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The creation of Dragon Ball by Akira Toriyama was inspired by the late manga artist's desire to quit his most popular Shonen Jump series at the time. However, as alleged in a new book by his former editor, Toriyama wasn't allowed to stop unless he had a "manga more interesting" as its replacement.

Dr. Mashirito's Ultimate Manga Techniques was released in English by Viz Media on May 13, 2025. The book is written as an informative "how-to" guide for aspiring manga artists by Kazuhiko Torishima, drawing on his experience as the sixth editor-in-chief of Shonen Jump. In particular, Torishima's history as Toriyama's editor during the early days of Dragon Ball is discussed, alongside his other works. In the book, Torishima shares a fascinating anecdote about Toriyama regarding his work on Dr. Slump, the origin story of Dragon Ball, and the harsh work ethics of Shonen Jump.

Dragon Ball Was Created Out of...

A year ago, the legendary mangaka Akira Toriyama passed away, leaving a huge void in the manga industry. The Dragon Ball creator has touched lives through his story and has revolutionized the shonen genre. But he is rather discreet about his personal life, especially his family.

Goku in a still from the anime | Credit: Toei Animation

And why should he not? Considering the public eye and media, the secrecy makes sense. However, it only means that the personal realm is rather less explored. And while that is the case, there are interesting stories behind it as well that tie up to his $27 billion franchise.

Akira Toriyama’s discreet family life

It is widely known that public appearances as well as interviews aren’t Akira Toriyama’s best suit. To come across an interview or an interaction itself is a rarity. However, with what we know, he has opened up about...

Akira Toriyama Was The Most Loved Shonen Manga Artist In Japan (Photo Credit – IMDb)

Famous Shonen Manga artist Akira Toriyama passed away at the age of 68 years. He breathed his last on March 1, and the cause of his death is reported to be an acute subdural hematoma. The Japanese artist who was the creator of the famous series Dragon Ball was one of the most influential Manga artists globally.

The comic series Dragon Ball was a worldwide sensation. It made its debut in 1984 and followed the life of a boy called Son Goku and his adventurous tales of collecting dragon balls that would eventually help him become powerful and fight evils. Over the years, Dragon Ball has been adapted into anime series, live-action movies, and video games.

In an official statement from the Dragon Ball team, Akira Toriyama’s passing away was announced. The heartbreaking note said, “We are deeply...

For nearly 40 years, Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball has been a formative anime that’s irrevocably changed the medium’s shonen genre. Dragon Ball receives a lot of attention for its humble heroes, vicious villains, and incredible transformations, but its destructive Kamehameha wave transcended the series and became a staple of modern anime. Anime is full of special signature attacks like Naruto’s Rasengan, Yu Yu Hakusho’s Spirit Gun, and the Gum-Gum Pistol from One Piece, but none of these match Dragon Ball’s Kamehameha's celebrated status.

The Kamehameha is almost as old as Dragon Ball itself and while it’s hardly the anime’s most powerful attack, it’s easily the most prominent. Even fans who have never seen a Dragon Ball episode are likely familiar with the Kamehameha and its trademark hand motions. The Kamehameha is incredibly iconic but its place in the spotlight can also lead...