Who is Akira Toriyama, the Creator of "Dragon Ball"? An Overview of His Hometown, Age, and Other Works

"Dragon Ball" is an adventure tale that begins with Son Goku, a member of the Saiyan race, considered one of the strongest warrior races in the galaxy, on a quest to find the Dragon Balls, which are said to grant any wish. This popular manga has exceeded 260 million copies sold worldwide, and has spawned six anime series. Additionally, since the start of its broadcast, more than 20 theatrical films have been produced and released. Video games based on "Dragon Ball" have also sold over 50 million copies globally, among other extensive media mix endeavors.

In this article, we spotlight the creator of the manga "Dragon Ball." We explore his hometown, age, other works, and his current status.

What is "Dragon Ball"?

"Dragon Ball" is a manga series depicting battles and bonds between friends, beginning with an adventure to gather seven Dragon Balls that can fulfill any wish.

Living alone in the mountains, the tailed boy Son Goku meets Bulma, a girl searching for the Dragon Balls. Embarking on a journey with Bulma, Goku learns there are many strong individuals in the world and begins seeking even more strength. Along the way, he meets allies, fights powerful enemies, and undergoes significant growth.

"Dragon Ball," serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from 1984 to 1995, has been produced into several anime series, including "Dragon Ball," "Dragon Ball Z," "Dragon Ball GT," "Dragon Ball Z Kai," and "Dragon Ball Super." As of February 2025, the latest series "Dragon Ball Daima" is airing. Even over 40 years after its initial serialization, new series continue to be developed, loved not only in Japan but worldwide.

Who is Akira Toriyama, the creator of "Dragon Ball"? Introducing his age and hometown.

The creator of "Dragon Ball" is Akira Toriyama. Born on April 5, 1955, he hails from Kiyosu City, Aichi Prefecture. During high school, he was part of the manga study club, and after graduation, he worked as a designer at a local advertising company, eventually turning to a career as a manga artist.

Toriyama made his debut in "Weekly Shonen Jump" (Shueisha) with a one-shot titled "Wonder Island" in the 52nd issue of 1978. He began the serialization of "Dragon Ball" in the 51st issue of 1984, and the series continued for about 10 and a half years until the final chapter in the 25th issue of 1995, comprising 519 chapters. Toriyama was 29 years old when "Dragon Ball" began serialization and was 40 when it concluded.

Toriyama has contributed not only to the manga serialization but also to the original story and character design for the anime "Dragon Ball Super" and the anime "Dragon Ball Daima."

The manga "Dragon Ball" is published in over 80 countries and has become a globally renowned piece of work. Toriyama has been described as a "pioneer who created an opportunity for Japanese manga to be recognized overseas as 'MANGA'" in an editorial by The Asahi Shimbun, and The Washington Post called him "a Japanese artist who broke the world's barriers."

What is Akira Toriyama's current status?

Akira Toriyama passed away on March 1, 2024, due to acute subdural hematoma at the age of 68.

According to comments from BIRD STUDIO, the studio Toriyama was associated with, he was actively engaged in many projects until just before his passing. News of his death was announced on the official "Weekly Shonen Jump" website on March 8, with a joint statement from BIRD STUDIO and Capsule Corporation Tokyo.

Following this, numerous condolence messages were sent by notable figures, including Masako Nozawa, the voice actress who plays Son Goku, and Eiichiro Oda, the creator of "ONE PIECE." Additionally, reports on Toriyama's death were made by Western media outlets like the Los Angeles Times and New York Times, as well as Chinese media, mourning his passing worldwide.

What are the other works of Akira Toriyama?

One of Toriyama's famous works, aside from "Dragon Ball," is "Dr. Slump," serialized in "Weekly Shonen Jump" from 1980 to 1984. The story is a comedic depiction of an inventor, Senbei Norimaki, often called "Dr. Slump" due to his failed inventions, and the antics of Arale, a girl-shaped android he whimsically creates, with the quirky residents of Penguin Village.

The series was published in 18 volumes, surpassing 30 million copies in sales, and its animated adaptation broadcast from 1981 achieved a peak viewership rating of 36.9%. Although it became a popular series, Toriyama cited a lack of ideas as the reason for ending "Dr. Slump," and it was from there that the serialization of "Dragon Ball" began at the editorial department's request for a replacement series.

In addition to long series, Toriyama also created various short manga, such as "GO! GO! ACKMAN," "SAND LAND," "COWA!," and "Kajika." "GO! GO! ACKMAN" was adapted into a short animation in 1994 and later into a game, while "SAND LAND" was released as a theatrical animation and game in 2023.

Akira Toriyama also excelled as a designer.

Having graduated from the design department of Aichi Prefectural Koka Kogyo High School (currently Aichi Prefectural Ichinomiya Technical High School), Toriyama worked as a designer at a local advertising company, Dai Ichi Kikou. Utilizing his skills and knowledge, he contributed to character design for games during the "Dragon Ball" manga serialization, including the "Dragon Quest" series, "Chrono Trigger," and "Blue Dragon."

The "Dragon Quest" series has sold over 90 million units across 11 iterations, and "Chrono Trigger" has shipped and sold over 5.5 million units through downloads, marking both as highly successful works.

Toriyama also engaged in designing and supervising model kits, which was a hobby of his.

Who is the author of "Dragon Ball Super"?

The sequel manga "Dragon Ball Super" is authored by Toyotarou.

Toyotarou has been drawing manga related to Dragon Ball in "V Jump" since Toriyama was alive. After the three-part one-shot series "Dragon Ball Heroes Victory Mission" and "Dragon Ball Z Resurrection 'F'," the serialization of "Dragon Ball Super" began in 2015.

According to a video titled "Behind-the-Scenes with the Editor of 'Dragon Ball Super'" on V Jump's official YouTube channel, "Dragon Ball Super" evolves from a plot created by Toriyama, which Toyotarou then expands upon.

Summary of the Creator of "Dragon Ball"

The creator of "Dragon Ball" is Akira Toriyama. The series was serialized for about 10 and a half years in "Weekly Shonen Jump" from the 51st issue of 1984 to the 25th issue of 1995.

The anime "Dragon Ball Daima," for which Akira Toriyama was responsible for the original story, script, and character design, is the latest series. However, Toriyama passed away on March 8, 2024, due to acute subdural hematoma, just before the broadcast began.

After the manga "Dragon Ball" ended its serialization, the manga artist Toyotarou, who had already been involved with "Dragon Ball Heroes Victory Mission" and "Dragon Ball Z Resurrection 'F'," has continued to serialize "Dragon Ball Super" in "V Jump."

Akira Toriyama left behind a tremendous legacy, spreading the "MANGA" culture globally through his work. His creations are likely to continue being loved around the world through anime, manga, and games.

(C)BIRD STUDIO/SHUEISHA, TOEI ANIMATION