Akira Toriyama, the renowned manga author of the popular manga and anime series Dragon Ball, Dr. Slump, and many more important works, recently passed away at the age of 68. However, before his untimely demise, he had achieved immortality with his global sensation and the successful story of Son Goku and his friends. The world mourns his loss as he has left behind an unquestionably established legacy, paving the path for the anime world, which led the industry to the global gateway.
However, none of this would have happened if he could not get over the loss of one of his dearest possessions. Buckle up, folks, because this is an emotional tale of affection, loss, and Akira Toriyama’s unbreakable bond with his wooden pen holder.
Akira Toriyama Reflects on Losing His Wooden Pen Holder
Akira Toriyama had almost given up on being a mangaka artist over the loss of his beloved wooden pen holder. The artist cherished his equipment because of the sentimental value it held, as he bought the equipment when he was only 14 years of age. The wooden pen holder witnessed the massive transformation of Toriyama becoming a successful mangaka artist from a young boy. Hence, losing the pen holder felt immensely strange to the artist.
The Dragon Ball creator lost his beloved tool while working on the Sand Land manga. In a translated post via AnimeHunch, the artist explained how he modified it accordingly to suit his personal use, and he got used to the feel over time. Hence, losing it felt immensely strange to him, and he even decided to stop drawing over the pen holder’s loss.
He said,
“For “SAND LAND,” I scanned the penned paper manuscript and imported it to my PC, I then used software to apply solid colors and my own tones to finish it. I probably slept very little. After I finished drawing all the stories, I lost my favorite wooden pen holder that I had been using since before my debut.”
Toriyama added how he got a brand new pen holder and exercised the same methods to give the exact same feel as his nostalgic pen holder, but it did not feel quite right to him. Ultimately, he decided to give up on his dream.
“I scraped it this way and that with a knife and sandpaper, and wore it down as I used it. It was a pen holder that had become familiar to my hand over a long period of time. I bought a new pen holder and tried sharpening it this way and that, but it just didn’t feel right. Since then, I have used it as an excuse for hardly drawing any manga (laugh).”
Though some might think that Toriyama was overreacting to end his career as a mangaka artist, it showcases how this particular equipment held a significant value to him and despite having the monetary power to buy any pen holder, he would always crave to return to the original one.
Toyo Ashida Made Akira Toriyama a Fan of Anime
When the artist received the Lifetime Achievement Award in December 2023, he was scheduled to receive the award in person in March 2024. The creator was interviewed, shared by SUPER クロニクルス (@SupaChronicles), where he mentioned how he “never had much interest in anime, and even when my work was made into animated format, I feel embarrassed to admit that I did not watch much of it.“
Moreover, Toriyama mentioned how his interest in anime was stirred when he met legendary creator Toyoo Ashida, who created Kosuke-sama Rikamaru-sama. He said,
“One of my most unforgettable memories in animation works is when I met the late animator, Toyo Ashida, for an anime project called ‘Kosuke-sama Rikimaru-sama,’ which was produced for the Shonen Jump Original. This project did not have a manga, so a meeting was held. He was an amiable person, and we quickly bonded, and every time I saw his drawing style, I was moved by his careful and swift touch.”
It was indeed a meaningful time for Toriyama-Sensei to meet another legendary artist who supported him and assisted him in achieving the legendary accomplishment.
