Remembering Akira Toriyama: From Dragon Ball to modern Manga

'Remembering Akira Toriyama: From Dragon Ball to modern Manga' with Dr Satona Suzuki and Dr Filippo Cervelli was an event co-hosted by the SOAS Library and the SOAS Japan Research Centre on 1st May 2024.
Since the news of manga artist Akira Toriyama’s passing in early March 2024, fans, artists, and even heads of state in all corners of the world have been in mourning.
Toriyama’s work, from Dr Slump to, more notably, Dragon Ball, is for many synonymous with manga. Not only that, his creations have influenced deeply the comics and animation industry, and the way in which Japan was perceived worldwide. Two months after the author’s death, this event celebrates his legacy by bringing together experts in Japanese Studies to discuss his work and its cultural impact.
The panel considered questions such as how Toriyama contributed to Japan’s soft power, how he influenced other manga authors and the genre of shōnen, and the evolution of the concept of franchising a manga. Through the discussions, our panellists paid tribute to this influential author, while also reflecting on how other artists have honoured his memory.
In addition, the event will gave an opportunity to the audience to share how Toriyama touched their lives.
Further details: www.soas.ac.uk...