Despite creating one of the most iconic anime and manga franchises in history,Dragon Ball’s creator, the legendary Akira Toriyama, chose to keep a very private lifestyle. After his work on the weekly manga ended in May 1995, and even for a few years before then, during the serialization of the Majin Buu Saga,the artist laid low, appearing in far fewer interviews than he ever had before. WhenDragon Ballexperienced its 2010s revival, Toriyama appeared more frequently, though it was clear he enjoyed his privacy.
It isn’t uncommon for manga artists to stay out of the limelight, but one ofToriyama’s long-time editorsonly recently admitted that part of this privacy bothered him. When a series is as popular asDragon Ball, there will always be a demand for the creator’s input on certain subjects regarding their creation. And when that person is rarely available, it’s incredibly common for fans of the series to put words in their favorite authors' mouths,and that never sat well with editor Kazuhiko Torishima.
Dragon Ball’s Editor Weighs In on Toriyama’s Distaste for the Spotlight
The Artist Chose to Maintain a Private Lifestyle
A recent interviewfrom the Japanese podcast KosoKoso withDragon Ball’s three original editors, Kazuhiko Torishima, Yu Kondo, and Fuyuto Takeda,is a goldmine for any long-time fan of the series. Offering rare insight into the creation of Akira Toriyama’s manga masterpiece, the editors touched on popular rumors regarding the series and recalledtheir experiences working with the artist. Torishima, who discovered and worked with Toriyama long beforeDragon Balltouched down in the pages ofShōnen Jump, offered his thoughts on the artist’s private lifestyle.
Thanks to a translation byX user SmugStickDB, Torishima’s comments have been revealed: “At a certain point, when he stopped appearing,he was almost put on a pedestal, and his real voice disappeared. His humanity was no longer conveyed, which bothered me.”
When a property is as instantly recognizable asDragon Ballhas been for the better part of 40 years, viewers and readers inevitably develop their own head canon, or speak on behalf of someone like Akira Toriyama. Rather than being bothered by Toriyama’s decision to remain in the shadows, Torishima was likely bothered by the public’s willingness to disregard him as a personwhile keeping their own image of the artist on a pedestal. Unfortunately, this is a common side effect of fame, and fewer series are more popular thanDragon Ball.
Many Manga Artists Prioritize Their Privacy
Toriyama Wasn’t the Only Manga Creator to Remain Behind a Curtain
It’s a bit different in the case of Akira Toriyama, whoseDragon Ballmanga has garnered worldwide renown and fanfare,but many manga artists prefer to lead very private lifestyles. Another author who operated duringDragon Ball’sserialization and rarely made public appearances wasBerserk’s Kentaro Miura, who was rarely photographed and took part in few interviews. More recent examples are Gege Akutami, author ofJujutsu Kaisen, and Tatsuki Fujimoto, author ofChainsaw Man, both of whom prefer to keep their personal information and image private.
Dragon Ball Daima to Mark Akira Toriyama’s Death With Unexpected Tribute
Dragon Ball Daima, Akira Toriyama’s final vision for his iconic series, is set to pay unexpected tribute to its creator during the anime’s finale.
It’s likely more common that a manga artist remains behind a curtain, as many authors, regardless of medium, prefer to let their work speak for itself. However, as one ofDragon Ball’s original editors points out, this decision to remain private can come with unintended side effects of fame.The franchise’s popularity doesn’t seem poised to slow down any time soon, and perhaps fans can become more mindful of respecting Toriyama’s legacy, as well as who the artist was as a person.
Sources:KosoKoso (translation by Venixys on X),SmugStickDB on X
Dragon Ball
From the creative mind of Akira Toriyama, Dragon Ball is a mega multimedia franchise that spans back to the 1980s. Dragon Ball expanded quickly, starting as a serialized manga for Weekly Shonen Jump in Japan. It made its way overseas via manga and an anime adaptation that is enjoyed worldwide. Dragon Ball was the initial starting animated series that followed the adventures of the young Son Goku as he sought after the Dragon Balls. These mystical orbs would grant the wish of any who gathered them together. Then, the series would branch off into the immensely popular Dragon Ball Z, which followed Goku as an adult and featured high-intensity battles and Goku’s never-ending search to be the strongest. The series has also enjoyed several popular video game adaptations and continues to release several new animated series and theatrical films up to the recent popular Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero.
