R.I.P. Akira Toriyama

I didn’t post anything on my blog since deciding to move to move away from monthly posting. I’m currently almost to the finish line with editing my first collection of short stories – Space, Time, and the Entities in Between – and so I didn’t think I was going to be making a post until then…

… and then last week the news broke: Akira Toriyama, dead at 68. I’ve never had the chance to meet him, but he was undoubtedly one of the few people that I’d have absolutely loved to have a chat with. There’s of course many authors and famous people all across the globe, but arguably none have produced something that is just so universally transnationally and inter-culturally beloved. His most famous work is of course, Dragon Ball and it had a profound impact on me during my teenage years (and beyond).

So here’s to writing a blog post that I didn’t want to. Remembering the man, the myth, the legend, Akira Toriyama. I’m going to share some of the most significant ways that Dragon Ball has shaped my life.

Death

I don’t remember how old I was, but I haven’t been consistently watching Dragon Ball at the time. I was at my cousins’ house as Dragon Ball (the original run) was on TV and it ended up being an episode that I was probably too young to see. Goku burst through the belly of his enemy, King Piccolo. And even though it doesn’t show internal organs or anything gruesome like that, the kill was so visceral that it really shook me. For a while I was afraid of watching any more of it (that obviously didn’t last long, I quickly outgrew it).

From what I can remember, that was my first truly memorable experience surrounding death. None of my close family members have died yet and even though I’ve seen my neighbors play (and played a bit of it myself) far more violent games, including Mortal Kombat, Duke Nukem 3D and some grand strategy games, none of those deaths connected as much with me. Not in any meaningful way.

Almost three decades later and I still vividly remember it. Besides that incident, later in what was called Dragon Ball Z in the anime adaptation, Akira knew how to write characters and make their deaths memorable. That’s a theme through the show, even if it loses some impact as it gets revealed that well, death seems to be more of a suggestion in that universe than anything else. Just find a more powerful version of Shenron (wish granting dragon) and revive anyone.  

Nani?? Masaka!

Ah yes, the memeification of Japanese language. But truthfully, the Japanese culture and their art, is significantly different to what us Europeans are used to. The reason I bring this up is because Dragon Ball was for me, like so many others, the gateway drug into Manga and Anime. A lot of people that I’ve met, who have not been exposed to Dragon Ball (or others) growing up, will take a look at almost any manga/anime and be like “WTF? This is so exaggerated!”

And indeed, the facial expressions and reactions are completely over the top. Talking to people (my wife included), this is the #1 reason why they can’t stand to even attempt to immerse themselves into some stories coming from Japan.

Me though, having grown up with Dragon Ball, I barely even notice it. That show has made me almost impervious to it. Pokemon couldn’t do the same, because nobody cares about Ash or Misty or Brock. Only about the Pokemon themselves. In fact, to my knowledge, Dragon Ball is THE first anime to completely overtake the West world. Others followed in its footsteps.

Learning the Italian Language

For a lot of us that lived in the bilingual area of Slovenia bordering Italy, we’d be able to watch some Italian TV channels. And Dragon Ball just happened to have that lunch slot – right after school. Dubbed in Italian, it was one of the shows that taught me how to speak it. There’s other people who watched more Zelig, or Simpsons (yep Ita version), or other, but for me it was primarily Dragon Ball.

And this is a discussion I’ve had countless times: yes, learning the structure and basics of language in school is definitely beneficial, but playing games or watching shows really solidifies that knowledge and just helps you absorb it so much more easily.

Physical Endurance Beyond all Limits

Above anything else, I think Dragon Ball conveys extremely well the effort that is needed in order to master something. Yes, there’s many other shows and whatnot where heroes have to overcome challenges and learn some stuff to triumph. But I can hardly think of any where training would be a central theme. Again and again. And then also improving in battle, before continuing with more training – surpassing our limits.

Some might find that kind of repetition annoying, but I found it very inspiring when practicing swimming or doing other forms of exercise. I remember someone on a swimming subreddit once asking “How do you not get bored while swimming?” to which a swimmer responded, “That’s our secret. We’re ALWAYS bored.”

Bored, strained, physically at our limit. Whatever it may be, consistency builds mastery. And there were countless times where I was exhausted and I would think about Dragon Ball. Training to be a super saiyan – fuck yeah, I know I’m not alone.

The goodness of Goku

And lastly, I want to talk about the main character. Goku, or Kakarot. Not my favorite one to be honest – I prefer future Trunks and/or Vegeta. I feel they better represent a good balance between wit and strength.

That said, Goku (for those unaware) is often compared to the DC’s Super Man. Both in terms of strength – and let’s be clear, Goku would undoubtedly eventually win, because Saiyans keep getting stronger with training, and, multiplicatively so, when they almost die – as well as their origins and kindness. Both characters are aliens from another planet, with superhuman abilities. Both are extremely kind and trying to save everyone.

I think Goku in particular embodies that trait even better than Superman. He’s so naive that he always gives everyone the benefit of the doubt. A second and a third chance. Enemies that would surely be killed in any other series, Goku spares them and lets them leave (and live). Even more than that; so often, some of the worst characters eventually turn good because of him. Most notably of course, Vegeta and Piccolo.

And especially in today’s cynical world, where everyone is getting stuck in their own different camps and beliefs, I think this kind of idealistic trait is something to be admired.

Goku, and Akira Toriyama, were and are truly out of this world. Arigato.