Jackie Chan Bids Final Goodbye To Dragon Ball Creator Akira Toriyama

Akira Toriyama, creator of best-selling Dragon Ball and or popular anime who influenced Japanese comics, died aged 68. manga artist passed away on March 1 of a blood clot in his brain, Bird Studio said in a statement. Days after his death, action star Jackie Chan posted a farewell message for Toriyama on his social media handle. 

Jackie Chan condoles Akira Toriyama’s death

Jackie wrote on Chinese microblogging platform Sina Weibo, “Akira Toriyama-sensei, thank you for creating so many classic works, y will last forever. Farewell.” 

Messages of condolences and grief from fellow creators and fans filled social media. Eiichiro Oda, creator of blockbuster manga One Piece, said Toriyama’s presence was like a “big tree” to younger artists.

“He showed us all se things manga can do, a dream of going to anor world,” Oda said in a statement. His death leaves “a hole too big to fill,” Oda ded. Bird Studio thanked fans for more than 40 years of support. “We hope that Akira Toriyama’s unique world of creation continues to be loved by everyone for a long time to come.”

What more do we know about Akira Toriyama?

Born in Aichi prefecture in central Japan in 1955, Toriyama me his manga debut in 1978 with venture comic Wonder Island, published in Weekly Shonen Jump magazine. His Dr. Slump series, which started in 1980, was his first major hit.

It me him a celebrity, but Toriyama avoided spotlight. In 1982, he told Japanese public brocast NHK: “I just want to keep writing manga.” Dragon Ball, story of a boy named Son Goku and his quest for seven magical balls that can make wishes come true, has sold 260 million copies altoger, according to studio.

Toriyama also designed characters for video game series Dragon Quest. He received awards in manga industry and beyond, including France’s Knight of Order of Arts and Letters.

(with inputs from AP)