと僕は漫画家を目指すこともなかった。
今でも「読者の立場」というものを考える時、必ず「ドラゴンボールを毎週わくわく楽しみにしている子供の頃の自分」を思い出す。たくさんの素敵な作品をありがとうございました。
鳥山先生のご冥福を心よりお祈りいたします。— 遠藤達哉 (@_tatsuyaendo_) March 8, 2024
If it weren’t for Toriyama-sensei, I probably wouldn’t have aimed to become a manga author.
Even now, when I think of “the reader’s perspective,” I always think of myself as a child, excitedly looking forward to Dragon Ball every week.Thank you very much for all your wonderful works.
I sincerely pray you soul will rest in peace Toriyama-sensei.
仕事やるか…。一つでも作り続けるのが影響を受けたものの努め。
— 内藤泰弘/YasuhiroNightow (@nightow) March 8, 2024
I guess I should work… It is the effort of those who have been influenced to continue making at least one thing.
Yasuyuki Tsurugi (Farming Life in Another World):
鳥山明保存会(ファンクラブ)に入ってました……残念です……。 https://t.co/BVAUqbe23z
— 剣康之@異世界のんびり農家 (@Tsurugi_Y) March 8, 2024
I was a member of the Akira Toriyama Preservation Society (fan club)…How unfortunate…
Yoshihiro Watanabe (assistant producer of BEASTARS):
Toriyama-sensei thank you.
— Yoshihiro Watanabe (@crazynabe) March 8, 2024
Yoshiyuki Nishi (Muhyo & Roji’s Bureau of Supernatural Investigation):
鳥山先生、手塚賞受賞の際は優しいお言葉をいただき、ほんとうにありがとうございました。デザインセンス、キャラ作り、お仕事の全てを心底、尊敬しておりました。心よりご冥福をお祈りいたします。
— 西 義之 (@nishiyoshiyuki) March 8, 2024
Toriyama-sensei, thank you very much for your kind words when I received the Tezuka Prize. I deeply respected his design sense, character creation, and work. I pray for your soul from the bottom of my heart.
Yūsuke Murata (One-Punch Man):
鳥山先生からしか受け取れないものが沢山ありました。謹んでご冥福をお祈り致します。
— 村田雄介 (@NEBU_KURO) March 8, 2024
There were many things I could only receive from Toriyama-sensei. I humbly pray for your soul to rest in peace.
Aoashi manga creator Yūgo Kobayashi posted a drawing of Goku on Twitter, accompanied by the message: “Because Dragon Ball existed, I was able to go to school even when it wasn’t fun. You are my hero, you are my Goku. Toriyama-sensei, thank you so much.”
— 【アオアシ】公式/アニメ好評配信中&単行本35集3/29発売! (@aoashiofficial) March 8, 2024
Famed manga creator Toriyama died on March 1 due to acute subdural hematoma. He was 68. His family held a private funeral.
Toriyama began his first serialized manga, Dr. Slump, in 1980, and it inspired two television anime and multiple films. Toriyama followed it up with Dragon Ball, which ran from 1984 to 1995, and is still inspiring manga and anime sequels and spinoffs today. The manga’s Dragon Ball anime adaptation, its sequel Dragon Ball Z, and its other numerous sequels and anime films are equally as well-known as the manga, and its hero Goku has become a character known throughout the world.
Toriyama is also well-known as the character designer for the Dragon Quest, Chrono Trigger, and Blue Dragon games.
Most recently, Toriyama was working closely with the production for the Dragon Ball Daima anime series, the most recent anime series based on Dragon Ball, and is credited for the new anime’s story and character designs. His Sand Land manga also recently inspired an anime film adaptation that opened in Japan in August 2023, an anime series that will debut worldwide on March 20, and a game that will launch on April 26.