Some awakenings are more difficult than others. This morning, at dawn, around 6:45 a.m., we received an uppercut to the head. Certainly not that of Doumbé on Baki, which ended last night in a defeat by the former due to a splinter in the toe, but because we have just learned of the death of Akira Toriyama. This much-feared moment arrived today through Bird Studio, its publishing house. The news is all the more shocking as the mangaka was only 68 years old.
According to a press release from his publishing house, Akira Toriyama died on March 1 of a subdural hematoma. The legacy left by the father of Dragon Ball is obviously immeasurable and his millions of fans have been inconsolable since this morning. It must be said that rarely has an artist had such an impact on entire generations through his works. Whether we discovered Dr Slump or Dragon Ball in the 80s and 90s, or in the 2020s, Toriyama remains the father of modern Shônen, the one who gave birth to talented mangakas such as Masashi Kishimoto (Naruto) and Eichiro Oda (One Piece) who also paid him a vibrant tribute.
From near and far, Akira Toriyama has influenced many artists and anonymous people around the world. From Dr Slump to Dragon Ball, via Dragon Quest, Chrono Trigger, Sand Land (which Bandai Namco will bring up to date in a few months), his presence is such that he will be named Knight of the Order of Arts and of Letters by the Japanese Ministry of Culture in 2019. However, Toriyama is a discreet man, who hates being seen in the media, so much so that his public appearances are extremely rare. Moreover, his family clarified that they did not accept any interviews, nor visits or offerings, asking to respect the privacy of the bereaved. Akira Toriyama passed away at the age of 68 in the Year of the Dragon. Chance or destiny? No matter, his death will leave a big void in the world of pop culture.
