Renowned manga artist Akira Toriyama, known for his works like Dragon Ball and Sand Land, sadly passed away at the age of 68 on March 1 due to acute subdural hematoma.

In a statement shared on the official Dragon Ball X/Twitter page and endorsed by Bird Studio and Capsule Corporation Tokyo, the news of Toriyama's passing was announced. The statement expressed profound sorrow that he had several ongoing projects that he was passionately working on and believed he had many more accomplishments to achieve.

The funeral was a private gathering, limited to immediate family members and a small group of relatives. The official statement kindly asked fans to respect the family's privacy by refraining from conducting interviews and informed that gifts, visits, and similar gestures would not be accepted.

Born in Aichi Prefecture, Akira Toriyama made his debut in the manga industry with "Wonder Land," published in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump in 1978. His first serialized work, "Dr. Slump," began in 1980 and went on to receive the 27th Shogakukan Manga Prize the following year.

In 1984, Toriyama embarked on his most renowned and long-lasting creation, Dragon Ball. Although the original Dragon Ball manga concluded in 1995, the franchise has continued to thrive with numerous anime series, movies, and video games over the years. In 2015, Dragon Ball Super, an anime and manga series set after the defeat of Majin Buu, was introduced. This fall, fans can look forward to the premiere of Dragon Ball Daima anime, a special 40th-anniversary tribute that features Toriyama's involvement in the story and character designs.

Following the news of Toriyama's passing, messages from various Shueisha editorial departments and a few affiliated manga artists were posted on the Shonen Jump website. Masakazu Katsura, the character and hero designer for "Zetman" and "Tiger and Bunny Season 2," fondly recalled their 40-year friendship and shared a touching anecdote about Toriyama's concern for Katsura's surgery last summer, a departure from their usual lighthearted conversations. Masashi Kishimoto, the creator of "Naruto," expressed the profound influence Toriyama had on him and acknowledged the significant role "Dragon Ball" played in his formative years, extending gratitude to Toriyama for his remarkable works spanning 45 years.

Eiichiro Oda, the creator of "One Piece," expressed admiration for Toriyama's work and contributions, emphasizing that he has been an inspiration since Oda's childhood. In his message, Oda concluded with the wish that heaven would be the joyful place Toriyama envisioned.