Admiring Since Childhood, Eiichiro Oda, Mangaka of One Piece, Sends a Message to Akira Toriyama, Creator of Dragon Ball: It's Too Soon

Kapanlagi.com - Mangaka Dragon Ball and Dr. Slump, Akira Toriyama, passed away at the age of 68. Akira's departure has deeply saddened comic and anime lovers worldwide, especially Dragon Ball fans, including Eiichiro Oda.

The creator of the manga One Piece feels a great loss due to Akira Toriyama's passing. For Oda, Akira Toriyama is a mangaka he has admired since childhood. In fact, Akira was the inspiration for Oda to become a mangaka and create One Piece.

1. Message from Eiichiro Oda to Akira Toriyama

©IGN Media

Quoting from Shonen Jump, several mangaka including Eiichiro Oda wrote messages about the departure of Akira Toriyama.

It's too fast. The void left is too big.

I feel such sadness when I realize that I will never meet you again. Since I was little, I admired you. I remember the first day you called me. At that time, on the way home after you called me 'friend', I was so happy remembering moments with Kishimoto-san. I even remember our last conversation.

Taking the baton from the era where reading manga (comics) was considered foolish, you helped create an era where adults and children could enjoy manga. You showed us that manga could do this, could take us to another world. It feels like watching a hero attacking.

Not only for us mangaka, but for all creators who were still children during the serialization of Dragon Ball, the excitement and inspiration are deeply rooted. Your presence is like a giant tree.

For us mangaka of our generation who stand on the same stage, Toriyama's works, which are so close to us, used to make us afraid. However, meeting a relaxed person like you always makes me happy. We greatly respect Toriyama-sensei.

With respect and gratitude for the creative world of Akira Toriyama-sensei, I sincerely pray for his peaceful rest.

May heaven be the enjoyable world that you dream of, Sensei.

Eiichiro Oda

2. Best-selling Dragon Ball Manga

©Weekly Shonen Jump

Akira Toriyama, the creator of the Dragon Ball comic, passed away on March 1, 2024. During his lifetime, Akira Toriyama was known as a mangaka with many works. Besides Dragon Ball, his other well-known works include DR SLUMP, Fox Tale, and Blue Dragon.

Akira himself started his debut as a mangaka in 1978. His first comic titled Wonder Island was published in Weekly Shonen Jump edition 52. However, unfortunately, the comic was only a one-shot, without serialization.

Not giving up, Akira Toriyama then created Dr. Slump in 1980. This comic was very successful in the market. For four years, Dr. Slump has been released in 236 chapters and has been adapted into an anime.

One year after the success of Dr. Slump, Akira Toriyama created Dragon Ball. It is one of the best comics of all time and has inspired current Japanese mangaka. Dragon Ball is loved by people all over the world. Dragon Ball is also the best-selling manga in the world, with over 260 million copies sold.

(kpl/dwn)